Does God Answer ALL Prayers...Part 2
I appreciate that my brothers Bob and David came gently to God's rescue in the comments to my previous post. I love them both deeply because of their eagerness both here and on other blogs to live their faith out loud with comments they have made.
I promised David that I would quickly address what I am saying and hopefully show him something I'm trying to get at that he and Bob intuitively know, but in their expressions of deep faith in God's Providence and in God's responsiveness to us we Christians often miss.
That is this: while we "faith" God completely regarding the answering of prayer, I have found there are times when he doesn't answer the prayer. It isn't yes. It isn't no. And it isn't "wait". An example of this is in the book of Job. God chose not to answer Job's continuing complaints. Now I GUESS you could say he chose to make Job wait. But I think it's a little more accurate to say God decided to go hands off so Satan could wring Job out.
We often say that a non-answer should be interpreted as a "no" (or a "wait"), but we have no proof that God intends it that way. And this is especially hard to hear for people who are in the Grinder. Instead of being told "wait for God to answer your prayer", they need to hear what you're experiencing may not be a result of your incomplete faith and it may not even be God's answer to your prayers. He could be permitting you to be tested and choosing NOT to answer your prayers right now.
I realize you could argue that point with me and we could get into a deep discussion on semantic distinctions. But there's an even more likely possibility that most Christians don't even consider:
God's answer to our prayers often are the requirements that Christians love each other and bear each others' burdens. So when we fail to live the faith that has been handed down to us, especially when the Holy Spirit motivates US to act to answer those prayers, our sin may cause God's response to go unheeded and undelivered.
If you're like I am, you'll think about that statement for a moment or two. You'll start to respond back to me that I have it wrong, that God still answered the prayer. Then you'll fall on your face grieving before God for occasions when you failed to follow the Spirit's leading to meet a need.
My friend felt isolated and abused because of a Christian experience as an MK where externals and legalism SOMETIMES were substituted for love. In one particularly horrific example, at least 9 MKs were sexually molested by a missionary who was a pedophile. The response of the missionaries and of the mission board was naive and therefore incomplete, allowing the missionary to remain on the field and to continue molesting children for at least 20 years. My friend carries both anger and guilt about that situation as I do because we feel betrayed--looking back--by how that happened, that it was happening around us (specifically to a sibling of one of us), that we could do nothing about it (I informed my parents about some of the things I had heard and they chose not to act on it), and that God remained "silent".
My best explanation for what happened...for God's silence in the situation...is the one I've offered: God motivated these spiritual giants--our parents--to act and they chose to ignore God's leadership. Because of that more children were harmed. God's failure to act wasn't the source of harm. He didn't ignore the prayers and pleadings. But in this case...because of human failure...his response went undelivered. For those that were being harmed, it felt like God failed them and it felt like unanswered prayer.
My friend continues to have deep faith struggles in part because of the focus on externals he experienced (which he felt were manipulative and not Christ-like or loving) and with his memory of the situation I've described.
I hope you'll see where I'm coming from and why I responded to him the way I did.
greg.w.h
I promised David that I would quickly address what I am saying and hopefully show him something I'm trying to get at that he and Bob intuitively know, but in their expressions of deep faith in God's Providence and in God's responsiveness to us we Christians often miss.
That is this: while we "faith" God completely regarding the answering of prayer, I have found there are times when he doesn't answer the prayer. It isn't yes. It isn't no. And it isn't "wait". An example of this is in the book of Job. God chose not to answer Job's continuing complaints. Now I GUESS you could say he chose to make Job wait. But I think it's a little more accurate to say God decided to go hands off so Satan could wring Job out.
We often say that a non-answer should be interpreted as a "no" (or a "wait"), but we have no proof that God intends it that way. And this is especially hard to hear for people who are in the Grinder. Instead of being told "wait for God to answer your prayer", they need to hear what you're experiencing may not be a result of your incomplete faith and it may not even be God's answer to your prayers. He could be permitting you to be tested and choosing NOT to answer your prayers right now.
I realize you could argue that point with me and we could get into a deep discussion on semantic distinctions. But there's an even more likely possibility that most Christians don't even consider:
God's answer to our prayers often are the requirements that Christians love each other and bear each others' burdens. So when we fail to live the faith that has been handed down to us, especially when the Holy Spirit motivates US to act to answer those prayers, our sin may cause God's response to go unheeded and undelivered.
If you're like I am, you'll think about that statement for a moment or two. You'll start to respond back to me that I have it wrong, that God still answered the prayer. Then you'll fall on your face grieving before God for occasions when you failed to follow the Spirit's leading to meet a need.
My friend felt isolated and abused because of a Christian experience as an MK where externals and legalism SOMETIMES were substituted for love. In one particularly horrific example, at least 9 MKs were sexually molested by a missionary who was a pedophile. The response of the missionaries and of the mission board was naive and therefore incomplete, allowing the missionary to remain on the field and to continue molesting children for at least 20 years. My friend carries both anger and guilt about that situation as I do because we feel betrayed--looking back--by how that happened, that it was happening around us (specifically to a sibling of one of us), that we could do nothing about it (I informed my parents about some of the things I had heard and they chose not to act on it), and that God remained "silent".
My best explanation for what happened...for God's silence in the situation...is the one I've offered: God motivated these spiritual giants--our parents--to act and they chose to ignore God's leadership. Because of that more children were harmed. God's failure to act wasn't the source of harm. He didn't ignore the prayers and pleadings. But in this case...because of human failure...his response went undelivered. For those that were being harmed, it felt like God failed them and it felt like unanswered prayer.
My friend continues to have deep faith struggles in part because of the focus on externals he experienced (which he felt were manipulative and not Christ-like or loving) and with his memory of the situation I've described.
I hope you'll see where I'm coming from and why I responded to him the way I did.
greg.w.h
posted by greg.w.h@8:11 PM link-to-post
4 comments
4 Comments:
Greg, I read your comment on Wade Burleson's blog. I comment alot there. I have seen your name several times, as well.
Sometimes, I look up the blog sites of commenters, just to get an idea of who they are. Lo and behold, you are an Iowa, and a Cedar Rapidian (sort of).
I pastored Northbrook Baptist Cburch on Boyson Road in CR for 14 years until I moved to Sioux City 2 years ago.
If you are looking for a good SB church still, check out my buddy Eric and the people of that church.
Just don't tell them I sent you!
Dave Miller
Dave,
Thanks for the recommendation. We have been there and I like the church (and Eric) a lot. My wife is working through her feelings on it and we still might end up there.
It has been a much slower process this time than before: we've been here over a year without feeling 'at home', but we see God doing great things (especially with our kids) and that helps a lot.
I had seen your comments about CR and I wondered which church you led here. Thanks for stopping by and answering my unasked question!!
Greg
Actually, Dan Wiersema at Immanuel is also a good friend. He didn't actually come there until after I left town. He was up near Waterloo.
It is interesting. I am an Iowan (my dad was first pastor of Immanuel - I was baptized there), so I feel at home. But so many people who move into Iowa say they never feel at home.
Find a job (if you can) in Sioux City and we will roll out the red carpet.
Dave,
Well...so far the job has been good to us, too, so we're probably going to soldier on in the hope that the rest will make sense in time. But you never know when we might stop in for a visit. I have a brother in Colorado Springs and Sioux City's not too far off that path.
Greg
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