A Brother's Wisdom 64
Thursday June 4, 2009
Categories: James
I don't think prayer is mechanical. That is, I don't think if we "do" things right -- as the right way, use the right formulae, etc -- that we will get what we want. But James makes a mechanical point...
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Advertisement
Advertisement
Search This Blog
Recent Posts
About Jesus Creed
Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...
Subscribe
Featured Books
Tag Cloud
Advent, Bible, Creation, Evangelicalism, evolution, Faith, Faith and Politics, Faith and Spirituality, Generation Me, Genesis, Genesis 1, Gospel, Heresy, Homosexuality, iGens, James, James Brother of Jesus, James Epistle of, Jean Twenge, John Walton, Lent, New Perspective, Obama, Politics, Prayer, science and faith, Science and Faith, Spirituality, Third Way, Youth Ministry
Calendar
Blogroll
Daily Prayers:
- A. Book of Common Prayer
- A. Book of Common Prayer 2
- A. Divine Hours
- A. Evening Prayer (Anglican)
- A. Morning Prayer (Anglican)
- Celtic Prayer
- Creeds of Christendom
- Eastern Orthodox Prayers
- Lectionary
- Liturgy of the Hours
- Missio Dei
Emerging Movement:
- Andrew Jones
- Andrew Perriman
- Anthony Stiff
- Art Boulet
- Bob Robinson
- Br. Maynard
- Dan Kimball
- David Fitch
- Dogwood Abbey
- Ecclesia Network
- Emerging Women
- Eugene Cho
- Henrik Holmgaard
- Jamie Arpin-Ricci
- Jazz Theologian
- John Frye
- John Lagrou
- Jonny Baker
- JR Briggs
- Leonard Hjamarlson
- LeRon Shults
- Lukas McKnight
- Peggy Brown
- Sivin Kit
- Stephen Shields
- Steve McCoy
- Steve Taylor
- Tamara Buchan
- The Practicing Church
- Tim Miekley
- Todd Hiestand
- Tom Smith (RSA)
- Tony Jones
Other sites I frequent:
- Allan Bevere
- Andy Rowell
- Attie Nel
- Barna
- Brad Boydston
- CC Blogs
- Don Johnson
- Ed Gilbreath
- Erika Haub (Carney)
- Faith Blogging
- Falsani
- Fr. Rob
- Hummers
- iMonk
- James McGrath
- Jim Martin
- John Stackhouse
- JR Woodward
- Karen Spears Zacharias
- Laura Barringer
- LaVonne Neff
- LeaderFOCUS
- LL Barkat
- Luke/Annika
- Mark Galli
- Mark Roberts
- Michael Kruse
- Nexus
- Owen Youngman
- Ted Gossard
- Tom Wright
Recommended Online Readings:
Scholarly Books I've written:
- Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels
- Hist Jesus Anthology
- Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels
- Introducing NT Interpretation
- Jesus and His Death
- Jesus in Memory (ed.)
- New Vision for Israel
- Synoptics: Biblio
- The Face of New Testament Studies
- Who Do They Say I Am?
Scholarship Online:
- Apollos
- Books & Culture
- ChristianityToday
- CS Lewis
- EAC
- Early Xian Writings
- Euaggelion
- Gospels
- Jesus and His Death Blog
- Karl Barth Online
- Mark Goodacre's Weblog
- Online Journals Access
- Online Pseudepigraph
- Pete Enns
- Prime Time Jesus
- Theopedia
- ThinkTank
Stuff online:
- 5 Streams
- Big Muddy
- Catalyst Scripture
- Catching the Wave
- DaVinci Code
- Forgiveness
- Future or Fad?
- Gospel of Judas
- High Calling
- Interview on Emerging
- Interview with LL Barkat
- IVCF Eikons
- IVCF Gospel
- John Bunyan
- Keys of the Kingdom
- Lake Emerging
- Mary in CT
- Missional in Seattle
- Missional Matrix
- Nativity Story
- Never Alone
- New Perspective
- Pepperdine Interview
- Professor as Scholar
- Recl Mind Mary 1
- Robust Gospel
- Social Justice
- Trojan Horse 2
- WiredParish Mary Interview
- Word/World NPP
Your point reminds me of Peter's warning to husbands treating our wives correctly, otherwise our prayers go unheard, and of Jesus' saying that if we're at the altar, about to present our gift to God, and there remember that a brother has something against us, we should go be reconciled, then come back and offer the gift.
I think you're on to something--again, Scot.
Hmmm....what I have found recently is that my prayers have to be about having right relationship with others. In other words, I need God's help to even get into right relationship because I've so allowed anger and bitterness to take hold, that only His Spirit can help me overcome that so that I can be in right relationship with others.
T,
Don't forget the Lords Prayer and the explanation - For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Maybe our problem is our image of fishing "for men" - one hook connected to one line connected to one fisherman. A vertical connection.
RJS,
Yes. More and more over the last several years, and Scot's been a significant part of this, I'm convinced that the thesis here (linking horizontal reconciliation to vertical) is real and deep and throughout the biblical witness.
The OT: no more sacrifices, I want you to be just and merciful; here's the 'fast' I want . . .; ignoring the poor = ignoring God; lending to the poor = lending to God; etc.
Jesus: Whatever you've done to the least . . .; Blessed are the merciful; Whatever measure you use . . .; "Salvation has come to this house today"; the Jesus Creed; etc.
John: No love for others means any 'love' for God is a lie
Etc., etc.
This message is everywhere and often in the scriptures.
I feel assured that whatever words form my prayers, God knows my heart and can translate the prayer to what is proper. I think that's part of how prayer forms us. Otherwise I get discouraged, knowing my prayers can't be right enough.
Scot,
This really is a powerful sentence:
Instead, I'm wondering today if it is not more "when you are in proper relations with those in the messianic community then your prayers will be heard because you are in tune with what God is doing in this world."
This could be unpacked and create much healthy discussion at most any church. Thanks.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.