Religion of the Easy Answer

As I mentioned yesterday (see below), we often want easy answers to complex political and economic matters. I think that it is easy for us to fall into the same trap in spiritual issues. We want fast, cookie-cutter answers from God. If we are sick, we want absolute, immediate relief. When God does not answer, we get impatient. We think about what we have done wrong to anger God and thus prevent his answering our prayer.

I think that sometimes God just wants to teach us patience.

Knowing God's Will

This is something that has been bugging me for a while now. How do I know God's will? I have been thinking about this in reference to my job/career/vocation (whatever you want to call it).

Is something God's will because it happens? I don't think so. That would not make sense. Just because something happened does not mean God willed it. That would be stupid to think that. That would mean such horrible things as child abuse, murder and rape would be God's will.

How do I know God's will in reference to the ministry? I know my denomination is not going to ask me to plant a church in this town. The church where currently attend is great. The pastor talks about planting another church in town (ooh, ooh pick me, pick me), but that is all it is: talk.

My parents recently moved here, and the quickest way to kill them would be to move somewhere else.

I have always felt that I am where God wants me, but lately I've been struggling with that.

"I tried to pray without cussing."

That was a comment I heard a man say not so long ago. My daughter plays on a softball team that has many Christians on it. When they play, especially on Sundays, they always have a devotional and prayer before the games. One Sunday, the usual designated pray guy was busy, and someone else filled in. He offered a brief prayer for the safety of the girls and some other words. I could tell he was not at his most comfortable conversing with the Almighty. Later he went up to the man who usually prayers and said, "I tried to pray without cussing."

I thought about how offended some goody-goody Christians would be if they heard such a comment. I can heard the snide comments now. "How dare you say such a thing." "How could you even contemplate praying and cussing."

If some cusses while they pray, I say, "At least they are interacting with the Creator." What the hell? Let's all pray.

Prayer: What's the point?

This kind of hit home to me this past Sunday. As I mentioned in my previous post, the church we were pastoring died. Now, we are going to a new church that is great. One thing I don't like, though, is the prayer time. It seems like it's the "let's-catch-up-on-the-gossip-of-the-church" time. Someone said (and the names have been changed, maybe), "The Doddleberry family isn't here this morning. They're having real problems. I don't know what they are, but they are going through some rough times." Gack! My wife said she almost stood up and said, "Be QUIET!" which isn't like her at all.

But that brings me to my question. What is the point of prayer?

This is how some view it:

• It's a laundry list of wants. We toddle up to Santa God with our wish list of this, that and the other thing. Hopefully he sees that we've been good boys and girls, and we get all the cool presents we asked for.
• It's gossip time. How is brother Elmo's flaky rash that he has on his butt?
• It's candy time. We slide onto the lap of forgetul old geezer God and ask for a piece of candy. He seems to forget that it has been ages since we visited, but he's so happy to see us that he reaches into his pocket to give us pepperment flavored disc of sugar.

Is that all there is to prayer? I hope not.

In thinking about all this, I asked myself, "Self, why do you talk to that beautiful wife you have?"

I replied to myself, "Well, self, I want to get to know her better. Sure, we've been married quite a while, but I still learn things about her. Even when she's out of town, we talk on the phone."

I talk to and spend time with her to know. Isn't it the same with God. My wife is finite creature (albeit a gorgeous one). God is infinite. If I learn things about my finite wife after over a decade of marriage, how much more can I expect to learn about God. If talking to wife makes me closer to her, doesn't prayer bring me closer to God.

Prayer is less about we what can squeeze out of God, and more about getting closer to him.