Christian Discussion Thread XI: Anicetus’ Revenge

[Salus Maior]

True, but billions of prayers? That's a lot of competing interests. I'm praying I get a call back for an interview for a teaching position. How many others are praying for the exact same thing, the exact same position?

I don't think praying is in vain, obviously, but we should at least be realistic about how the answer you're gonna get most often is going to be "no."

That is not why we should pray, though.
We should pray to please God. Not in the hope of material benefits in this wretched place of tears.

That's also a decent point.

Honestly, I think prayer is best when used meditatively to better understand God and seek His Will.

[Tarsonis]

True, but billions of prayers? That's a lot of competing interests. I'm praying I get a call back for an interview for a teaching position. How many others are praying for the exact same thing, the exact same position?

I don't think praying is in vain, obviously, but we should at least be realistic about how the answer you're gonna get most often is going to be "no."

That is not why we should pray, though.
We should pray to please God. Not in the hope of material benefits in this wretched place of tears.

You mean I've been doing it wrong all this time?!?! *Flips table*


On a serious note, yeah I need to do better in that regard.

[Salus Maior]

That is not why we should pray, though.
We should pray to please God. Not in the hope of material benefits in this wretched place of tears.

You mean I've been doing it wrong all this time?!?! *Flips table*

On a serious note, yeah I need to do better in that regard.

You're not alone in that.

[Luminesa]

The lottery isn't omnipotent and omnipresent.

True, but billions of prayers? That's a lot of competing interests. I'm praying I get a call back for an interview for a teaching position. How many others are praying for the exact same thing, the exact same position?

I don't think praying is in vain, obviously, but we should at least be realistic about how the answer you're gonna get most often is going to be "no."

I disagree. Anything is possible for God, so being bold in prayer is never unappreciated or ignored by God. Our own limitations keep us from seeing prayer as God sees it.

That being said, I shall also pray for your teaching position.

[Tarsonis]

True, but billions of prayers? That's a lot of competing interests. I'm praying I get a call back for an interview for a teaching position. How many others are praying for the exact same thing, the exact same position?

I don't think praying is in vain, obviously, but we should at least be realistic about how the answer you're gonna get most often is going to be "no."

I disagree. Anything is possible for God, so being bold in prayer is never unappreciated or ignored by God. Our own limitations keep us from seeing prayer as God sees it.

That being said, I shall also pray for your teaching position.

Just because anything is possible for God to do, doesn't mean there aren't practical considerations on whether or not he will. Like I said, God could let everybody win the lottery, but if that happens they all have to share the prize. What's $60 million split 150 milion ways?

[New Visayan Islands]

I disagree. Anything is possible for God, so being bold in prayer is never unappreciated or ignored by God. Our own limitations keep us from seeing prayer as God sees it.

That being said, I shall also pray for your teaching position.

Just because anything is possible for God to do, doesn't mean there aren't practical considerations on whether or not he will. Like I said, God could let everybody win the lottery, but if that happens they all have to share the prize. What's $60 million split 150 milion ways?

Bruce Almighty.

[Luminesa]

I disagree. Anything is possible for God, so being bold in prayer is never unappreciated or ignored by God. Our own limitations keep us from seeing prayer as God sees it.

That being said, I shall also pray for your teaching position.

Just because anything is possible for God to do, doesn't mean there aren't practical considerations on whether or not he will. Like I said, God could let everybody win the lottery, but if that happens they all have to share the prize. What's $60 million split 150 milion ways?

I mean sure, God is not gonna give me a unicorn tomorrow unless He wills it. It would be insane, ridiculous, and bizarre to me, but if God decided to give me a unicorn, God would be the only being who could suddenly make a unicorn exist and say, “Here, Lumi, here is your unicorn.”

In a more...real-world sense, many mystics have asked Jesus to allow them to endure His suffering with Him (which is a rather grandiose thing to ask for, for who can truly know the fullest depths of Christ’s passion on the cross?). He would give some the stigmata. Some, like Catherine Emmerich, had visions. Theresa Neumann lived on nothing but Holy Communion and suffered ecstasies of Christ’s Passion for four days a week. These were bold prayers answered with incredible gifts. We should never put limits on God’s generosity and love. God always takes our prayers and answers them with a “Yes”, a “Maybe”, or a, “I have something even better.”

[Lower Nubia]

Considering that there are millions of people who pray to God daily, why should we believe that prayers aren't in vein? How do we know that prayer isn't an excersize in futility?

What would it matter if it was futile? That’s one of the important lessons for beginners in prayer; that it need no other purpose than helping unite us with God. That unity is also infinitesimally negligent, as unity with an infinite being would take an infinite amount of attempts and an infinite amount of time.

Anything else is a perk of God’s mercy.

[Sundiata]

Our lady is on your side. Console her in her sorrow and she will support you through your trials. It is through our lady that we know her son. Her intercession is the foundation of miracles.

[Kowani]

Ever see Bruce Almighty? Everyone prays to win the lottery, but not everyone can win. If they did everybody would only get like 3 bucks

The lottery isn't omnipotent and omnipresent.

Also, it's pretty much a scam, and despite my disagreements with Christianity...a scam it is not.

[Lower Nubia]

The lottery isn't omnipotent and omnipresent.

Also, it's pretty much a scam, and despite my disagreements with Christianity...a scam it is not.

How kind.

[Luminesa]

Our lady is on your side. Console her in her sorrow and she will support you through your trials. It is through our lady that we know her son. Her intercession is the foundation of miracles.

[Sundiata]

Our lady is on your side. Console her in her sorrow and she will support you through your trials. It is through our lady that we know her son. Her intercession is the foundation of miracles.

[State of Turelisa]

I think this thread should be renamed the Catholic Discussion Thread.

[Luminesa]

I think this thread should be renamed the Catholic Discussion Thread.

We do have other Christians here though. Not just Catholics.

[Tarsonis]

I think this thread should be renamed the Catholic Discussion Thread.

I don't work for you.

[New Visayan Islands]

I think this thread should be renamed the Catholic Discussion Thread.

We do have other Christians here though. Not just Catholics.

It only looks that way because we Catholics have the raw numbers as far as all of Christendom is concerned.

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

I think this thread should be renamed the Catholic Discussion Thread.

What am I, chopped liver?

Evangelical, right here.

[Rosmana]

I am just glad I am Roman Catholic, those modern Protestant/Pentecostal/Charismatic, would never work for me.

(I really hate singing, especially those modern songs )

[Tarsonis]

I am just glad I am Roman Catholic, those modern Protestant/Pentecostal/Charismatic, would never work for me.

(I really hate singing, especially those modern songs )

"He who sings prays twice." -St. Augustine

[Rosmana]

I am just glad I am Roman Catholic, those modern Protestant/Pentecostal/Charismatic, would never work for me.

(I really hate singing, especially those modern songs )

"He who sings prays twice." -St. Augustine

I will just pray 3 times then, takes a while longer but its worth it, mass is a holy sacrament, not a folk concert.

Some songs are ok, but the modern ones have to go, and I do not see why I have to sing anyhow, we have a choir after all.

[State of Turelisa]

John Newton, Calvinist preacher, composer of Amazing Grace, also composed Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

If there's a candidate for a national anthem of a theonomic state, it is this.

[Rosmana]

John Newton, Calvinist preacher, composer of Amazing Grace, also composed Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

If there's a candidate for a national anthem of a theonomic state, it is this.

I heard that tune somewhere before.

[Tarsonis]

"He who sings prays twice." -St. Augustine

I will just pray 3 times then, takes a while longer but its worth it, mass is a holy sacrament, not a folk concert.

Some songs are ok, but the modern ones have to go, and I do not see why I have to sing anyhow, we have a choir after all.

Traditionally the entire liturgy is sung. The Novus Ordo changed a lot, but some churches still keep it real.

[Rosmana]

I will just pray 3 times then, takes a while longer but its worth it, mass is a holy sacrament, not a folk concert.

Some songs are ok, but the modern ones have to go, and I do not see why I have to sing anyhow, we have a choir after all.

Traditionally the entire liturgy is sung. The Novus Ordo changed a lot, but some churches still keep it real.

Yes but was and is not folk song, that is my point, while most modern church songs sound like they belong in a kindergarten.

And I just HATE my singing voice.