What is prayer? The question may seem simpler than it is. Views concerning prayer vary greatly. Prayer is found in nearly all cultures and religions and it is practiced in different ways. This book’s purpose is to discuss ideas about prayer within Christianity. Narrowing the discussion on prayer to Christianity may seem to simplify the topic considerably, but that is not so. Views on prayer vary greatly from Christian denomination to Christian denomination. This variance does not stop there. Ideas about prayer are so varied that they differ, and sometimes greatly, within a single denomination. Unlike any other subject, prayer is often understood differently by two individuals frequenting the same local church.

Prayer, like just about everything else, has met the information highways. A plethora of books has been written about prayer. Radio stations expound the benefits and aspects of prayer with amazing detail. On television, prayer is discussed and offered on daily basis. Prayer in school is a growing concern for many. The right to pray in public places occupies many minds. The Internet has opened a new super-highway of communication, which has propelled the preoccupation with prayer to unprecedented heights. This preoccupation is of such magnitude that it exceeds the estimation and realization of many, if not all of us. Men pray for self, for one another, alone, in groups, in synchrony and the engrossment is developing into a critical mass, which many believe will bring great relief and blessings upon humanity.

To top this, even science, the old antagonist of religion, has become interested in prayer. Based on some studies, there is a growing suspicion that prayer may in fact be functional in relieving human suffering and the insurance companies do not want to miss out on this fantastic "alternative medicine" asset! To my great surprise, I have learned recently that some Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are organizing support groups and expressing great interest in prayer. After all, the doctor's office costs money, but prayer is free. Some individuals see a great economic potential in that. God or spiritual science could save us a lot of money, if we could only figure them out. Insuring a group of individuals who can be healed miraculously from a disease with the wave of a hand or private prayer sessions could indeed become a profitable limited risk investment for the speculators, whether believers of not.

Many new ideas, about prayer, have come to light recently. Some seem to be good. Others, we are not sure. We wonder about them. Some are so peculiar that we don't even know how to react to them. We engage the mind and try to crack into the idea, but before we get enough time to catch on, another idea is born, a new book is written, and more fascinating ideas come forward which seem to explain away doubts that we may have had. The incredible results which are claimed, the raising of the dead, the healing of the sick, the conversions, bring warmth to our experience and the information age continues its ascent to critical mass.

Many books on prayer introduce new techniques and methods on prayer. Ideas once cherished are discarded and novel ideas are proposed recommended and tried. We are flooded by new ideas, but this overwhelming information rather than educating is beginning to confuse us.

With this in mind, do we need, yet, another book on prayer? I would like to assure the reader that though we will study about prayer in this book, the approach of this study is not along the lines of the great majority of prayer books. This book is meant to provoke the reader to sober thinking about prayer and many practices and ideas, which are often associated with prayer. For those who are forming or reforming, their views on prayer, I hope this book will be useful to clarify some fundamental ideas about prayer.

Many of us have learned or at least heard a great deal about prayer. Having learned much, at the speed of the 20^th century, our ideas may need to be reviewed more closely. Prayer is an asset of great value and we cannot afford to devalue or misjudge any aspect of prayer. In the intimate relationship with God, we need to lend thought to our behavior and assumptions about Him. In this relationship, we need to improve our understanding of the great privilege of prayer and our position in God’s sight.

Contrary to what is often taught, in today’s prayer books, prayer is very simple. It does not take great effort to learn how to pray. Nevertheless, Christian prayer has evolved into a practice that can be quite complex, at times. Having read some descriptions of prayer, I wonder why God would impose some of the complexities and intricacies, which are often suggested in these books. The Lord's prayer is instruction from the highest authority in heaven, yet it seems to be so simple. Nevertheless, some do not see simplicity in the Lord's Prayer. They see a plethora of implications that lead to new, though unmentioned by the Savior, activities and practices.

The attention that is currently being showered on the subject of prayer provokes mixed reactions. We are all happy to see the interest in prayer, and hope that it is a sign of the outpouring of the Latter Rain. Our hopes soar high as we contemplate the possibilities. Creation groans and burns with the desire "Come Lord Jesus." Some people feel that, if there is one thing that cannot be construed to support error, it has to be prayer. "More prayer just can't hurt."

This mighty power of prayer, Lindsell observes, "differs from all the powers of the world; it is the only power that cannot be used for evil. Every other power of the world can be used for good or evil. But the greatest of all powers-prayer-can only be used for good. …" D. Edmond Hiebert. The Significance of Christian Intercession
WEB page http://www.bible.org/bibsac/8594/92a2.htm

Studying some of the new forms of prayer that have recently been propelled into the Christian circles, however, makes me apprehensive. Some prayers include direct communication with the Devils. Christian prayers that cast out Demons from trees and street lamps awaken even more suspicion. Prayer has evolved beyond the wildest imagination of many. Individuals pray and seem to cast out demons, and yet others who see this consider and claim that they place demons in.

The preoccupation with prayer has mobilized many individuals and reached across the denominational boundaries. The appeal, and overwhelming success, of the interdenominational movements like AD 2000, which are gaining broad acceptance among churches of all faiths, with ‘prayer’ as their main engine, awakens interest in the Adventist in particular. Prayer as it is being molded today, with the backing of all the denominations, has the best chance, of all ecumenical efforts, to become the effective interdenominational glue. Theological barriers, which to this day may have been in the way, can now be forgotten. Most people believe that God hears man’s prayers. This belief alone offers a great reason for all denominations to unite.

This movement and the like, though seemingly innocuous, embody a very difficult problem for Adventism. As the denominations unite in harmonious pleas for peace, we will have to ask ourselves: "Can we have spiritual unity with a community of individuals who do not believe as we do. Can we put our differences aside and engage in one great harmonious prayer for peace, for the benefit of all?"

Global plans are being formed to engage more and more people into the circle of prayer, for the good of the world. Do we belong in that community? Is ‘peace’ and ‘peace with error’ the objective of the Christian? Is the difference between these important? Looking back at the devastation of the two World Wars, all appearances seem to say "Yes!" to peace, in general. To answer these questions properly, however, we need to be informed. We need to be better informed about prayer and man’s ideas of ‘peace’ and what they may entail.

On the average, prayer is poorly understood. In heart to heart conversations, most people admit that they have many questions about prayer. Deep studies, of this subject, can becloud, rather than reveal new insight. Many a student asks: "What is prayer if God knows what we are thinking, anyway?" "How does true Godly prayer work?" This latter question is possibly the most asked question of all and all theories about prayer, without fail, entertain explanations and justifications of how and why this and that method works or not. Many individuals want to know how to pray effectively. In this book we will ask these questions, but we will explore the issue of prayer backward, first. We will ask what prayer is not. Subsequently, we will also discuss what prayer is.

Though it is often preferred to explore the good and leave the other alone, due to the overwhelming influx of new ideas, we are compelled to look at both sides. As we slow down and inspect the goods, received from our information highways, we want to give particular concern to marginal ideas, which can be understood in different ways by different individuals. To be sure that the quality of our study passes the test, we need to question ideas, which are advanced without the backing of Scriptures, or truth. Scriptural, surprising, strange and heretical views will be studied. To understand contemporary error, however, I promise you, your mind will be stretched and tested:

Matthew 24:24 ... there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders: insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect.

Since clear statements can be tested against the word of God, error has had to adapt. Rather than depending on clearly defined ideas, error is best introduced by implications or subtleties in reasoning. Ideas are suggested indirectly rather than stated clearly, but this trickery rarely lasts for very long. Eventually the hidden meanings become visible in the light of truth. In the works of error, the Scriptures and inspired works are often made to say things, which they were never meant to say. We live in times where things are not always what they seem to be and care needs to be given to discerning the true.

Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer. Evangelism, 590 The devil is a great deal smarter than you are, and you cannot see what he is driving at. Manuscript 8b, 1891; Manuscript release 213 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Satan is changing colors all the time. In the music world, the lyrics have progressed from good to suggestive, to offensive lyrics. From there, they went down to subliminal and finally to lyrics with covert implications, understood by the initiates and forcefully implanted into the unsuspecting listener’s mind. Music is a powerful medium to reach people. Lyrics, set to music, tend to make profound and lasting impressions. If given the opportunity to explore other aspects of the Christian experience, do you suppose that Satan would hold back? Satan has perceived the advantages, which prayer brings to the believer? Regretfully, some Christians are naïve enough to think that this is not how Satan operates. It often seems to me that few really wonder about this. The truth is that prayer has been under severe attack from the beginning of man’s fall. Forms of prayer are so many that one could write a voluminous book and not cover them all.

In this study we will explore ideas about prayer and ask the hard questions with a fresh new perspective. To be sure that we do not step on questionable ground, I would like to point out that no amount of intellectualizing will reveal either God or his mysterious workings. The truth is revealed in the heart. It is not an exclusive domain of the mind, though reasoning is critical in this endeavor. To pursue this study without the explicit invitation of God's Spirit would be similar to challenging a rhinoceros with a toothpick in an open field. Take a moment to ask for His assistance on this subject.
 

Chapters....