Do you pray for your neighbors?

[thatbrian]

On what grounds would they file for an order? And how would they find out? As for Christ's teaching, how much different is this from praying in a corporate (church service\prayer meeting) setting? The only people who would know is the organization giving you the information.

Filing for a restraining order was a hyperbolic statement used as a rhetorical device to help make a point. That point is, I think that my neighbors would think the whole thing creepy.

I would ask you to try to step as far back, for perspective, as you can, and do your best to put yourself in your neighbor's shoes. Then watch the video with their eyes.

If I were not a Christian and saw that video, it would offend me. It would offend me because it shows my Christian neighbor with an agenda for me, not a love for me. Yes, of course, our prayers for our neighbor's salvation can be a loving act, but when there is an ulterior motive, even a good one, people are put off by that and feel like things rather than people.

 

[thatbrian]

I don't think that's where he was going with that particular verse. I think he was saying by registering with the site you are making public that which Christ says should be private. I could easily be wrong. So, I'm standing by for his correction.

Yes. You are right about my meaning. That's what I'm saying.

 

[thatbrian]

Rev, what you just posted is a non-sequitur. It's almost midnight Eastern time. Let's wait until Brian get's home after the AM service to see what he has to say.

To give a little more explanation of my earlier posts here, I think that praying for the salvation of your neighbors is a great thing. It's wonderful; however, what I saw from the video on the website in question turned my neighbor from a person into a project, and that's what I think would offend him and cause him to see my prayer for his salvation as something less than a loving act.

My hope is that love for my neighbors, which is demonstrated in acts of service to them, and for no other reason than I love them, would cause them to ask me about myself and allow me the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

HOWEVER, my love for neighbor means that if my neighbor needs help fixing his roof, I help him fix his roof for no other reason than that he needs help fixing his roof so that his family is safe and warm.

 

[Revmitchell]

Is my agenda in praying for my neighbors that they get saved? You bet it is. Is there some shame or wrong to go with that? Absolutely not. I can love my neighbors and have an agenda to pray for them at the same time. One does not cancel out the others. The criticism of this is so wrongheaded and just plain weird that it is difficult to address. It seems some people just like to find fault and criticize. I doubt this is much more than that.

 

[JPPT1974]

God loves us to pray for people. Whether friend or foe, right or wrong. As remember Jesus prayed for the Roman soldiers making fun of Him while dying on the cross for our sins so we can have eternity.