Most groups-- life groups, classes-- have something like this; a time for prayer requests and praises, and recorded by someone who sends them out by email or text or the web page.
Certainly many of these are legitimate and directly involved with the person making the request. But is this something that can be used to put some kind of 'holy exception' on passing gossip or boasting about how well we know someone and their situation, or how many people whose situations we know about? I wonder about that when I see or hear the same ones in a class who often dominate the prayers and praises time. Is it less about caring and more about displaying how we are "in the know?"
I am led to ask this because I may have done it myself this morning. I responded by text to 2 requests that had been put out that way this week, then I added my own about a friend who had some exploratory tests done this week after having to leave work after passing out. But she is the same one who I made a request for a few weeks ago for her ongoing health problems in other areas. In both cases I cleared it with her before I put her name out, but I had also let the class know that I have tried to get her to be part of our online class and so far she hasn't. So my question to myself: am I really keeping 'publicity,' per se, about her going by repeated mention of her, with that 'holy' excuse that she has real needs healthwise?
Have you ever questioned your own motive(s) as to why you really bring somebody up for a prayer request or praise report? Do you suspect it in others?
Certainly many of these are legitimate and directly involved with the person making the request. But is this something that can be used to put some kind of 'holy exception' on passing gossip or boasting about how well we know someone and their situation, or how many people whose situations we know about? I wonder about that when I see or hear the same ones in a class who often dominate the prayers and praises time. Is it less about caring and more about displaying how we are "in the know?"
I am led to ask this because I may have done it myself this morning. I responded by text to 2 requests that had been put out that way this week, then I added my own about a friend who had some exploratory tests done this week after having to leave work after passing out. But she is the same one who I made a request for a few weeks ago for her ongoing health problems in other areas. In both cases I cleared it with her before I put her name out, but I had also let the class know that I have tried to get her to be part of our online class and so far she hasn't. So my question to myself: am I really keeping 'publicity,' per se, about her going by repeated mention of her, with that 'holy' excuse that she has real needs healthwise?
Have you ever questioned your own motive(s) as to why you really bring somebody up for a prayer request or praise report? Do you suspect it in others?