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 Dear
Bro. Turner:
Please explain MAT.6:8. Must we pray with
the voice (audibly) or is there a verse for silent prayer?
G.M.
Reply:
Jesus
has condemned praying "to be seen (and heard) of men",
and the use of "vain repetitions" — as though we
would be heard via volume. So when he says, "Your Father
knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him;" he
is emphasizing that the object of prayer is not to give God
information but to ask His blessing. Expositor’s Bible
puts it well: "Pray always as to a being well informed and
willing, in few words and in faith." Jesus does not condemn
much praying (LUK. 11:8;18:1-1) nor even using the same
words (MAT. 26:44) but insists our prayer be a genuine petition,
to God and not unto men. Those who ask, "Why pray, if God
knows—?" come dangerously close to intimating that God
has to have our information. God said to pray (cf. JAM.4:2), and
that should be reason enough.
Private
prayer need not be audible (cf. GEN. 24:42-45; ISA. 1:12-15) for
the "instrument" of prayer is the heart. We "call
on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 TI. 2:22). God knows
our heart, the innermost sincere desires of our spirit (ROM.
8:26-27), so that a prayer which is not truly "in
faith" is exposed. (MAR.11:23-24)
I’m
afraid some think of prayer as a sort of formula for obtaining
blessings (say the right words, push the right buttons) rather
than the close, intimate communion of child to parent which God
wants it to be.
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Dear
Bro. Turner:
Why is not more done to take the gospel to
dark places of the earth? Will we be lost for so failing?
G.R.
Reply:
First,
the "dark place" may be in our neighborhood. There
will never be the right kind of interest in foreign work
until concern for the untaught and lost in the next block is
more in keeping with the Lord’s will. Some erroneously attach
a glamour to "far off" work that is unrealistic. It is
just as hard to approach and teach a social and intellectual
equal in some foreign land, as it is here.
A
chief reason why more is not done, abroad and at home, is our
failure to recognize the true nature of sin (as being
"against God") and its awful consequence, death (See
p.5.). If earthquakes or tornadoes strike, here or far away, we
go all out to send material relief — as we should. But a
trusted gospel preacher may have difficulty getting support to
take them the gospel. We believe they need food and
clothes, and we are compassionate. Are we unconvinced
concerning their spiritual needs?
There
are some valid reasons why brethren take a greater interest in
needs closer home ("where we can be a part of and check the
work"), but it has been my experience that genuine
soul-saving interest "at home" will interest us in far
away places. Don’t confuse pride-soothing "number-
getting" with hunger for lost souls. I do believe that in
order to save my own soul, I must seek others.
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