Is it even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?

[IceAndFire1328]

Iwould like to start a new thread based on this article. The original can be found at:

http://biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm
(Use by permission of author)

Isit even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?​

It isnot uncommon for a Christian to ask other Christians to pray for the salvationof someone they are concerned about. Although this concern for the person’s eternal destiny is commendable,is it Biblical; will God answer these prayers?

If youwere to survey Christians with this question, you would get a large variety ofanswers ranging from “Yes, of course. God desires that we intervene on the behalf of others,” all the way to,“Definitely no; what ARROGANCE!!!!”

Afterdoing a great deal of research on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusionthat there are two main reasons why people feel we should not pray for someoneelse’s salvation. They are:

1. Wedon’t have the right to make that type of decision for someone else

2. Godhas never instructed us to pray for the salvation of others

[NOTE: I did not include the rest of the articlebecause of its length. The authorcontinues on and addresses the two points listed above. Please go to http://biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm tosee the rest of the article.]

 

[Goober]

Nothing wrong with praying for some one.
Not like this though.

Pray for You - Jaron and The Long Road to Love :: Official Video - YouTube

 

[DaSleeper]

I wonder if this guy has ever met "French patriot" or "greatest I am"? :lol:

They must be typing on the same computer because their posts contain the same glitch ..wordsthat runtogether .....a lot.;-)

 

[Dexter Sinister]

1. Praying for people isn't making a decision for them, it's asking god to do something for them. Presumably the answer might be no, though if god has the characteristics usually ascribed to him there's no point in praying for anything, he already knows what's going to happen and your intervention isn't going to change it.
2. People do a lot of things god didn't explicitly instruct them to do, and conversely, don't do a lot of things he DID instruct them to do because they're illegal in any civilized society. Examine Leviticus and Deuteronomy for some examples.

 

[Goober]

1. Praying for people isn't making a decision for them, it's asking god to do something for them. Presumably the answer might be no, though if god has the characteristics usually ascribed to him there's no point in praying for anything, he already knows what's going to happen and your intervention isn't going to change it.

But you are unsure.

2. People do a lot of things god didn't explicitly instruct them to do, and conversely, don't do a lot of things he DID instruct them to do because they're illegal in any civilized society. Examine Leviticus and Deuteronomy for some examples.

Jesus taught us to pray- Must be a reason for it.

 

[Cliffy]

I wonder if this guy has ever met "French patriot" or "greatest I am"? :lol:

They must be typing on the same computer because their posts contain the same glitch ..wordsthat runtogether .....a lot.;-)

But it is missing the double video posts. Personally, I think it is FrenchPatriot's alter ego or one of his other personalities taking over his keyboard.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

But you are unsure.

So? Praying won't make the person doing it any more sure of what's going to happen.

Jesus taught us to pray- Must be a reason for it.

The reason for praying is to give yourself the comforting illusion of doing something useful when there's really nothing you can do. Both Matthew and Luke say explicitly, "ask and it shall be given." It should be obvious to any thinking person paying attention to the real experiences of life that this is false.

 

[Spade]

Let me think this through...I can persuade the gods they've made a wrong decision...help me with this one, because I don't have a prayer on my own.

 

[Sal]

Let me think this through...I can persuade the gods they've made a wrong decision...help me with this one, because I don't have a prayer on my own.

omg that is so bad...

 

[Goober]

So? Praying won't make the person doing it any more sure of what's going to happen.
The reason for praying is to give yourself the comforting illusion of doing something useful when there's really nothing you can do. Both Matthew and Luke say explicitly, "ask and it shall be given." It should be obvious to any thinking person paying attention to the real experiences of life that this is false.

Can you prove that I am wrong? Nope. Thank you though.

Let me think this through...I can persuade the gods they've made a wrong decision...help me with this one, because I don't have a prayer on my own.

Ah minor correction - singular not plural might be a good start eh.
And yes the post is funny. You do have a way with words.

omg that is so bad...

No, funny as hell. I mean heck.

 

[karrie]

Oh we could have all sorts of nitpicky word fun with this one.

If I have to pray for your salvation, then at some point, I've assumed that without MY help, you're going to hell. So, I've judged you. Which is a bad thing.

So, if I'm praying 'for your salvation', that makes me a judgy beyotch.

Now, if I'm praying for your health, your safety, your prosperity, your energy.... that's one thing. But your salvation? That's an out of line ego trip.


And Dexter, look at the proven health benefits of meditation. Prayer isn't useless, even if it doesn't bring about the desired outcome

 

[damngrumpy]

I know some will cry foul but I don't do much in the way of praying, it sound like
begging God for something, if he is there he knows what is needed.
In the time one spent praying they could solve their own problem
By the same token, those who want or feel the need to pray no harm done

 

[Goober]

I know some will cry foul but I don't do much in the way of praying, it sound like
begging God for something, if he is there he knows what is needed.
In the time one spent praying they could solve their own problem
By the same token, those who want or feel the need to pray no harm done

Well I pray for people who are having difficulties. I also give thanks for what I have been blessed with.

 

[SLM]

Oh we could have all sorts of nitpicky word fun with this one.

If I have to pray for your salvation, then at some point, I've assumed that without MY help, you're going to hell. So, I've judged you. Which is a bad thing.

So, if I'm praying 'for your salvation', that makes me a judgy beyotch.

Now, if I'm praying for your health, your safety, your prosperity, your energy.... that's one thing. But your salvation? That's an out of line ego trip.


And Dexter, look at the proven health benefits of meditation. Prayer isn't useless, even if it doesn't bring about the desired outcome

I get that, the judgement piece, and not that I'm one for prayer myself (so what do I know really), but if the person who's doing the praying regards salvation as the ultimate gift/reward whatever you want to call it, is it solely an ego trip? I suppose I still look at as 'well wishing' in a way. I'm assuming that if someone is praying for my salvation, that means they care if I'm saved.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Can you prove that I am wrong? Nope. Thank you though.

Not my problem, the burden of proof is on those making claims for the efficacy of prayer, and until they provide it the default position is to reject them.

 

[Goober]

Not my problem, the burden of proof is on those making claims for the efficacy of prayer, and until they provide it the default position is to reject them.

Nope, not up to me. Free will. I am not one to screw with Gods decision on Free Will. Nope, not me, no way Jose.:smile:

 

[darkbeaver]

As usual we haven't defined prayer. In fact there ain't a one of us that don't pray many times a day.

It's a very cold morning you ------ and then you turn the key. That truck to my right will it go right through the stop sign and me. Just one more bite I know the big trout is there. I wish I was taller. Ever buy a lottery ticket?

 

[Goober]

As usual we haven't defined prayer. In fact there ain't a one of us that don't pray many times a day.

It's a very cold morning you ------ and then you turn the key. That truck to my right will it go right through the stop sign and me. Just one more bite I know the big trout is there. I wish I was taller. Ever buy a lottery ticket?

10,000 greens for that critical observation of human nature.

 

[darkbeaver]

Religion is not the realm of knowledge, or even of thought, but purely of belief, as for the masses. Belief in its efficacy as miracle may be generated by presumptive evidence, the faith and testimony of others, or the lavish promises of the Scriptures for wonder-works in response to faith and prayer. Religion’s emphasis on faith, as distinct from knowledge is its charter as a cult of belief. Faith of this sort is always looking for God to produce a marvel. Most of the psychic endeavor that goes with this sort of religion is bent toward the business of cajoling deity, through prayer, into some special demonstration of his beneficent supervision of the world. There are specific ritualisms, or cult practices designed to engage this special attention of deity. Prayer is the most usual resort. Ancient tribes instituted elaborate ceremonials, rituals or customs ostensibly to invoke the favoritism of their god. How far the super-intelligent modern man may be above crudities of the sort, when he still presumes to gain living refreshment and divine grace by eating the essence of the body and drinking the blood of his God may be a question.THE ULTIMATE CANON OF KNOWLEDGE

 

[Dexter Sinister]

And Dexter, look at the proven health benefits of meditation. Prayer isn't useless, even if it doesn't bring about the desired outcome

Prayer is an attempt to communicate with a supernatural being. That's useless, there's no evidence anybody or anything is listening, but it may have beneficial side effects for some people.