What do you think of this answer? I'm stunned.?

Question

Original Question: "Why is it that when asked why God doesn't answer the prayer of a handicapped child begging to be healed...?"

Answer: "The child is praying for the wrong thing. Praying selfishly NEVER works. In this case the child should be praying for the strength to overcome, not to be cured. The strength to overcome obstacles would be a cure in this situation."

...

Question: Is it "selfish" for a small trusting child to ask their loving daddy to take away their agonizing pain?

Follow-up Question: Should Christians forgo morphine prior to surgery because they need to learn to overcome adversity and stop being so selfish?

Answer 1

My answer to the follow-up question: Yes they should. Also applies to people of other faiths who share the same mentality.
I am liking the way you think. Quite brilliant.

Answer 2

Well, the person who answered that way was SORT OF right. Let me clarify:

There is nothing wrong with the child, or anyone else, praying for someone else's or their own healing. It's not selfish, even in the least bit.

However, as another answerer said, we can't see the whole picture. Only God can, if He exists (which I believe He does.).

Let me tell a little story. It's pretty short. A couple weeks ago, my husband and I were taking his mother to the airport. Along the way, I noticed that in the distance, I could see a hill on which a small village was placed. I could tell that it was absolutely POURING rain over there. However, on the other side of the autobahn, to my left, the sun was shining, and the clouds were being swept away.

That made me wonder if sometimes our lives aren't like that. It's POURING rain on us, but can we see the sunshine heading our way?

Anyway, if a person cannot be healed by a normal medical procedure, then obviously that province is left to God. If the person is not healed, then there is another purpose behind it. We see as "through a glass darkly." We can't see our possible past, present or future, nor can we see the impact that our various choices have had on others' past, present and future.

I've had a lot of pain in my life, but I realize WHY I've had it. That's the most important thing.

As for your second question, about forgoing morphine, I don't think that's relevant. If something CAN be healed by human hands or a human mind, then it should be. If pain can be prevented by others, other than God, then it should be. However, if it can't be, there's a higher lesson to learn.

Answer 3

I totally agree with the answer to the first question, but I would not say it is wrong for the child to pray for being physically cured. He can pray for both. Miracles do happen.

Second question: I would say no. It is normal for child or anyone to pray to God that a family member be healed from physical or emotional pain. Selfishness means when you want something for your own personal gain, and by putting someone else at a disadvantage. This is not case here.

The third question: I would also say no. I can't see the connection between morphine and adversity or selfishness.
Adversity is much more than physical pain.

Answer 4

I am agnostic and not really religious by any means. But I do see the good in religions.

To me, praying does not work on its own. I do not believe you can pray for help or pray to overcome and it will work. I do however believe that if a child wants to pray to get better, the child should pray for the strength because anything that gives a disabled child hope, is good. If a disabled child prayed for strength and it helped the child to believe that she/he can overcome their disability, that is great.

As I dont believe in pretty much anything that has to do with religion, I do know that praying to overcome, and not for an outcome, can inspire people to get better instead of just asking for all of it to be taken away. One thing I have heard that is a good thing to be stressed by religions is that god only helps those who help themselves. If people believe this, then they will help themselves and get through tough times because they feel they are not alone and have a hand helping them through so they wont fall back down.

Religion is an amazing thing when it is treated the right way. If people would stop trying to take religious concepts in their own interpretation and just follow the teachings about being good, respectful, honorable, etc then the world would be better.

Answer 5

The man in a way was right. We do not see all of the puzzle. We (including me) tend to look at things on the earth and then complain when we should be glad to be given the chance at life in the first place. I have my struggles and in a sense also pray for "selfish" things.

What the man was trying to say that maybe God has a plan for the child being that way. We don't know, we haven't finished the puzzle yet, God has. The man that answered was saying in an indirect way that the kid should be praying for God to show him, His will and what the purpose behind the handicap, and if it could in some way be used to further the kingdom of God and not sit back and complain, (like we all do when things are rough, myself included).

It is not selfish, but once again there could be some greater purpose behind this. I have had points in my life and it was really really bad, but i am out of that pain now and i see the purpose that God used that for. I now have the opportunity to help others free-themselves so to speak from that situation.

To your follow-up question. Should we even have surgery?

Answer 6

I agree , Is it wrong to ask to be healed ? I think not . Will God actually do it ? I don't know , he works in mysterious ways .
Maybe that child will benefit somehow as that child gets older or science will find a way to do it . but it definitely is wrong to say such a thing . You can pray for yourself as well as praying for others . That's why when you pray alone , its a direct connection to your God , and honestly -- you can ask him for anything , as long as you know he sees the heart and not the words

Answer 7

Kind of true. The child should understand that prayer isn't going to cure his condition. He should pray for strength but I don't think he was being selfish.

Answer 8

Typical. And people wonder why Christians make me lose my temper on a regular basis. Of course, this is the religion that says a little baby who dies unbaptized is going to burn in hell. My Lutheran grandmother actually believed this. To me this is such vile evil that I can't comprehend it.

And yes, from now on, no more surgical anesthesia for Christians who are mad enough to even say such things. Strap 'em down and go to work. They can pray to overcome.

Answer 9

it is not selfish no. but in like fassion the father must rely on the childs ability to heal GOD dose heal and the father dosent alwayse help the baby but he must suffer the agony with him. and as for the last morphine is seldome used in surgery anymore and GOD dose command us to seak a healer and for us to go as far as we can and HE will bring us the rest of the way

Answer 10

Of course that was rubbish and it sounds like a name it and claim it faith movement follower getting it wrong to me. I could tell you more of what I think about this situation but I'm not sure about the condition or your understanding of it.