You’re in the grocery store and see a husband and wife walking down an isle. They appear to have two children, a young girl and a young boy. The boy is obviously handicapped and in a wheelchair, but he seems happy. Behind them, is another family, a woman and her little girl. Being a good Christian, you look around you, and decide to approach one of the families and ask to pray for them. Be honest, who would you choose?
2007-06-11 03:57:45 · 33 answers · asked by Sarah 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ People with Disabilities
i think i,ll not go to anyone of the two,
and also i,ll pray for the 2 families in my prayer without telling them.
any one can do that, not only the good christian.
i,m muslim
2007-06-15 10:27:45 · answer #1 · answered by sherief_1983 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you need to ask which family to pray for, you don't yet have a true understanding of Christianity. And you should never actually approach people directly - that is prideful, showing off how "religious" you are. It says in the Bible to "pray in secret, where your Father alone sees you."
If you come across people you feel need prayers, keep them in mind and pray for them later; they don't need to know you are praying for them. Of coure I am paraphrasing, but it also says in the Bible that if you do things like that in public, you have received your reward then, from man - if you do your praying in secret, you will be rewarded by God.
The reality is you don't know anything about either of the 2 sets of people you describe. For one thing, just because someone is in a wheelchair doesn't automatically mean he is unhappy. The little boy may be quite content in life - or maybe he was having a good day in a very difficult life. The woman with the little girl may be very content in their lives also - or they may have a lot of difficulties. The point is you can't just look at people and make the decision by yourself that they need praying for any more than other people do.
If you truly want to be a good Christian, pray for all people when you are doing your "nightly" prayers or in church or whenever it is that you spend a long time in prayer. During the day, as you come across people, be kind to all, reminding yourself that you don't know what their lives are like, what problems they may be going through, even if at that moment they look happy. No one person "deserves" your prayers any more than someone else. Christ didn't make any distinctions when He helped or prayed for someone. He treated everyone as equals. Try to emulate His behavior. I sense you are, deep inside, a caring person who wants to do right, so I suggest you read the 4 Gospels more and you will eventually grow into a better Christian - we never stop growing.
2007-06-11 15:24:16 · answer #2 · answered by palemalefriend 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
i dont think there should be a choice if you was to approach : then go with what your heart tells you just b/c someone is in a wheelchair doesnt mean the family behind them is not going through tribulations they're selves but once you get home if that is set into your heart and that bothers you then pray on it the answer will come and i dont realy agree with just walking up to people and wanting to pray with them you might scare them or offend them and it does seem rude
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2007-06-18 22:58:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Though I use a walker at home, I'm in a wheelchair when leaving the house. Like someone else said, I would feel very creepy if someone approached me and asked to pray for me. Why would you want to ask anyways? If you want to pray, then just pray for someone. If you came up to me and asked, I'd be offended that you thought I "needed" prayers. And to top if off, I'm an atheist, so I would just be amused that you felt that your prayers would do something for me :)
2007-06-11 23:18:48 · answer #4 · answered by Rebecca M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would pray for the single parent with the little girl. The boy who is handicapped is apparently well adjusted with both his parents while being a single parent myself, things can be tough, even buying groceries. Instead of just praying for them, give them a gift of monetary means, actions speak louder than words.
2007-06-19 08:06:26 · answer #5 · answered by Janie C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would you go up to someone and ask if you could pray for them?
If you wish to pray for a person do it, you don't have to approach someone and ask them.
Also people with disabilities are people, so when talking about someone who is disabled, you should always refer to them as a person, not handicapped or wheel chair bound, that is stating the obvious and can offend the person.
If I was forced to choose who to pray for either family, I would not pray for anyone. Because we can pray for anyone at any time, and should not be made to choose someone over another. They both may be deserving of a prayer.
2007-06-11 11:29:36 · answer #6 · answered by Georgie 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Id never approach anyone and ask if i should pray for them...
Though i would pray for both..bearing in mind im not a Christian and theres no limit or rule that says u can only pray for one or once a day.
Theres no where written that if i wanted to pray i could do it for only one person or only one prayer a day..
Hope u got what i mean.
Cheers!!
2007-06-19 07:13:38 · answer #7 · answered by redcorals 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a good Christian you WOULDN'T approach any of the families and ask to pray for them - this is NOT good Christian manners to go and assume that they need prayers.
Why would you have to pray for them? What does having a child with a disability necessitate you to offer prayer for them? Do you feel that having a disability in a family means that they are suffering?
If you REALLY feel you need to pray for them - go ahead. But don't go up and ask to pray for them. Remember what Jesus said about don't go blowing trumpet ahead of you and do good deeds in secret because God will reward you in secret.
And what are you going to pray for? To make the person with a disability better? I have a friend who believes in God and he prays - but he also knows that he was born with a genetic condition which makes him the way he is and no amount of praying will cure him. He KNOWS he will die from the disease.
Many people - disability or not - believe in God . But disability is not about God or "suffering". Things in life happens. Accidents - which results in disability, happens. People get on with life. Some deal with it better than others. But to go up to someone with a disability and say that you will pray for them is very patronising and presumptuous
2007-06-17 03:17:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Both Families.
2007-06-15 17:32:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. A "good Christian" doesn't run around showing off like that. I focus my efforts on acutally DOING things that will actually help people. Your actions are your only real testimony.
BTW: its "person with a disability using a wheelchair." And that's not just PC--one phrase has a derogatory connotation, the other does not. What you posted is the equivalent of saying "a N--r" instead of black person or African American.
2007-06-11 07:36:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I am not sure who I would pray for on the day. Some disability are hidden so you can't see them. Is the little girl sad or autistic. Or does she have down syndrome.
Maybe she has a heart problem.
It hard to say who I would pray for without been there.
2007-06-11 20:28:58 · answer #11 · answered by jobees 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋