"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."" -Matthew 21:22
That single verse suggests that, no matter what is asked for, it will be received if you believe.So, why not ask for world peace or an end to disease and pray for something useful?According to this verse, it will be received and so I expect to see an end to war and disease.Ok?
2007-06-22 06:30:23 · 14 answers · asked by Demopublican 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I see a lot of answers rationalizing why this verse can't always be true.If that is the case why doesn't the verse say "you shall only receive what you ask for sometimes"?
2007-06-22 06:41:35 · update #1
Wait . . . so . . . what some of you are saying is that this passage is open to interpretation, but there is no question about what the Bible says on homosexuality?
2007-06-22 16:05:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is an old saying, "Never wish too hard for something, you're just liable to get it." I don't believe that God says no to some prayers and yes to others, based solely on whether or not one believes. Why would He? Where does that leave those who believe and yet still do not get what they ask for or need? If one is a true believer and asks for a million dollars, is this a legitimate or logical request? It might depend on the circumstances and the reasons the request is made. The million dollars might not show up in the person's bank account, but perhaps the knowledge to acquire the money in a legal manner will come to them. Not every request can result in a positive outcome. If one received all that one requested, what would be the purpose in life? The response is never NO. It is simply that we are to choose our own path to find that which we seek. It is also perhaps too literal to translate the verse as meaning that we will receive whatever we ask for. One could surmise that this is a reference to receiving the gifts pertaining to enlightenment and spirtuality, as opposed to material things or those things over which there is no control.
2007-06-22 13:50:07 · answer #2 · answered by Darke Angel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By analogy then, ambulance drivers should be arrested for driving over the speed limit because there are signs posted that say "Speed Limit 'x' Miles Per Hour". What the verse and the sign have in common is that they are both high context messages, that is, they only intend to state the general rule, not the exceptions to the rule (since those in the same society would already be familiar with them). Unless you understand how people in the Ancient Near East communicated (and to some extent still do), then you'll interpret the bible from the entirely wrong perspective.
2007-06-22 14:26:14 · answer #3 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The verse just prior to that one reads...
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
We know that we cannot physically move a mountain by pure thought. Jesus was teaching that through faith and prayer, you will receive rich blessings and God will provide for you. Prayer is a more personal matter than what you have stated.
2007-06-22 13:39:49 · answer #4 · answered by TG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your child begged and pleaded you to please put a poisonous snake in his crib, would you do it?
God hears the prayers of his children, but he will not give
someone something that will be a problem for them either now or in the future.
Also, keep in mind that when we ask for a prayer to be answered, it may be that by God answering that prayer, that
it would have a direct impact on the prayer or life of another person.
You need to remember that you are not the only one praying.
2007-06-22 13:38:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because you don't see immediate results doesn't mean that he's not answering your prayer. I'll give you an example.
My 4 year old son, wanted to go to the park the other day. We always walk to the park that is 1 block away. So he know that route.
He asked me if we could go to the park and i said yes, but i decided to change a bit and go to a different park that's much bigger although it's about 15 minutes away.
My son cried all the way there. Saying "why don't you take me to the park... i want to go to the park..." i tried explaining to him that we were on the way to the park but he did not realize it and shut up until we got there.
you see the whole time we were on our way there, he just couldn't see it until we got there.
2007-06-22 13:37:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
People who expect to receive what they pray for will not remain faithful for very long, because they'll quickly figure out it doesn't work.
This inevitably leads to Christianity being practiced almost exclusively by people who have a very poor understanding of statistics.
2007-06-22 13:38:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Did you not see Bruce Almighty? Not everyone can win the lottery on the same day. AND sometimes it is better not to get what you ask for...
Ahh, the war thing... its that pesky free will thing rearing up again....
2007-06-22 13:34:03 · answer #8 · answered by dedum 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it were that easy .....Read more, you'll see that not everything is to be taken lightly.
The Bible is a book that if you are not prepared to read can be misinterpreted, try sharing point of view with other people, maybe the pastor at your Church, etc.
2007-06-22 13:35:58 · answer #9 · answered by Samantha 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, but you only receive it IN prayer. So if you dream of a boat, you get that boat -- in your dream. If you believe.
2007-06-22 13:39:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋