I see this all the time, people putting up their personal prayers on social networking sites like Facebook, and I wonder if God now has a facebook account.

For example, my facebook friend updated this: "Lord I need ur grace in ds 2013, lots of decisions to mk, Jesse or David, which is d ryt man for m? NYSC, Abakaliki or Jigawa......... ­.. !"

So the question is: Is There Anything Wrong With Praying to God on Facebook? Why do you think people put up their private prayers on social sites??

Good afternoon sir,

I believe this is common sense really. If one put up a prayer on facebook, he or she is indirectly asking friends to pray for his or her prayer point.

I believe this is quite effective really cause he can reach as many people as possible that way apart from those he or she would ask personally (i.e face to face). Why not join him or her in prayer?

Thank you!

striktlymi: Good afternoon sir,

I believe this is common sense really. If one put up a prayer on facebook, he or she is indirectly asking friends to pray for his or her prayer point.

I believe this is quite effective really cause he can reach as many people as possible that way apart from those he or she would ask personally (i.e face to face). Why not join him or her in prayer?

Thank you!

But how will more people praying on an issue make it more likely to be answered by God?

Can 1 million ppl move God to answer a prayer if 1 didnt and why would God answer the 1 million if he didnt answer the 1.

Atheist:-D:


But how will more people praying on an issue make it more likely to be answered by God?

Can 1 million ppl move God to answer a prayer if 1 didnt and why would God answer the 1 million if he didnt answer the 1.

Good evening Sir,

It is our belief as Christians to do things in common. A problem or an issue of one should be the problem or issue of all. I believe firmly that God answers every prayer. Some he says 'Yes', others he says 'No'!

If God intends to answer a prayer in the affirmative, there are factors that can delay the response. One of such factors can be the sin of the individual or the level of faith of that individual.

If the individual Christian has one or more forms of hindrances to his or her prayers, it is still possible for the prayer to be answered swiftly because of the faith and good works of another.

Think of a parent who has, say 3 kids! One does not really please him as he or she should but the other two are quite close to him. If the individual who is not really in his favour wants something from the dad, it might take a while for the dad to grant that request if the individual goes alone. But if the other two pleads this individual's case, the dad might be swift to answer for the sake of the other two.

Same analogy can be applied in this case.


Thank you!

striktlymi:

Think of a parent who has, say 3 kids! One does not really please him as he or she should but the other two are quite close to him. If the individual who is not really in his favour wants something from the dad, it might take a while for the dad to grant that request if the individual goes alone. But if the other two pleads this individual's case, the dad might be swift to answer for the sake of the other two.

Same analogy can be applied in this case.


Thank you!

Still confused!!!!! So God intended to delay the prayer being answered but changed His mind because others prayed?

Bear in mind we do not know if God will answer any prayers. Ppl just believe He will. So if a father made a decision not to grant a favour to a child before a certain time (and it was a just and right decision) the parent should not change their decision no matter how much pressure is applied by the other siblings. It is an inherent flaw in us emotionally. We should not be easily swayed by pressures and merciful pleading. We should be just and appropriate we should also punish fairly and stick to decisions like that.

The only time we can change such a decision is if new evidence comes to light to change our perspective of the situation.

This is a behavioral problem. It is why too many xtians (especially in Nigeria) are so immoral. They believe that if they sin they can guarantee forgiveness by running to as many pastors, friends and other ppl to combine and pray. That this can "force Gods hand" and get God to forgive them.

striktlymi: Good afternoon sir,

I believe this is common sense really. If one put up a prayer on facebook, he or she is indirectly asking friends to pray for his or her prayer point.

I believe this is quite effective really cause he can reach as many people as possible that way apart from those he or she would ask personally (i.e face to face). Why not join him or her in prayer?

Thank you!

Ok sir, but I do not agree with you. Putting up a whole private prayer on facebook is not the same as asking brethren to pray for the person involved. If a christian wants somebody to pray for them, normally the request is direct and straight to the point. A situation whereby a prayer that was supposed to have been made privately is now broadcast in public comes across to me as a tendency to seek then attention of Man instead of that of God.

Well Sir Atheist, I understand the point you tried to make but really it has little or nothing to do with emotions or a change of heart.

It is more like setting a standard. Just like one saying if you do A, B, and C, then you can get D. The standard for prayers to be answered swiftly (if in the affirmative) has been set already.

One major ingredient is faith (belief). I am not talking about the faith so many of Christians proclaim these days. An active faith is backed by action. In sacred scriptures we are meant to understand that our faith is seen through actions.

If one fulfils the requirement of faith then the persons prayers will be answered swiftly. But in the event that the individual has not met this much needed requirement, it is permitted that the faith of some other person can help achieve this requirement.

An individual's prayer can remain unanswered because the standard has not been met. It's just like saying that one will only pass an exam if he or she gets a mark that is not below 50 percent. Until this mark is achieved the individual will continue to fail. But in this case, it is permitted for some other member of the community to help this individual attain this minimum requirement.

In the case of fogiveness of sin! Well sir, God can't be made a fool of. So many people get the wrong impression about the forgiveness of sin. One's sin cannot be forgiven if the individual doesn't have true sorrow for the sin committed and also a firm resolution not to go back to this sin again. There is also the ish of making restitution. No matter the number of 'men of God' this person runs to, if these elements are not there the person is wasting his or her time.

Thank you and sorry for the legnthy post!

omicron: Ok sir, but I do not agree with you. Putting up a whole private prayer on facebook is not the same as asking brethren to pray for the person involved. If a christian wants somebody to pray for them, normally the request is direct and straight to the point. A situation whereby a prayer that was supposed to have been made privately is now broadcast in public comes across to me as a tendency to seek then attention of Man instead of that of God.

Good morning sir,

You should realize that the intent of people for doing something similar like posting a "private prayer" on FB is different. Some do it, like you said, to attract attention but this is not to say that everyone does it for exactly the same reason.

Attention here, would denote something a bit off. In the sense that the individual is not saying a sincere prayer. But if we take a cursory look, whether or not the intention is from a sincere heart or not, the bottom line is that almost anything posted in a social networking site like FB is directly or indirectly seeking for attention.

Without attention then the purpose of posting is defeated. If for example the intention is to make friends aware of your prayer point and the individual is sincere about this, then it would be useless if the attention of friends is not gotten.

Anyways, I believe that intentions for doing something defers. People who post prayer points on FB might be sincere in their resolve or not and I personally do not have an issue with it.


Thank you!

The last time I checked God is ominipresent even on fb

striktlymi:

Good morning sir,

You should realize that the intent of people for doing something similar like posting a "private prayer" on FB is different. Some do it, like you said, to attract attention but this is not to say that everyone does it for exactly the same reason.

Attention here, would denote something a bit off. In the sense that the individual is not saying a sincere prayer. But if we take a cursory look, whether or not the intention is from a sincere heart or not, the bottom line is that almost anything posted in a social networking site like FB is directly or indirectly seeking for attention.

Without attention then the purpose of posting is defeated. If for example the intention is to make friends aware of your prayer point and the individual is sincere about this, then it would be useless if the attention of friends is not gotten.

Anyways, I believe that intentions for doing something defers. People who post prayer points on FB might be sincere in their resolve or not and I personally do not have an issue with it.


Thank you!

Well, I respect your opinions even as I may not agree with them. But, if I may ask, for sake of further clerifications, does posting personal prayers on facebook not go against the principle of praying as described by Jesus in Matthew 6 : 5-6? Remember, by personal prayers I refer to prayers one is saying for oneself and not for any other.

chukwudi44: The last time I checked God is ominipresent even on fb

Thanks for the contribution. Yes, God is omnipresent and is everywhere but we do not go out on the streets and start praying for ourselves. Since facebook and indeed all social sites are equivalent to the public, do you not think that saying our prayers there amounts to saying our private prayers out on the streets? If you agree with my analogy above, do you still think it is right for christians to make prayers in that way? Thanks

striktlymi: Good afternoon sir,

I believe this is common sense really. If one put up a prayer on facebook, he or she is indirectly asking friends to pray for his or her prayer point.

I believe this is quite effective really cause he can reach as many people as possible that way apart from those he or she would ask personally (i.e face to face). Why not join him or her in prayer?

Thank you!

I dunno what kind of explanation you are trying to invent here for your cohorts. I bet you do it too, hence you defend them

Anyone that puts private information on a social network is one of the two;

A. ill-informed on how social networks operate and the dangers involved in divulging private information for the world to see
B. An attention seeking wh0re

I bet my money on B

omicron: Well, I respect your opinions even as I may not agree with them. But, if I may ask, for sake of further clerifications, does posting personal prayers on facebook not go against the principle of praying as described by Jesus in Matthew 6 : 5-6? Remember, by personal prayers I refer to prayers one is saying for oneself and not for any other.

Good evening sir,

I am of the opinion that the passage of sacred of scriptures you quoted:

"5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 6 But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."

is really not against praying in public, neither is it against people posting prayer request in public. What that part of sacred scriptures is against, is praying to please people i.e praying out of hypocrisy. This can be seen readily in some Christians who in order to please the crowd, make big and ostentatious gestures while praying for the purpose of people believing that they are "Prayer warriors".

It is however possible for one who posts his or her prayer online to do this out of hypocrisy but this is not to say that everyone who does this is guilty of hypocrisy. Some persons are sincere in their resolve while some others are not.


Thank you!

striktlymi:

Good evening sir,

I am of the opinion that the passage of sacred of scriptures you quoted:

"5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 6 But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you."

is really not against praying in public, neither is it against people posting prayer request in public. What that part of sacred scriptures is against, is praying to please people i.e praying out of hypocrisy. This can be seen readily in some Christians who in order to please the crowd, make big and ostentatious gestures while praying for the purpose of people believing that they are "Prayer warriors".

It is however possible for one who posts his or her prayer online to do this out of hypocrisy but this is not to say that everyone who does this is guilty of hypocrisy. Some persons are sincere in their resolve while some others are not.


Thank you!

Ok. But you tend to mistake actually saying prayers on facebook with making prayer requests. I'm sure you must have seen what I actually mean by saying prayers on facebook, when people apparrently address their posts to God, in Jesus name, without making any requests to their friends for prayers. That is where i feel goes against the verses cited. Then, true, the verses do not mean all prayers said in public are made out of hypocrisy. But we do not go out in the public to say our private prayers, except when we do that as a member of a christian gathering. In the same vein, should we not also not go out in the (online) public to make our supplications known to God? Thanks

omicron: Ok. But you tend to mistake actually saying prayers on facebook with making prayer requests. I'm sure you must have seen what I actually mean by saying prayers on facebook, when people apparrently address their posts to God, in Jesus name, without making any requests to their friends for prayers. That is where i feel goes against the verses cited. Then, true, the verses do not mean all prayers said in public are made out of hypocrisy. But we do not go out in the public to say our private prayers, except when we do that as a member of a christian gathering. In the same vein, should we not also not go out in the (online) public to make our supplications known to God? Thanks

Evening again,

Yes, not every prayer said in public is borne out of hypocrisy, the example I gave refers to those who say these prayers in order to please people.

Now the intention of the individual who posted his or her prayer online is the key factor here. The individual need not ask people to join him or her in prayer out-rightly for the intent to be same. Remember that God knows the heart of every man and every sin or good deed emanates from what we have thought about. If the intention of the individual is pure and sincere then there is nothing wrong with posting the prayer online.

The passage of sacred scriptures you quoted really does not condemn praying in public (whether private or public prayers). What Christ was simply trying to teach was the need for us to make sincere prayers. The method of prayer really is not what is in question here. We have seen books written by "Men of God" where seemingly personal prayers are made public but it does not in any way mean that this is against the principles of Christianity.

Thank you!

^^^^
Well, thanks again. I think I agree with your last comments, especially that sincerity is what matters in such contexts. No person, except God, can determine who is truly sincere in words or actions. Yet, I wonder what will make a Christian to "sincerely" pray on facebook (for himself, and not for others), thereby prefering the social community of facebook to the quietness of his home or the sincerity that is most expressed in the silence of his heart? What is the sincerity in acting (knowingly or unknowingly) as though we are praying to God, when in fact we are 'praying' to our facebook friends, only to get the 'rewards' when the 'comments' and 'likes' keep pouring in as responses to such 'prayers'?

omicron: ^^^^
Well, thanks again. I think I agree with your last comments, especially that sincerity is what matters in such contexts. No person, except God, can determine who is truly sincere in words or actions. Yet, I wonder what will make a Christian to "sincerely" pray on facebook (for himself, and not for others), thereby prefering the social community of facebook to the quietness of his home or the sincerity that is most expressed in the silence of his heart? What is the sincerity in acting (knowingly or unknowingly) as though we are praying to God, when in fact we are 'praying' to our facebook friends, only to get the 'rewards' when the 'comments' and 'likes' keep pouring in as responses to such 'prayers'?

Yea, God knows best!