NO MORE CHARGES FOR PRAYERS

The recent Easter holidays, as anticipated, were what teens would call ‘lit.’  And it does not get any better than the National Prayer Service and the good words of wisdom we got from there.

One of the most interesting topics was the issue of making people pay for prayer or healing.
This has been a thorn in many fleshes, literally, for a while now. Churches by their nature have never been known to charge for anything.

But off late some even have speed points. Well if it helps for convenience for the offering, it can be acceptable but not to pay for a prayer. This is a church not a supermarket.

There is now also a thin line between going to some pastors and going to a doctor.
Both need appointments, consultation fees as well as service (prayer) fee. What has happened to us and the world?

I have never paid for a prayer. I do not pay for items I can access for free. It is also baffling why someone would.
There is no scripture I know that prescribes how much to pay nor advices churches to charge.

appointment

Renowned preacher TD Jakes once noted, “why are Christians flocking to make an appointment with a pastor or a bishop for a prayer when you can simply go to their boss who is God.
With God you do not need to make an appointment.”

Sadly though over the years, in line with the global evolution of things towards what we now call a microwave generation, people want things instantly. They want an ATM God. A place where they can instantly withdraw blessings. However, some are not willing to put in the basic deposits of righteousness, prayer, faithfulness and serving.

So instead of what seems like the long route they go for what is called the five loaves and two fish gospel. You bring the little you have to a certain pastor and he multiplies it.
Interestingly though one time while on a study trip in Germany we toured a medieval church. Inside this church was a giant statue of Mary.

gifts

Not sure which Mary because I hear there were three Marys in Biblical times. But the three Marys is not the topic for today.
So on this giant statue of this Mary was lots of gold and many valuable things hanging on her. She was covered in gifts.

Next to her was a little wishing well. You throw in a coin, make a wish on anything and in time it was said to come true. 
Typically most of us on this trip rushed to dip our one Euro there silently wishing for all things materialistic.

The host said the things covering the statue were from people whose wishes or prayers, if you want to call them prayers, had come true.
He said the people would come back and thank the statue for making their dreams come true by giving it gold.

So when this whole phenomenon of five loaves and two fish gospel resurfaced I recalled that moment.
That times like these have come to show us that times like these have been there before.

prayers

Personally I have as much concern on the pastors as I do on the people who actually pay them.
Not sure if you want to call the people who charge for prayers pastors though.

In other circles I am sure Bachelor of Commerce students or graduates would have a better name for these pastors. Whatever the case it’s a situation of willing buyer willing seller.

There is an interesting Chinese Proverb that states, “He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is halfway there. He who blames no one has arrived.”

In context these are people who feel whatever problems they face are due to other external circumstances than either themselves and not nature taking its course.

rescue

They are refusing to do self-reflection but rather want pastors to rescue them.
These pastors are saying okay what you want me to do now is something you should be doing yourself but since you are making me do it for you pay me then.
But two wrongs do not make a right. Hence I really like our country’s great leader and every time he takes to the pulpit he leaves a mark.

During Easters His Majesty King Mswati III discouraged the charging for prayers or healing saying Christians must not be charged for both.

Pastor Warren, the only human I have ever seen run backward blind-folded, supported the statement from our wise leader quoting a very powerful scripture.
1 Peter 5 vs 2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve.” For me that just sums it all up.

While at one hand one seems to understand the tedious nature it could be to have to pray for dozens of people, thereby it is seemingly like being at work, it is not a job as the verse suggests but you are willingly serving.
One theologian says thinking of prayer as a mechanism to compel God’s action presents several difficulties.

miracle

And we have seen them and see them daily on our newsfeeds on social media with miracle pastors claiming to raise people from the dead only for that to be exposed as otherwise.

The theologian states: “Instead of seeing prayer as a method of asking God for something we want (even if that something is good), maybe we can use prayer as a way of opening up ourselves to God.
Prayer can become a means of connecting us with the divine ground that is the essence of existence.”

One hopes that indeed those pastors who were charging will adhere to the noble call not to charge desperate people seeking prayers and deliver these prayers for free as part of serving. As for me, I will not pay for anything that has no price tag that was long paid for us on the cross.

Our communication with God has no data or airtime charges and thankfully His line is never busy nor does He bluetick anyone.

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