What's the point of praying for others?

[Spartacus]

You need to chill.

Unless you want to actually discuss the matter at hand, you need to get out of this thread (and that goes for everyone). Each sub-forum here is intended for a different kind of conversation, which is also part of the reason you see limits on who (atheist/theist/Christian) can participate in certain forums. Some, like Xianity 201, general theistics, and Civics, are designed as catch-alls for stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere. If you have a better idea for the title of the sub-forum for old-fashioned arguments about predestination, feel free to suggest one, but do it somewhere else, like the padded room or a PM to a moderator.

If anyone needs to chill here, it's me, not Sparko.

[Sparko]

Are you praying for empathy? Or if you don't specifically ask for empathy, what are you asking for, and do you still hope for empathy as the primary outcome?

I pray for the person's well being. something along the lines of:

Dear God,
You know _____ better than I do, so you know what they need most right now. I pray that you will help them to find their way, and help them achieve what they need to achieve. I also pray that they will find you along the way and find peace and comfort in their lives.

--

Just a general prayer for them. Wishing them well.

I find after a short while, I genuinely want them to do well, and begin caring about them. Thus the empathy.

My ultimate goal is to not be angry with the person, and to see them the way God sees them, and to love them the way God loves them.

Lev 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Matt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

[Spartacus]

I pray for the person's well being. something along the lines of:

Dear God,
You know _____ better than I do, so you know what they need most right now. I pray that you will help them to find their way, and help them achieve what they need to achieve. I also pray that they will find you along the way and find peace and comfort in their lives.

--

Just a general prayer for them. Wishing them well.

I find after a short while, I genuinely want them to do well, and begin caring about them. Thus the empathy.

You're praying for their happiness, but are you actually looking for that, or an increase in your empathy? If increased empathy is a side effect of prayer, that's one thing, but if it's "the point," then it seems to me we should change the way we go about praying.

[Sparko]

You're praying for their happiness, but are you actually looking for that, or an increase in your empathy? If increased empathy is a side effect of prayer, that's one thing, but if it's "the point," then it seems to me we should change the way we go about praying.

I edited my response.


My ultimate goal is to not be angry with the person, and to see them the way God sees them, and to love them the way God loves them.

Lev 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Matt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

And I that helps me genuinely want the best for them, and care for them.

I think prayer is a way to align our will with God's will. To help us be more like Jesus.

[One Bad Pig]

What, specifically, do you pray for regarding the people you debate?

Nothing specific. At the Great Entrance, the priest prays this prayer:
' May the Lord God remember in his kingdom his All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch (N), Archbishop of Constantinople, our Most Reverend Metropolitan (N) (Our God-loving Bishop (N)) , the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, the monks and nuns and clerics of the Church, the honorable government of our country and its armed forces, the blessed and ever-remembered founders and benefactors of our churches, monasteries, the sick at home, in hospitals and institutions, our brothers and sisters who suffer persecution for the Holy Faith throughout the world, our civil authorities and the Armed Forces of this nation and may the Lord God remember in His Kingdom the souls of His departed servants, the ever-memorable founders of this church (N) and the departed servant(s) (N) and all you Orthodox Christians, and those we now call to mind, may the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always now and ever and forever."

The bit in italics (which my priest adds to the traditional form) is where I call them to mind.

I also sometimes pray that I would see Christ in them; we are all an image of Christ, no matter how deformed.

[Spartacus]

I edited my response.


My ultimate goal is to not be angry with the person, and to see them the way God sees them, and to love them the way God loves them.

Lev 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Matt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

And I that helps me genuinely want the best for them, and care for them.

I think prayer is a way to align our will with God's will. To help us be more like Jesus.

So why don't you just ask for that directly?

[Sparko]

So why don't you just ask for that directly?

I do. But part of it is praying FOR the person, not just for me. If I merely pray "God help me to love them like you do" but don't actually pray or care for them, then how selfish is that? Do you think God will answer such a prayer? He wants us to practice what he teaches and to learn to care for others. We do that by praying for them, and doing things to help them.

[Spartacus]

I do. But part of it is praying FOR the person, not just for me. If I merely pray "God help me to love them like you do" but don't actually pray or care for them, then how selfish is that? Do you think God will answer such a prayer? He wants us to practice what he teaches and to learn to care for others. We do that by praying for them, and doing things to help them.

Actively caring for them I can see, but why is it important to pray for them in order to show we love them?

[Cow Poke]

Actively caring for them I can see, but why is it important to pray for them in order to show we love them?

Serious question, Spart --- is this a genuine honest thread, or is this part of your "trolling is fun" fascination? It's why I haven't participated yet.

[Sparko]

Actively caring for them I can see, but why is it important to pray for them in order to show we love them?

I never said you had to pray for them in order to show you love them, did I? Go back and read what I actually said.

[Spartacus]

Serious question, Spart --- is this a genuine honest thread, or is this part of your "trolling is fun" fascination? It's why I haven't participated yet.

If I was just trolling, I wouldn't have gone beyond the SB discussion. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to try to figure out what forum to put the discussion in.

[Sparko]

Serious question, Spart --- is this a genuine honest thread, or is this part of your "trolling is fun" fascination? It's why I haven't participated yet.

yeah I am wondering the same thing.

[Sparko]

If I was just trolling, I wouldn't have gone beyond the SB discussion. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to try to figure out what forum to put the discussion in.

Then why do you keep asking dumbass questions no matter what anyone says, like a kid asking "but, why?" no matter what anyone tells him. And showing that you haven't actually read a thing I wrote?

[Spartacus]

I never said you had to pray for them in order to show you love them, did I? Go back and read what I actually said.

If I merely pray "God help me to love them like you do" but don't actually pray or care for them, then how selfish is that?

You said that not to care or pray for them when praying for greater empathy is selfish. How exactly am I mis-reading you?

[Cow Poke]

If I was just trolling, I wouldn't have gone beyond the SB discussion. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to try to figure out what forum to put the discussion in.

I saw how it came from SB, Spart.... and please forgive me for not believing, but I think you have a tendency to argue just for the sake of arguing. This is an INCREDIBLY important subject to me, and I have just had the feeling you're "playing". When I saw your "trolling is fun" comment, it seemed to support my suspicion.

Again, I'm sorry if I am misjudging you on this, but something inside me says you're just playing.