R. Albert Mohler Jr.'s Blog, page 216

Friday, June 29, 2018

A political earthquake in New York as Democrats continue their leftward marchNew York Times (Shane Goldmacher and Jonathan Martin) — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Defeats Joseph Crowley in Major Democratic House Upset

Why it’s significant that a deep red state like Oklahoma voted to legalize medicinal marijuanaForbes (Tom Angell) — Oklahoma Voters Legalize Marijuana For Medical UseVox (German Lopez) — Oklahoma voted to legalize medical marijuana

Orthodoxy of the sexual revolution questioned in one of the nation’s most influential magazinesThe Atlantic (Jesse Singal) — When Children Say They’re Trans

Is everything biological or is nothing biological? Examining the biological basis of transgenderismWashington Post (Alex Barasch) — Biology is not destiny

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How Not To Pray: Two Correctives from Christ

This article is an excerpt from my book, The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down: The Lord’s Prayer as a Manifesto for Revolution . This post is the second in an eight part series on the Lord’s Prayer. 

As a Christian, do you want to learn how to pray more faithfully? Do you need to learn more about prayer? One of the greatest gifts Christ gives us is instruction in prayer. Interestingly, it was the disciples who asked Jesus to teach them. Luke 11:1 tells us that the disciples came to Jesus and made a clear request: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” It is also incredibly interesting that when Jesus honored the disciples’ request, he first taught them how not to pray.

Sometimes, before we can really understand how to do something important, we have to understand how not to do it.

 

Before You Pray: A Few Things Jesus Wants You to Remember

Do Not Pray Like the Hypocrites

The first thing Jesus tells us as we prepare to pray is “do not be like the hypocrites.” Jesus condemns all forms of hypocrisy but here he is speaking of a very specific, public hypocrisy. As we have seen, this display of hypocrisy is one that seeks personal attention for piety. Jesus explains the interior motive of these types of hypocrites: “they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

Of course, historically, Jesus is referring to the ostentatious prayers of the Pharisees, but we need to see this as a temptation for ourselves as well. You and I can easily succumb to the temptation to engage in hypocritical prayer that is about God in its formal address, but far from him in terms of the posture of our heart.

Jesus not only spells out what he does not want his disciples to do, but also what they are supposed to do: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Having a private prayer room can of course be a very useful tool for personal devotion to God. Yet Jesus’ teaching here does not suggest that the primary issue is architecture. The idea in this passage is seclusion. The real issue is not so much where you pray, but praying in secret so as not to parade your piety in front of others.

When we pray in isolation, we pray because we are seeking communion with God. In that isolation we find that true prayer is going to happen because we are not posing or posturing. The result of praying like this is a reward from the Father in heaven. The Father who knows what is done in secret will reward those who pray in secret.

Do Not Pray to Impress

The first corrective Jesus offers is that we should not pray to impress people. The second corrective Jesus offers is that we should not pray to impress God: “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” God is not looking for long words, long prayers, and mindless repetition. We do not impress God with how great our prayers are. Jesus warns not only against the Pharisaical, hypocritical prayers; he also warns against the prayers of the pagan Gentiles who thought that they would be heard for their many words. They piled up meaningless phrases in meaningless repetition…

We find something similar in 1 Kings 18 at the battle of the gods on Mt. Carmel. The Pagan priests were furiously repetitive in their prayers and labored to get the attention of their gods, so much so that they even lacerated their bodies to attract their gods’ interest in their activity. Elijah used this as an opportunity to give a little theology of prayer. Due to Baal’s utter lack of response, Elijah mocked Baal’s priests by saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” Then Elijah demonstrated that God is not impressed by our many words. His prayer was simple: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

Matthew 6:8 is one of the most important verses in order to understand the Lord’s Prayer: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” If we come to understand that our Father knows our needs before we ask him, then far from leading us away from prayer, our prayer lives will be utterly transformed. We will see a sovereign God who is ready and able to answer our prayers, and who directs all things for our good and his glory. A solid biblical theology of God informs how we understand what we are doing when we come before his throne of grace with our requests and needs.

To read more, purchase your copy of The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ChristianBook.com.

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Thursday, June 28, 2018

How Justice Anthony Kennedy became one of the most singularly important figures in Supreme Court historyNew York Times (Michael Shear) — Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy Will Retire

In yet another victory for free speech, Supreme Court rules public-sector employees can’t be forced to pay dues to labor unionsSupreme Court of the United States — Janus v. State, County, and Municipal EmployeesWashington Post (Robert Barnes) — Supreme Court rules against public unions collecting fees from nonmembers

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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Supreme Court reinforces authority of the executive branch, upholds travel banSupreme Court of the United States — Trump v. HawaiiNew York Times (Adam Liptak and Michael D. Shear) — Trump’s Travel Ban Is Upheld by Supreme Court

In 5-4 decision, Supreme Court rules that coerced speech at crisis pregnancy centers violates First AmendmentSupreme Court of the United States — National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. BecerraNew York Times (Adam Liptak) — Supreme Court Backs Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers in Free Speech Case

Why pro-abortion groups completely ignored the main point argued by the Supreme Court in free speech caseNew York Times (Andrew R. Lewis) — In Becerra, Conservative Christians Win With Liberal Legal Arguments

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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Why according to a biblical worldview civility is not just a political necessityNew York Times (Peter Baker and Katie Rogers) — In Trump’s America, the Conversation Turns Ugly and Angry, Starting at the TopCNN (Jamie Ehrlich) — Maxine Waters encourages supporters to harass Trump administration officials

Obsessed with death: Secular society forced to search for meaning when confronted with the reality of mortalityNew York Times (John Leland) — The Positive Death Movement Comes to Life

Supreme Court punts on one of the most important issues facing the court this yearAP (Mark Sherman and Jessica Gresko) — Supreme Court passes on new chance to take on hot issues

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Monday, June 25, 2018

A modern-day sultan? Examining the the re-election of President Erdogan and the trajectory of TurkeyNew York Times (Carlotta Gall) — Erdogan’s Plan to Raise a ‘Pious Generation’ Divides Parents in Turkey

Canada becomes second nation to legalize marijuana. Will Canadians be satisfied with government-regulated pot? Wall Street Journal (Paul Vieira) — Canada to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use in Mid-OctoberNew York Times (Dan Bilefsky and Catherine Porter) — Canadians Brace for Cultural Changes as Marijuana Becomes Legal

Why moral change is almost always accompanied by changes in languageNew York Times Magazine (Carina Chocano) — ‘Inappropriate’ Behavior Could Mean a Faux Pas — Or a Crime

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John 1:1-12

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Friday, June 22, 2018

A deeper look at ecumenical movement as Pope Francis goes to Geneva to mark the 70th anniversary of the World Council of ChurchesReuters (Philip Pullella) — Pope, in Geneva, urges Christians to break down their barriers

Is disunity a greater scandal than the scandal of abandoning doctrine and accepting theological minimalism?Wall Street Journal (Francis X. Rocca) — Have the Culture Wars Killed Christian Unity?

‘Such were some of you’: Why language really matters — and always matters — in the discussion about same-sex attraction and sexual desire — Revoice ConferenceThe Gospel Coalition (Kevin DeYoung) — Words, Labels, and ‘Sexual Minorities’

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Thursday, June 21, 2018

Without human dignity there are no human rights: The real story behind the U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. Human Rights CouncilWall Street Journal (Jessica Donati) — U.S. Withdrawing From U.N. Human Rights CouncilThe Atlantic (Krishnadev Calamur) — The UN Human Rights Council Is a Deeply Flawed Body

What the dissolution of the American family has to do with the prevalence of fear and despair among American teenagersNew York Times (Jan Hoffman) — Sex and Drugs Decline Among Teens, but Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Grow

Why gang violence overtaking a Maryland middle school is an indictment of the entire nationWashington Post (Michael E. Miller) — ‘A ticking time bomb’: MS-13 threatens a middle school, warn teachers, parents, studentsNewsweek (Michelle R. McPhee) — MS-13: How an FBI Informant Risked Death to Bring America’s Most Brutal Gang to Justice

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Wednesday, June 20, 2018

What exactly is a pregnant man? The Christian mandate of clarity in the wake of mass delusionNew York Times (Denise Grady) — A Family in Transition

Looking for the light that shines through even the deepest confusion

Too important to be excluded? Theological relativism on display as remains of Stephen Hawking interred in Westminster AbbeyNew York Times (Stephen Castle) — Stephen Hawking Enters ‘Britain’s Valhalla,’ Where Space Is Tight

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