The Validity of Prayer

Will Pastor Brunson’s prayer in the Oval Office be answered?  He prayed for Donald Trump and for Donald Trump alone.  [Religion which is individualistic or exclusionary is inherently fraudulent].  He did not praise God very much.  He did not pray for the world at all, nor did he pray for America (except an America under a Trump presidency), or for enemies, or the poor, or the persecuted.   He prayed that God might provide the president with “supernatural wisdom to accomplish all the plans you [God] have for this country and for him.”  [It is the essence of human sin for man to boast of the power to discern what is good and what is evil, and thus be like God. (Genesis 3:5]. What are God’s plans for this nation?  Do you know? Does Pastor Brunson know? Does Mr. Trump know? Do you know what supernatural means? What are God’s plans for Donald Trump?   The pastor prayed that God would give Mr. Trump “perseverance and endurance and courage to stand for truth.”  I would much rather he prayed that Mr. Trump might tell the truth.   He prayed that God might “protect” Mr. Trump, “from  slander, from enemies, from those who would undermine.”  Undermine what?  Mr. Trump’s agenda, or God’s?  That divide between God and Mr. Trump isn’t made very clear in the prayer, but the division that exists in America just now is made very clear.  Are the “enemies” those who simply undermine Mr. Trump?   Does this imply that to oppose Mr. Trump is to oppose God?

Mr. Brunson’s prayer: “Lord God, I ask that you pour out your Holy Spirit on President Trump, that you give him supernatural wisdom to accomplish all of the plans you have for this country and for him. I ask that you give him wisdom in how to lead this country into righteousness. I ask that you give him perseverance and endurance and courage to stand for truth. I ask that you protect him: from slander, from enemies, from those who would undermine. I ask that you make him a great blessing to this country. Fill him with your wisdom and strength and perseverance. And we bless him. May he be a great blessing to our country. In Jesus’ name, we bless you. Amen.”

I’m being far too critical of Mr. Brunson’s prayer, I know, and of Mr. Trump as well.  But we must be careful what we pray (if we believe in the validity of prayer).  With the Apostle Paul we must pray as we are inspired to pray (our emotions, enthusiasms, hopes, dreams, etc.) but we must also pray intelligently; we must sing hymns as we are inspired to sing, but we must sing intelligently too (I Corinthians 14:15).

There is nothing wrong with praying for the President of the United States or for our nation.  I pray every morning, being careful not to construe the Christian faith as an American, or as a Democrat or a Republican.  You do know, do you not, that Christianity exists elsewhere and is not the sole property of America? How we pray, what we pray, and to Whom we pray is important.