Seeing people say "Prayer won't help"

[Lamb]

On social media, or comments on news articles, I often see people say "Prayer won't help" and it's mostly when there is discussion of a shooting or gun control.

My question is, how would YOU respond to people who say that? They obviously don't trust God to help.

 

[Frankj]

Ask them how they know that and what they mean by it.

People saying these things are usually deniers of God and his value in life and profess worldly solutions based on the wisdom of men in place of Godly ones based on the wisdom of his word that has been given to us.

You might point out that all these senseless mass shootings, particularly school based ones, have taken place since 1963 and were rare before that, leading to the question of what changed in 1962 that has led to them.

There are also two Gods that people pray to, the God that is as he is and the God that we wish he was instead, praying to the former gets results and praying to the latter leaves us empty of them.

 

[tango]

On social media, or comments on news articles, I often see people say "Prayer won't help" and it's mostly when there is discussion of a shooting or gun control.

My question is, how would YOU respond to people who say that? They obviously don't trust God to help.

In many ways it's not an entirely unreasonable comment. You hear news of a tragedy and the first thing that happens is that everybody and their dog piles on to say "sending thoughts and prayers", as if it somehow turns back the clock and brings back the people who were killed. Of course clamoring for more gun control won't bring back the deceased either.

If people don't believe God exists it's hardly surprising that they don't trust God to do anything and, given they can objectively point to the undeniable fact that God didn't protect their loved ones from being randomly slain, they can present a reason for their distrust that is perfectly valid in their eyes. In a situation like that it's probably futile to talk about concepts like Romans 8:28 with them because in the moment they probably don't see any way that having their child shot at school can turn into something good.

Maybe at times like that the best thing to do is pray for them silently and, if you're personally connected to the situation, just sit with them and let them grieve in their own way. Caring for someone in practical ways speaks louder than quoting Scripture at them while ignoring their pain.

 

[jswauto]

On social media, or comments on news articles, I often see people say "Prayer won't help" and it's mostly when there is discussion of a shooting or gun control.

My question is, how would YOU respond to people who say that? They obviously don't trust God to help.

Yes, I remember hearing that on the news, about a shooting, and somebody announcing that prayers won't help. I can't remember the exact shooting, but it was a recent one.

How can you answer such a preposterous comment? How about:

-That's a preposterous comment, And I absolutely won't follow it.

-It's probably the only thing that can truly help. Especially in the case of death.

-It's not up to you (the person making the comments, that is).

-Whether I pray or not, what's that to you?

Is it required to announce it or pray audibly for it to be effective? No, absolutely not.

The situation is: a calamity happened somewhere and you're pouring out your heart, as the Lord leads you, to touch people, in most cases, you have no idea anything about them except they've been injured in some fashion. You just pour out your heart, and the Lord takes care of the details.

 

[psalms 91]

Point out that prayer is the only thing that will help. God can change the minds and hearts of people and only He kknows what will do it so yes prayer is the answer

 

[Vindicator]

On social media, or comments on news articles, I often see people say "Prayer won't help" and it's mostly when there is discussion of a shooting or gun control.

My question is, how would YOU respond to people who say that? They obviously don't trust God to help.

I tend to allow the faithless their unbelief so as not to "push" them in the direction they apparently don't want to go.

But if I felt compelled by the Spirit of God to answer them, I would tell them that answered prayer is at the heart of the Christian experience. As Jesus told the disciples "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." It is one of the things that confirms our relationship with God is real, not that all prayers will be granted, but John also said "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us." I would first make the point that answered prayer is one basis of a genuine relationship with God, and then go on to cite numerous examples in my own life of when he answered mine, going back to when I wasn't even saved yet but simply calling to Him to help me as a child.

 

[Forgiven1]

I look at these comments that the speaker doesn't seem to understand what prayer is for the Christian. That while prayer does change the overall incident that happened, iwe are asking that God protects those who survived and gives comfort to the survivors , the families of those killed and to guide the investigation.

Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to respond to people saying this. I do cringe when I read this and pray they come to an understanding of God and what prayer means.

 

[Lamb]

I look at these comments that the speaker doesn't seem to understand what prayer is for the Christian. That while prayer does change the overall incident that happened, iwe are asking that God protects those who survived and gives comfort to the survivors , the families of those killed and to guide the investigation.

Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to respond to people saying this. I do cringe when I read this and pray they come to an understanding of God and what prayer means.

I've seen Christians try to say that prayer won't help, and since I believe prayer is for the survivors, I guess I never really thought that they meant it was for those who were killed.

 

[torial]

There are a few different perspectives that could motivate that view:
a) A theological view (like the phrase "prayer doesn't change God, it changes us"). For this I often cite Moses' intercessions, as well as Ezekiel 22:30.
b) There are also people who say this as a rhetorical device -- usually they want their "solutions" to be pushed through and want to dismiss out of hand other solutions. I think praying for those people is the best you can do. They are not yet ready to have a real discussion on the efficacy of prayer.
c) Those that were brought up w/ a scientific materialism approach, and this can be done by showing certain prayers are proven efficacious if done by certain groups -- and others are not. The key is understanding the methodology of the underlying study -- like who were the participants. Otherwise the ineffective prayer studies are just glossed over as applying for all groups when they really don't (like witch doctor prayers are treated equivalent as Christian ones, when that was not really what was being studied).