Comments on: When Prayer Doesn’t Work

By: Dave Faulkner

Dave Faulkner — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:57:51 +0000

Don’t worry, I love bookshops! Too much, sometimes! And yes, there is a distinction to be drawn between ‘brands’ and denominations.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:22:23 +0000

Sorry Nick, I wasn’t implying you had a commercial interest! In fact the opposite, I think it’s refreshing that a bookseller like you warns against consumerism! Good for you. And I aint anti-bookshops either! After all, I do make a teensy weensy bit of money from them too

By: Nick Collins

Nick Collins — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:12:34 +0000

Dave – right again! Which is why we now have consumer driven churches where the CEO – sorry, ‘pastor’ admits openly, “We go the consensus route”.

Totally antithetical to the Gospel!

Confession: yes, I do run a bookshop. We fall between two stools, ministry and commerce. Some of the books we stock make me cringe. Even worse is to go to a publisher’s breakfast and see the drivel being churned out. Still, there are excellent books that I DO push, because I know they are good for people. In the same way, I urge people to use Echinacea, rather than antibiotics, because it works. And I DON’T have any commercial interest there!

By: Fiona Veitch Smith

Fiona Veitch Smith — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:20:17 +0000

Is this where Nick admits he runs a book shop? While the brand story is funny, I’m not completely against the concept of denominations. Some people are more naturally ‘at home’ with certain ‘brands’ or strands of Christianity. I remember once when I was speaking to someone about God and they were interested to know more, I knew they would be more comfortable at a different church from the one I attended (somewhere quieter!) so I suggested they try that out rather than mine. They liked it and, as far as I know, continue to attend.

By: Dave Faulkner

Dave Faulkner — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:13:00 +0000

Thanks, Nick! Consumerism permeates religious faith, and not only in the literal selling of goods, such as the music and book industries, although you are right there. I recall seeing a book being flogged (sorry, ‘promoted’) at a bookstall with the tag, ‘This indispensable book’. I thought only one book qualified for that description.

However, we are consumerist in our view of church, for example. If church doesn’t give me what I want or demand, I’ll complain and/or go elsewhere. There is a true story of the boy who asked his Dad, ‘Which brand is our church?’

Thanks again for raising the subject, Fiona.

By: Nick Collins

Nick Collins — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:20:46 +0000

Dave Faulkner – you are right! The problem with prayer as with so much else (the ‘Christian’ music and book industries for instance) is the ‘consumerist attitude’.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:30:33 +0000

that is a sobering thought Karen. Speaking as a person who tends to gravitate towards the ‘insular’ as you so well put it, I need to make sure I’m not demanding something of God that I’m not prepared to do myself. Thank you.

By: Karen G

Karen G — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:18:06 +0000

This is really a challenging topic for me, but listened to a sermon lately based on Isaiah 58. What became very apparent to me was when we cry out to God, yet ignore what lies on our doorstep, God won’t hear our prayers. For when we are not attending to the community and injustice that is all around us we become insular and self serving and very little of what we do is in God’s will.

By: Fiona Veitch Smith

Fiona Veitch Smith — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:10:33 +0000

Hi Karen, thanks for stopping by. I suppose I should point out in case some people take offence that by formulaic prayer I don’t mean liturgical prayer – sometimes there can be great freedom in praying a liturgy.

By: Karen Hall

Karen Hall — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:06:41 +0000

It’s really hard when there is something you desperately want and think you NEED in your life but God doesn’t seem to be answering. But you are right – one person’s prayer answered could mean something negative to another person. How right that we should find what is good for us by talking to God. I am discovering this more and more through Spiritual Direction after years of formula prayer and the growth is good. Nice one Fiona!