Do Prayers work on global issues?

TomS · Post by **TomS** » Tue 8 June 2004 9:47 pm

Posted in a discusson over at OC.net concerning the impact of Reagans policies on the fall of the USSR.

Let's not forget the prayers of Orthodox Christians in Russia and abroad which were made unceasingly during the Soviet period. I believe those prayers certainly had a lot to do with the fall of the godless regime.

And let us not forget the prayers of Catholics in Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, etc. I believe that their prayers aslo had something to do with the fall of Soviet Communism.

My response --

Bah! Prayers had nothing to do with it. If God truly listened to the prayers of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and Eastern Europe communism would have fell long ago. Not to mention all of the prayers of the Orethodox and non-Orthodox throughout history to stop any godless and cruel regime.

Prayers don't work when it comes to global issues (and maybe not even personally!)

God has his own agenda.

What do you think about prayers relating to global issues? Does God only deal with personal prayers? Historically, it sure does not look like they work on global issues.

尼古拉前执事 · Post by **尼古拉前执事** » Tue 8 June 2004 11:40 pm

God's will be done we should pray. Things usually happen for a reason, IMO, and often a reason we cannot understand. If we pray against God's will then he will say no. God sometimes says no to prayers although we may not be able to understand why.

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 9 June 2004 11:55 am

Tom,

I would respectfully disagree. Perhaps this isn't "global," but what about the prayers in the Old Testament when the enemy was about to conquer Israel, or in Byzantium? I totally agree with you that God's will will be done, regardless of our own prayers... but I still don't think prayers are worthless even for global situations.