4. 5 : 22-28
Prayer is not to be used as a confessional to cancel sin. Such an error would impede true religion. Sin is forgiven only as it is destroyed by Christ, — Truth and Life. If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is made better merely by praying, prayer is an evil. He grows worse who continues in sin because he fancies himself forgiven.
In the Christian churches I went to in my youth, I was taught that I could sin as much as I wanted and then when I felt I needed a clean slate I just needed to ask forgiveness. I went years doing that, and with time I realized that was just foolish and stopped praying.
Now, with what I am learning about Christian Science at this church, to know that “Desire is Prayer” (S&H) helped me through those old beliefs. If I spend 99.99% of my time desiring garbage, I am therefore praying for it, so how could I be upset when I received what I desired and prayed so earnestly for? And why would I have expected 0.01% of my activities to override all the rest?
To instead desire and pray and work to truly change makes so much sense! And with Christian Science, this is actually happening. I am so grateful to be here! Thank you!
Susanne
174 posts
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Location: United States
10/27/2015 10:37
Re: Desire is Prayer
(S&H) helped me through those old beliefs. If I spend 99.99% of my time desiring garbage, I am therefore praying for it, so how could I be upset when I received what I desired and prayed so earnestly for? And why would I have expected 0.01% of my activities to override all the rest?
What a great point, Jeremy! Thank you for stating this so clearly and in such an original way.
