The Power of Prayer

The Crucifixion

I am a christian, a Greek Orthodox, and I solemnly observe our religious events and ceremonies. I am not a very religious person, though, in the sense that I rarely go to church and I only fast during the Holy Week before Easter. Does that make me a sinner?

I've often wondered if going to church every Sunday or fasting or having a spiritual father will make me a better christian. A very good online friend of mine, Morris, once explained the importance of visiting the House of God. Why?

Will God love me more if I visit His house every Sunday? Will He punish me if I don't? In my religion, God is omnipresent, He is ubiquitous  and He is certainly not a punisher! God is Love and He is there to help us in rocky times. My God's son, Jesus Christ, was persecuted and crucified in order to save us from sin. So, how can God be a punisher?   My God is compassionate and merciful and He can hear me wherever I am.

I believe in the power of prayer. But I don't think that I must go to church to have my prayers answered. Do you?

Comments

[Stefania]

I don't go to church very often but sometimes I feel the need to pray in the house of God. Going to church gives me the strength to face difficulties or problems and gives me a feeling of inner peace.

[Laura]

Anastasia, I don't go to church to have my prayers answered but to receive the preaching and the word of God which increases my faith and combines my spiritual strength in prayer.

[Jeff]

Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God. It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him. The psalmist wrote, "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You". People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring "service" to the Lord as a blessing to Him. Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion.

[Constantinos T]

Of course God is omnipresent, Anastasia, but attending church is the least we can do to honor God and thank him for his daily blessings. It's also an incredible source of spiritual strength and fulfilment.

[Lakis Ioannou]

I know many people who go to church to meet their friends or get updates on the latest grapevine! Therefore, going to church sounds like a social event. Also, many priests and bishops put up a performance. I don't think that going to church every Sunday will make me a good christian. What matters most to me is my strong faith in God. I don't need the church to make it stronger! After all God lives in us and through us.

[Haruko N]

Primitive man found himself in a dangerous and hostile world, the fear of wild animals, of not being able to find enough food, of injury or disease, and of natural phenomena like thunder, lightning and volcanoes was constantly with him. Finding no security, he created the idea of gods in order to give him comfort in good times, courage in times of danger and consolation when things went wrong. To this day, you will notice that people become more religious at times of crises, you will hear them say that the belief in a god or gods gives them the strength they need to deal with life. You will hear them explain that they believe in a particular god because they prayed in time of need and their prayer was answered. All this seems to support the Buddha’s teaching that the god-idea is a response to fear and frustration. The Buddha taught us to try to understand our fears, to lessen our desires and to calmly and courageously accept the things we cannot change. He replaced fear, not with irrational belief but with rational understanding.

When I lost my parents and fiancé in the earthquake scale of 8.9 which triggered the tsunami in Japan on Friday, 11 March 2011, I thought my whole world had come to an end. Prayer and meditation helped me get on with my life. Buddhists go to a temple to pray and meditate and they must be dressed in zendo - black or mute colors.

[walid]

Habebti.

Hello.I am not a very religious person as well but .I believe in that mighty power which created this world and made us how we are lives living on it.
Going to church is not a prove that we are religious more.Treating others well is what we been asked for.Love each other how I loved you. If we are a good Christians.We must follow Christ lessons.
I am a Roman Orthodox coming from a great Family which were living by roots in Najran .That time it was In Oman Now Najran Is in Saudi.That is a great prove that Christianity went east as well. Even our grand father made peace with Profit Mohamed to stay as Orthodox and not to convert.
Believing is a strong thing to have a great power .God is Love God is strength in us.
You are a very religious person.Anastasia Dear.Cause you always explain about the service at church ,how it is the customs to follow for the lent and mostly by all religious period of the year Christmas Easter and many other octagons.
One may pray any where any time But praying as a group has more power to be answered.I judge my self for what I did each day before going to bed.Pray my own prayers when you ask I will answer that what Jesus taught us.So we get to ask.God Bless.

[walid]

Hello .
Things mught change but Christmas wont.Hope that people on this earth will rememberwhy Christ was crossed?????.God forgive. God Bless.

[Lisa A]

For me is very important to go to the church evry Sunday to pray and thank my Lord. The hymns and psalms are so beautifull and I like to join in. Also going to the church is for me one small way to show my respect for God and Jesus Christ. I am an active member of my local church and we are organize a lot of charities and this make me feel very usefull and glad to help others.

[Jafar]

The main indian religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism are linked by a belief in karma. Life is regarded as a continual cycle of birth, life and rebirth (samasara) and that the deeds and desires of part lives determines ones fate in this life and in future lives.

I am Hindu. The religious life of many Hindus is focused on devotion to God (perceived as Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) or several gods. This devotion usually takes the form of rituals associated with sculptures and images of gods in home shrines.

More philosophically-minded Hindus ignore the gods altogether and seek Realization of the Self through intense meditation. Still others focus primarily on fulfilling the social and moral duties appropriate to their position in life.

These various approaches are regarded as equally valid, and in fact are formally recognized as three paths (margas) to liberation: bhaktimarga (the path of devotion), jnanamarga (the path of knowledge or philosophy), and karmamarga (the path of works and action).

Hindu religious practices center on the importance of fulfilling the duties associated both with one's social position and one's stage of life. With regard to the latter, traditional Hindus are expected to pass through four stages (ashramas) over the course of their life:
1.brahmacharga, which takes place during the school years, is focused on acquiring knowledge and developing character;
2.grastha, the middle years, is focused on worldly pursuits and pleasures such as marriage, family and career;
3.vanaprastha, when one's children reach adulthood, is a time of increased focus on spiritual things; and
4.sanngasu, in the last years of life, one may abandon the world entirely for a life of contemplation.

[A Twitter User]

As a Christian and Jesus follower, I believe in the power of prayer---the power as I have sensed and experienced is about the faith that is at work. When you pray, you communicate with God, all the deepest desires and thoughts even without articulating them verbally. The power of prayer is gained from meeting your faith to God and that activates his power to work. And when it works, it transcends peace and strength even before your needs or supplications are met.
Religion does not save anyone, but as for me, it's your relationship with God. And this is manifested by prayer. For us who do not believe religion does not save anyone, we don't really put so much importance on attendance to church. For us, church is "us"---we give light and salt to the earth. We are God's church. Church is not a place but our spirits are the churches where others can glorify God through us (as churches). We go , of course to a congregation which we call "church" to worship God together and listen to the Word of God for blessings from the pastor. But we believe, we can worship God anywhere, anytime. And read and know His word anywhere , anytime. And pray and talk to God anywhere, anytime.
God is always good, God listens to our prayers, and God answers prayers.

[Sophia]

It's been a family tradition for years to attend church every Sunday and to this day, if I don't work on Sunday morning, we all get up early and go to church. I know God is in us and everywhere but going to church allows me and my family to have a more direct communication with God. And it's a wonderful experience.

[Jean-Paul Bouvier]

L’habitude d’aller à l’Église ne fait plus partie des mœurs des gens de notre temps. Bon nombre de sociologues se sont déjà penchés sur la question dans le but d’expliquer ce qui s’est passé pour qu’il en soit ainsi. Malheureusement, peu de gens parlent des avantages qui découlent de cette pratique. Aller à l’Église tous les dimanches est l’un des moteurs d’influence sociale les plus importants d’une société.

Dans la plupart des pays occidentaux, les années 50-60 du XXe siècle ont marqué le début du déclin de la pratique religieuse. Les nouvelles valeurs de la modernité ont créé et exercé des mouvements de pression vers le changement. Et force est d’admettre que l’Église s’enlisait dans de vieilles traditions qui ne rencontraient plus les besoins de l’homme du XXe siècle. Constatant l’extrême résistance des Églises (toutes dénominations confondues) face à toutes formes de changement, la plupart des Français ont simplement décidé de passer à autre chose.

C'est pourquoi je n'aime pas aller à l'église. En plus le dimanche, c'est le seul jour où je peux faire la grasse matinnée! Ceci dit, je suis croyant et je prie tous les jours et je sais que le Seigneur m'entend.

[Christina]

I really don't think that fasting or attending church makes a good christian. I agree with what Lakis said: God lives in us and through us and that's why I believe in the power of prayer. I know that God will listen no matter where I pray from.