02-18-2008, 07:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BaptistInCrisis  Quote:
I believe there are only three biblical postures for prayer.
1. Standing
2. Kneeling
3. Laying prostrate in the dust.
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While some may believe that it is okay to sit while praying, I believe that posture also says something about our veiw of God. And what it indicates is our casual and perhaps even lax attitude toward a Sovereign God.
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What if you're driving and there is need to pray? If you're lying in bed, overcome with sorrow and grief, is it okay to pray? Perhaps we are going to come up with exceptions for praying in dire circumstances. We can overreact to the lack of reverence in approaching God and place undo emphasis on mode rather than substance. Standing, kneeling or laying prostrate may be precedent in scripture, but I'm not about to tell someone they can't pray in their car on the way to work. Let's not strain gnats. |
Sir:
Sorry. No need to strain Gnats or tell people they can't prayer in their cars. My comments about prayer posture (though I failed to state this previously) were with regard to posture in corporate worship.
As observed in the original post: Quote: |
The Bible itself often draws attention to the postures in which prayer ought to be offered. Most of the time when prayer is mentioned in Scripture, it is not stated what, if any particular posture, is assumed by the individual or congregation in question. And we are certainly not saying that posture is the essence of prayer, as if someone cannot pray lying in bed--as David says he often did. Nevertheless, we cannot be faithful to the Bible and say that posture is a matter of indifference either.
| I do not believe we should sit in the pew while being led in corporate prayer, IMHO.
__________________ Sterling Harmon
Coventry, CT
PCA
Deacon
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"Whatever is laudable in our works proceeds from the grace of God."
--  John Calvin, Institutes III:xv.3.
"Our Lord God must be a good man, to be fond of worthless fellows. I cannot like them, and yet I, myself, am one."
--  Martin Luther, Table Talk |