Four years ago, National Review braved shark infested waters to challenge the question of prayer versus data-based solutions. “Whenever there is a national tragedy such as a mass shooting or natural disaster, two phenomena can reliably be observed,” its feature opened. [1]
First, people offer or ask for prayers. Second, others respond by criticizing, even mocking prayer. They argue that we need to turn to science, not faith, to solve problems.
Lack of evidence that prayer is “effective,” casts “prayer” as not just velueless, but “a waste of precious time and energy.”
This thinking was consistent with research that had made its way to no less than the United States National Institutes of Health website in 2009. There, in a “critical analysis of the scientific and philosophical dimensions” of research into the efficacy of prayer, its authors insisted that it was not their intent to “belittle any religion or the religious practices of those who pray ….” [2]
They confidently closed, however, by insisting that, “if God exists, he is indifferent to humanity or has chosen to obscure his presence.
Either way, he would be unlikely to cooperate in scientific studies that seek to test his existence.
Notwithstanding, Pew Research has found Americans to be remarkably consistent in their dedication to prayer, with 76% to 81% agreement on its importance, year-over-year, tracked 1987 to 2012. In 2020, the advent of COVID-19 led more than 55% of all US adults to pray “for an end to the spread of coronavirus. [3-7]
Large majorities of Americans who pray daily (86%) and of US Christians (73%) have taken to prayer during the outbreak — but so have some who say they seldom or never pray and people who say they do not belong to any religion (15% and 24% respectively).
In 2022, discussion of prayer is commonplace in headlines covering war in Ukraine. [8,9]
Today, officially recognized as “National of Prayer” by joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S Truman in 1952, “prayer” is being formally recognized through dedicated gatherings throughout the nation. [10-12
Annherst Kreitz, as co-chair along side Tim Austin with the Washtenaw County offering, told Saline Journal that she believes “that every day should be a ‘national’ day of prayer, due to all the chaos in our world and nation. [13]
But I’m thankful that our government still recognizes the need for people to come together in unity, to pray and seek God.
With all the turmoil, hatred and division in our world and nation, it is imperative that we are praying for healing, restoration and harmony. God calls us to love Him, first and foremost, and then love others [Luke 10:27]. We must show love to all people and pray for God’s mercy and grace on our nation.
Over the last four years that she and Mr Austin have served this work, she has seen tangible benefits here at the community level.
One scripture in the Bible says, ‘where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst’ [Matthew 18:20]. The ‘church,’ as a whole, was set up to be a community. People coming together — worshipping together, encouraging one another, helping one another, learning together, et cetera — and agreeing in prayer and laying our requests before the Lord.
There is power in prayer and when a group comes together, in unity, and calls on the name of Jesus; He hears us and things begin to happen.
On this set day, prayers are unified into “seven centers of influence,” consisting of: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church, and Family. [14]
On behalf of several of those centers at once, then, one such devotional took place outside a fire station in Van Buren Township, just north of Belleville Michigan. Formally led during the noon-hour today by Reverand Larry Courson of neighboring Open Arms Lutheran Church, his words of praise and appeal to God were appropriately feet-on-the-ground. [15-17]
Here were men and women who chose to engage danger as a matter-of-course, he noted succintly. But importantly precious among their tools of preparation was knowledge that their Lord was always with them, always desirous of hearing their every prayer.
In lifting up this group, Pastor Courson evidenced at a community-level the heart behind the sort of findings noted above by Pew in the face of SARS-CoV-2- and Ukrane-related entreats.
In closing his 2018 National Review feature, Clay Routledge asserted that there was “little evidence that most believers use faith as a substitute for other evidence-based solutions to problems.” And no such claim has been made here.
Indeed, citing further Pew research from 2015, Mr Routledge had found that, for “most believers, prayer isn’t a substitute for data-based solutions. It is a personal resource that complements and may even help facilitate other thoughtful action.” [18]
In Washtenaw County, Annherst Kreitz put Scripture to that conclusion. “Because of the redemptive work on the cross, God allows us to boldly approach the throne of grace and come directly to Him through prayer. We believe that Jesus hears every one of our prayers. We expect miracles and great things when we pray.
We are stepping out in faith, trusting Him that He will do a good work. We’re believing for healing, unity, restoration and people to realize that God loves them unconditionally.
Amen.
References
- “What Prayer Is Good For — and the Evidence for It” Clay Routledge (April 9, 2018) National Review.
- “Prayer and healing: A medical and scientific perspective on randomized controlled trials” Chittaranjan Andrade and Rajiv Radhakrishnan (October-December 2009) Indian Journal of Psychiatry.
- “Public Remains Highly Religious” (May 2, 2013) Pew Research Center.
- “Most Americans Say Coronavirus Outbreak Has Impacted Their Lives” (March 30, 2020) Pew Research Center.
- “Why Americans Are Praying During The Coronavirus Pandemic” Isaac Himmelman and Carol Kuruvilla (May 19, 2020) Huffington Post.
- “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- “Novel Coronavirus Reports” CDC.
- “Angelina Jolie, United Nations Ambassador, Says She’s ‘Praying for the People of Ukraine” Jen Juneau (February 25, 2022) People.
- “What Should we Pray for Regarding Ukraine?” Lewis M Andrews (March 20, 2022) American Thinker.
- National Day of Prayer (home page).
- “About Us” National Day of Prayer.
- “Post or Find an Event” National Day of Prayer.
- National Day of Prayer – Washtenaw County (Facebook Page).
- “How to Pray for America” National Day of Prayer.
- “Fire” Van Buren Charter Township.
- “Police” Van Buren Charter Township.
- Open Arms Lutheran Church and Day Care (home page).
- “Religion and Science” (October 22, 2015) Pew Research Center.
