Native Prayers and Church Prayers

Someone was asking about praying for others. "Why were my prayers necessary that night for my brother? I am quite sure that our Lord could protect him without my prayers, so what purpose did they serve?

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These are pretty big questions for such a little indian... not sure I am qualified to enter into such a mystery... but that hasn't really stopped me before...

If you want a good book on prayer, get Richard Foster's book: Prayer, the Heart's True Home. That will give you a few things to ponder.

My personal opinion is that God wants us to be co-creators with Him, to be involved with Him, His people, even the spirit world - and prayer is one of the ways we participate with Him and each other. Sometimes friends ask for help and prayer and sometime God gives us the opportunity to pray and help others...

But natives see prayer differently... I have never met a native unwilling to pray, although I have met plenty of non-natives who wouldn't. Seems like the majority culture is embarrassed about talking to God, but natives, even drinking and drugging, would pray with you. Most natives who have fallen down will admit they have fallen down.

When YWAM goes door to door on a reservation passing out tracts such as the 27 spiritual laws, hardly anyone gives them the time of day.

Now don't tell YWAM, but if they went door to door, offering to pray for family members, they would probably be there all day! (I know some YWAM-ers are starting to get the message, but they have done the tracts, as have many others "trying to help" the injuns.

Church people are afraid of the sweat lodge, but a lot a prayer and healings happen there. Church people are afraid of the Shaker meetings, but a lot of prayer and healings happen there. Even powwows, that some in churchianity call "a spiritual gateway to the dark side", there are many prayers danced and prayers taken to the drum.

Having a background in a non-native church begins to teach you about prayer, but there is much more for all of us to learn. Since prayer is such a mystery, an invitation to work with God himself, well every culture is going to define it differently. So I am not saying that church prayer or their theology of prayer is bad, but I will say that it is not the whole pie, just a slice.

One last thing. Natives usually eat before and after prayer. Maybe that is why we like to pray, because both our spirits and bellies will be full. Next time your church has a prayer meeting, offer to cater a full meal. Then you will know that this Indian secret is true... thanks for listening... ray+