Pray without argument or anger

There are two descriptions about prayer which Paul identifies. First is the expected consequence of our pleas to God. “That we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” The second is a supplication, a manner in the way that we come to God with our pleas. That is, we should pray “without anger or argument.”

I believe both the consequence and the manner of our prayers are best when in synch, primarily because that is what God desires. I am not saying that if we come to prayer in argument and anger we will not be “successful” in our prayer. We do not control the consequence of God’s graces and his response by our manners. God is not so petty or legalistic. 

Rather, by coming to prayer without argument and anger we will be prone to more naturally lead a quiet and tranquil life. These manners and consequences take place in sequence, or better, in synch, when we approach prayer with confidence in God’s grace.

Pray for a quiet and tranquil life


http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091619.cfm
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 7:1-10


It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. 
(1 Timothy 2:8)

If you’re looking for what makes Christians like every other faithful gathering of folks — ardently worshipping divine beings — look no further than prayer. At the root of all prayer is the idea, and hope, that a divine being will help us. Prayer brings us together. We all live in a constant need that God (in practically every version of god) will repair the broken parts of our lives and the lives of those we love. We look to God for intervention in his creation. 

We desire, at the least, that God will help us in our travails. It is a worrisome prayer that God can also love us. How could we be worthy of that? This yearning seems built-in. I believe our hope that God will protect us, and even love us, is behind the encouraging words from Paul in his first and second letters to Timothy. 

The teaching behind Paul’s letters reveal that perfection in prayer is not possible, because Paul is not perfect. Yet, God in his perfect love for us, and his overwhelming grace, yearns for us to pray in earnest even if our prayers are imperfect. 

Paul tells Timothy that Jesus Christ can be believed and trusted as that divine mediator prophesied to Israel and imagined by everyone else who ever lived. God indeed hears the pleas of all people who desire salvation and an eternal life. Because of Jesus, Paul tells Timothy, we are now affirmed in knowing that God wills everyone to be saved from the finality of death, “and to come to knowledge of the truth.” 

No one else has ever been able to meet this desire of the heart of humanity. The fulfillment of this desire began at that single moment of Jesus’ conception, then his birth, his life which fulfilled scripture prophecy, his death, and his ultimate resurrection and ascension. Several thousand years of hope was met by Jesus Christ. And today, another 2,000 years has passed. The Jewish ancestry pleaded for the promised Messiah, the savior of the chosen people. These were a people destined to bring the light of the one true God to the rest of creation. And in the knowledge that Paul speaks about, we have all been praying for each other. We now pray with affirmation. We pray as Paul prayed for Timothy.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you (Timothy) constantly in my prayers, night and day. 
(2 Timothy 1:3)

Paul like his ancestors had prayed for thousands of years for a redeemer. The prayers were not a single-person plea, but the yearning of a nation. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension the prayers of humanity were answered. We now have a human and divine mediator. And today, we pray for each other with confidence. And we pray in unison.

These first and second letters to Timothy, along with Titus, came after the initial evangelical letters written by Paul. The first letter to Timothy was to encourage continued ministry to Christian communities. The second letter, 2 Timothy, speaks more directly to his friend. His primary admonition to Timothy? Pray. 

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us.
(2 Timothy 1:12-14)

This advice, a reminder that the Holy Spirit assists us in trusting the words of Jesus Christ, explains who should be the recipients of prayer — everyone. Even for kings, and for those who rule.

I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority …
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Paul knows that prayer requires a fuel, a steady source of encouragement and sustenance. Not only do we have the Holy Spirit within us, but we have the Word of Jesus, the scriptures.

“. . . from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

The Holy Spirit and the scriptures move us to pray.

There are two descriptions about prayer which Paul identifies. First is the expected consequence of our pleas to God. “That we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” The second is a supplication, a manner in the way that we come to God with our pleas. That is, we should pray “without anger or argument.”

I believe both the consequence and the manner of our prayers are best when in synch, primarily because that is what God desires. I am not saying that if we come to prayer in argument and anger we will not be “successful” in our prayer. We do not control the consequence of God’s graces and his response by our manners. God is not so petty or legalistic. Rather, by coming to prayer without argument and anger we will be prone to more naturally lead a quiet and tranquil life. These manners and consequences take place in sequence, or better, in synch, when we approach prayer with confidence in God’s grace.

Prayer takes practice. A lifetime of prayer slowly approaches a manner of praying without argument and anger.

Though Paul speaks of this being in synch with God, he was not capable of it. Paul was about to be executed when he wrote to Timothy. We pick up moments of his own anger and argument in his writings when he chastises those who had abandoned him, and those who had made his way difficult. He bowed to God’s part in the judgment of these, though. He laid his arguments and anger at God’s feet, even as he expressed his disappointment in others.

In many ways Paul explains that the suffering of a life of ministry and dedicated care for the Christian fellowship of believers more likely increases the opportunity for anger and argument. Yet, the acceptance of God’s grace trumps our weakness.

“Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost.”
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Fortunately for us there is Paul. And, there is our brother and also rather sinful Saint Peter. We are not afflicted with forefathers without sin who admonish us to live sinless lives. 

Paul’s hope for us to pray without argument and anger has an ending worth the while, if not altogether worthy of the grace.

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.
(1 Timothy 1:7-8)

And yes, our shared yearnings are for just that.

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