Prayer or Pain?
An article dated today concerning Pope John Paul II stated that the pontiff used to flagellate himself with a belt to share in the suffering of Christ. He says he did this to get closer to Jesus. It seems from the article that even Mother Teresa self-flagellated and that it is a commonly accepted and approved practice of the Catholic Church. What does the Bible have to say in this regard?
In 1 Corinthians 13 we read, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Cor 13:1-3).
No, we need not ever whip ourselves with belts, or inflict pain upon ourselves, and by all means never burn our bodies in protest as the monks did during the Vietnam War. They would set themselves on fire, performing ritual suicide in protest against governmental anti-Buddhist policies. Lashing oneself with a belt is a far cry from ritual suicide by burning, but the lesson is the same. To get closer to God – both the Father and Jesus Christ, one need only ask, seek, and knock. God is ever-listening and He will answer if we are diligently and sincerely crying out to Him.
The article went on to state, “Catholics are not alone in choosing to inflict pain on themselves for religious reasons. Some Shiite Muslims lash themselves until they bleed when marking the mourning period of Ashura, while fasting is practiced by people in several religions, including Jews on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.” While it is true that fasting is practiced by people in various religions, the point being missed is that there is Biblical precedence for fasting. Jesus Himself, in Mark 2:19-20, when asked by the Pharisees why His disciples didn’t fast, said, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” Jesus stated plainly that fasting by His true disciples would and should occur.
God is not impressed with self-flagellation. Consider Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal “…cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them” (1 Kings 18:28) yet nothing happened. Baal did not hear. Elijah simply offered a heartfelt, albeit short, prayer to the true and living God who was able to hear and answer and what happened?
God did answer Elijah by sending down fire from heaven to consume the offering, the fire even licking up the water that had been placed all around the altar. What was the result of Elijah’s approach in the Israelites whose hearts God was turning back to Him? In 1 Kings 18:39 we read, “Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” That is the power of prayer.
That is the real power of prayer to the Creator God. We do have to endure suffering in this life, but God does not require that suffering to be at our own hands. Someday, John Paul II and Mother Teresa, as well as the Buddhist monks who gave their lives so senselessly, will have the opportunity to come to understand what God requires in those who seek to obey, know, and serve Him.
To learn more about the power of prayer, read the free booklet, “Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer” today!
