Expert: Jim Samoh - 6/20/2006

Question
I recently read Rabbi Kushner's book When Bad Things Happen to Good People. I understand his logic on free will and how prayer shouldn't be about asking for things like God is Santa. He mentions that he prays for patience, wisdom, and
understanding before he counsels his patients. My question is how can you distinguish from the two types of prayers? Aren't you still asking for something whether it is pious or selfish? If Kushner is not "asking" but praying that he
will be patient and understanding then doesn't prayer become meditation? In a practical application of this philosophy I cannot pray for God to heal my father if he is sick but pray for him and others to find strength, faith, etc during this time of need. But again...we are still asking for something that may not be given to us under his idea of God's role in our free will.  

Answer
Well Nicholas you ask a difficult question to answer without me flatly saying the Kushner is wrong.  I understand Kushner's point, it mainly is about respect and the fact that God is not a cosmic genie to pop out of a lamp and give us what we want.  One must remember, however, when reading a book by an authority outside the Christian faith to apply scripture to what they are saying.  It is perfectly ok to ask the Lord for things, but you MUST submit your will in the matter to His ultimate judgement.(He will have the final say whether you submit or not, but it humbles us before the throne, and reiterates who is in charge) In scripture we are told to pray "Give us day by day our daily bread." (Luke 11:3) Would Christ tell us to pray something contrary to the will of the Father?  We were instructed to lay hands on the sick and heal them, "And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him." (Acts 28:8) Prayer is not meditation, and should never be so.  Kushner is asking for what he believes are loftier thing than say for the Lord to provide a new bike(car)etc. but he is still asking.  Ask the Lord, Matthew told us in Chapter 21 vs 22 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."   I hope that I have explained this a little better, if you have any further questions please ask.