Prayers Not Decrees:
Misconstrued Spiritual Authority in the Church.
From time to time, the Church witnesses the unfolding of “theological” practices hitherto unknown to the Body of Christ. Usually initiated by a celebrity preacher/ministry founder, and perpetuated by active followers, such a practice soon becomes tradition and is accepted as gospel truth.
Beginning with ministry or church members, the newly fangled “spiritual truth” spreads to other groups in town — gradually or rapidly — depending on the moods generated by the leadership of the movement. Bigotry and fanaticism are trademarks of new converts who for lack of knowledge of tenets of the Christian faith, are susceptible to misinformation and wrong teachings.
Misinformation by its nature leads astray — away from the truth. The more repeatedly one listens to untruth the more it is entrenched in the psyche as the truth. More so, the longer the years spent in untruth, the more naked lies are perceived as truth. It is the route to spiritual bondage. Beginning with our foreparents in Eden deceit or misinformation remains the most potent weapon deployed by the enemy to hold humans captive.
Many really need to be pitied who ignorantly, but honestly embrace lies as the truth. Remember, Jesus calls Satan the Father of lies. People caught in his fold do not and cannot know any better. They will not know until the light of Christ is shed upon their hearts.
Here’s where our prayers and active efforts at teaching sound doctrines are of paramount importance.
This is why Jesus commanded his disciples to not stop making converts but to go on and make disciples. Making disciples means teaching the coverts “all they have received from him,” their Master/Teacher. Let’s get it right: Teaching people to make it in material terms/world acclaim, is not the same as preparing them for Christ’s coming kingdom. We must be able to identify and separate what Christ taught from what the world is teaching in their schools.
Perhaps not what our celebrated motivational speakers are teaching either.
Jesus’ teachings from start to finish in his earthly ministry are about God’s kingdom — becoming citizens of that kingdom now, and preparing for Christ’s enthronement later — here on earth and in eternity.
Do we (Christians) need to have a knowledge of the world around us? Yes. Jesus is the epitome of knowledge — of all that is here on earth and in the world to come. Knowing Jesus is gaining a clear understanding of all that make up the earth and the heavens. Knowing him equips one with basic principles of living wholesomely — a life of honor to God, an impactful life of peace, and joy to others.
People fed with misinformation perceive life accomplishments in terms of how much they can grab for themselves — grabbing material wealth, and piling them up in the banks while their compatriots and fellow humans languish in abject poverty.
Decree Or Prayer?
Decree, Prayer, and Misinformation are the themes here: What has misinformation got to do with decree and prayer? A lot. It’s about the ongoing misinformation of what it means to pray and what it means to decree. Sounds like some Christians love to decree rather than pray. It’s probably easier to decree than to pray.
To decree for them seems to confer a false sense of authority and self-importance — what has come to be known as the authority of the believer. In reality, a decree is an official order issued by a legal authority. For example “the decree guaranteeing freedom of assembly” or “imposing a ban on smoking in public places”. The decree prescribes the framework within which citizens are to act. Theologically, it is one of the eternal purposes of God by which events are foreordained.
It is a compelling judicial decision or orders every one is called to obey or violate with dire consequences. By and large, decrees are not issued on the whim, strength, and pleasure of one individual outside of the judicial framework.
Prayer, on the other hand, is a plea — an appeal to a higher power and authority to intervene on behalf of a lesser or weaker entity. Generally, prayer is defined as a solemn request for help or an expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship. Prayer in the Bible evolves as a means of interacting with God — through a spontaneous, individual, or collective form of petitioning and/or thanksgiving.
Overall, prayer is a devout petition to God — a spiritual communication expressed as supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
There is, of course, the LORD’s instruction to Aaron through Moses recorded in Numbers 6:22–26: “The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” These blessings are the preserve of all members of God’s family.
This traditionally has been adopted as the parting blessing of the priest to worshippers at the end of worship services in mainline Churches.
Take all of the above with what Jesus taught his disciples to pray about — the Lord’s Prayer — against the pattern of prayers in our Churches today.
Typically, the prayer leader employs words such as “I decree; I command” pronouncing blessings on others. One pastor intoned: “I decree and declare,” “receive the spirit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.”
Another declared in these words “By the special grace of God, (your) marriage shall not disintegrate. I decree joy into it in Jesus’ Mighty Name.” This pastor claims: “I stand upon the Blood of Jesus and I decree that God’s mercy, favor, blessings, and honor shall locate you in Jesus’ Mighty Name.”
“I decree, I declare.” He is decreeing God’s blessing without teaching his congregants to position themselves in the place of blessing. Sounds like a culture of entitlement. Right? It remains to be seen how these decrees play out in their lives.
The question is, do they understand what they are saying? How can one decree joy and wisdom on another? These religious leaders consciously or not, are playing god by decreeing unqualified blessings on themselves, their families, and church members.
They need to take a step back, reflect and repent, asking God to forgive as they turn their attention from themselves unto Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.
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