Perspectives on Israel and the Church

A topic that seems to be hanging out on the edges of our discussion right now is what is the role of Israel. What was God's relationship with the nation? What is the relationship between Israel/Jews and the Church/Christians? How do we describe God's relationship with Israel in current times? One resource for exploring these questions is John Parson's article at Hebrew For Christians, Israel and the Church. Please be advised that this article is lengthy and academic, and Parsons is certainly making a case for his position on the issue.

John Parsons on Prayer

Tesha passed this article along in email, but I wanted to be sure that it was posted here, too. In our study last week, Philip Yancey mentioned the words, "Be Still," from Psalm 46. He gave us the Latin translation, "Vacate." John Parsons, of Hebrew For Christians, gives us the Hebrew translation, "Rapha," and offers some thoughts in the following article: Surrender...God's Irrepressible Care for the World.

Parsons offers additional thoughts on the same passage here: Surrender to Peace...Knowing the Divine Presence.

Both articles are excellent if you're looking for more thoughts on surrender and being still.

Praying Without Words

At our last meeting, as we discussed liturgical prayer and spontaneous prayer, Carol mentioned praying without words entirely. I found this idea intriguing and went looking for some resources. First, I found this quote by C.S. Lewis from his book Letters to Malcolm:

For many years after my conversion I never used any ready-made forms except the Lord's Prayer. In fact I tried to pray without words at all--not to verbalise the mental acts. Even in praying for others I believe I tended to avoid their names and substituted mental images of them. I still think the prayer without words is the best--if one can really achieve it. 

And John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, said,

When you pray, rather let thy heart be without words than they words without heart.

John Parsons, of Hebrew For Christians, offers this article: A Few Thoughts on Prayer, where he points out that prayer comes from the heart, and is therefore with or without words. As an offering of the heart, prayer may also be either conscious or unconscious. It is the heart's communication with God. He shares a Jewish midrash on prayer in this way:

The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, "I bade you pray in the assembly of your city, but if you cannot pray there, pray in your field, but if you cannot pray there, pray on your bed, but if you cannot pray there, 'be still and know that I am God.'"

 Romans 8:26 says this,

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

The practice of prayer encompasses so much more than words, and, clearly, the Spirit "hears" our heart, our intentions without words. A more holistic view of prayer might involve out thoughts, intentions, emotions, and images. In the words of John Parsons,

Prayer is essentially a response to God's call for us, a kind of teshuvah, or turning to God. ... It is not about finding the right words.