Some Praying May Be Counter-Productive And Other Tips on "Thoughts & Prayers"

A recent report from Newswise (Nov. 27/19) reported on some research at the University of Wyoming which found prayers can crowd out donations for disaster victims. The researcher found that people who offer prayers for victims of natural disasters may be less likely to donate to those victims.

The researcher (Linda Thunstrom) believes the results "suggest that the act of praying is a substitute for material help." Her research is now available online here and will appear in the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in early 2020.  The study's methodology is most interesting for those who care about research methods.

As I have noticed recently in the media's treatment of prayer -- Christians see prayer on their behalf as a significant contribution to their need whereas "atheists and agnostics were actually 'prayer-averse,' placing a negative monetary value on prayers on their behalf by others."

Furthermore, the study found (in general) that those who indicated they would pray or had prayed, donated smaller amounts of money to relieve the hardship that victims (in this case, victims of a hurricane disaster) faced, than those who did not pray and only thought about the victims.

This topic and research takes on more significance these days when some are objecting to many politicians offering only "thoughts and prayers" to victims of mass shootings or natural disasters, and their families, and doing very little else to help them practically.  Some see this as a cop-out alternative, excusing them from taking meaningful action.   [Not to be confused with politicians who claim they pray daily for their opponent and then proceed to stab them in the back and never co-operate with them in any way.  But we'll save that for another blog, another time.]

Thunstrom herself admits that 'religiosity' is a positive force for volunteering to help victims and that even prayers increase the awareness and empathy of the one doing the praying for the victims and the circumstances. However, the co-relation between prayer and charitable donations may be negative -- more praying, less donating.

So what can we make of all this and how can we, as Christians, respond to the research?

First, I suggest that we never tell a person that we are praying for them unless we are confident they believe in prayer (at least in us praying) and they would welcome our prayers on their behalf. A good rule of thumb is if in doubt, either don't tell them or ask them for permission to do so.  Of course, asking and then having them say "no" or "no thank you" may well leave you in a greater ethical dilemma as to whether or not you do pray for them. For that reason alone, I would treat my praying for others for whom I am not certain would appreciate it, as something I do on my own, secretly, in my own prayer closet, so to speak.

Second, we would do well to consider the research and see if we fit the findings -- collectively, and individually.  And now it's time for true confessions. Or, is it full disclosure? I can only speak for myself, however.  It is a fact that my charitable dollars do not easily go to non-Christian causes whereas my prayers have a much broader spectrum of beneficiaries. I leave the financial assistance to non-Christian causes to non-Christians feeling there are many more of them than there are of us. But I also believe that may not always be right. Each of us has to decide for ourselves.

Third, the problem we have as a society is that too many of us have way more than we really need. Don't get me wrong, I am a capitalist. But I do believe that we (those of us reading this blog) could all afford to give more, do more, than we are doing right now. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others.  And we can do much better in that category. Maybe we can even change the results of future similar research.

Fourth, when we offer to only pray instead of giving as well, we may well be hindering God's intended way of meeting the need of the person or persons we are offering to pray for. He may very well want you to meet that need. And that goes for Christians and non-Christians in need. Not giving in these situations, may well be hurting the ones you are praying for.

Fifth, when you actually tell someone you will pray for them and you don't -- well, that hurts you. You have failed to keep your word.  You feel badly.  Don't tell anyone you will pray for them unless you really will.  In fact, when someone writes to me in an email or a text that they would appreciate my praying for something, I have dropped whatever I was doing and prayed for them. [It happened moments ago when a friend asked for prayer for his homeland of Albania which had just suffered a devastating earthquake two days ago.]  Then I write back and tell them I did so.  And will do so again as "God brings them to mind".  When He does, I do my part.

Prayer is not an option. It works. It's needed. But use it responsibly.

-- Ken Godevenos, writing today from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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