Prayers to gods

While in Japan we visited several shrines and temples. A couple of our students mentioned how they really felt the presence of Satan. Others mentioned how sad they felt watching the people offer prayers to a non-existent god. Many were praying to the creation and not the creator. Some would enter and toss their coins through a metal grate into a metal box. Then they would clap two or three times. The clanging of the coins and clapping of the hands were an effort to get their god's attention. They would offer their prayers, bow deeply and leave.

Most of the temples were elaborate. Lots of finely carved wooden structures, many made without nails. The Shinto shrines were enveloped by nature, the creation. Some were constructed similar to the tabernacle with an outer court, an inner court and a "most holy place". Some even had priests that would pray on behalf of the worshippers.

At each there was a prayer wall. An area where prayers were written down or even purchased, and then displayed. The above pictures show one such display. Most of the prayers were not in English, but a few were. While reading them it struck me how similar their prayers were to mine. Many of my prayers are nothing more than a grocery list of needs and wants.

However, I have an all access pass to the creator of the universe. Adam communed with God, walked with Him daily in the cool of the day, but willfully sacrificed his spiritual life at the tree of knowledge. Jesus Christ willfully sacrificed his physical life at the tree of suffering and shame. Then he rose again, taking back his life from the grave, and restoring our communion with God.

Christ said, "I no longer call you servants... I have called you friends." Do we express our needs to our friends? I hope you have friends like that. However, do you have friends to which ALL you do is share your needs and wants? If so, I can say with great certainty they will not be your friends for long. No one likes high-maintenance relationships.

God is much more long-suffering than we are. However, I think our relationship with Him should be more than just an inconsistent (or even consistent) prayer life that revolves around a prayer list. Jesus calls us friends and longs for a 24/7 connection, kinda like those cool ear buds Jack Bauer types wear.

So let's try calling Jesus up for just a friendly chat. The kind where you really don't have anything specific to talk about, but it's just really neat to speak to someone who truly can finish all your sentences.