CHRISTIANS: Why do you think when Christians pray out loud there is an overabundant use of the word "just"?
607551
I just want to answer your question, but I just don't know why this just must be so. Is it just another excuse to get just 2 more points? I just suspect that it just must be. But that is just my thoughts on this very just matter.\n\nJust me.....
1140484
Prayers are the Christian equivalent to Spells. They both have just as much effect as the other.
131271
Yes. I also believe that there is a great deal of misconception in our world over what the bible says. Much of the bible is to be taken literally, however Jesus mostly spoke in parables. Figurative language was used frequently by the scribes and pharisees and thus a wonderful way for Jesus to address them,... in their own jargon. I think that we need to think about what the words meant in their own time and reflect that on todays time. The bible is meant for every man, every generation. \n\nI definetly believe prayer should be allowed in school. Christians are of Christ. We are to be in constant prayer. If we are not allowed to pray in our schools, we oppressed. Not surprisingly however. The bible tells us we will be.\n\nI think that religious symbols being placed in public places should not be deemed unconstitutional. This is a purely different issue that as of this day and age, we are still protected in this area by law of mans government. Maybe not for much longer....\n\nTolerant of other religions.... Depends on what you mean here exactly. If I am tolerant of people murdering unborn children..NO. If I am tolerant of the lies of gay rights activists telling our children that its okay and good and that God is okay with it and embraces it. NO. Jesus loves all even the adulterers and murderers. In fact the first person He revealed His deity to was the Samaritan woman who had five husbands and was living with a man whom she was not wed. He wants all to put away their sin. Like Him I must love all and encourage all to put away their sin.\n\nFree thinking. I consider myself one who derrives all thought from the character that I know of God throught the bible. That is my goal, however much I fail.\n\nFor your first Q?... here is a website that maybe will help you with the bible and statistics.   http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=194
767530
I often wonder, why are the Christians bogging down our entire health-care system, when they could simply pray?
930632
What a good question.  Yes I think so.  Because God can mean just about anything, right?  When you say Jesus...everyone just sort of catches their breath, because inherent in His name is His claim that He is the only way to God.  That is much, much too "narrow" for most people.  That is why it's easier to speak of a "generic" God...who they can make into anything they wish.
1045471
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.\n\nThe Rosary, and the beads, are a repetitious prayer, with the beads keeping track.This practice is originally Hindu in origin.\n\n1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;\n\nIf you feel compelled to pray, pray directly to Jesus. He alone is our mediator. Mary may have delivered Jesus into this world, however, Jesus existed before Mary. He is the eternal Creator of all things.\n\nJohn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.\n\nColossians 1:14-18 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.\n\nIf you need inspiration, I recommend you search the scriptures. The scriptures are there to instruct us in all matters of righteousness, and doctrine.\n\n2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.\n\nThe Holy Spirit will teach you all things....\nJohn 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.\n\n1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.\n\nI hope this helps and may you find comfort.
743781
i see you are getting alot of diferent answeres here. its important that you pray in jesus' name, because the bible says "whatever you ask in jesus' name you will recive if you serve him and believe". but honestly i believe God will hear you either way and as you grow your view of prayer will become less rule orientated and more about a relationship with God.
979080
I think some Christians take it to an extreme.  On the one hand, we should praise Jesus often, as it shows our love for him.  On the other hand, praising him too much can become mere routine.  The more we do it, the more we become accustomed to it and it becomes just words.  I think a lot of it is because some Christians feel like the more they do that, they more they are trying to make God believe they care.  But just as Jesus said not to let your prayers be filled with vain repetitions, as the hypocrites, for they think they will be heard because of their many words...so it is with praising Jesus.  If you walk through life saying /big breath: "praiseJesuspraiseJesuspraiseJesuspraiseJesuspraiseJesus" etc, I'm betting he'll get tired of hearing that.  He'd likely be more pleased with hearing it when we feel like telling him we love him, rather than hearing the empty words all day long.
496760
This isn't answering your question so much as explaining to the Christians why one would consider it rude to say you're praying for them.\n\nIf someone tells you that they're praying for you because you have cancer, that's one thing. If a Christian tells you they're going to pray for you because you're an atheist, what they are doing is trying to insult your beliefs without appearing to be immature and belligerent. They disguise it as an act of kindness in order to take the high road but they are saying "If you don't agree with me, then you obviously have a problem and are going to go to Hell so I'm going to pray to God that you eventually change your mind and convert to my religion." And that's Very offensive.\nBeing prayed for by a Christian because you are not a Christian is the reason non-Christians despise a lot of Christians. It's the EPITOME of "holier than thou."
932385
I'm taking a stab at it without reading the context in which it was used.\n \nPeople use their devotion to god as a justification for their own motives and actions.  By claiming--especially if ostentaciously so--to be doing the work of god, people often mask their own motives, perhaps even unbeknownst to themselves.  Moreover, their claims of doing god's work insulate themselves against critics of their actions.  "If you oppose my actions, then you oppose god's will."   Unfortunately, the motives of the self-righteous when stripped of their piousness often appear patently contradictory to the values the "devoted" supposedly are attempting to espouse.   \n\nReligion can easily be used as a rationalization for an individual's action, regardless of whether the action is agreement with the principles of the religion or contradictory to them.  \n\nInterestingly, this can be seen in the action of a certain president and a certain leader of a group he opposes.   Each individual act in their own self-interests while blanketing himself in a cloak of religion.\n\n------------\nThe bible warns of devotion's visage and pious acts†:\nBook of Matthew (Chapter 6):\n2: Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. \n3: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: \n4: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. \n5: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. \n6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. \n7: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
171030
not all christians say that i think it is just Cathlics
133658
Only Jesus is worthy to decide that. Christianity is more action than words. Jesus said talk is cheap. He stated that people will know we are believers by our love. So will He !
573588
The trouble is that 'God' is a generic word that describes whatever people worship. People mostly worship money or success these days, but they feel uncomfortable calling it 'god', so I suppose the word is dropping out of usage in the West.\n\nHowever, in the Bible, God reveals a name by which he identifies himself (YHWH or 'I am'), and he later reveals that in his being he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit: One God in three persons. All this talk about Jesus and God's Word in the Bible is not avoiding the God issue, it is merely focussing on God, but using more specific terminology.
42073
I don't think it's the focus of ALL religion, but many Christians do tend to dwell on that fact.  And then it tends to spill over when they're trying to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And that's where is gets weird.  Because "gospel" means "good news."  How can you spread the Gospel when you're focusing totally on what will happen WITHOUT Jesus Christ.  Maybe their priorities are out of whack.
1177454
No, we also know that when you say that god is only a word, some people get really mad at you. Apparently for them god is something else.\n\nNow, more seriously, god is more than a word. It's a representation of an idea that is important for some people, but that has been used and ABused by different powers to manipulate and control humanity, by the fear of the unknown and the panic of "eternal damnation", a very powerful invention they've come up with.\n\nSo, god represents a lot to different people, but it's a relevant social concept for all of us, too. Even though we assign it very different importance, according to our life experiences.
491120
It's probably a replacement word for using Jesus' name improperly.  I also use "holy swiss," and "cheese and rice" as replacements in polite enough company.
598924
My guess is that the saying evolved from the expression "Holy Lord!" or "Holy God!".  Over time, language has become more coarse and somebody felt like tossing in the ol' S-word instead of "God" and it stuck.