What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us?
(This is a long theological and philosophical reflection, coming in 9 parts)
Part 1
Within our new framework of understanding for religion, we have preserved in its entirety the whole of the believer’s inner life, sharing a personal relationship with God. However, we have given up any claim that God can do anything in the external world to change anything that would have otherwise happened anyway – except, of course, for human agents changing the course of the world through the choices they make, as they live out their faith. The effect of people living out their faith is enormously strong for each individual, and in a society where there is a strong faith community, the effect can be redoubled and redoubled many times over.
In this understanding, prayer is not an appeal to God to change something on our behalf; when it is personal private prayer, it is a means to gather our thoughts and devote our resources to achieving a goal, and when it is corporate prayer, it is a means for the community to share its values and goals to direct it to those actions that it approves of. So, for example, in an entirely genuine way, the church prayed, either in general for those in need, or, in particular, for Mrs Smith, who was known to be having a hard time. The prayer was for God to help her. However, one of those praying was moved to decide to visit Mrs Smith with an offer of help. This is understood to be “God answering our prayers”, even though we know there is an entirely explicable human chain of communication and decision. However, it’s not a con trick, pretending that it was all God’s work; it is a beneficial outcome that happened only because the community of faith turned to God for guidance.
Spiritual Devotion 