Simply Pray Simply

I attended a Christian meeting some time ago. It closed with intercessory prayer, for one of our number was sick. A certain gentleman was asked to lead the prayer of healing. His arms went up, his eyes closed, his buttocks clenched (I imagine). Some gentle murmuring and a few “Yes, Lord”s, until, in a deep bass voice, the syllables awfully and emphatically pronounced:

SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA! SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA! SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA!

Further details of Sheila’s automobile preferences vs reality were duly revealed:

BUTSHE-HASTA-HAVA-CAVALIAR!

SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA! SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA! SHEILA-WANTSA-HONDA! BUTSHE-HASTA-HAVA-CAVALIAR!

Another gentleman stood up, arms on the sick man’s shoulder:

SHOULDA-BUYA-CORIANDER? SHOULDA-BUYA-CORIANDER? SHOULDA-BUYA-CORIANDER?

And then a third, perhaps more inspired by the scriptures than his Five-a-day friend, and more tremulously than his two colleagues:

SHADRACH-MESHACH-ANDA-BEDNEGO, SHADRACH-MESHACH-ANDA-BEDNEGO, SHADRACH-MESHACH-ANDA-BEDNEGO…

The Hesitant Veg-Buyer began to say his words a little quicker, while pointing to the intended recipient of the healing. Sheila’s Mate increased the volume while the third speaker reduced his to a gentle whisper, perhaps an admission that Sheila’s Mate was taking the lead.

I do not know if the sick man made a full and rude recovery; I hope he did. And I am not a classic cessationist (I cannot find it clearly taught in the scriptures), yet I do puzzle over the notion that praying in tongues is somehow more powerful or effective than that said in plain English. If the Lord despised long, ostentatious prayers, why would He crave to hear something which is unknown to the speaker but suggestive of acute, inner power to the others listening? Is there a danger of our going back to pre-Reformation times, when a priestly few could speak Latin, expertly communicating to God and each other in a way that ordinary mortals could not even begin to comprehend? The Lord responds to simple, heart-felt prayers, not that which is repetitive, flashy and unknown to the heart. A case may be made for praying in tongues (cf 1 Cor 14:14ff), but Paul suggests that it is a sign for unbelievers, much as they were on the Day of Pentecost. That God would send messages to individual churches in a language which no-one understands is bizarre. The God of scripture is plain and clear, communicating to the young, the weak and un-lettered. Therefore pray with your heart and do not be afraid of lacking a great vocabulary or a quivering, holy voice. Speak to Him as you would a loving father or gentle friend. Yes, He is a great King and an omnipotent Judge, but He loves to hear His children speak, no matter how stuttering and ineloquent their tongue.