Preliminary outline of two series dealing with mutual imprisonment by unforgiveness, God's goal of reconciliation, and praying for those who don't want my prayers using constructive, New Testament prayers.
This post gives preliminary outlines of what will become two long series of short, bite-sized posts on prayers for offended believers who have told me I must “forget” them, because to them I no longer exist. The first series will deal with the effects of unforgiveness, and reconciliation as God’s goal in dealing with offenses between us. It is a goal I, as the offender, must pursue in prayer at the very least, even if no other means are accessible to me or acceptable under the circumstances. I must not simply give up and try to “forget” (something which it is both physiologically and logically impossible to do intentionally). The consequences of letting bitterness go on unchallenged are too great.
The second series then covers a series of model prayers from the New Testament which may be constructively prayed even for the benefit of people who don’t want my prayers after an extended justification for the practice of continued private prayer even for people who demand that I stop.
I will be writing pieces of each series alternately over the next few months and also posting corresponding You Tube readings of them. I will try to do one per day, every day, but can’t absolutely promise to stay on this schedule.
First Series: Moron Mutual Imprisonment by Unforgiveness and the Goal of Reconciliation
Note to the uninitiated: “Moron”=”More on.” An old fool’s punny way of saying that there is more to say on the subject. It’s not name calling because an old fool like myself is far more idiotic than, far worse in every way than, any mere moron! Otherwise I wouldn’t be in the position of having to present an apology for—that is, a careful explanation justifying—my decision to continue praying for some believers I’ve offended who have shunned me and demanded that I forget them. But as I will explain, I can’t, and I mustn’t.
Link: Playlist containing all videos in the “Importance of Reconciliation” series, listed as completed below.
#1. There are Two Things God Can’t Do!!!
#2. The Opposite of Love is Indifference
#3. Leprosy–and members cutting each other off
#6. “If two of you shall agree on earth” refers to the reconciliation procedure. Matthew 18:19-20.
#7. Matthew 18:21-30: Is infinite forgiveness is shown by God? Are we supposed to do the same?
#8. A Visit with the Unforgiving Servant on the Rack. What did he still owe? Matthew 18:32-35 The original, forgiven, released debt, or just forgiveness for his fellow servant?
#9. Visit with Jesus’ Second Debtor in Debtors’ Prison, see also Matthew 18:28-35.
#10. Other People Were Affected, Too—The Lord’s “Other Servants”” Matthew 18:28-35; preliminary comments on James 4:11-12, James 5:9, Proverbs 26:17,
#11. The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers1 Corinthians 6:1-8 ; with Proverbs 18:13, 15 and 17; James 4:11-12 ; Leviticus 19:15 ; John 7:23-24.
#12. Paul also approved of mediation of disputes between Christians by other believers
#13. The Golden Rule: I love my enemies because I want them to do the same to me. Luke 6:27-31.
#14. The Golden Rule: To be like my Heavenly Father, love those I know will reward me for it with hate. Luke 6:31-36.
#15. I find my freedom in setting others free, like the Heavenly Father does for me. Luke 6:35-37.
#16. I receive good from the Father in the same measure I use to give it to others. Luke 6:35-38.
#17. Introduction to what the debtors’ prison in the Unforgiving Servant parable stands for.
#18. Some contrasting but complementary scriptures about reconciliation of offenses. Proverbs 16:5-7 (positive), Proverbs 18:19 (balancing negative) ; Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (negative, of a different kind); Proverbs 10:10-12 (both); Proverbs 16:5-7 (both);
#19. What God hates. Proverbs 6:16-19,
#20. We are the salt of the earth, Matthew 5:13. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#21. We are the light of the world, Matthew 5:17-19. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#22. Restoration as goal of individual correction. Galatians 6:1-2. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#23. Because exclusion’s purpose is to cause repentance it is not permanent and irreversible. 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15; James 5:19-20.
#24. The supposed “victim” versus “offender” exception to restoration and reconciliation as goals and modern victimology. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26] [How does it change any of the above that the offended person can be called a “victim?” Is this a scriptural category? Does it change God’s expectations? Don’t almost all real or asserted “offenses” have “victims?” That is, isn’t merely claiming to be “offended” in itself an assertion that the offended has been “victimized” in some way by the “offender,” who therefore deserves to be punished for the injury or insult done to the “offended”/”victim”?]
#25. The effects of starting with an adversarial process. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#26. The power of faith even when placed in negative messages and false beliefs, part 1. Hebrews 2:14-15 [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#27. The power of faith even when placed in negative messages and false beliefs, part 2. Hebrews 3:12-13 [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#28. The power of faith even when placed in negative messages and false beliefs, part 3. James 2:14-19. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#29. The power of faith even when placed in negative messages and false beliefs, part 4. Job 9:19-24; Psalm 53:1; Proverbs 23:6-7; Proverbs 28:14. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#30. Our Message of Reconciliation, Not Counting Sins Against People. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#31. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, Matthew 5:20—but how? [Preface to Matthew 5:21-26]
#32. Anger and contempt nurtured against a brother or sister condemned along with murder, Matthew 5:21-22; compare Leviticus 19:15-18 .
#33. Offenses are deadly serious, with a duty to actually obtain reconciliation! Matthew 5:23-24.
#34. Failure to reconcile an offense before the matter comes to judgment—debtor’s prison awaits! Matthew 5:25-26.
#35. Failure to forgive is a stumbling block to self and others. Luke 17:1-4; Romans 14:10-14.
#36. The son of man has power on earth to forgive sins. Matthew 9:2-7.
#37. Another reference to the power to forgive or retain sins: John 20:19-23.
#38. Not repaying evil for evil but overcoming evil with good. Romans 12:16-21.
#39. Acting as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. No mercy is shown to those who show no mercy, Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:8-13.
#40. Notoriously evil living as an offense against the church, leading to expulsion. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. [This is something separate from an offense between two believers].
#41. Example of the man in Corinth who openly had his father’s wife. I Corinthians 5:1-5. [This discredited the church, even though none of the immediate parties were, apparently, complaining about it].
#42. Where someone is expelled for notoriously evil living, there are two objectives: purification of the church AND repentance and restoration of the offender. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5.
#43. Someone who is expelled for notorious evil, but who then repents and returns to the church, is to be forgiven, accepted and comforted. 2 Corinthians 2:6-10.
#44. Confession of sin leads to forgiveness AND cleansing. 1 John 1:9. What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. Acts 10:15!
#45. Jesus washing disciples’ feet: John 13:5-11. [All clean, but feet need to be washed. Sin forgiven by God, but dirt of living, including offenses against and retained by each other, needs removed periodically]
#46. Foot washing was an example of what we should do for each other. John 13:12-17
#47. Alarming facts: Jesus washed Judas’ feet—and called him “friend” when he came to betray him!
#48. When two friends of Jesus are enemies of each other is Christ divided? Compare 1 Corinthians 1:13. Or is Jesus forced to take sides, and become the enemy of one of his former friends?
#49. Debtor’s prison and reciprocity of forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:12-15.
#50. Debtor’s prison: lack of fruit and ineffective prayers? Mark 11:12-14, 20-26.
#51. Debtor’s Prison: Contempt for Each Other as a Stumbling Block. Romans 4:9-13.
#52. What is contempt? Is deciding to treat another person as nonexistent a form of contempt? Job 19:18-19
#53. How can God dwell in the one who hates their brother or sister? 1 John 2:9-11.
#54. The one who hates is a murderer, contrasted to Jesus’ love. 1 John 4:14-16.
#55. Is there a difference between contempt and hate? Matthew 5:21-23; Proverbs 11:12 ; Romans 14:10.
#56. The one who does not love a fellow believer does not love God. 1 John 4:20-21.
#57. Debtor’s prison, social effects: Hardened hearts: help and encouragement that should be given will be denied.
#58. Debtor’s prison, social effects: others see our attitudes, and close doors to those we obviously distrust and treat with contempt, or to us, or both.
#59. Debtor’s prison, social effects: Hebrews 12:15. Bitterness, contempt are contagious! Proverbs 17:9.
#60. Debtor’s prison, social effects: The game of “telephone,” a/k/a gossip. Proverbs 26:17-20. [offenses grow with retelling]; Leviticus 19:15-16 ; Proverbs 11:12-13 ;
#61. Debtor’s Prison: Effect on the Church: Division as people “take sides.” Proverbs 6: 17, 19; Proverbs 26:17-20; Proverbs 18:19 (ESV); Proverbs 17:9 (WEB);
#62. Debtor’s Prison: Effect on the Church: Hearts closed to our message because we are seen as “hypocrites.”
#63. Who or what are the “torturers” in Matthew 18:34?
#64. Well, there went our salt and light in the world!
#65. Passages about divisive persons, which is a separate problem.
#66. Passages about false teachers, who often advocate immorality but present a separate problem.
#67. A summary of all of the reasons the above scriptures and arguments may ONLY be properly applied AGAINST ME, and not in my favor in any respect.
Second Series: New Testament Prayers for those who don’t want my prayers
Link: Playlist containing all videos in the “Prayers for Folks who Don’t Want my Prayers” series, listed as completed below.
#1. Preface: What Should I Do when Other Christians Tell me Not to Pray for Them? Galatians 6:9-10.
#2. Preface: Parts of doing good: love, affection, honor, prayer, hospitality, caring for each other’s needs, preferring each other. Romans 12:9-13
#3. Preface: Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world, 1 Timothy 2:1-2,
#4. Preface: Hear the Unjust Judge: Pray and Don’t Give Up, Luke 18:1-8. We ought always to pray and not give up.
#5. The Golden Rule: I love my enemies because I want them to do the same to me. Luke 6:27-31.
#6. The Golden Rule: To be like my Heavenly Father, love those I know will reward me for it with hate. Luke 6:31-36.
#7. I find my freedom in setting others free, like the Heavenly Father does for me. Luke 6:35-37.
#8. I receive good from the Father in the same measure I use to give it to others. Luke 6:35-38.
#9. Preface: Ephesians 6:18, pray for all believers.
#10. Preface: Prayers made when I am living in love, which flow from that love, are granted. 1 John 3:18-24.
#11. Preface: Prayers offered “according to [God’s] will” are granted. 1 John 5:14-15
#12. Preface: 1 John 5:16-17, pray for any believer I see committing a sin except the “sin that leads to death.”
#13. Preface: Matthew 5:43-48, pray for my enemies.
#14. Preface: Jesus’ prayer for all who would believe in him in the future. John 17:20-26. Should I deliberately omit anyone Jesus prayed for?
#15. Preface: Jeremiah 14:10-12, only God can tell me not to pray for someone.
#16. Preface: 1 Samuel 12:23, not praying for someone may be a sin—in the context of this verse, this is true even when the people to be prayed for have abandoned God and committed great sins. It’s so much more true when they have committed no great sins but instead have determined me to have committed so great a sin that I am worthy of permanent banishment to the great void–the fate worse than death, because at least the beloved dead are remembered!
#17.. The disciples’ prayer a/k/a “The Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6:9-13 (Part1).
#18. The disciples’ prayer a/k/a “The Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6:9-13 (Part 2)
#19. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (part 1) one of Paul’s model prayers
#20. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (part 2)
#21. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (part 3)
#22. Ephesians 1:2-4, 15-19 (Part 1) another model prayer of Paul
#23. Ephesians 1:2-4, 15-19 (Part 2)
#24. Ephesians 1:4-8 what God did for us, explaining the prayer.
#25. Ephesians 1:8-10 what God has shown us, explaining the prayer.
#26. Ephesians 1:10-14, God’s eternal purpose and our salvation, explaining the prayer.
#27. Ephesians 1:19-23, the outcome and guarantee of the prayer.
#28. Ephesians 3:14-21, another model prayer (Part 1)
#29. Ephesians 3:14-21, another prayer (Part 2)
#30. Ephesians 3:8-13: the prayer in verses 14-21, God’s purpose, and our confidence.
#31. The desired outcome of the prayer: Ephesians 4:1-6.
#32. Philippians 1:3-5, 9-11 (Part 1) another model prayer of Paul
#33. Philippians 1:3-5, 9-11 (Part 2)
#34. Philippians 1:6. Paul’s confidence.
#35. Philippians 1:7-8. Paul justifies his passionate longing for the Philippians in prayer.
#36. Colossians 1:2-4, 9-12 (Part 1), one more model prayer by Paul
#37. Colossians 1:2-4, 9-12 (Part 2).
#38. Colossians 1:4-8: what prompted Paul’s prayer
#39. Why God will answer: Colossians 1:13-14.
#40. Prayer and thinking of good things instead of anxiety. Philippians 4:6-8
#41. Hebrews 6:9-12.
#42. Hebrews 13:18-21.
#43. 1 Peter 3:8-12.
#44. 2 Timothy 1:6-10 used as a prayer for myself and others.
#45. God is just and all of his works show justice, lovingkindness and truth. Psalm 37:27-29; Psalm 89:13-15; Psalm 111:7-8; Isaiah 61:7-9 .
#46. Jesus came to bring justice. Isaiah 42:1-3.
#47. Treating everyone well, with true sympathy, and living at peace. Romans 12:14-18.
#48. Do good to my enemies and so overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21; Matthew 5:43-45.
#49. Be complete, completely like my Father is, in my treatment of others. Matthew 5:38-48.
#50. Never forget who the real enemy is. Ephesians 6:11-13 (WEB) 1 Peter 5:8-10; James 4:5-10;
#51. All of this summarized in one passage! Ephesians 4:25-32 (WEB)
I have now posted my 114 Theses on the door of the Internet, secure in the knowledge that no one will ever pay any attention–even though I have 19 more theses than Luther did! I am, after all, just an old fool!
But I believe I have completely justified continuing in prayer for people who have dismissed me.
Related Posts
The Golden Rule: I love my enemies because I want them to do the same to me- Paul also approved of mediation of disputes between Christians by other believers
- The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers
- Other People Were Affected, Too—The Lord’s “Other Servants”
- Hear the Unjust Judge: Pray and Don’t Give Up
- Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world