Regarding "Thoughts and Prayers"

With the horrific shooting at a Baptist church in Texas over the weekend, many people are angry. And rightfully so. Many are demanding for action as well. They should be. But what is really disturbing, and this has been a trend in recent times, is that people all over are declaring that they are "fed up" with others sending out their thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. Actor Wil Wheaton, who was replying to a tweet from Paul Ryan reminding people that prayers were needed, said this:

"The murdered victims were in a church. If prayers did anything, they'd still be alive, you worthless sack of s***."

Wheaton later made an apology (that wasn't really an apology, but a justification), but many people on social media showed their displeasure in his choice of words. But on the other side, many people across social media agreed with Wheaton, and took it even further. One person in my own newsfeed opined that "God is sick of your prayers." This is what the irreligious nature of a secular culture has brought us: a thinly veiled tolerance for people who believe in God, but whenever someone talks about their faith, even in times of tragedy, that faith in God is mocked.

I will agree with these secularists on one point though: thoughts are pointless. Let me explain why.

Titian- Christ on Mount Olive

I admit, I do get irritated when I see someone say "Our thoughts are with so-and-so during this difficult time", or, "Keep all those positive vibes and good thoughts coming Bob's way as he deals with this heart surgery!" All I can do is shake my head because I realize that that is the best a secular culture can offer. Good "thoughts" are all a person who doesn't believe in the reality of a Creator can send forth. That's not to even mention "positive vibes"; hearing this really makes my eyes roll. My sadness or just anger will not spontaneously manifest and exit my body, thus finding its way to the person I'm supposed to be thinking about. "Positive vibes" are a bastardization of the concept of karma, which in itself is also something we shouldn't put stock in.

What saddens me is that people want to eschew prayer to a loving Creator and instead turn inwards. Think about it. When all we offer are our thoughts, or simply say to someone facing tragedy "I'll be thinking of you", we end up sounding very self absorbed. Perhaps the person you are speaking to will appreciate you are at least thinking of him, but we have to ask ourselves, what good will that do? We either must act to make the pain go away physically or we must look for a metaphysical solution, and that would be prayer.

Even if these critics do not believe in God, they must realize that there is a fundamental difference between prayers and thoughts. Again, thoughts turn us inward, and if that's all we're doing, then we should be chastised. Our thoughts turn us into gods. It's as if we think these "positive vibes" that are percolating in our heads can have any effect on suffering people. But if we go outside ourselves, if we lift up our hearts to our Lord instead of keeping everything closed in, this will truly be effective. That's what prayer is; asking for something. We may not always receive what we ask for, but it is more efficacious to pray than it is to wear a Live Strong bracelet or think positive thoughts about someone.

Also, many of these same critics qualify their irritation with "thoughts and prayers" by saying that politicians (and sometimes, they'll extend this to people in general) should be acting instead of praying. My response to this would be, "why do the two have to be mutually exclusive?" Why can we not both pray and fight to make the change that we want to see, if it is within our capabilities? We can pray for guidance in how to act. We can pray for the repose of the soul of the dead in situations like Texas and Las Vegas. we can pray for the victims in hospitals fighting for their lives. We can play for the families and friends that will be impacted because of such a tragedy. And then, in addition, we can act  to do something.

Prayers do "do something". If secularists understood what people of faith, particularly Christians, perceive God to be, then they would understand that these people of prayer are doing the best they can. To not ask for divine assistance means we rely on ourselves. And if we rely on ourselves, we're in a world of hurt. I will continue to pray whenever tragedies happen, and I will act in the most efficient way that I can. Often times, the only way to act is through prayer.