Where are those who know how to pray?

[notice]A fortnightly column by Elfrieda Fleischman, Concerned Young People in SA (CYPSA). [/notice]

Someone mentioned once that darkness is only the absence of light.  If we as Christians would complain about the mounting evil and growing spiritual darkness in our country…we should ask ourselves the question: where is the light?  Where are those that know how to pray, where are those that can pray… so that foundations are shaken? (Acts 4:31). 

Is the reason for unanswered prayer not perhaps that Christians do not obey God’s voice, and therefore He will not listen?  We read that the first Christians were of one heart (Acts 4:24).  What is your relationship with your brother and sister in Christ?  Is there still something we need to put right with others before we can bring our gift (of prayer) to the altar?  Should we not repent so that this powerful channel of prayer can be opened and be genuine?

Truly, where do we as the church of God find ourselves?  Mary Stuart (also known as Bloody Mary), queen of Scotland said, she fears the prayer of preacher John Knox.  Is it not true, that if we as Christians do not shake the world, the world will shake us? Let us put things right with one another and with our Lord and then pray…

Furthermore, let us take note of the following bit of history.  After the American 1962 Court case of Engel v. Vitale, the following simple 22-word prayer was left out of public school assemblies:  “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee and beg Thy blessing upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country.”  (Barton, 1994:5)

Following this case, the Court of the USA also began methodically expelling other religious principles.  The effects of this ruling are evident as the following graphs as taken from the book America to pray? Or not to pray? indicate:

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Gonorrhea: Age Group 10-14

 YEAR

Basic data from the Center for Disease Control and
Department of Health and Human Resources.

 

 

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Gonorrhea: Age Group 15-19

YEAR

Basic data from the Center for Disease Control and
Department of Health and Human Resources.

 

 

CASES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Includes: Gonorrhea, Syphillis, Chancroid,
Granuloma Inguinale, Lymphgranuloma Venereum, and AIDS

YEAR

 Indicates population growth profile.

Basic data from the Center for Disease Control and
Department of Health and Human Resources.

 

 

PREGNANCIES TO UNWED GIRLS

Under 15 Years of Age

YEAR

 Indicates population growth.
 Indicates Interpolated Data.

Basic data from the Department of Health and Human Services,
Statistical Abstracts of the United States, the Center for Disease Control,
and the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.

 

 

PREGNANCIES TO UNWED GIRLS

Under 15-19 Years of Age

YEAR

 Indicates population growth.
 Indicates Interpolated Data.

Basic data from the Department of Health and Human Services,
Statistical Abstracts of the United States, the Center for Disease Control,
and the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.

 

 

BIRTH RATES FOR UNWED GIRLS

Under 15-19 Years of Age

YEAR

Basic data from the Department of Health and Human Services,
and Statistical Abstracts of the United States

 

 

PRE-MARITAL SEX

Percentage of U.S. Teenage Girls
Who Have Had Pre-Marital Intercourse

YEAR

Basic data from Family Planning Perspectives, March/April 1987, 
and from Sexual and Reproductive Behavior of American Women, 1982-88.
Furnished by the Alan Guttmacher Institute.

 

 

SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS

Female Head, No Spouse Present

YEAR

 Indicates population growth Profile.

Basic data from Statistical Abstracts of the United States,
and the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.

 

 UNMARRIED COUPLES LIVING TOGETHER

YEAR

 Prior to 1977, unmarried couples living together was such a small group that data on this group was collected only in the 10-year census reports.

* Note: Unmarried couples represented only 1 in 85 of all couples in 1970, 
compared with 1 in 25 in 1983.

Basic data from Statistical Abstracts of the United States

                     

 

DIVORCE RATES

YEAR

“T“e U.S. is at the top of the world’s’divorce charts on marital breakups.”
”.S. News and World Report, June 8, 1987, pp. 68-69

“T“e number of divorces tripled each year between 1962 and 1981.”
”ime, July 13, 1987, p. 21

Basic data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics,
Vital Statistics of the United States, annual

 

 

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA

YEAR

Basic data from National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Consumption.

 

 

VIOLENT CRIME: Number of Offenses

YEAR

 Indicates population growth profile.

* Groupings represent average rate per year over the two-year period.

Basic Data from Statistical Abstracts of the United States,
and the Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.

 

 

SAT Total Scores

YEAR

#1 – Average achievement level prior to the separation.
#2 – Amount of reduced academic achievement since the separation.

Basic data from the College Entrance Exam Board

Let us indeed take note of this empiricAL evidence regarding the importance of prayer in our houses, communities and schools.  Let us learn from this tragic anti-prayer experiment of America!

 Would you dare to be a Daniel?

 Source:  Barton, D.  1994.  America to pray? Or not to pray? , Aledo:WallBuilder Press, 163p.