“Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

When disaster strikes, whether natural or manmade, one of the most common platitudes we hear thereafter is, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

In the past several years I’ve noticed the expression has seen backlash. Mainly because the politicians who say it most, are rather overt hypocrites. Their actions demonstrate they’re not thinking of the disaster victims at all. Their fleshly behavior also suggests they don’t pray either… or they’re praying in some weird manner which doesn’t change them whatsoever. You know, contrary to how prayer actually works.

Now yes, some of the backlash comes from nontheists who are pretty sure all prayer is bogus anyway. They don’t believe anybody’s listening, and we Christians are only talking to the sky. Prayers are therefore just as useless as when some pagans attempt to send positive thoughts, vibes, and energy towards the needy: All they actually do is psyche themselves into feeling really happy things, then feel a little burst of euphoria which they figure is them “releasing” those thoughts into the universe. And then… they’re back to life as usual. Unless the happy thoughts get ’em to deliberately behave in more positive, productive ways towards those around them; but usually they don’t. The universe is no different. Nor better.

Give you an example. One of the United States’ many mass shootings might take out more masses than usual. The news media covers it like crazy; the public is horrified; the usual senators (or more likely, their staffers who know how to use social media) stick things on the internet about how their “thoughts and prayers” are with the victims and their families. And those who want gun restrictions object: These particular senators have no plans to change the gun laws whatsoever, and if anything they’ll be wary of future gun restrictions, and continue to fight existing gun resstrictions. Which means more mass shootings are inevitable. So what good are those senators’ thoughts and prayers?

I mean, functionally it’s the same as when James objected to “faith” which lacked works:

James 2.14-17 GNT

14My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? 15Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. 16What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don’t give them the necessities of life? 17So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

Our “thoughts and prayers” frequently aren’t any different than wishing the needy well, but doing nothing to make ’em less needy. Sometimes out of our own laziness, sometimes our own ill will. And the needy aren’t dense. They see the irreligion in it. They’re calling us on it. Rightly so.

If our thoughts and prayers do nothing, our faith is dead.

Prayer must transform the petitioner.

When we’re interceding with God over others’ needs, prayer should have one of two outcomes: Either it provokes God to do something, or it provokes us towards changing ourselves. Regularly, we should see both happen.

Yeah, there are determinists who are pretty sure prayer doesn’t change God whatsoever: He’s had his evil secret plan drafted since the dawn of time, and prayer isn’t about convincing God to change his mind (scriptures to the contrary Ex 32.14, Jr 18.8, 26.3, 26.19, Jh 3.9-10), but changing us so we’re more apt to accept our own fate. Yeah, it’s for fatalistic reasons, but determinists have written quite a lot about how prayer’s meant to change us. And some of their observations aren’t wrong. But prayer’s meant to change us too, not change us only. Prayer also moves God, y’know. Otherwise Jesus wouldn’t tell us to strive with God!

Luke 18.1-8 GNT

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. 2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, ‘Help me against my opponent!’ 4For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or respect people, 5yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!’”

6And the Lord continued, “Listen to what that corrupt judge said. 7Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? 8I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?”

But God’s actions aside, we oughta also see the petitioners act.

You wanna see change? Well God’s made us the agents of his change. If we see hungry people, we’re not to respond, “Aww; I hope God feeds you.” We’re to feed ’em. Mt 25.35 We’re to clothe the naked, not leave it to some local clothing drive. We’re to cure the sick, not Medicare nor some private HMO. We’re to visit prisoners, not case workers and journalists and the occasional do-gooder. We’re meant to act, not wish really hard.

Often that’s the Holy Spirit’s very answer to our prayers. “You really want justice done? About time; so do I. I’m sending you to go do something about it.” Just like he sent Moses to Egypt to go free his people. Problem is, we balk exactly like Moses.

Exodus 4.10-17 GNT

10But Moses said, “No, LORD, don't send me. I have never been a good speaker, and I haven't become one since you began to speak to me. I am a poor speaker, slow and hesitant.”

11The LORD said to him, “Who gives man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or dumb? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? It is I, the LORD. 12Now, go! I will help you to speak, and I will tell you what to say.”

13But Moses answered, “No, LORD, please send someone else.”

14At this the LORD became angry with Moses and said, “What about your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. In fact, he is now coming to meet you and will be glad to see you. 15You can speak to him and tell him what to say. I will help both of you to speak, and I will tell you both what to do. 16He will be your spokesman and speak to the people for you. Then you will be like God, telling him what to say. 17Take this walking stick with you; for with it you will perform miracles.”

But unlike Moses, who finally did act and freed his people, we pretend we heard nothing, or assume God’s call is our delusion. So we do nothing.

It’s that lack of faith and action which really frosts the critics. Pagans know how prayer’s meant to work! Praying Christians oughta be active Christians, not passive. When we’re passive, they realize something’s inconsistent and wrong with us. When our behavior produces bad fruit, they realize God’s not really among us. So of course they think we’re only talking to the sky. And we aren’t proving ’em wrong!

At the very least, a Christian who’s praying for the needy, yet doing nothing because they’re not entirely sure they oughta do anything, oughta be more compassionate. Oughta mourn with those who mourn, comfort those who suffer, listen to them vent and rage and cry, and not just throw paper towels at ’em. After all, aren’t they crying out to God for help? Shouldn’t some of that concern overflow into their daily actions? Yet if we see nothing (sometimes because their misplaced machismo won’t let ’em publicly reveal their emotions), we realize something’s awry. Every expert hypocrite knows they need to fake sympathy, at the very least.

So when Christians truly are thinking and praying for the needy, we oughta see it in them. If we can’t, they likely aren’t.