By Dr. Alex Tang "the reader"
Yancey, Philip. 2006. Prayer: Does it make any Difference? London: Hodder and Stoughton. This review is based on the British edition which was released earlier.
Philip Yancey, author of best selling Disappointment with God and Soul Survivor, is a popular author because he puts in words, what many Christians are feeling but are afraid to articulate. He deals with controversial topics of living a Christian life with brutal honesty. Hence a book on prayer is most welcome. Prayer is the most talked about subject in Christian life yet least practiced. Yancey stated that to him, prayer is the area where two themes of struggle in Christian life meet: "Why God doesn't act the way we want God to and why I don't act the way God wants me to."
In Part 1, Yancey developed the theme of who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. He also highlighted the fact that God wants to keep company with us. It is in this context that, Yancey developed his argument why we should pray. To him, prayer is a partnership with God which he developed in Part 2. God wants to partner with his creatures in His great redemption plan of the present fallen creation. Prayer then is a form of negotiation. Skillfully skirting the theological issue of whether an unchanging God can change His mind, Yancey explored the numerous passages in the Bible that God did changed His mind. He concluded that the underlying reason that God does change His mind is because of love. "For God so loved the world..."
In Part 3, Yancey explored the `language of prayer.' Basically, this section is a `how to pray' section. However I am glad he explored the silence of God in his chapter `the sound of silence'. For some reasons, most churches do not teach the fact that in a life of prayer, there are times when God does not seem to be present. Spiritual writer like John of the Cross talked about a dark night of the soul- an experience where God seems to be absent. One reason why this is not commonly taught may be that many Christians may not be able to accept the fact that God will voluntarily withdraw the awareness of His presence from us. However as many spiritual writers have attested, these dark nights are necessary for our spiritual growth. Another reason may be that almost all Christians are struggling with prayer (or time to pray). A God who seems absent may not fit into their theological framework.
Part 4 is the climax of the whole book. I was looking forward to discover what Yancey would say about two important issues for us who are struggling with prayers- unanswered prayers and prayers and physical healing.
Regarding unanswered prayer, Yancey wrote, "Some, but not all, unanswered prayers trace back to a fault in the one who prayers...to God's mystifying respect for human freedom and refusal to coerce...to dark powers contending against God's rule...to a planet marred with disease, violence and the potential for tragic accident." What about the unanswered prayers not due to these causes mentioned? After 15 pages, Yancey concludes, "In the end, unanswered prayer brings me face to face with the mystery that silenced Paul: the profound difference between my perspective and God's". It is a mystery but it does not help those of us who are struggling with unanswered prayers.
Yancey seems to have struggled much as he wrote about prayer and physical healing. Earlier in the book he has noted the tremendous growth of the church in Nepal. "The first Nepalese became a Christian in 1950. Now the Church numbers more than half a million, and Nepalese church leaders estimate that 80 per cent of converts have resulted from physical healings...European and American doctors who work there as missionaries, and they admit they have no scientific explanation...David Aikman's book Jesus in Beijing reports a similar pattern of apparent miracles in China." Yet, in his chapter on prayer and physical healing, he wrote, "Nevertheless, I do believe that what many people think of when you say the word `divine healing'-supernatural interventions in the law of nature governing our bodies-are extremely rare. They are miracles, not ordinaries."
This is a brave and honest statement especially in the face of certain groups of Christians who claims that God performs healing on demand (just remind Him of His promises, that's all). Earlier in the chapter, Yancey extracted an article which he co-authored with Dr. Paul Brand for Christianity Today. Dr. Paul Brand is well recognized as an authority on orthopedic surgery for leprosy patients and a well respected Christian. In the article, Dr Brand remarked, "From my own experience as a physician I must truthfully admit that, among the thousands of patients I have treated, I have never observed an unequivocal instance of intervention in the physical realm. Many were prayed for, many found healing, but not in ways that counteracted the laws governing anatomy. No case have I treated personally would meet the rigorous criteria for a supernatural miracle." This is an amazing statement from a Christian who has treated thousands of leprosy patients. I am sure he prayed for them. Not a single one got healed miraculously! They were all healed by conventional medicine. And this is in India, an underdeveloped country if anyone is to argue that miraculous healing occurs in only underdeveloped countries.
I believe Yancey wrote this because he has seen the "great damage that result when we presume upon God (for healing)". Yancey's approach is to review our prayers with a checklist before praying.
* Am I expecting a miracle as an entitlement?
* Am I using the benefits of God's `common grace'-the healing built into our bodies and the medical knowledge we have gained?
* Do I wrongly blame God for causing suffering?
* Am I prepared for the possibility that physical healing may not take place?
I find this checklist fascinating and useful to check our inner attitude and our relationship with God before praying for healing. Yes, we are still called to pray for healing.
In any Christian bookstores, the shelves are full of books about prayers. This indicates that though prayers and praying is a common spiritual discipline, many of us have problems with it. I have enjoyed Philip Yancey's book for three reasons. Firstly, he is an excellent wordsmith and it was enjoyable to read his writing. Secondly, this book is full of interesting anecdotes and reports about the Christianity in different parts of the world because he has a journalist's instinct for seeing the big picture. Finally, he is honest about his struggle with praying and how much time he spent on it.
Another Review of this book:
Imagine sitting with David, before he became king of Israel, and hearing his laments and frustrations with God which eventually circled back to an attitude of praise. You might hear some of the same questions and observations in this book. I've always admired Yancey's willingness to wrestle with the tough issues, to share from his own weaknesses, and to engage his brain while also relying on faith. His latest book embraces these same qualities, presenting a theological yet practical look at prayer's place in the lives of Christians.
So, does prayer make a difference? That's the central question of the book, and it points poignantly at a relationship with the living God. It does not, however, sugarcoat the harsh realities: those who die despite numerous prayers of faith; those who prosper while living sinful lives; the seeming distance of God when we yearn for his nearness.
Throughout the book, sidebars give insight into the joys and turmoils of believers from around the world. These add a nice touch of humanity to the narrative, a reminder that the issue of prayer is not merely an ethereal one, but one that affects each of us to our core. Some never receive the easy answers they hope for, while others rarely pray and find wide paths of apparent blessing. Yancey deals with questions of sickness, prosperity, spiritual destitution, sin, and the ultimate desire to know God and to be known. One particular thought hit home: Why is that God doesn't do the things we want him to, and why is that we don't do the things he wants us to?
If you're looking for an easy, 1-2-3 step book on abundant living through prayer, look elsewhere. If you want everything to fit into a nice, tidy box, this isn't the book for you. If, however, you are earnest in your desire to bring your honest fears and doubts before the Lord, to think through the answers of Scripture, to know that you are not alone, than Phillip Yancey's latest book is sure to be a breath of fresh air. This is a book rich in ideas and biblical truth, yet accessible to the average reader. Indeed, it can--and probably will--make a difference in many lives.
