I thought about doing a SofaChurch meeting to discuss this question, but wondered if there was enough mileage in it. Perhaps we can start the discussion here and see how we go...On Sunday I led a prayer at St Stephens' church asking for victory for Morgan Tsvangirai in the forthcoming presidential vote in Zimbabwe. When I got home I read in the news that he had been forced to quit from the election due to the violence that his followers have been experiencing. Robert Mugabe said afterwards, "Only God can remove me now".
This got me wondering. Is it ever right to pray for someone to die?
2 comments:
I would say in extreme circumstances, yes. He has satisfied every necessary negative criterion for being a completely horrible git. Yes, in theory there is the possibility of a person's heart changing - but perhaps removal into God's immediate judgement is the best thing in a few cases.
Having said that, I remember praying at Theo College for the softening of hearts of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuiness and Ian Paisley Snr - noted hardliners at the time.
Star Trek quote: "The moral thing to do is not always the right thing to do".
Hmmm... a difficult one!!
It would be interesting to explore what the Bible would say about it. There are several instances of folk praying earnestly for God's judgment in a given situation, but also of others who plead for His mercy and forgivness when profound evil and depravity have occurred. Certainly given the farce of the current Zimbabwe elections it appears that nothing short of 'divine intervention' is going to stop this particular man!!!
JO
Post a Comment