IN the modern church structure, there is a system  and a tradition that has crept in steadily and stealthily that we seem to take it for granted and accept it as normal. In both liturgical and non-liturgical but particularly in the non-liturgical or “full-gospel” churches, there is a tradition that the pastor, priest or elder can pray for a person and in return, the person will give some financial “blessing” for the prayer.

The liturgical churches have their structure and many times, that structure is followed. While the structure appears to be ritualistic, there is some comfort in that there are some boundaries set that simulates order. But within the non-liturgical churches, while many follow an unwritten liturgy of opening prayer, worship, offering (which can be before or after the preaching), preaching and announcements, there is a tendency to be non-traditional- opening doors for spiritual abuse.

One spiritual abuse is the concept of praying for others.

Yes- the bible asks us to pray for one another. James 5:13-16 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) And if any of you is in suffering, let him pray, and if rejoicing, let him sing songs. And if one is ill, let him call The Elders of the church, and let them pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of Our Lord. And the prayer of faith heals the one who is ill and Our Lord raises him up, and if sins were done by him, they are forgiven him. But be confessing your offenses one to another, and pray one for another to be healed, for the power of the prayer which a righteous person prays is great.

But where in the bible does it say that we have to pay for this prayer? And before the religious Christian “Pharisees” jump on me, consider this- while the outright request is not verbal -it has become an unspoken tradition. “Healers” have arisen that speak of God’s healing and they go about praying for people. On the one hand they pray for others and on the other hand, it is the expectation that the person prayed for will compensate the “Man of God”.

Clearly, this is a dangerous tradition. Many healers have become rich on “healing ministry”. While certainly, God is called Yahweh Rophe- my question is “If God is the healer, why do men accept gifts in exchange for healing?”

I Timothy 5:17-18 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) Those Elders who lead well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in the word and in teaching. For the Scriptures say, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading”, and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

“Double honor” is a two-fold price. An ox treading fills his belly with need and not want. So, for those who merchandise in healing and live in opulence, with golden gates and golden toilet seats and with personal jets, it begs the question “Does this type of behavior exalt the Living God or man?”

Pay for prayer has become a dangerous tradition in the modern church. There is only one mediator- the man Christ Jesus. God has called us to stand in the gap for others- yes- but to also keep our motives and hearts free from the lust of money and fame. Instead the church should teach the believers to prayer for themselves and to seek after God with their whole hearts. When we gather together, pray earnestly before God and do not seek to exalt one over the other. First and foremost, let us truly seek to lift Jesus up and to seek first God’s kingdom- which is not in meat and drink. Romans 14:17 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) For The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but the righteousness and the peace and the joy in The Spirit of Holiness.

In other words, let us NOT seek to fill our bellies, our pockets and our barns with the corruptible things of this world, but let us seek to lift Jesus up and save men and women from the curse of everlasting darkness. Let us focus on teaching the people of God to pray instead of accepting payment for prayer. The days of the earthly high priest are over.We now have a heavenly high priest- Jesus Christ. And when we learn to pray, each saint praying – it is then that we can wield the sword of the spirit. The word of God which is the sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12) becomes so much more effective when the saint can wield it in prayer.

ARISE O SAINTS OF GOD- LET US GLORIFY GOD ALMIGHTY AND NOT POLLUTE OURSELVES WITH THE TEMPTATIONS OF THIS WORLD. WE CERTAINLY CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS- ONLY ONE. THEREFORE- LET US SERVE THE LIVING GOD AND HIM ALONE.

Matthew 6:24 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) No man can work for two masters, for either he will hate one and will love the other, or he will honor one and the other he will ignore. You cannot work for God and for money.