Pray-Reading is Scriptural

Greetings! It is only my opinion that Ohio has stated some thoughts well in his last post on pray-reading. Witness Lee did use Ephesians 6:17-18 as a basis for using the Word to pray. We should not merely look at pray-reading as something only Witness Lee encouraged and taught from the Bible. A careful study of church history will find that so many believers used the Word to help them in their prayer time. Martin Luther said "the best prayer book is the Bible." He shared his experiences of using the Word to mix in-between his prayer. Madame Guyon, a spiritual Catholic, recommended pray-reading. Andrew Murray also encouraged this practice. Could it be that there have been some pray-reading experiences among some believers that really "are not the best example" of what real pray-reading is meant to be?

I think that this very discussion will help all of us readers to pray-read the proper way, and not mindless shouting and empty repeating the same words. The loud voice in heaven in Revelation 19:1-4, repeating of "Hallelujah" and "Amen" at least 3 times certainly is not vain repeating of the same words. Amen and Hallelujah are the praises of the saints for Christ's victory. And do not think that I sit around and read only WN and WL publications. I recently came across a portion in a publication by K.C. Hinkley in his "A Compact Guide to the Christian Life." On page 43 he asks the question, "How is Christian meditation different from what is done in Eastern religions?" He then states, "The meditation practiced in Eastern religions is a matter of emptying your mind and opening yourself up spiritually to whatever voice or influence happens. Christian meditation aims to focus the mind in openness to God's voice, and no other." And then further he states on page 44, "Christians use the word meditation to describe two slightly different things. The first is a directed, focused thinking in which you mull over a passage of Scripture to draw out its meat. The second is a kind of prayer. It is related to meditating on Scripture that is intended to quiet your brain enough to let God's Word to sink into your heart." A growing believer may find his mind to be troublesome with all the anxieties of this age that we live in, so I feel it is fitting for K.C. Hinkley to point out that we can "quiet your brain enough to let God's Word sink into your heart." Lastly on page 81, Hinkley states that meditation is "digesting a scriptural truth by chewing on it over and over until you understand it." Another publication that I have greatly benefitted is written by Terry Bowland entitled, "Make isciples!:Reaching the Postmodern World for Christ." He discusses how to approach friends and people to reach them and share the good news of the gospel. This book has been a great help to my patience towards sinners and has helped me to listen to people with a concern and care, all the while intending to look for an opportunity to share the gospel with them. I hope we all can take a moment after considering this matter of pray-reading and delight ourselves in prayer over God's Word.

[UntoHim]

Just couldn't resist, could you Ohio. You just had to answer my relevant and pertinent question with another question. Hey, at least you didn't flame me....so I guess you're batting .500 and that aint bad!

Ok, does anybody have an electronic copy of Thou Saidst? It seems to me that LSM may have a free online version somewhere? Of course I already addressed the contentions set forth in this booklet earlier on the thread, but hey, I'm game. Let's hash it over again.

I must tell you all, however, that the discussion will probably not be too "production or condusive" if nobody wants to address the real issue at hand - What did Witness Lee teach about "Pray-Reading"? And how is it practiced in the Local Church by the majority of members? I don't see how we can get anywhere by comparing Andrew Murray or any of the others because what they have written is biblical and what is taught and practiced in the Local Church is not biblical.
-

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Just couldn't resist, could you Ohio. You just had to answer my relevant and pertinent question with another question. Hey, at least you didn't flame me....so I guess you're batting .500 and that aint bad!

For the life of me I can't figure out this latest version of LCD. The moderators constantly remind posters to stay on topic and respect the OP's thread, and then when I do exactly that, you don't seem very happy about it.

Originally Posted by UntoHim

I must tell you all, however, that the discussion will probably not be too "production or conducive" if nobody wants to address the real issue at hand - What did Witness Lee teach about "Pray-Reading"? And how is it practiced in the Local Church by the majority of members? I don't see how we can get anywhere by comparing Andrew Murray or any of the others because what they have written is biblical and what is taught and practiced in the Local Church is not biblical. -

Well ... the answer to your questions is quite simple. Use that book to expose what the Recovery calls "pray-reading" is not what they claim it to be. That book by Graver was a compilation of many well respected men of God throughout church history. The Recovery uses it as justification for their aberrant meeting practices.

Here's the first point of refutation: No place in the book, or in church history for that matter, is the Recovery practice of public "pray-reading" of meeting handouts endorsed.

Here's another: the phrase "pray-reading," to the best of my knowledge, is never mentioned in the book. It is a Recovery invention, with no support in church history.

Even Graver's sub-title says: "... the Intimate and Vital Relationship between God's Word and Prayer." All Christians would agree with that, eh?

[gr8ful]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Here's the first point of refutation: No place in the book, or in church history for that matter, is the Recovery practice of public "pray-reading" of handouts endorsed.

Here's another: the phrase "pray-reading," to the best of my knowledge, is never mentioned in the book. It is a Recovery invention, with no support in church history.

Even Graver's sub-title says: "... the Intimate and Vital Relationship between God's Word and Prayer." All Christians would agree with that, eh?

I was in the FTTA when "PSRP" (which I *think* was Pray Sing Read Pray-Read ... but, like RADAR or SCUBA became it's own term) was introduced to accompany Br Lee's exhortations to dive into to High Peak of the Divine Revelation. While we cheered it and sang about it and testified about it, there was a lot of private "this isn't really praying over the Ministry like we pray over the Bible" talk to those who were troubled at the prospect of... "praying over the Ministry like we pray over the Bible." Point is, it was dubious and had to be taken with a grain of salt even by the participants, yet no one really said "hey, this seems excessive!" Not in public, anyway.

Eventually "PSRP" became kind of an inside joke brothers would use to razz one another. As is, "yo, man, you seem mad. Maybe you need to PSRP that." Akin to "yo, bro, y u mad? TURN TO YOUR SPIRIT!"

The main benefit of PSRP was to memorize long banners and outlines with long, precisely-written paragraphs so we could stand at the mic and repeat it back to much enthusiastic applause.

Quite different than reading the Scripture in an attitude of prayerfulness.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by gr8ful

I was in the FTTA when "PSRP" (which I *think* was Pray Sing Read Pray-Read ...

I seem to remember Prayread-Study-Recite-Prophesy in the early 90's.

PSRP had nothing to do with the Bible or the word of God. It really had nothing to do with prayer. It was all about WL's increasingly esoteric and aberrant doctrines such as GBMtMMG-ILaNbNitGH.

And remember ... that god-man talk had nothing to do with some "high peak" divine revelation. Nonsense. It was simply a diversionary tactic to redirect the attention of the Recovery away from the so-called rebellion of John Ingalls, Bill Mallon, John So, etc. who spoke up about Philip Lee's predatory ways on the sisters serving at LSM. (Think Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement 30 years before their time.)

[Robert]

I was not on FTTL cause we got baby and they rejected us. I knew other couples where one spouse could participate. But that was in 90'.
After years I am thankful for God's arrangement and prevention.
Instead of PSRP I got PTSD!
When I hear long Ameeeeeen! Or 'Oooooooh, Loooooord Jeeeeeesuuussss! I feel sick!
There is hidden breathing technique. Coming to pray reading.
Yes, I fully agree, we can experience this in intimate time with Word of God. This is my experience especially in first years of my christian life.
When I was reading, I was touched by God, by His Word so much, that I was crying, amazed, and repeating verses. That was so beautiful.

That is why I was drawn and convinced and happy, that WN had the same. I was naive at that time.
So yes, we can experience reading and contacting in prayer with the Lord!
And, yes, for sure this is the best way of approaching to Bible. Not with mind only, but with open heart and in prayer.
But do we really have to name everything and make definitions?
WL even eternal live could put in practice by exercising spirit!
I only hope that God was not disturbing him...

But I never accepted, that only by repetition we are able to experience it, and by our power or work enforce Holy Spirit to come.
God is not sandwich machine! You put coin in and sandwich pop up!
I've never understood this practice and to be honest, if I did it, it was weak, and only several times. And IF I got any nourishment from this it was by Grace and my open heart
This practice is only proving man's control and WL's conception to find a perfect method.
I am ready to believe, that WL was simply, humble brother, who wanted the best for church.
But I do afraid also, that all deceived false teachers was like that.
That was my two cents about pray reading.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Robert

I was not on FTTL cause we got baby and they rejected us. I knew other couples where one spouse could participate. But that was in 90'.
After years I am thankful for God's arrangement and prevention.
Instead of PSRP I got PTSD!
When I hear long Ameeeeeen! Or 'Oooooooh, Loooooord Jeeeeeesuuussss! I feel sick!
There is hidden breathing technique. Coming to pray reading.
Yes, I fully agree, we can experience this in intimate time with Word of God. This is my experience especially in first years of my christian life.
When I was reading, I was touched by God, by His Word so much, that I was crying, amazed, and repeating verses. That was so beautiful.

That is why I was drawn and convinced and happy, that WN had the same. I was naive at that time.
So yes, we can experience reading and contacting in prayer with the Lord!
And, yes, for sure this is the best way of approaching to Bible. Not with mind only, but with open heart and in prayer.
But do we really have to name everything and make definitions?
WL even eternal live could put in practice by exercising spirit!
I only hope that God was not disturbing him...

But I never accepted, that only by repetition we are able to experience it, and by our power or work enforce Holy Spirit to come.
God is not sandwich machine! You put coin in and sandwich pop up!
I've never understood this practice and to be honest, if I did it, it was weak, and only several times. And IF I got any nourishment from this it was by Grace and my open heart
This practice is only proving man's control and WL's conception to find a perfect method.
I am ready to believe, that WL was simply, humble brother, who wanted the best for church.
But I do afraid also, that all deceived false teachers was like that.
That was my two cents about pray reading.

Agreed. What I think learning pray-reading did for me, and which I have retained, is that the word can be taken as prayer and also out-loud. That is, instead of just reading the word (nothing wrong with that), silently to myself, I can also turn it into prayer. Additionally there's the benefit it has in hearing the word aloud with our ears. So this serves to get several things going - our mind, mouth, ears and hopefully spirit. And to me, scripture is the very best affirmation - it's what He knows and sees about everything, including what is true of His children. So I need to pickle my mind in His word every day, and one good way to do that is pray-reading!