[Vision2020] Reply to Metzler & Mix on imprecatory prayer

[Taro Tanaka]

Mr. Metzler seems to think that I am an apologist for Christ Church. That is 
a belief he holds based on his own analysis, and not because I have ever 
claimed to be such, and not because Christ Church or Doug Wilson have ever 
appointed me as such.

Mr. Metzler wants me to interact with his last post on Doug Wilson's use of 
imprecatory prayer. Let me just say that above and beyond what I have 
already said, Doug Wilson can speak, and has spoken, for himself on that 
subject. Knowing how thoroughly disposed some people are to think only ill 
of Doug Wilson, I doubt there is anything more I could say that would sway 
such people to change their mind.

I will say this, however. Luke 9:54 is an argument against using imprecatory 
prayer at the wrong time, for the wrong reason. It is not an argument 
against imprecatory prayer as such.

It is not enough to define imprecatory prayer along the lines of simply "a 
prayer for God to bring evil or misfortune to others; for Him to curse 
others." That is an inadequate definition that fails to get to the heart of 
the matter.

Imprecatory prayer may be thought of as a sort of "last resort appeal" to 
God for justice. The so-called "curses" are simply the just penalty called 
for in the scriptures for the evil that has been perpetrated. Imprecatory 
prayer is an appeal to the court of divine justice (1) for protection and 
(2) for appropriate punishment to be meted out to wicked people. The prayer 
asks God to solve the problem and bring the wicked person to repentance, or, 
if repentance is not forthcoming, to judgment.

Our personal adversaries are not always God's enemies: we can't ask God to 
kill someone just because we don't like him. There has to be a crime and an 
appropriate appeal for justice. As Mr. Metzler has pointed out, imprecatory 
prayer is potentially very dangerous for the person making the prayer. 
Deuteronomy 19:16-20 talks about a person who bears false witness in 
bringing false charges against someone. The Bible calls for the perjuring 
accuser to receive the penalty that he would have had the unjustly accused 
party receive. So, if someone hates his neighbor and asks God to curse him, 
he might just end up having God bring that same curse upon himself.

Now I don't think Doug Wilson is guilty of having hated his neighbor and 
asking God to curse him, but if he is guilty of that, of trying to use God 
as a "goon" or "hit man" in his personal spats, it is entirely possible that 
Wilson's prayers might backfire. And if that happens, then let God be 
praised. But the improper use of imprecatory prayer should not cause us to 
argue that there is never any legitimate use of imprecatory prayer.

I hope the above adequately fulfills any moral obligation I might have had 
to give a response, and I hope and pray that it is clear the Bible not only 
allows but demands the right use of imprecatory prayer.

-- Princess Sushitushi

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