The question has been raised in recent days: “Should we pray for the lost?” This was in response to an article in Interest magazine entitled “Don’t Pray for the Lost.” It has been the position of this magazine to simply minister encouragement to the saints without wasting valuable space refuting what may be unprofitable or inaccurate teaching from other sources.
However, this time we feel it necessary to give a strong and certain blast on the trumpet. It is a fearful thing to discourage the Christians from praying when so much hangs in the balance. This is especially true when the issue is the eternal destiny of the lost.
One must not assume that this title was selected by the author; it may have been chosen by the editorial committee. As it turns out, the title, “Don’t Pray for the Lost,” featured on the cover, was misleading. In fact, the author admitted that prayer for the lost was “inferred indirectly.” The author pointed to Matthew 5:44, which gives the Lord’s instructions to pray for “those who persecute you.” He also noted two phrases from 1 Timothy 2:1-4. But read the whole passage: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
The author does not seem to know what these supplications, prayers, and intercessions are that should be made for all men, although he says that from this passage “prayer for unsaved government officials is implied.” Is it not somewhat stronger than an implication when the Spirit of God reveals to us in the same passage the reason why we ought to pray for all men? “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Did not our Lord pray for the lost from the cross, when He repeatedly cried, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”? And what of Paul’s prayer in Romans 10:1? The author feels this does not count because Paul was praying for Israel collectively rather than individually. Are men saved collectively? Why should this model prayer–“that they might be saved”–be disqualified because Paul’s heart embraces more than one?
The author informs us that “Because the message to be presented is ‘the mystery of the gospel . . . divine assistance would be needed in both its proclamation and comprehension” [italics mine]. If sinners need divine assistance to understand the gospel, is it not incumbent upon us to pray for that enlightenment?
“Of course,” says the author of ‘Don’t Pray for the Lost,’ “it is not out of place to cry out, ‘Father, save my lost loved one!’ It would be almost subhuman not to voice such a petition occasionally.” I have spoken English most of my life, but I confess I am at a loss to understand how such a statement can be included in an article by that title.
How was it that a handful of believers saw the establishment of hundreds of assemblies across North America while sending out scores of high-calibre missionaries around the world? There was more to the success of those past days than mere sacrificial living. How often we must remind ourselves that it is not methods that work–God works! If He does not, our own efforts are leaves in the wind.
What was the secret? They were men and women of prayer. As a child, I remember our lives were full of prayer: besides personal and family prayer (three times a day at least), there was a women’s prayer meeting one morning a week, a men’s prayer meeting on Saturday morning, 30 minutes of prayer time at young people’s on Friday night, 30-45 minutes of prayer at the mid-week meeting, and a prayer meeting before the preaching of the gospel on the Lord’s Day. When regular gospel series were held–for weeks at a time–there was usually prayer before and after each meeting. Is it any surprise that our assembly became two assemblies, then three, four, five assemblies during those years?
Of course, we must live the truth as well as speak it; we must love the unsaved as well as witness to them. There is much for us to do. But there is no substitute for praying for the lost!