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The Watchtower feels that Prayer is a Restricted Privilege. At least that is the impression one gets after reading this article.

Watchtower, May 15, 1990, pp.11-12 Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer

Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer

A Restricted Privilege
6 Human kings do not allow just anyone to enter into the royal palace unannounced. An audience with a king is a restricted privilege. So is prayer to the King of eternity. Of course, those approaching him through Jesus Christ with proper appreciation of God's glorious majesty can expect to be heard. The King Eternal must be approached with a reverent, worshipful attitude. And those desiring to be heard must display "the fear of Jehovah."-Proverbs 1:7.

7 What is "the fear of Jehovah"? It is profound reverence for God, coupled with a wholesome dread of displeasing him. This awe stems from deep gratitude for his loving-kindness and goodness. (Psalm 106:1) It involves acknowledging him as the King of eternity, who has the right and the power to bring punishment, including death, upon anyone disobeying him. Persons manifesting the fear of Jehovah may pray to him with the expectation of being heard.

8 Naturally, God does not answer the prayers of wicked, unfaithful, and self-righteous people. (Proverbs 15:29; Isaiah 1:15; Luke 18:9-14) But those who fear Jehovah are heard because they have conformed to his righteous standards. Yet, they have done more. Fearers of Jehovah have made a dedication to God in prayer and symbolized this by undergoing water baptism. They thus have an unrestricted privilege of prayer.

9 To be heard by God, a person must express prayerful sentiments that are in harmony with the divine will. Yes, he must be sincere, but more is required. "Without faith it is impossible to please [God] well," wrote the apostle Paul, "for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews 11:6) Well, then, can unbaptized persons be encouraged to pray with the hope of being heard?

10 Aware that prayer is a restricted privilege, King Solomon asked that Jehovah hear only foreigners who prayed toward God's temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:41-43) Centuries later, the Gentile foreigner Cornelius "made supplication to God continually" as a devout man. Upon gaining accurate knowledge, Cornelius dedicated himself to God, who then gave him the holy spirit. Following this, Cornelius and other Gentiles were baptized. (Acts 10:1-44) Like Cornelius, anyone today progressing toward dedication may be encouraged to pray. But an individual who is insincere about studying the Scriptures, does not know the divine requirements for prayer, and has not yet displayed an attitude pleasing to God cannot be said to fear Jehovah, have faith, or be earnestly seeking him. Such a person is not in position to offer prayers acceptable to God.

11 Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3) Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

So I guess, if you are a JW in good standing, your prayers will be heard. If you are studying to be baptized as a JW, your prayers maybe heard. However, if you are simply a christian or worse, something else, you do not fear Jehovah so you will not be heard....:shocked::confused: (how do people fall for this??)

I am so glad that it is up to Jehovah, not the WT to make that decison. (they are getting rather presumptious, r'nt they?)

Salaam, Lou

First off, they start the article by comparing Jehovah's kingship with human kingship --- stating that the rules regarding approaching human kings also applies to approaching God. WRONG! God isn't just our king, He is also our FATHER. That means everyone's Father, not just some of us. What loving father is going to refuse to hear his child speak to him?

Secondly, how DARE they presume to state who Yahweh will and will not listen to?!?! This seems to fall into the category of judging others hearts, something no human is qualified to do.

Thirdly, the air of self-righteousness is all over this article. Eeeesh! :horsepoo:

:rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::rant:

You'd think your prayers would have to go through them for approval before being forwarded to Jehovah...Oh no wait, that is what they say since they are in mediatorship with Jesus and everyone else is not!

Praise the Father and the Son, and all the prayers offered up in faith, and not pride.

Lynn

I think I left the organization just after this article hit the streets.

11 Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3) Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer.

So, which is it? Are those progressing towards dedication heard or are they not? This was written in 1990, five years after the change in the questions for baptism. Perhaps "Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication" and "later may seem to be holding back" have a good reason to "hold back."

This air about this article absolutely sucks (and I don't use the term "sucks" very often).

gus

I remember this article and how my heart plunged.

Melancholymuse, your little horse says it all - 'Pooey'!


Tessa

The Apostle Paul says to "carry on prayer on every occasion" :- Eph. 6:18


How can prayer be a restricted privilege! I'd have thought that sinners like me would have needed GREATER access to Jehovah than some of life's more 'righteous' individuals ;)

Bump to the top.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

The old bait and switch!


Bait:

a dedication to God --- A good thing to do!


and Switch:

by getting baptized --- A dedication to men "God's Spirit Directed Organization".



In Christ

abe

“Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening,” Jehovah once told the Israelites. Pointing out the reason, he continued: “With bloodshed your very hands have become filled.” (Isaiah 1:15)

(Proverbs 28:9) “9 He that is turning his ear away from hearing the law—even his prayer is something detestable.”

(Psalm 66:18) “18 If I have regarded anything hurtful in my heart, Jehovah will not hear [me].”

(Proverbs 15:29) “29 Jehovah is far away from the wicked ones, but the prayer of the righteous ones he hears.”

There are more examples that show that Jehovah does not hear some prayers.

O course Jehovah doesn't listen to all prayers, but that's not what the artical said.
quot: " Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer." :coffeeread:

Hi e-magine,

Spot on; and of course, we realize what was really meant in WatchTowerspeak, when they wrote, "only baptized believers".


IC,
John

More satanic drivel from everyones favourite idiot religion.


I look forward to the day when the Watchtower no longer prints this crap.

*** w90 5/15 p. 12 par. 11 Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer ***

11 Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3) Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer.

*** w63 5/15 p. 319 Questions From Readers ***

Hebrews 11:6: “He that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” In other words, for one to be heard by God one must not only believe God exists but earnestly be seeking him. That is why Jehovah God told the unfaithful Israelites that he was not hearing their prayers. And Jesus showed that the prayers made for effect as well as those made by self-righteous persons are not heard.—Isa. 1:15; Matt. 6:5-8; Luke 18:11-14.