Daily Carson 05/07/08

We return this week to finish out the last few quotes that I took down when reading A Call to Spiritual Reformation, by DA Carson. I can't wait to read this book again!

Suppose, for argument's sake, that every time we asked God for anything and ended our prayers with some appropriate formula, such as "in Jesus' name," we immediately received what we asked for. How would we view prayer? How would we view God? Wouldn't prayer become a bit of clever magic? Wouldn't God himself become nothing more than an extraordinarily powerful genie, to be called up, not rubbing Aladdin's lamp, but by praying? "Please give me the ideal spouse, today. In Jesus' name, Amen." "Please raise up eighty-two more missionaries for Zaire, complete with their support, by the end of the week. In Jesus' name, Amen." What an easy and domesticated religion. But this is not true religion. This is magic, not worship; it is another power trip, not hearty submission to the lordship of Christ. It is superstition, not a personal relation with the Father God who is wise, good, and patient. He may give us what we ask for; he may make us wait; he may decline. He may give us the goal of what we ask for, but by quite another means, as when he provided Paul with more grace to cope with the suffering inflicted by the thorn in the flesh, rather than removing the thorn. (p. 222)

Click here to read all the Carson quotes I posted from this book.