If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and entirely good, why do we need to ask God to do good things? Won't God act for the best regardless? Do our prayers even make a difference? Why do some go unanswered? This brief, accessible book provides a fresh angle on our questions to help us think differently about why we pray and what happens when we pray.
John Peckham applies the insights from his successful book Theodicy of Love to the perennial problem of petitionary prayer, offering practical implications for how we might pray and live in ways that advance God's kingdom of unselfish love. Since our understanding of petitionary prayer is inseparable from our understanding of God, Peckham sheds significant light on the nature and character of God and the often-mysterious workings of divine providence. He does so by bringing theological and philosophical nuance to readings of key biblical texts on prayer, weaving in other scriptural clues to articulate an understanding of prayer that highlights not only its necessity but also its urgency. This book will appeal to students, pastors, church leaders, and thoughtful laypeople.
The author of "Theodicy of Love" explores the problem of petitionary prayer in "Why We Pray: Understanding Prayer in the Context of Cosmic Conflict," a relatively quick read that somehow still also takes a deep dive into questions many questions have asked and others have thought but been afraid to ask.
If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and entirely good, why do we need to ask God to do good things? Why do some prayers go unanswered? Do our prayers really make a difference?
In short, John C. Peckham looks at why we pray and what happens when we pray. Despite "Why We Pray" being a relatively short and quick read, it's not filled with easy answers or the usual formulaic responses to these questions. Instead, we get a thoughtful, well-informed, and theologically grounded discussion about these questions that mystify. Did I necessarily agree with all of Peckham's conclusions? Nope, but I deeply appreciated his discussions, observations, and invitations to wrestle with prayer and more reasons to commit myself to it.
So many books that try to approach this topic take a lighter, more inspirational route. Peckham does a Scriptural deep dive that I believe will resonate with Christians across the theological spectrum. "Why We Pray" is both deeply felt and theologically satisfying. Peckham directly addresses the issue of unanswered prayers, not the Garth Brooks type, and paints a wonderful portrait of a God who is impacted by our words and actions and in relationship with us.
In short, Peckham strongly creates an argument that prayer really does make a difference and discusses how cosmic conflict is actually essential. I was struck by just how much I felt I had learned, or been challenged to learn by "Why We Pray" and also how inspired to learn and pray I became by the end.
Whether a skeptic or believer, most people have pondered: Why would a perfectly good and all-powerful God sometimes seem to be silent and hidden amid distress?
John Peckham tackles this and more through his thorough, Bible-saturated, canonical approach with hundreds of Biblical references. He addresses each of the variables associated with answered and unanswered prayer, giving insight into how the Bible counsels us to pray while also looking at what the Bible says about God's response and orientation toward answering our prayers. This is by far the most detailed book on prayer I have read, and I will be recommending it to anyone with questions about prayer for years to come.
A worthwhile read on the topic of prayer that really helps to explain why we pray, and then what can help or hinder God from answering prayers.
The book starts by explaining that yes, prayer does matter and make a difference with an all-knowing, all-powerful God. The Bible shows in many places that prayer does impact the course of action that God takes, and that God asks us to, and expects, us to interact with him in such a manner. God is not untouchable. He wants to live in relationship with us.
The second half of the book gets into a deeper look at the struggle between the cosmic forces of good and evil, and reasons why God may limit himself. It's not due to a lack of power, but it's an attempt to resolve the question about what God is really like, and in the end it also answers the question of what the devil and his angels are really like.
The one takeaway from me is that perseverance in prayer does have an impact. Perhaps the reasons why God couldn't act are resolved along the way, and then our prayers will be effectual. The fifth chapter was the heart of this exploring many things that could impact prayers, and then things that are our responsibility that could impact prayers.
Occasionally you run into an author or book that shifts your thinking on a topic. If you’ve ever wondered or struggled with the logical inconsistencies of petitionary prayer, then this book is for you. A key point that Peckham makes is that petitionary prayer actually matters - that is, it can bring about true change. The scriptural evidence is very clear on this, but scripture also attests to a God that is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent. How do we resolve such a tension?
Well for Peckham, the answer starts with his previous work on theodicy - specifically seeing how the concept of cosmic conflict comes to bear on the question of evil (and consequently prayer). Honestly, this book made me more interested in picking up his Theodicy of Love than anything else, but it did help me see that my prayer life can truly matter as well.
One drawback to this book. While there are still valuable insights in the last two chapters, Peckham’s repetition of his main thesis becomes nearly unbearable.
No matter where you may be in your Christian journey, or if you even call yourself a Christian, Peckham answers the tough questions of Faith, pain, and where the Divine is during tough periods.
If God knows our prayers before we ask, then why bother? Does God need our “permission” to go about His work? What does the fight between good and evil have to do with prayer?
All of these answers are logically answered, but most importantly from the word of God. A masterpiece, typical of Peckham.
Peckham did not disappoint! This is yet another theologically sound and mentally stimulating masterpiece! He dared to ask the hard questions without the claim of having all the answers using scripture in its entirety including the tension to present a solid case on when we pray. He navigates some of the questions many are afraid to ask like why does a good God who is inclined to do good need our prayers.
I would recommend this book to the seasoned prayer warrior as well as the skeptics who have questions about the impact of prayer. While its theologically rich it’s presented in a simple enough way that everyone can follow! This is a book that will definitely get a few reads a good candidate for small group or personal reading.
If you want to know God better, and understand prayer more deeply, read this book. I know it’s a tall order, but Peckham does not disappoint. He skillfully, and humbly tackles prayer from a biblical-canonical perspective. It’s not simply about why God answers or does not answer prayer. Peckham takes his reader on a journey through Scripture where we discover the complexity to why God does what He does.
In this book, you will discover why God’s character of love, and His commitment to act morally is central to understanding terms like petitionary, and intercessory prayer. Peckham does not accept or give you cliché answers, rather he let’s you discover what Christ does to defeat Satan, and the angelic beings who follow him. This influences our world in ways that are difficult to understand.
It is incredibly helpful and comforting to know that God does hear my prayers on a personal level, and when life is hard, I can rest assured that God is with me. He is working on my behalf, but He respects free will and He does not act out of character. He is trustworthy, full of love, He knows the future, and He is all-powerful. But He cannot just do whatever He wants.
On the whole, I liked the book, and agreed with what I think was its central thesis. But, it was not without its problems.
On the central point: Peckham argues that prayer actually moves God. That when we pray, God hears us, and at times, things happen, and God acts, precisely in response to our prayers. This might seem self-evident to some, but it isn't. Many theologians, particularly in the reformed tradition, believe that because God is unchanging, he is also unmoved. He acts only in accordance with his perfect will, and this means that he always does what he was only already going to do whether we prayed or not. In this thinking, our prayers are important as an aspect of our relationship to God, and in order to align ourselves with his will, but they cannot actually get God to "act."
Peckham argues, correctly in my opinion, that this forces theologians into some far too awkward interpretations of passages of Scripture that clearly indicate that God responds to prayer with action, and that his action is in some way moved by and through our prayers. The plainest sense of such passages forces us to accept that God does certain things that he would not have done if we had not prayed for him to do them.
Although I agree with Peckham in this central thesis, I had lots of disagreements with the language he used to describe this state of things, and I also thought that much of the book lacked clarity. For example:
1. Peckham's thesis relies heavily on the ideas of "cosmic conflict" and the "rules of engagement," but he defines these phrases poorly, and far too late in the overall development of his arguments. The subtitle of the book refers to this cosmic conflict, but he doesn't really get around to exploring these ideas until over 80 pages in, and so they do not feel threaded into the finer details of the argument in a careful, nuanced, or thoroughgoing way. Peckham really should have introduced and clearly defined these ideas in the very first chapter, and then demonstrated how they were relevant as he moved along with his other arguments.
2. Peckham too often used terminology to explain concepts that was unnecessary and muddy. I agree that God is "morally bound" by certain parameters, but they are parameters that he himself sets, and Peckham uses language such as that God cannot do certain things because those things are "unavailable to him," or because some things "are not up to God," or "God doesn't always get what he wants." If God has two wills (and I agree that he does), the will of God that is satisfied is still the one that he wants to have satisfied - his will is still ultimately executed according to God's own plan. He is not restricted from accomplishing what he sets out to accomplish, even is his wise and moral will "wins out" over his desire to show mercy or provide good gifts in given situations. If God is bound by parameters that he sets, then he is never "not getting what he wants." I think Peckham drives are right ideas, but I often disagreed sharply with the language he uses to try and communicate those ideas.
3. Peckham often uses language which either lacks precision completely, or the opposite, is so overly precise that he strains the meanings of biblical texts far beyond what the biblical authors had in mind. For example, responding to James 1:12, he says we can resist temptation "only" through prayer. That's not what that verse says. His entire interpretation of the Garden of Gethsemane scene is deeply strained by overdrawn attention to individual words that were not meant to carry the full weight that Peckham lays upon them (Jesus' use of the word "if" almost certainly is not meant to convey such precision that it implies limitations upon God - it's just the language of anguish, not theological treatise).
4. Peckham mentions "canonical readings" (pg 107), but says this as a way to impose his reading of John onto the synoptics. But, why does John's language get priority when interpreting verses in the synoptics? Really, each book needs to stand on its own before we move to canonical interpretation, but even then, most canonical readings argue that book order matters for interpretation, in which case Matthew receives priority, and John then fits into the flow in due course.
There are lots of these things that bugged me. Ultimately, the book lacks exegetical rigor, which is a problem for lots of theological treatments. Peckham relies heavily upon the surface level language one encounters in certain biblical passages, but with a deeper dive into many verses one might find that they don't always quite say what Peckham thinks they do.
Despite these critiques, I still enjoyed the book. It led me to some good discussions with students and colleagues. But I only recommend it with a seat belt.
A very engaging book with important insights in order to understand what it means to pray. It seems to me that the book foremost seeks to answer the question way some (or the majority?) of our prayers are not answered. Peckham wants to answer two questions: (1) Why do prayers go unanswered? and (2) Do prayers really make a difference? (I would add a third problem: Why are not prayers answered in the way the request was made?).
Peckham goes through the attributes of God that are pertinent to His answering prayers, for example, His eternal existence, wisdom, power, faithfulness, goodness, and omnipresence.
In any case, Peckham the usual obstacles to answered prayer, for example, not praying, unrepentant sin, and satanic influences. He deals a lot with seeing prayer within the context of cosmic conflict, that is, the invisible war between God and Satan.
I would have given "Why We Pray" a four or five start review, except that he seems to have suggest, overall, that prayer is a crapshoot; essentially, that unanswered prayers can be hidden under the rug of "Thy will be done." Prayer seems to be like throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks. At least that's how the book ended with me. It's like Peckham is saying, if you don't receive and answer for healing for yourself or another, just know that the answer will come when we die –– all the while we are praying for it to occur in the here and now.
Is there not the privilege of knowing for certain what God is going to do, and praying for it with the certain faith-knowledge of receiving what exactly is prayed? Reading my Bible, I get the impression that there were those who prayed to receive and God granted what they wished just as they wished it (e.g. Joshua, even commanding the sun and moon to be still; or, Hannah, praying to God for a child; see Matthew 7:9).
Nevertheless, this is a well written book on the problem of unanswered prayer that I recommend be read.
Great answers tackling the toughest questions regarding unanswered prayer.
Since his previous volume, Theodicy of Love was released I have eagerly anticipated this work which teases out the implications of a cosmic-conflict worldview with one of the most fundamental of spiritual disciplines in the Christian life. I highly recommend this volume for those with deep and painful questions regarding seemingly unanswered prayers as the book affirms faith in the orthodox attributes of God while maintaining that the reality we now experience is not ideal but rather the result of God’s remedial will. The last chapter reiterates that the second coming is the ultimate fulfillment of every Christian’s prayer and hanging on to this hope makes the Christian walk viable. Beautiful, well-written book and I plan to revisit it often for its practical and theological insights.
Can John Peckham write a book that isn't superb!? Only time will tell. He once again--like in Theodicy of Love--lays out a framework for understanding important theological and practical Christian concepts within a Cosmic Conflict model. A beautiful, plausible, and thoroughly Christian treatment of the topic. This book somehow does everything and so well (but I've come to expect that from Peckham). The book is systematic, biblical, philosophical, AND practical. There's so much in here that makes you pause to reflect, so many foot notes, and so many Scriptural citations that the book feels 3x its 150 pages. I recommend you take your time with it. Sit with the ideas, track down the Scriptural references, and apply it all through prayer. You will be better for it.
One of the few books on prayer to incorporate the reality of spiritual warfare. Peckham's "rules of engagement" thesis and his explanation of God's "ideal will" and "remedial will" is also helpful. One may not agree with all of Peckham's conclusions but this book will stimulate your thinking and more importantly, motivate you to pray with purpose.
The authors previous book, Theodocy of love, was one of my favorite of last year and a book I return to quite a bit. Why we pray picks up the thread of the previous book and builds on it. I probably read this book twice on my way to finishing it, not out of confusion, but pout of an abundance of thoughtfulness. Excellent book!!
I read this at a time I needed to be reminded of the value of prayer even as someone who believes in free will. Without offering platitudes or assuming one can know these things for sure, the author suggests a variety of ways prayer allows God to do things that might not be possible without prayer. It fits in well with the theology of the openness of God and God’s responsiveness to human beings.
This is such a great read! Scholarly, but accessible. Sort, but impactful. I appreciate Dr. Peckham’s argument being made here and will ponder it both academically and personally. Highly recommend this great work!
The main point of this book is intercessory prayer and what is the use of it. Peckham speaks also on the issue of what happened and why God doesn't answer our prayers. This question is one that plagues many Christians alike, and it is one that has made some leave the faith, but Peckham takes on the challenge and explains the view from a biblical worldview. One of the very best things that I appreciate about this book is how much scripture is drenched throughout it.
Scripture is found on Every. Single. Page. Peckham doesn't speak without mentioning scripture, and that alone is to be praised since he holds scripture as the place where he defends himself in the claims he makes. Overall, this book was a great read, and it was easy to follow. It would be of great use to those who want to understand the main component of why we pray.