Preaching the Gospel of Imprecatory Prayer Curses

Steve Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church has made the news for his prayers for the president's death.   Fox interviewed the Rev. Wiley Drake, who engages in imprecatory prayer for President Obama's death and the deaths of others, including the Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

"Imprecatory prayers" are based on various versions in the biblical book of Psalms, and there are plenty of preachers who advocate the practice.   Here are a few of them.

Christian fundamentalist Gordon Klingenschmitt — who has allegedly been lying about the reason he left the Navy — runs a website called PrayInJesusName.org, shared on YouTube a prayer for Barry Lynn's death.

Rev. John Piper of DesiringGod.org preaches that imprecatory prayer is part of God's inspired, holy word and should not be discarded. He calls theologians who do not believe in invoking imprecatory prayer as "liberal."   On his website, however, he concludes that,

We would do well to leave such final assessments to God, and realize our own corrupt inability to hate as we ought. While there is unforgivable sin for which we are not to pray . . . , we are told to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us, and return good for evil (as David did). This is our vocation by faith. Let us tremble and trust God, lest we fail, and find ourselves on the other side of the curse.

The Rev. Robert Caruth advocated imprecatory prayer on Central Illinois Christian Radio:

In his "mobile minute," Dr. Dale Sides of Liberating Ministries for Christ International talks about imprecatory Psalms and praying against "wicked people." He says God will unleash his power against people who you invoke imprecatory prayers — or curses — over.

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One Response to “Preaching the Gospel of Imprecatory Prayer Curses”

1. Urbain says:

   September 14, 2009 at 5:33 pm

   Selective literalism at its finest … some reject the idea of imprecatory prayer; others embrace it. Of the people who support it, John Piper's quoted comment makes the most sense.

   Reply

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