dtw_sola:

I've recently started dating a lovely girl who is also devoutly religious. As a result I've started attending a local RCCG parish here in the States. Whenever the pastor starts prayer session, the church seems to become an instant madhouse. People running about, laying on the ground, spazzing out, acting like nut-jobs, and asking for God to rain fire on everything. One elderly man at the church even started shaking me, telling me I was not praying hard enough. "Pray like a NIgerian" he yelled.

Nigerian pentecostal style of prayer is extremely forceful and violent.

Has this type of gra-gra prayer proven to be more effective than just simply asking God your requests without all the shouting, screaming sweating, and catching epileptic seizures.

I mean with all of the violent prayer in Nigeria compared to the much more muted Western style, Nigerians are generally still far worse off.

Why is it that Nigerians pray in this manner?

Does this style make your prayers more likely to be answered?

I left Nigeria at a young age, and I guess I am Westernized in my attitude about prayer (and religion in general).

Shouldn't a sincere prayer with a righteous heart be sufficient and effective?

Does God require all the demo.

I am a laid back gentleman and it is not in my nature to act like a crazy person.

Her pastor and others have advised her about having relations with me because of a sense that I was not spiritual. I am a skeptical person by nature, but I have a spiritual side. This is an honest question. I don't wanna lose this girl.

dtw_sola:

?  Does this style make your prayers more likely to be answered? I left Nigeria at a young age, and I guess I am Westernized in my attitude about prayer (and religion in general)n. Shouldn't a sincere prayer with a righteous heart be sufficient and effective?  Does God require all the demo. I am a laid back gentleman and it is not in my nature to act like a crazy person. Her pastor  and others have advised her about having relations with me because of a sense that I was not spiritual. I am a skeptical person by nature, but I have a spiritual side. This is an honest question. I don't wanna lose this girl.

Joagbaje:

There is no Nigerian style of prayers. I think you need to recieve the holy spirit. There is a praying in the ability of the spirit . And prayer of authority. Every person who have recieved the holyghost prays loud when there's need for such. Regardless of race and culture. Americans, European all do. But those who haven't recieved the holyghost may not have such energetic experience. I'm not aware they did silent prayer on the Pentecost day.

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dtw_sola:

I've recently started dating a lovely girl who is also devoutly religious. As a result I've started attending a local RCCG parish here in the States. Whenever the pastor starts prayer session, the church seems to become an instant madhouse. People running about, laying on the ground, spazzing out, acting like nut-jobs, and asking for God to rain fire on everything. One elderly man at the church even started shaking me, telling me I was not praying hard enough. "Pray like a NIgerian" he yelled. Nigerian pentecostal style of prayer is extremely forceful and violent. Has this type of gra-gra prayer proven to be more effective than just simply asking God your requests without all the shouting, screaming sweating, and catching epileptic seizures. I mean with all of the violent prayer in Nigeria compared to the much more muted Western style, Nigerians are generally still far worse off. Why is it that Nigerians pray in this manner? Does this style make your prayers more likely to be answered? I left Nigeria at a young age, and I guess I am Westernized in my attitude about prayer (and religion in general). Shouldn't a sincere prayer with a righteous heart be sufficient and effective? Does God require all the demo. I am a laid back gentleman and it is not in my nature to act like a crazy person. Her pastor and others have advised her about having relations with me because of a sense that I was not spiritual. I am a skeptical person by nature, but I have a spiritual side. This is an honest question. I don't wanna lose this girl.

chmod777:

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Christian means Christlike.
How did Christ teach you should pray.
How did Christ pray,How did he pray even on the cross. How was his first miracle at the weeding ?
What is prayers ?

Be sincere and remove sentiments and mindset.
Thanks

Okija_juju:

@ OP

IMO, that poo is just straight up slow,

When people pray like that, its as a result of the euphoria that the crowd is feeling. I remember their was this church that I once visited, I honestly detached all emotions and sat in the audience as an observer watching proceedings, what I realized was that when it came to prayer time, the band played this rather hypnotizing music that one couldnt just help feeling amped. Its almost like you are in a trans. A classic exeample is Mountain of Fire ministries., if you attend their services, what you would realize is that just before prayers begin, the pastor would push the sermon into high gear, the tempo would change, the would start moving around more, his voice would be high pitched, the preaching would be filled with charged messages, slowly but surely the pastor is whipping his crowd into a frenzy. You would start hearing scriptures like "Since the days of whoever the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent taketh it by force", "put on the armour of God", "We war not against flesh and blood", "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal", e.t.c. All this time, the band is still playing this hypnotic tune in the background, then out of the blues, the preacher would order everybody to jump to their feet and go to war and then pandemonium would break out in the church, people would start vibrating, some would be groaning and making funny sounds, others would start speaking gibberish (tongues), some would start crying and the madness would be everywhere. SOme would even run out to the altar and lie there and all sorts of drama. In a crowd like that, even a skeptic could be swept up in the emotions if care isnt taken.
Now!! In the middle of this madness, it is quite easy or one to loose the plot of prayers which is communication with GOD (the heavenly father). Especially with mountain of fire, all you hear is "DIE BY FIRE",  Yes!! "My sickness, die by fire", "my problems, die by fire", "My enemies, die by fire", etc. Some would "speak in tongues all through and would end up not even stating what it was they where praying for. There have even been situations where the pastor has asked the congregation to pray in "tongues",  YES!!

So O.P!! is it more effective, frankly i'll say its the same old bullsh!t, different toilets. Jesus never prayed like that so where is this style from? And if praying is indeed talking to GOD, do you want to be yellig ta God?

Okija_juju:

@ OP

IMO, that poo is just straight up slow,

When people pray like that, its as a result of the euphoria that the crowd is feeling. I remember their was this church that I once visited, I honestly detached all emotions and sat in the audience as an observer watching proceedings, what I realized was that when it came to prayer time, the band played this rather hypnotizing music that one couldnt just help feeling amped. Its almost like you are in a trans. A classic exeample is Mountain of Fire ministries., if you attend their services, what you would realize is that just before prayers begin, the pastor would push the sermon into high gear, the tempo would change, the would start moving around more, his voice would be high pitched, the preaching would be filled with charged messages, slowly but surely the pastor is whipping his crowd into a frenzy. You would start hearing scriptures like "Since the days of whoever the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent taketh it by force", "put on the armour of God", "We war not against flesh and blood", "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal", e.t.c. All this time, the band is still playing this hypnotic tune in the background, then out of the blues, the preacher would order everybody to jump to their feet and go to war and then pandemonium would break out in the church, people would start vibrating, some would be groaning and making funny sounds, others would start speaking gibberish (tongues), some would start crying and the madness would be everywhere. SOme would even run out to the altar and lie there and all sorts of drama. In a crowd like that, even a skeptic could be swept up in the emotions if care isnt taken.
Now!! In the middle of this madness, it is quite easy or one to loose the plot of prayers which is communication with GOD (the heavenly father). Especially with mountain of fire, all you hear is "DIE BY FIRE", Yes!! "My sickness, die by fire", "my problems, die by fire", "My enemies, die by fire", etc. Some would "speak in tongues all through and would end up not even stating what it was they where praying for. There have even been situations where the pastor has asked the congregation to pray in "tongues", YES!!

So O.P!! is it more effective, frankly i'll say its the same old bullsh!t, different toilets. Jesus never prayed like that so where is this style from? And if praying is indeed talking to GOD, do you want to be yellig ta God?

abhosts:

Luke 22:44-- And being in agony He was praying very FERVENTLY; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

I've recently started dating a lovely girl who is also devoutly religious. As a result I've started attending a local RCCG parish here in the States.

Does this style make your prayers more likely to be answered?

Her pastor  and others have advised her about having relations with me because of a sense that I was not spiritual. I am a skeptical person by nature, but I have a spiritual side.

This is an honest question. I don't wanna lose this girl.

abhosts:

Luke 22:44-- And being in agony He was praying very FERVENTLY; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

chmod777:

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Christian means Christlike.
How did Christ teach you should pray.
How did Christ pray,How did he pray even on the cross. How was his first miracle at the weeding ?
What is prayers ?

Be sincere and remove sentiments and mindset.
Thanks

abhosts:

Luke 22:44-- And being in agony He was praying very FERVENTLY; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

chmod777:

My brother what is fervent, see: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fervent
It says intensely passionate,
Archaic or poetic boiling, burning. It never said going mad. What does it mean to feel moved, this should explain fervent.
The problem in the world is the :
we all look but we see differently, we all listen but we hear differently. These tend to give birth to multiplicity of meanings most times to soot our interest and ego. The fact remains that there is an absolute truth.
He was asked " master how can we pray" and he answered : when you pray say , > >

If you are christ-like that means pray like christ did. When you add yours there is an obvious deviation. I wish people could reason well about our Lords prayers. It sets a simple, humble and yet complete and comprehensive guideline.
Remember Christ also said "do not be like the pharisees who think that by repeating themselves loud enough, then the would be heard by God." Some portions might contradict this in letters but what example did Jesus set. Follow it if you are chrsit-like (Christian)