Maak dit 'n verskil as ek bid?- 'n ondersoek na gebed as 'n etiese handeling?

[摘要] English: The research of this dissertation shows the relevance of prayer in our contemporary context of strikes, drought, and violence against women and children, primarily through the use of the theology of John Calvin and of Karl Barth. Both of these theologians' point to the transformative nature of prayer, that it is a plea to the Lord to work in our lives through His Spirit in order for His will to become our will.When we pray, we hope on the realization of the kingdom of God, not only in the future of the eschatology, but already in our reality today. It asks for a life of prayer, a life in relationship with the triune God wherein liturgical and ethical action is required and truth and justice is sought above the injustices of this world.Serene Jones suggests that prayer as an action should be applied when dealing with trauma, and proves through this that it is relevant to our current context. The action of prayer allows the individual to stand before God in humility with empty arms that is open to receive the grace, love, and redemption that He has already brought to us, and to which we can respond through a liturgical and ethical life of prayer.It is God who takes the initiative, that enables us to speak through the Holy Spirit to speak to Him. He brings transformation when we approach Him in prayer, since it is in the action of prayer that we come to realize the reality of God's salvation for us through Jesus Christ. It is a love that goes beyond the reality of this world, encouraging us to not only speak differently, but also act differently.It makes a difference to pray, because God's grace and salvation is made new for us each and every day, and also because He walks the path with us every moment of our lives so that we are not caught up in the challenges and injustices of this life, but that we rather stand up for what is right (liturgical and ethical action) and strive, through the Spirit, for a 'kingdom life of gratitude and fidelity towards God, because of the faith that He has given to us through His Son, so that we may address Him in prayer.

[发布机构] University of the Free State