Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
How can you make a determination that it "was not prayer"? Technically any form of address to a divine higher power is a prayer, and the genuineness of it can only be determined by knowing their hearts which only God knows.
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If you want to take the intellectual approach, just take a look at the definitions and then do a comparison.
Chant or prayer?
"Oh, Lord Jesus"
chant
CHant/Submit
noun
1.
a (1)
repeated rhythmic (2)
phrase, typically one (3)
shouted or sung in (4)
unison by a (5)
crowd.
"Oh, Lord Jesus" (5x);
1) Check
2) Check
3) Check
4) Check
5) Check
Total = 5/5
Conclusion: Chant
prayer
prer/Submit
noun
noun: prayer; plural noun: prayers
a (1)
solemn request for help or (2)
expression of thanks (3)
addressed to God or an object of worship.
"Oh, Lord Jesus" (5x);
1) N/A
2) N/A
3) Check?
Total = 1/3
Conclusion: Not a prayer
If you want to take the subjective "heart" approach. Well, scripture says "The heart is deceitful above all things". How then would you know you're not deceived? Do you base the validity and success of this certain practice on mere "feelings"? Well, so do Hindi's that chant "Hare Krishna".
Successful chanting within eastern mysticism results in an altered state of consciousness where one experiences peace, joy, bliss, and euphoria. In order to achieve this, one must not cause certain "offenses" that would hinder your success in achieving the desired effects.
Teaching a systematic approach to calling on the name of the Lord requires certain conditions. As per Witness Lee's teaching, one needs to call on the name of the Lord with the condition of a "pure heart" and with "pure lips" and must be done "corporately" to be "released from your self and filled with the Lord". Not having these specific prerequisites could also be considered "offenses" that hinder successful "calling".
In eastern practices, chanting is a means to reaching nirvana
In the LC, "calling on the name of the Lord" is a means to acheiving salvation;
"Why do we need to call on the name of the Lord? Men need to call on the name of the Lord in order to be saved" -Witness Lee
What then is the difference between the LC's practice and the yogic approach to spiritual liberation? What is the difference between "being filled with the Lord" and yogic euphoria? And how would you know either way? Both are inner subjective experiences.
If you prefer a specific scriptural approach, Jesus Christ provided his disciples with the outline to follow for prayer. When he demonstrated prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and in John 17:20-23, it was not done in a repetitious manner. It was not sung nor was it shouted. Neither did he teach us that prayer should be preformed by crowds in unison.
God is a person. Who in solemn communication between each other expresses thanks or requests help by the use of short repetitious phrases? What then makes you think God wants to be communicated to in such a strange manner?