Christianity (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
Christianity
Prayer is fundamental to Christian faith and worship. It serves as the primary way Christians communicate with God and express their devotion. This tradition encompasses various forms of prayer and worship practices across different Christian denominations.
The nature and importance of prayer
Prayer was central to Jesus' lifestyle and teachings. Christians consider it an essential element of their faith, believing it helps develop a personal relationship with God.
Biblical foundation
Jesus provided clear guidance about prayer, offering specific instructions that continue to guide Christian worship today.
Biblical Guidance on Prayer
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus instructed:
"Go to your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in Heaven"
In John 4:23, Jesus explained the proper attitude for worship:
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks"
This means Christian worship should be genuine rather than superficial, involving thoughts, actions, and words in sincere devotion to God.
Purpose of prayer in worship
Prayer serves multiple purposes in Christian worship:
- Develops a special relationship with God
- Provides spiritual support and comfort
- Allows both individual and communal expression of faith
- Follows Christ's own example and instructions
For Protestants specifically, individual prayer holds special significance. Protestant theology teaches that each Christian acts as their own priest, having direct access to God through Christ without requiring intermediaries.
Types of prayer
Christian prayer tradition includes seven main types, each serving different spiritual purposes:
- Adoration - expressing deep love and respect for God
- Confessional - making statements of faith through prayer
- Contemplation - meditation and quiet reflexion
- Penitential - expressing sorrow and asking for forgiveness
- Praise - giving praise to God, often including singing hymns
- Thanksgiving - expressing gratitude to God
- Supplication - asking God for help or guidance
These different forms allow Christians to express the full range of their relationship with God, from worship and gratitude to seeking forgiveness and assistance.
Set prayers
Set prayers are pre-written, traditional prayers that Christians learn and repeat. They provide structure and shared meaning within Christian communities.
The Lord's Prayer
The most important set prayer is the Lord's Prayer, which Jesus taught directly to his disciples. This prayer appears in almost every Christian service and demonstrates how Christians should approach God.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, And the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Benefits of set prayers
Set prayers offer several advantages:
- Allow individual voices to join together as a communal voice
- Provide structure and familiarity in worship
- Connect Christians to centuries of tradition
- Help Christians learn meaningful prayer language
- Many Protestant denominations use prayers from the Book of Common Prayer
Originally, these prayers were passed down orally before being written down, ensuring they could be repeated and shared across generations.
Extemporaneous prayers
These are spontaneous, non-formulaic prayers that Christians create in the moment. Many Christians prefer this type of prayer because they believe:
- Spontaneity makes prayers more spiritually honest
- The Holy Spirit influences their choice of words
- Genuine expression comes from the heart rather than memorised text
However, some Christian denominations have moved away from set prayers entirely. They worry that simply repeating traditional prayers without careful thought diminishes their meaning and spiritual value.
Informal prayers
While set prayers often use formal, traditional English (referring to God as "Father" rather than "Dad"), some Christians prefer informal prayer language. This approach involves:
- Speaking to God in everyday, conversational language
- Using modern expressions rather than traditional religious terminology
- Making prayer feel more personal and relatable
Some Christians adopt informal prayer because they feel formal religious language creates distance between themselves and God.
How Quakers worship
The Society of Friends (Quakers) represents a unique approach to Christian worship and prayer:
Worship practices
- Quaker services involve sitting in silence and stillness
- No set prayers or formal liturgy
- Members believe silence allows them to listen to God and reflect deeply
- Worship focuses on being present with God rather than speaking to God
Community aspects
- Silence helps members connect with God and each other
- No official worship leader, though someone may occasionally speak (called "ministry")
- Other members may listen silently or feel moved to speak as well
- Emphasis on personal spiritual experience within community setting
This informal prayer approach involves meditation, contemplation, personal reflexion, and simply experiencing God's presence.
Evangelical worship
Evangelical Churches, including Pentecostal denominations, practice highly informal worship styles:
Characteristics of evangelical worship
- Christians believe they are moved by the Holy Spirit during services
- Worship may involve falling into trances or spiritual ecstasy
- Speaking in unknown languages (speaking in tongues) sometimes occurs
- Active movement and participation encouraged throughout services
- Music, singing, and dancing often feature prominently
- Congregational involvement rather than passive observation
This approach emphasises spiritual experience and emotional connection with God rather than formal structure or traditional liturgy.
Key Points to Remember:
- Prayer is central to Christian faith - Jesus taught it as the primary way to communicate with God
- Seven types of prayer serve different purposes: adoration, confession, contemplation, penitence, praise, thanksgiving, and supplication
- The Lord's Prayer is the most important Christian prayer, taught by Jesus himself and used in almost all Christian services
- Different denominations approach prayer differently - from formal set prayers to spontaneous expressions to silent worship
- All Christian prayer aims to develop a personal relationship with God, whether through traditional liturgy or contemporary informal styles