Some Aspects of Prayer within Chaplaincy

Rev Lindsay Johnstone, Chaplain, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney

Prayer is about seeking the in-breaking of eternity into the person and pilgrimage of the patient, and without placing limits on what God will do in response to faith.  As representatives of confederations of local churches, we are delegated to assist them with their fulfilment of the Great Commission in the process of making disciples, which includes both nurture and one-on-one sharing of the Gospel, whenever the patient accepts this from us. Wide experience shows that observance of hospital protocols does not, in actual practice, hinder opportunities for gospel opportunities. A patient said, “I’m glad you came. I want to get through the operation this afternoon and I want my sins forgiven”. Sadly, another patient responded to the offer of a gospel with, “Frankly, I would not be one bit interested.” The first responded fully to prayer with him. Prayer for the second patient was offered only privately and in another place later.

Prayer is obviously a major part of the armoury of a Christian chaplain (Ephesians 6: 18). A source of joy for chaplains is the frequency with which we minister openly and pray with a patient – whether a patient is coming to faith for the first time, or is being restored from a long spiritual wilderness, or wrestling with a major challenge.  When no such opening occurs, there are countless opportunities to go away and pray silently and alone about what a visit has shown of a patient’s situation. 

Although Biblical teaching on prayer has always had the same meaning since the documents were written, our understanding and application of this teaching can keep expanding as long as we are willing to keep growing. I want to emphasise a number of perspectives, bearing in mind that they are not new.

Prayer is bold and should not be timid. Hebrews 4: 14-16 and Romans 8: 14-38 encourage us to approach boldly. We are adopted “sons of God” and “joint heirs with Christ”. Although the Father is King of kings and Lord of lords, and although the majesty of his dignity and presence makes a Westminster Abbey coronation pale into insignificance by comparison, and although he is therefore profoundly worthy of our honour and obeisance (Hallowed be His Name); - yet are we encouraged boldly and intimately to come and address him as our loving Heavenly Father. There is no spiritual value in praying, “We just ask this” and “we just ask that”. You will search the prayers of the Bible and the prayers in a major liturgical resource The Book of Common Prayer and never find such a prayer. Only the child of an abusive parent would ever ask Dad or Mum, “I just ask, if it be your will, I just ask that we might just go fishing (etc)…!” So why pray to God that way? Whilst there are some instances in the New Testament where a prayer asks that something may happen, there is nothing wrong with sometimes asking that something will happen. If the prayer is believed to be based on a real Biblical statement, command or promise, then why not ask boldly? The Lord will not smite you!

Prayer is not a timid plea. It is a bold entry into the presence of the Father, enabled by the victory of the Son who now intercedes for us at the right hand of God. We can pray like Elijah (James 5: 17-18). If he can pray regarding the rain or about major obstacles in a patient’s life, so can we. (Elijah was not just a great prophet, but he was also an ordinary person like us!)

Audible prayer in the presence of a patient should be in accordance with the level of understanding that the patient is likely to own or to follow. It should certainly not be done in a way that overrides their will or fights their known belief. If a patient wishes to pray in a particular way that the patient may or may not be familiar with, it is appropriate (if the patient allows the opportunity) to suggest a way of praying, relate it to Scripture, and be guided by the response. Some patients have accepted the offer of anointing with oil on the basis of James 5, but one patient declined on the basis that “our church does not do that”!

Intercessory Prayer is a key aspect of Chaplaincy. What a chaplain hears while with a patient may affect how the chaplain will pray after leaving the presence of the patient.  Prayer calls forth the in-breakings of the powers of the age to come.  Away from the patient, or praying silently and inwardly, we can bind the disbelief and evil that has attacked the patient (Matthew 18: 18-20). See also James 4: 7 and 1 Peter 5:8-9. A chaplain may bind a spirit of unbelief that is hindering the patient from being willing to believe. The private intercessory ministry of the chaplain is a ministry of undermining the aspects of the world value system that would keep patients within the limits and even the tyranny of bondage to the five senses and the results of medical science alone. Where a patient has declined a visit or has expressed disbelief, one’s prayer can be for the Lord to speak to the patient’s heart and give that patient a revelation of the truth, a conviction of sin and also of the love of God – and hence an opportunity for the patient to respond (whether alone or not).

Prayer is not a religious band-aid. Prayer is not about putting a religious veneer or an imprimatur on the work of medical science, although we do pray for scientific advances, and for wisdom for medicos. Neither is prayer just about an emotional or spiritually aesthetic coating upon the experience of a patient, although we pray for physical, emotional and spiritual peace for patients; and also for healing.

 
Prayer is a dynamic expression of a supernatural faith response, done in the resurrection power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1: 13-14, 19-20). May it increasingly be an habitual intimate practice of the presence of God as we move about from person to person in the exercise of the ministry – and before and after we have been with folk.  1 Thessalonians 5: 17 encourages us to “pray without ceasing”, which promotes a life-style of seeking to connect with the Lord in spirit and in mind wherever we are and in whatever we are doing.