Praying to the Man Upstairs? Really?

Torah Living Daily Challenge—Episode 35

As I was driving into the office this morning, I was listening to one of Southern California’s 24-7 news radio stations as I often do to get a sense of what’s happened in the world over night. Of course, the top story that played over and over during my 40+-minute journey to the office was the Super Bowl and one particular segment of the news-cast gave me serious cause to pause. It was a sound-bite whereby the interviewer/announcer asked the winning quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning, if he would be retiring after his epic win in this year’s SuperBowl. In response, I guess one could say that Manning was a gentleman in his answer and of course he politely danced around the question and never gave a definitive answer. But one thing he did say in connection to this question was that he was given sage advice to never make such a huge life-decision based upon emotions. Therefore, he was going to go out on the town and celebrate that evening and have a few beers with some close friends. He concluded by saying that he would talk to his family, especially his wife, and that he would “…say a prayer and a thank you to the man upstairs for this opportunity.”

Upon hearing that, I tuned out the remainder of the newscast to reflect on what I’d just heard Peyton Manning say in that recorded sound-bite. He said that he would pray and thank “the man upstairs” for this opportunity. Now, I wasn’t offended or put off by this comment as it is indeed a very common comment made by fellas here in the West for God knows how many years. But I was more taken aback by the enormity of what Mr. Manning was actually saying in his statement. You see, Manning’s comment was so typical that I would imagine most people who heard his statement paid little attention to what he was actually saying and what his statement had to say about our western culture and western sensibilities. But I was. Essentially, what Manning was actually saying in his statement, although I firmly believe he truly meant absolutely no disrespect (be it to God or to Christians), he was relegating the Creator of the universe—or better, he was diminishing the primacy and absolute divinity of our Heavenly Father to the level of man—the Almighty’s creation–who the Bible describes in general terms as wicked and deserving of eternal damnation. The great prophet to the nation of Judah wrote that the heart (of man) is deceitful above all things and desperately sick (or wicked); who can understand or know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Solomon wrote that “…the heart of the sons of men is full of evil; and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” (Ecc. 9:3) Master said that “from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,…” (Mark 7:21) and there are several more verses that paint man in a negative light. Yet it has become very commonplace and even comfortable for many people to refer to Father as “the man upstairs.” I wonder if Manning and others like him who use this vernacular really get a full sense of what they are saying when they use such a turn of phrase?

We know that words are powerful elements, be they spoken by our Creator, or be they spoken by men. Words have moved mountains; extinguished life; saved life; inspired; depressed and hurt; even moved the Father to change the course of human existence. Fringe science has even shown that when we speak in negative terms, molecules in such mediums as water react differently than when we speak positively. Our speech then potentially affects virtually everything around us. Yet we’ve lost track of the power of the spoken word. Thus, many of us will say virtually anything that comes to our minds and not give it a second thought that maybe that which we’ve spoken could adversely affect that small part of the universe that surrounds our immediate environment? But more importantly, when we speak about such eternal things such as prayer and consulting and communing with the Creator of the universe, we tend to become extremely lax and obtuse as to whom we are actually referring to.

First off, I would presume that Mr. Manning was referring to the Creator—Father—conceivably Yahovah, although I have no idea as to what religion or Faith he claims as his own. But assuming he was referring to our heavenly Father, it should be pretty evident that the Creator of the universe is by no means a man. One can only assume that the Great I Am’s feelings may be somewhat hurt that we, His created beings, would have the audacity to marginalize Him to such a degree and not even blink.

Secondly, when referring to prayer and communication with the Most High, how many of us truly appreciate what this action truly entails? Are we cognizant—is Mr. Manning cognizant—of what it means to communicate and speak to the Creator of the universe via the medium that we call prayer. All one has to do is simply go through the numerous passages in the Book of Psalms that mention or address praying or prayers. One gets an immediately sense that prayer is by no stretch of the imagination a trivial thing. In fact, the writer of these various passages is often pouring out his heart to the Father; seeking refuge; seeking safety and peace; seeking mercy; preservation; forgiveness; connection. The writer states: “My voice shalt though hear in the morning, O Yahovah; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” (Psalm 5:3) The Master references prayer as a means of healing the demon possessed that otherwise could not be accomplished through admonishments or coaxing. (Matthew 17:21) Master instructs that our petitions to the Father can be heard and answered if we have a trusting Faith in the Father. (Matthew 21:22) Our Master, the only begotten Son of the Father, communed with Yahovah ceaselessly throughout His earthly ministry. (Luke 22:45) The great apostle to the Gentiles, Shaul, instructed the Thessalonian assembly to pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. 5:17) Prayer is a serious matter that the writers of the Bible or our Master Y’shua Messiah did not take for granted. Yet we in the last few centuries seem to have trivialized prayer to such a state that prayer is more a symbol; more an acceptable statement of one’s Faith than an actual effort of humanity to connect with the Almighty. Prayer is not something that most people do on any regular basis anyway. That being the sad case, when we pray, what are we really doing? Who are we praying to? The so-called “man upstairs?” What and how are we praying? Do we really understand the seriousness of prayer?

I’m not judging Peyton Manning for his statement. I believe Mr. Manning uttered something that is a common statement in our society that we’ve learned readily to accept as a viable indicator of one’s profession of Christian Faith and thus we’ve taken this statement for granted. It’s a manly thing to say. It allows one to be manly, but also seem religious—but not so religious that it creeps people out. Remember Tebow and how he would knell down in a pose on the football field, reminiscent of someone engaged in fervent prayer, thankful for the touchdown he was instrumental in making happen? At first this exercise was embraced by many as a symbol of conservativeness and welcomed religiosity in sports. But after awhile, people began to criticize this prayer posing behavior of Tebow as being a bit too much for people to handle. Eventually people got a little uncomfortable with the thought that a professional athlete would be so religious—so into God and not as much into himself as we’d expect a professional athlete to display. But Manning’s style is a lot more acceptable in our so-called enlightened society. It leaves room for one’s foibles and the exposing of our human frailties to the world; and of course it does not elicit judgment from the general public nor most Christians. For all intents and purposes, Manning’s form of reference to God through thanksgiving and prayer is comfortably compromising and Americans love it. We simply love it. We can identify with that man!

What would have happened if Manning would have said, in response to the announcer’s question regarding his retirement, that he would spend the next few days fasting, reading the Word and seeking Father’s direction for his life—and that then and only then—when he heard from heaven, would he—Manning—decide whether to retire or not. Do you think there’d be some type of uproar or criticism? Would it make people feel uncomfortable? I would think so. But that’s what Father expects of us, His redeemed—His elect—to pray without ceasing—pushing our hearts, souls and minds to the greatest depth of intercession and communing—searching—waiting to hear from heaven—understanding who it was we were praying to and knowing the potential for great things to come as a result of our petitions and praise and thanksgiving. I’m not the least disappointed at Peyton Manning for his statement. I’m actually grateful. I believe Mr. Manning is a stark example of how we in our society view our Creator and how we view prayer. If anything, Manning reminds me that I must never take prayer for granted. I must never see Father as anything less than who He is: Maker and Supreme Ruler of Heaven and Earth. Inexpressively glorious in holiness and worthy of our confidence, honor and love. He alone is worthy of our praise. He knows the end from the beginning. He holds the power of the universe in His hands. He restores my soul and sets me high upon a mountain. Every facet of His being is holy. He is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. As high as the heavens are above the level plains of the earth, so great is the measure of His love for us. That’s who we must pray to and that’s what prayer is supposed to be about. Let us never lose the zeal to pray at every opportunity and not allow the cares of this world to marginalize the medium of prayer in our lives and how we see our heavenly Father. Shalom.