Article June 5, 1989 Issue

From argument to prayer

Thomas Richard Mitchinson

When I was a political science major in college, I yearned to do my part to advance freedom and brotherhood. But my studies seemed to be saying that humanity was forever caught in a cycle of war and peace. Current events seemed to confirm this. I began to hold very strong political convictions and relished political arguments. Then one day I realized that by arguing and holding opinionated beliefs I was doing absolutely nothing to help the millions of suffering innocents around the world.

Still yearning to help, I began to pray. I had seen prayer bring healing in my own life; couldn't prayer do something for the world that I couldn't do through argument or persuasion?

Turning to the Bible, I searched for wisdom that went beyond mere faith—wisdom that would heal. The Bible's timeless message of individuals' search for God and of the brotherhood of man gained my attention and trust. In it I found peacemakers of the highest sort, men and women whose conviction of the saving power of God and willingness to pray gave them needed insight to overcome perilous situations. Even if only to a degree, they were aware of God's kingdom, of a present relationship to God that brings inner peace and the power and intelligence to handle human conditions.

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