Bruce,

  Israel of old was bound by a law (Lev 19:18) to love their neighbor
and David would have known that when he penned his Imprecatory Psalms.
Somehow he knew when it was appropriate and when it was not
appropriate to pray in such a manner so I still think it's GNC at work
unless we can establish otherwise with a clear prohibition.

  Mar 12:28-34 KJV  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them
reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well,
asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?  (29)  And Jesus
answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel;
The Lord our God is one Lord:  (30)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  (31)  And
the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.  (32)
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:
for there is one God; and there is none other but he:  (33)  And to
love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with
all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as
himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  (34)
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou
art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask
him any question. (see Deut 4:35; Lev 19:18)

But that's not all. Hear two of Paul's prayers for those who would
trouble us saints.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed.

Gal 5:11-12 KJV  And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do
I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
(12)  I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

   Thank you for your single verse. It's a good one. Just not good enough. ;-)

             Moe

On 9/30/06, Bruce Woodford <bwood4d@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi Moe,
>
> You wrote a good question! "Brethren, Have you all arrived at your view on Imprecatory Prayer through GNC or do you have a good text that clearly teaches Imprecatory Prayer is prohibited in this NC age? I'm just curious how you all arrive at such a conclusion."
>
> I don't believe GNC is involved here at all! How about Matthew 5:43,44 for starters:
>
> 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
>
> As I understand imprecatory praying, it is praying "against" someone, i.e. praying for their destruction, their cursing etc.   But when the Lord Jesus instructs us in how to pray for such, He does NOT tell us to pray AGAINST them but rather FOR them, i.e. to love them, to bless them, to do good to them and to pray for them, that is for their good and benefit and eternal blessing!
>
> Does this text above provide a sound and scriptural answer to your question?
>
> A brother in Christ,
>
> Bruce
>
>