SW
Since I read your post as taking some of us to task, perhaps you would be willing to expand on it so that I am clear on what you are saying, particularly in the first paragraph. What would you have us make of the encounter? I agree entirely that it's not clear what is going on with the interloper. I do think if you read the post carefully there's warrant for the first two assumptions. To assume the opposite--that the church friend is not virtuous and that the reference to "him" might refer to a relationship that she has with someone not her husband--would be a far bigger assumption, unwarranted by anything in the post, and uncharitable.
Our lack of knowledge and motivation for the interloper is what prompted my jocular agreement with others about a poor pick-up attempt. For me, it's either make light of it a bit or get quite serious about someone accosting them like that (which is exactly what he did) and violating the third commandment by claiming to speak for the Lord.
I agree that one should not respond to the misguided man as if the supernatural were illusory and God does not answer prayer. The ladies were, understandably, shocked and robbed of presence of mind, but a good response might have been, "You misapprehend my situation. God does not. He did not tell you to tell me to do something that violates His will. I appreciate your concern but you need to realize that God makes known His will in His Word and I receive counsel with respect to that from my husband, pastor, elders, et al., not you whom I do not know."
In this day and age, especially, it is remarkable that a man would be foolish enough to go up and speak to two ladies like that. I do not believe, SW, that the good folk on this Board have been unfair at all with this interloper or sent a wrong message about God and prayer.
Peace,
Alan
