I, in particular appreciate Dr. Stanley's premise (paraphrased) that a personalized god is fictional, and therefore cannot answer prayer.
Within a speculative theistic model, prayer is not provided to the God of religious, Scriptural, history. Biblical Christianity is not dependent on sentimental theology. Millard Erickson writes that natural theology deduces that God can be understood objectively through nature, history, and human personality. Erickson (1994: 156). But, it should be stated that although natural theology can perhaps bring a person to a limited knowledge of God, it does not provide revealed information concerning salvation or everlasting life for human beings. Erickson explains that Biblical revelation views God as taking the initiative to make himself known to followers. Erickson (1994: 198).
The Hebrew Bible and New Testament present historical persons that experienced the supernatural God and supernatural occurrences. Some will accept the historicity of these persons, but deny the supernatural aspects of the Bible, but according to the New American Standard Bible presented by Charles Caldwell Ryrie and the Lockman Foundation, approximately 40 authors wrote the Biblical texts over a period of approximately 1600 years. Ryrie (1984: xv).
Encountering The New Testament (2013) documents that there are copying mistakes in biblical manuscripts (11). I would add, that it is obvious to anyone that compares different manuscript versions, in New Testament Greek, that they are not always identical. But the New Testament is the 'best-attested writing in antiquity.' (11). There are close to six thousand biblical manuscripts with at least fragments for the New Testament. (11). There is also a brief time lapse between gospel events and their documentation as originals as autographs to copies. (11).
The Encountering texts states that transition was not perfect, but it was more than reliable enough for us to have little doubt in what the New Testament writers first wrote.' (12). There are no grounds for any serious theological doubts. (12). The New Testament is internally consistent. It is near 100% certainty of accuracy. (12).
Original scriptural autographs were not protected by a supernatural force field, but the documentation has been accurately maintained as has the theological message.
Praying to the Biblical God is a reasonable, historical practice.
ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
RYRIE, CHARLES, CALDWELL (1984) The New American Standard Version Bible, Iowa Falls, Iowa, World Bible Publishers.
