Recently popular Christian influencer “Realism_Official” told to his audience in a TikTok video that “People who pray with their eyes open do not have their prayers read by God”.
Everyone in the comments is agreeing with him. Why are people supporting this? There is no “proper way” to pray, and telling people that they need to pray a certain way just leads people to have more ingenuine prayers. God reads our hearts, not our eyes.
Personally, I don’t follow Realism, but considering his massive platform and the amount of influence he can have over younger Christians, I just think it’s necessary to bring this to light
I don't know that it's heretical, but it's stupid. Who is this guy, and how does he think he has authority to pronounce on these matters?
Many of his videos consist of calling out non-christians and sometimes catholics. Which I wouldn’t say is the absolute worst thing in of itself, but considering the fact that he has millions of followers and is also pushing strange doctrine on top of that, it becomes concerning.
Any rando can make a YouTube channel and start pontificating. It's shocking to me that anyone pays attention to someone like this, but many don't know any better.
I pray with my eyes open all the time. Can't see what's in the prayerbook with 'em shut.
Exactly why are people so susceptible to these influencers?!?!
They are usually not the kind of people you actually want to be influenced by
Nobody is properly catechized these days. If they actually knew the content of the Christian faith, they wouldn't tolerate the semi-Arian therapeutic slop that passes for sermons in most megachurches.
He's no radno
He talked about Christian influencers who pray with their eyes open and look at camera
https://youtube.com/shorts/CnRz6WZ0j5w?si=6i9EsVVlbaT0GBhd
That’s a specific preference with no grounding, but he can go off, I guess.
He has a ridiculous large following. I get worried that this will turn into a slippery slope for young Christians who turn to these influencers for religious advice.
Actually there is a proper way, in private.
Mathew 6:6
He means the proper way is in private, and this is absolutely correct.
Whomever is teaching that is scripturally illiterate.
There are many instances of Jesus looking up to Heaven and praying John 17:1 is a good example.
Jews have been praying to God for centuries standing up, hands lifted and eyes open toward Heaven.
God is all-knowing, so He already knows each individual prayer of everyone, eyes open or closed.
Exactly.
Indeed, heresy.
Stupid statement. I would ask “Do you have a specific verse in the Bible that tells us this?”
He uses a bible verse in the video that is completely unrelated to his claims that supported nothing he said
Not surprised. It's amazing the stupid things people come up with and then claim it's biblical. Wonder what he thinks he gains by doing this other than the judgment of God??
Has he never prayed while driving?
What a strange thing to say. Prayer is not a ritual to conjure the power of God to do our bidding, it's our communication with God. There's no indication at all that God would care about whether we pray with open or closed eyes. Jesus prayed with open eyes on at least one occasion, just before his crucifixion:
This, among many other reasons, is why I am glad that I don't use social media.
Great comment!
I wouldn't say it's heretical, but it is bad theology.
A guy on TikTok, the bastion of reasoned theology, said this? I'm shocked. Absolutely shocked. TikTok is usually such a reliable source.
It would be really hard to "pray without ceasing" if you have to have your eyes closed the whole time
I wouldn't say there's a wrong or right way to pray, so him saying it's the only or best way is flat out wrong. With that said, if the intent is to focus better on your words, I don't see a problem with it. Personally I almost always pray with my eyes open, but there have been some times where my back was really up against it and I prayed with my eyes shut for the strength to keep going. I didn't do it consciously, but rather just naturally did it.
I think that saying it should always be one or the other doesn't take into account all the times we pray. I kneel each morning and say the Lord's Prayer, but I also pray throughout my day. I'm constantly talking to God asking for guidance and giving thanks. Closing my eyes each time would just limit the number of times I did it which has no positives.
An idiot tends to attract other idiots.
Eyes open, eyes closed, how you choose to speak to the Lord is nobody else’s business. Most of these “influencers” know what hot topics will get them the most attention.
Eyes open, eyes closed, how you choose to speak to the Lord is nobody else’s business. Most of these “influencers” know what hot topics will get them the most attention.
Do you guys ever wonder how many of your probelems are imaginary. Because i do.
I knew a group of people who would tell me that my prayers would only count if I said "In Jesus's name" before the amen. Pure ritualism and nothing more. Prayer isn't like spellcasting, it's not gonna fail if you get the details wrong lol
Can someone explain to me the difference between the pharisees that jesus argued with and the modern chrisitians purity tests and gatekeeping?
It’s stupid, you can pray any way you want. Muslims are wrong too when they say the only way is on the ground. You can pray just by thinking and with your hands and eyes any which way, you can walk around and you can stay still, whatever you want as long as it’s heartfelt
If the Bible doesnt confirm it then its most likely not true.
The Lord’s Prayer is the only framework we are given for “proper” prayer and there’s no mention of whether we have to stand, sit, kneel, head up or down, eyes open or closed- it’s all in the heart behind what we’re saying. Am I being respectful to God? Is my prayer selfish? Those are useful questions, not questions of body logistics.
No. You're doing good work. Keep it up. I agree with you and what you're doing.
Not necessarily heretical but sure is silly. I mean come on, how you gonna pray without ceasing and get through life with your eyes closed...
I used to follow him, but his behavior kept getting out of hand and he never took down some of those old racist speed McQueen videos despite claiming to have repented so I'm not too sure about him. I really don't like how he speaks like he is the supreme authority on everything.
In my church ordinances have to be done exactly as written... So we just read them. I wonder what this guy would think of that.
I think he might have a priest or pastor teaching him this, because this doesn't just come out of nowhere. Yikes.
Thats the dumbest thing Ive read all day, and Ive been on reddit way to much today..
What video does he say this? Because he posted a different video saying people can pray however they want
Can you link the video, I wanna hear it
You're too ready with the word 'heretical' - it means beliefs at odds with the fundamental tenets of Christianity, those in the Creed. What this is, is something with which you disagree.
Sì, quello che dice è semplicemente falso.
La Bibbia non dice da nessuna parte che devi avere gli occhi chiusi perché Dio ti ascolti. Gesù non ha mai dato “istruzioni tecniche” sulla preghiera: conta il cuore, non la posizione degli occhi.
Dire certe cose confonde solo le persone e dà un’idea rigida e sbagliata di Dio.
Se stai parlando con Lui sinceramente, ti ascolta. Sempre.
You went to the place for stupid videos made by stupid people to make you more stupid. Why are you surprised to find idiotic content.
Delete TikTok.
Sadly so many ‘heretical’ teachings out there. That’s why I became a Rad/Trad Catholic myself.