The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Bargaining with God

I'm not so sure what you mean by "acceptable", but I am going to assume you are referring, for example, to Abraham's bargaining with God (Gen 18:23-32)? Taking that one example, what I see is Abraham expressing his 1) embarrassing ignorance in regard to the reality of the depravity of mankind, 2) his love and passion for his nephew Lot and family, 3) freedom to bare his soul before God, 4) and his confidence that the Lord God is One Who is righteous and therefore will always do right; right in the sense of that which is in perfect alignment with God's own holiness.

I'm also not so sure that this "trait" has disappeared. But perhaps Christians (true Christians) today are more informed due to the fact that they have the Canon wherein God is more fully revealed. Thus, His will is better known as is the condition of men's hearts. And so, their prayers are more "refined" and in accord with the will of God, although there certainly are times that they do not know what to pray in some situations. But the Holy Spirit at such times is able to communicate the depth of the heart which a person is unable to formulate in word or even thought.

In His grace,