Karl Bryullov. The Last Day of Pompeii Yes you are right, formerly blind man, right a thousand times over that “God does not listen to sinners” (Jn. 9:31)! He does not listen and does not obey those unrepentant obstinate ones who do not wish to bow their heads before Him, and try to incline God Himself to fulfill their requests. A wise parent does not cave in to the manipulations of a spoiled child, no matter how sweetly he sings. Much less so the Giver of wisdom, our Father.
God does not listen to sinners also because they are directing their requests, apparently, not entirely to Him. Or entirely not to Him. Their god is their belly (Phil. 3:19), or mammon, or something else. This “something” occupies the central place in their lives. They made an idol their god, and as a result, the true God is for them something like an idol, useful only for providing them a set of religious services should they need them: help in becoming healthy, success in business, help in casting a spell, and so on. Why should God heed those requests that are directed essentially not to Him but to a mythical being of an incomparably lower order?
God does not hear sinners who insist that He hear them while they themselves shut up their own ears. So why should He listen to them if He can’t answer them, if that person is not waiting for an answer, if dialogue is simply not under consideration? Moreover that person doesn’t want an answer! A god who silently fulfills requests is much more convenient and practical.
God does not hear sinners also because their prayers are often vain and their requests selfish—not for the good, but in order to use it for their own lusts (cf. Js. 4:3). They ask for health not intending to use it for the glory of God. They ask for money without any thought of almsgiving. They ask for children without thinking about raising them in faith and piety.
God does not hear sinners, for they do not know what they want. Their desires are not far-seeing and if they come into being can cause harm. But at the time they do not know about this and continue to ask, ask, ask. Of course a normal father will not give his children a snake when they want a fish (cf. Lk. 11:11–13). But what if they insistently ask for a snake?
God does not listen to sinners. But this does not mean that He doesn’t hear them. He hears them; but will a doctor listen to a patient’s feverish delirium? No, He has no time for that! And no reason to do so—he has to cure him! Right away! When the fever has passed the speech will be healthy, and reasonableness will appear in it. Then he can listen, for The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears shall attend unto their supplications (Ps. 33:15). But until then, God does not listen to sinners, but He has not turned away from them—no, He has not turned away.
Again and again you are right, blind man, for God does not hear even sinners who are repenting! He does not pay heed to their timid “Father, I have sinned against heaven…” He does not ask any questions but embraces them, kisses them, dresses them in clean garments, takes them into His house and has a feast (cf. Lk. 15:17–24).
'P.O. Box 435, Brodhead, Ky. 40409
"O Heavenly King, the Comforter, who art everywhere and fillest ALL THINGs....."
So, God, who is everywhere, can't help but "hear" and "listen to" all the intentions, behaviors, language, motives, and attitudes of all creatures, --- sinners and otherwise, Christian and otherwise.
Whether He acknowledges and acts on those prayers is up to Him, not up to us, to determine.
It is not wrong to say that He may ignore the self-righteous petition of a modern Pharisee, but honor the humble cry of pagan who begs for help, and judge him by his own law, as Holy Scripture clearly states.
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It occurs every day and is destroying our future.