What did I miss?

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

St. Matthew's Prayer Rug

Earlier this week, Bug Man asked me if I had seen this letter we had gotten from some church. I shilly shallied for a while before opening it, but then curiousity got the best of me.

This "church" called St. Matthew's had sent me a prayer rug. The photo to the right is a copy someone else posted to the net.

“Look into Jesus’ Eyes you will see they are closed,” it instructed at the bottom. “But as you continue to look you will see His eyes opening and looking back into your eyes. Then go and be alone and kneel on this Rug of Faith or touch it to both knees. Then please check your needs on our letter to you. Please Return this Prayer Rug. Do not keep it.” On the back of the “rug,” it warned that it “must be mailed to a second home that needs a blessing after you use it.”

Strange stuff, indeed. Not the way I usually go about my daily prayers. A letter was included which said, “Would you like to have God’s blessings upon your home, your family and finances?” it asked. “Just put a (check) mark by your needs below, telling us that you want prayer.” There were boxes to check if you wanted health, a better job, to stop a bad habit, a new car, a money blessing, or “a home to call my own.” There was even a blank space to write in the amount of money you wanted God to bless you with. The letter was signed, “Your Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Saint Matthew’s Church.”

There was another sheet with testimonials to the power of this “prayer package.” Most of the
"proofs" were related to money. Y.G.” said she had only $50 to last until payday, but that after using the Prayer Rug, she was blessed with $46,888.20.

Yikes! This is some kind of powerful paper prayer rug! In looking into the matter further, it seems this outfit is only a little bit like church. They didn't have a building until a few years ago and apparently they only offer services in Spanish. English will be coming soon! The monies sent to this group go to some attorney/pr person and according to a legitimate news source there is little evidence to support the group's claim to be a church.

It is troublesome at best. Although they said they really needed my prayer rug back, I put it in the recycling with yesterday's newspapers.

4 comments:

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

it's always a good, kind thing to bless the recycling pile isn't it?

Rachel said...

Hee :) I've gotten that twice in 4 years :)

Anonymous said...

I just got one of these. I'm going to take the "prayer rug" and drag it around every dirty surface at the health clinic and send it back filled out with my worst enemy's information. (That person needs LOTS of prayers believe me) I hope the scam artist who sent this to me gets every disease known to man - jerk.

Adrea said...

Yeah I received teh Prayer Rug too, but why are you taking out your anger on this paper with a picture of Jesus?! Geez its not the Paper's fault, it can still be used as a prayer tool,no different than a candle or a prayer card. I wouldn't send this "church" any money at all, but do believe in the power of prayer and don't believe that "prayer rug" is "trash" at all. Its just simply a picture of Jesus with a border around which can help some people to focus on their prayer time, and blessings and answered prayers can come from that, with or without the prayer rug. But its really immature and stupid to say, Oh I threw it in the trash.