Incongruent Theology

Jeremiah 37-41

I never really understood why people would hold to a theology that was totally incongruent with their life so when neither King Zedekiah nor his attendants nor the people who were left in the land listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah, I find it odd that King Zedekiah sent Jehucal to ask Jeremiah, “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” Huh? Really? I can understand why people who believe in God pray and I can understand why people who don't believe in God don't pray, but the other two groups seem to have incongruent theologies... they just don't match up.

Why would someone who doesn't believe in God ask for prayer. Who do they expect will answer that prayer? If there is no one to answer the prayer, why ask... and if there is someone to answer the prayer, why not believe? I am reminded of the classic non-believer parallel... "I'll be thinking of you." If you do not believe in the power of prayer to heal, why would you believe in the power of "thinking" about someone. Incongruent.

I think even sadder though is the one who claims belief, but doesn't pray. Surely that speaks to their true condition of belief. Who is to be pitied more than the fool who is only fooling their self? How do you reach out to the one who steadfastly claims belief, but will not act on it? Jeremiah didn't have much success with the incongruent either.