Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part I

One of my all time favorite episodes of the Simpsons is Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part I. In the episode, Mr. Burns makes enemies with almost every major character. At the very end, he is shot behind city hall in the shadows by an unknown assailant. He stumbles back around the corner into view of the camera, clutching his chest as blood trickles down. Jimbo, one of the high-school stoners is standing there and exclaims, "Hey man, are you ok?" Mr. Burns faltering and gasping for air replies, "Not... gonna... dignify that... with response..." and then collapses.

That's become a favorite line of mine to mimic. It's a great comical response to obvious and unnecessary questions.

Here's what I'm thinking about. At some point years ago, I heard someone expound that when humans pray, God always answers. But of course, in our human experience, we don't always see the answer. To explain those instances when it appears God doesn't respond it was justified that sometimes God says "yes," sometimes God says "no," and sometimes God says "wait"... as in, apparently you still have a lesson to learn before God says yes or no.

Well, Kay and I were talking about prayer and the joke came up of God gasping out, "Not... gonna... dignify that... with response..." And the more I thought about it, the more I actually think it works. I've heard a lot of prayers in my life (and requests for prayers) that were obvious and unnecessary. Worse, I've heard a lot of prayers that were self-centered and superficial. I don't see reason to believe God would dignify them with response.

You could argue that I'm just negatively reimagining God answering no. "No answer is still a no answer." But what signifies an obvious no from God? Is it just that what you pray for doesn't happen? "Well, I didn't get it, so obviously God didn't want me to have it." Or, are you praying about something in which God won't intervene or have part? Would God have part of you living for yourself? Would God have part of something you do that hurts others, especially if it drives them away from a confidence in the Christ? I don't think God would. So maybe you could stretch it and say that you are receiving a divine no. Or maybe you're praying about something in which God won't have part... that he won't dignify with response.

What do you think?

P.S. Who Shot Mr. Burns, Part II is the sleuthing to uncover what actually happened and who it really was that shot him. (Part I is funnier)