Most of what you wrote here is stuff that no one would be opposed to, which is why I said Protestants usually take issue with prayers to Anthony/Christopher/Ann/etc for intercession but not praying that a loved one rests in peace or something of the sort. Jesus Christ alone is our mediator and advocate to God the Father. March 24 2018 20. Why do people pray to saints? The Catholic Church always has taught that a Christian can worship only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People questioning the idea of praying to a saint perceive that those who are dead in Christ are disconnected from those on earth, so to pray to someone who is dead seems like a useless proposition. Pope Dionysius condemned the division of the one God into three gods, for there can be only one God, not three (Letter to Dionysius of Alexandria, A.D. 260). Pagans can still pray to dead people and their gods and goddesses but with a Christianized version. The reason why I still practice Catholicism is because there is no perfect religion. First, soul sleep. To ask on your thought on this: if no one is in heaven and given eternal life through God, why should we strive and work to be good Christians? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. I dont think anything here really scratches the surface of what Protestants believe. Additional proof that Catholics worship the saints is that they make statues of them, in violation of the next commandment: You shall not make for yourself an idol or any image which is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters which are under the earth; you shall not bow down and serve them because I am the Lord your God (Ex. Some people . They were commended through their faith in enduring suffering (11:29). (1Cor. Join me now as we explore Gods word and discover what it takes to become a true Christian! I dont select the ads displayed here but generated by advertising software. So I dont understand why you said that saints arent Biblical. Id love what you have to say. Theresa regularly prayed to the patron "saint" of her home village. When the Lord is angry with Jobs friends because they did not speak rightly about God, he tells them, Let my servant Job pray for you because I will accept his [prayer], lest I make a terror on you (Job 42:8). The verses we have examined here show us that our worship, devotion, and prayers should be directed to God alone, through Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Understanding the Godly Order of Marriage, Daniel Chapter 8 Summary: 5 Lessons We Can Learn, Surrendering to God: How to Let Go and Let God Take Control. Thanks for taking the time to write and share it. Its always , The church says, the Catholic belief is, our faith is, etc. Share The answer is not plainly taught in big churches today. Praying to Dead Saints - Are We Allowed To Do This? Mary could hear the salutations of the Gabriel and Elizabeth because they spoke in her immediate presence. To the extent that you bring up prayers FOR the Saints, it sounds like youre saying the opposite of what you said the first time. Why ask God to give us things we know He already wants to? The Saints can not perform miracles or forgive sins only God can do that. Amen." Unitarian praying makes it hard to see why there's any real difference in praying to the God of the Bible as opposed to praying to the God of, say, the Qur'an. (Rv. There are so many verses in the bible where My Lord Jesus Christ says, I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one cometh unto the Father, but by Me. Re-read it with that in mind, and see what you think. Given this, lets present the Biblical view on each of these three major points: The first mistake in opposing prayers to the dead is assuming that were praying to the dead. One of the most frequently cited passages against prayer to the Saints in Heaven is Isaiah 8:19. Is Praying to the Saints Idolatrous? - ChurchPOP Never does the Church instruct the faithful to conjure the spirits of the saints to carry on some two-way communication. 1) Are you talking about prayers TO the Saints, FOR the Saints, or both? But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7). Also, one might expect that, if they were spectators, we would be exhorted in 12:2 to appeal to them in prayer. 4, 365). 1. 5:8; 8:3-4 ; cf. We never pray to Mary or saints.we ask dem to pray for us. This article is timely with all saints day just around the corner. 14. Our fellowship is in Christ, spiritually, and by walking with Him, we somehow walk in the past faithfuls footsteps, we are a part of them, as the church. (This was the heresy of monophysitism.) Im just so sad to hear this kind of article, stop misleading, and stop misguiding other people just to suit your point of view. But the first premise that the faithful departed are dead is false, and directly contrary to Scripture. God alone has the power to do more than we could ever ask or think, and we should give Him all the glory through Christ Jesus. The Bible encourages Christians to approach the saints in heaven, just as they approach God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord: But you have approached Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels, and the assembly and church of the firstborn who have been enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and spirits of righteous ones who have been made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood which speaks better than that of Abel (Heb. Revelation 8:3 - The prayers of the saints rise up before God, and then God acts on earth. First, God expects us to pray for one another. The truth may shock you. In fact, nowhere does the Spirit ever record even one prayer, supplications or offerings addressed to anyone else by God except by pagans even though He records over 200 in Scripture! Directing our prayers to anyone other than God is robbing God of the glory that is His alone. : For in the resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married; but shall be as the angels of God in heaven. (Matt. I know that the saints are praying for the Church here on Earth, and they love us with a love that we cannot comprehend. Heres a post about the truth why Christians should never pray to saints. Am I wrong? Such a fervent prayer showing such bold confidence in Mary's intercession could not have arisen in a vacuum in which Mary was ignored. God would so far call it an abomination and idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:29-31)! 2 In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. Despoiling principalities and powers, he brought us from our longstanding slavery into the freedom of sons.. When a Christian dies, his soul goes to heaven and has already been perfected. Christ Himself clearly said that no one ascended into heaven (John 3:13). THe issue is whether prayers for the dead can avail them after they are dead, if praying to saint anthony really helps finding stuff, and etc.. If you need more resources or you have questions, please let me know. But that doesnt mean they hear our prayers, or provide even the slightest bit of assistance in answer to our prayers, regardless of how noble their lives may have been while on earth. Catholics, please forgive me if my comments offend you. it helps to pay the bills and keeps this website running. Early Christians derived some of their views from Judaism. Why do they not realize the greater power of the saints prayers? 3:1; Colossians 4:3; Hebrews 13:18), to make supplications for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18), and for supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings to be made for all men (1 Timothy 2:1). When Death Comes Unexpectedly: What the Bible Says 25 Powerful Bible Verses to Enhance Your Meditation 17 Very Helpful Bible Verses About Healing, 19 Very Inspirational Bible Verses About Encouragement. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. 25. However, does the Bible really support this idea? The book of Revelation shows the saints worshipping God, singing hymns, playing instruments, making requests to Christ to avenge their martyrdom, and offering prayers for the saints on earth (Rev. No need to apologize for telling the truth. In the Bible, Gods presence is often shown by cloud or fire. 11. . Those in heavenOnias, Jeremiah, and the angelswere intimately involved in what was happening . What's in a name? Hurricane Hilary is not named for who you think So cool! The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects (James 5:16-17). The Bible reveals that theres no immortal soul. I found an article explaining why Catholics pray to saints. As the Anglican Edward Pusey wrote in a letter to the (by this time Catholic) Newman: the intercession of the saints departed and at rest, for us who are still militant, is part of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints, and would be a necessary consequence of God-given love, even if it did not appear from Holy Scripture. I am Catholic and I totally agree with you. Yet, there is something to being absent from the body, is to be present with the Lordand spirits of just men made perfect. It doesn't make sense that death would rupture this bond. The reason is obvious. The Apostles Creed affirms the communion of the saints., As I said, this is a post about prayers TO the Saints, and Ive given three reasons why the opposition to asking them for things is ill-founded.. They are not omnipresent like God is. Given this, by all means, ask for their spiritual help and encouragement! Is it wrong to worship and pray to saints? - Quora Background Whats more, theyre your brothers and sisters in Christ. However, praying to Saints is not inherently idolatrous, and many believers have found comfort in asking Saints to intercede on their behalf. My point is that praying to the saints is objectionable to Protestants not because it is impossible (as your post appears to infer their opposition comes from), but because of the perception that the saints prayed to are turned into intermediaries between man and God in place of Christ. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8). 0 responses The gold cherubim and the bronze serpent were not objects of worship. They have four main criticisms of the custom, all of which they push forward vigorously. When God sees us (saved Christians), He sees the righteousness of his son Jesus, and we can come Boldly before the Throne of Grace directly to the Father. 6:11). Lets explore the biblical teachings related to praying to saints and answer some common questions about this topic. In any case, this query for judgment nor other texts simply does not support prayer to created beings in Heaven and them being able to hear prayers addressed to them and respond , nor does offering up prayers as a memorial at the time of the day of the Lord. I AM JOSHUA and Im on a mission to help fellow Christians build a closer and more intimate relationship with God. Only Jesus Christ offers salvation, not saints or any other human being. The Saints in Heaven are Still Part of the Church, yet neither this, nor exhortations to pray for each others teach that created beings in Heaven are able to hear and respond to prayer from earth addressed to them in Heaven, and do so. They maintain that a prayer addressed to Mary or the saints is simply a way of asking people in heaven to pray for people on earth and is no different from asking someone here on earth to pray on one's behalf. And now, it is time to know what the Bible really teaches about praying to the saints. They know nothing. Magazine Why We Pray to Saints St. Thomas Aquinas provides us two arguments for why the saints in heaven intercede for us. Thank you, Sam! That is a very serious matter. Glad to hear that I could be of assistance in your own journey home. Praying to saints is a VAIN religious practice. Ive asked many through the years and no priest or catholic has Ever been able to prove from Gods word or Jesus teachings that we should pray to Mary or dead saints. Why was Jesus compelled to go through Samaria? Jesus promises to answer our prayers in His name, not the name of any other person. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . If we choose to pray to Saints or Mary, we should do so with the understanding that they are not divine figures and that God is our ultimate mediator. 12. 1:6; 2:6), Moreover, in Scripture all sanctifying work is done in this world with its trials and temptations, in which there is an sinful alternative to suffering. Learn how your comment data is processed. 20:6). Vote Up Nowhere in the Bible can you find the term immortal soul. From Genesis to Revelation, you wont find a single passage supporting this claim. No creature, no matter how good or beautifulno angel, no saint, not even the Virgin Marydeserves adoration. . (LogOut/ Protestants feel that praying to Saints is wrong in that we need no intercessor between our prayers and Jesus. The passages warning against the dead simply dont apply to the question of the Saints. Not too sure what you mean by your comment, but how can you prove through the Bible that Mary ascended into heaven? Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? . The faith of the Church is that the saints are not really dead, but are fully alive in Jesus Christ, who is life itself (John 11:25; 14:6) and the bread of life who bestows life on all who eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6:35, 48, 51, 53-56). A second reason praying to the Saints might be idolatry is that we overdo it. If we worship or put too much emphasis on a Saint or Mary, then we can lose focus on the true source of our salvation, which is God. If they who strayed will not stop the deviation, we are to have no more to do with them. 2, 4, 5. The Shocking Reason We Should Stop Praying to Saints, View joshua.infantado.1s profile on Facebook, View joshuainfantados profile on Twitter, View joshuainfantados profile on LinkedIn, View +JoshuaInfantados profile on Google+, 17 Unbelievable Bible Secrets No One Has Ever Told You. Moses and Elijah appear and stand beside Jesus. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I definitely dont believe in worshiping, identifying, communicating with, or having any relationship with departed Christians. And the smoke of the incenses went up with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.. 1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. Now Mary is dead and her soul is in heaven. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). And even if someone should try and pray to them - there is no way that person would even hear your prayers to begin with unless God would allow it or would transmit the prayer to them. Read the literature written against prayers to the Saints, and see how frequently theyre mischaracterized as the dead. This isnt a harmless mistake. If you have anything to add, please feel free! 25:18). For example, a decade of the Rosary contains ten Hail Marys and only one Our Father. Therefore, any prayers directed toward Saints should be for their intercession, not for something that only God can provide. Overall, the Bible doesnt provide a definitive answer on this topic, and Christians have different interpretations on the matter. During the syncretism of paganism and Christianity many centuries ago, this doctrine insidiously crept in the church. God Bless. If in fact we are granted eaternel life then the saints are alive or their spirit to be concise it is totally reasonable that strength in numbers and in prayers is beneficial including our saints prayers. A) The rich man in Jesus' story (known in tradition as "Dives") asks Abraham to intercede, making two requests: a) relief from his suffering in the "bad" part of Hades / Sheol (Lk 16:24), and 2) to. As I said, this is a post about prayers TO the Saints, and Ive given three reasons why the opposition to asking them for things is ill-founded. Why God chose this means of communicating with Him well probably never know. So, whats the use of praying to the saint if they are dead in their graves? Prayer is an act of worship. THe issue is whether prayers for the dead can avail them after they are dead, if praying to saint anthony really helps finding stuff, and etc. Are we to follow Jesus commands because Jesus was a curse for us and he followed OT laws? Share But unlike some Christians who believe that the divide between our life here on earth and the life of those who have died and gone to Heaven is unbridgeable, Catholics believe that our relationship with our fellow Christians does not end with death. The Saints in Heaven are Alive, not Dead. People say it's just asking Mary to pray for them, but it's much more, and things are attributed to Mary that only should be attributed to Jesus, Like being sinless, or asked of Mary that should only be asked of Jesus. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). Likewise, He wills to give us certain things by the intercession of the saints and not otherwise. I did what you suggested and I could see that there are really not many biblical teachings on that website aside from human traditions and interpretations. Whereas before you identified it as the issue, now you seem to be saying that Protestants wouldnt take issue with praying for the repose of the souls of the departed. But, that it indeed happened, gives credence to the belief in both the communication with, and the intercession of, Saints in Heaven. Does God give His stamp of approval for people to pray to saints? They dont even have any knowledge of the affairs of men. The Litany of Saints addresses the . I reverted back to Catholicism after 20 years in Protestant circles, so I have no issues with praying to the Saints. 10. I think theres been some mistake. One of the erroneous teachings of the Roman Catholic Church is the doctrine of praying to the saints. 16. Jesus is the only way to the Father, and we do not need saints as intermediaries. Here, the imagery is fleshed out to show that the Saints in Heaven are a great crowd of witnesses in the stands. It is time for us to stop following human tradition. Answer (1 of 28): To whom it may concern, Thank you for caring about right & wrong, and for caring about not doing wrong to God. The Bible Supports Praying to the Saints Fr. Its true, Protestants object to this but the post was about how those objections are frequently grounded in a faulty view of the afterlife. Powerful Biblical Lessons From Birds (BLOG), 4 Easy Tricks for Studying the Bible Effectively [NEW VIDEO], Powerful Biblical Lessons From Birds (video). There are several reasons why praying to the saints is wrong, besides the anti-Christ implications already given. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Paul even wants us to lift our prayers TO God (Romans 15:30). So from my understanding Protestants generally don't like but are ok with (1) asking saints to pray for them and (2) artwork depicting Jesus. 4. I have read other verses, Maria. Chapter 11 isa litany of Saints who lived by faith, leading immediately into this (Heb. Im still challenging Catholics and I always will . Joshua, What angels have been sent among us? Divine worship First, notice that it says "divine worship" should be given only to God. Manage Settings Living in the Fruits of the Spirit: Understanding 25 Very Important Bible Verses About Being Careful Understanding Worshiping Mary: What the Bible Says About Honoring Mary, Living in the Fruits of the Spirit: Understanding Galatians 5:22-23 and Its Impact on Our Lives, 25 Powerful Bible Verses to Enhance Your Meditation Practice. Why Pray to the Saints? Is it wrong to pray to God to be taken to heaven today? Heres the number 1 reason that we should stop praying to saints: they are already DEAD! Is prayer to saints / Mary biblical? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong., So the Protestant view that says that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are dead is quite wrong.. 15 Important Bible Verses About Praying To Saints So yes, they are not really dead. The 24 elders around the throne, who are saints, and the angels offer these nuggets of incense for us. The issue arises when those things turn into (1) praying to saints and (2) worshipping the artwork, or otherwise attributing spiritual power to the physical artwork itself. This belief takes two general forms: first that the souls of the just are asleep until the Resurrection; second, that the souls are isolated in Heaven. "No Contact with the dead" Sometimes Fundamentalists object to asking our fellow Christians in heaven to pray for us by declaring that God has forbidden contact with the dead in passages such as Deuteronomy 18:10-11. What does it mean in James 2:10 that anyone who breaks one law becomes guilty of breaking them all? Idolatry, basically, is the worship of idols. Likewise, RCs compel Heb. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). To be a Christian is to be Christ like, we therefore can imitate Christ. Argument by silence much? The Catholic Church has always believed that Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man. xi. Prayer is a vital part of the Christian faith. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. Is it wrong to pray the prayer of Jabez or other such prayers that Jesus didn't mention? Worship God not me." Peter said, "get up." 4. It is worth noting that praying to the saints is rooted on praying for the dead. Both, specifically praying TO particular saints for specific things instead of praying to God and praying FOR Aunt Sally to go to heaven even if she lived like a heathen (BTW, I am not saying Catholics would pray for this Aunt Sally either, I am only explaining how Protestants feel.) Because of this membership in Christ, under his headship, the intercession of the saints cannot be a rival to Christs mediation; it is one with the mediation of Christ, to whom and in whom the saints form one body. When people pray to saints, they kneel before their pictures and statues and give an offering to the point that they worship the saint more than God. All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. The Bible mentions Saints multiple times, and many of them are recognized and celebrated in the Catholic and Orthodox Church as intercessors. So the problem isn't that we're going to Mary or the Saints, but that we're going to them excessively. 21. 21:9). Zack Martin vs Cowboys Contract: Jerry Jones Reveals Why Dallas Moved Because the saints know God so intimately in heaven, they can be directly informed by Him. 19. Why does the Catholic church pray to "saints," if Jesus is the only one . Our prayers are like nuggets of incense. TheBaltimore Catechismexplains the seriousness of the sin of superstition: Superstition is by its nature a mortal sin, but it may be venial either when the matter is slight or when there is a lack of full consent to the act (question 212). Intercession of the dead for the living. The Bible tells us that God alone has immortality (I Timothy 6:16). Mother Mary his mother is a blessed one and wen jesus went up to heaven Mary was the one to give strength to the apostle along with the holy sprit. Instead, any supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings that we offer are a humble plea to ask the saints to pray for us to God. This works out to mean that other forms of worship to Mary are okay as long as it isn't "divine worship." But what is "divine worship?"
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