[tbpiper]

When Did Christians First Call Themselves “Catholic”?

When did Christians start ignoring the direct access to the Throne of Grace and start praying to dead Christians for help?

[narses]

When did Christians start ignoring the direct access to the Throne of Grace and start praying to dead Christians for help?

Oh please tell us. Please. Direct from the Throne of the Single Wide Church. Give us the answer, please!

[TheZMan]

Bam. Good post. Thanks

[Campion]

When did Christians start ignoring the direct access to the Throne of Grace and start praying to dead Christians for help?

Technically known as "poisoning the well," this is a great example of a question that assumes an incriminating falsehood ("start ignoring the direct access to the Throne of Grace") before positing the actual question. Of course, the time-honored exemplar of the kind is, "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

But to answer your question, Christians started "praying to dead Christians" for help once they realized that (a) there are no "dead Christians"; believers who have fallen asleep are alive in Christ Jesus and in the presence of God; and (b) the Church is the Body of Christ, whose bonds of charity are not sundered, broken, or destroyed by the power of death.

[smvoice]

Exactly. I would also add that when did Paul start having to warn the Corinthians that there are "many which corrupt the Word of God." 2 Cor.2:17.

?

2 Cor. was written about 60 AD, so I would say that Catholics were around at least by that point.

[rwilson99]

Who are these ‘dead Christians?’

If you have a bible... turn to John 3:16 and tell me what Christians are dead?