It’s Biblical to Ask Saints to Pray for Us

(This was originally shared here on AnsweringProtestants.com, as part of a longer post.)

There is nothing wrong with asking the heavenly saints to pray for us.

Many Protestants argue that asking the saints to pray for us is “unbiblical,” while throwing around verses like 1 Timothy 2:5. But they are incorrect.

1 Timothy 2:5 — the infamous “one mediator between God and men” verse — refers to salvation, not prayer. The verse reminds us that it is only because of the graces found through Christ (God Himself) that we are able to have any real relationship with God and reach Heaven. It does not, however, absolutely negate relations with angels or heavenly saints. After all, it was an angel (Gabriel) that spoke to Mary before Christ was conceived in her body, not God Himself.

I was raised in several Protestant denominations. They all placed a major emphasis on Christians praying for each other — which is encouraged in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and other passages. I would contend that a saint, one who is holy and in Heaven with God, would have a lot more sway with God than a rebellious sinner on earth would.

To put that another way, if someone asked you to do something for them, would you not be more likely to help them if they were your best friend, as opposed to a complete stranger? Of course, you may very well be willing to do something for a complete stranger, but you would probably be more willing to do something for your best friend.

And there is evidence in the Bible of the saints praying to God.

“Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” – Revelation 8:3-4

The word for “saints” in that passage comes from the Greek word hagios. Thayer’s New Testament Greek-English Lexicon says that the best definition of hagios is “most holy thing, a saint”. This would seem to undermine the Protestant assertion that “saints” in this context can only refer to people on earth.

Now, what would the saints be praying for? Themselves? Doubtful. They are in Heaven, so they do not need anything, as eternal life with God is perfect. That really only leaves one option: they are praying for us. And because they are praying for us anyway, how could it be wrong to ask them to pray for us about something specific? It is like interacting with a DJ at an event. He’s playing music anyway, so what is the harm in asking him to play your favorite song?

Here’s my Scripture-based defense of the practice that should answer most Protestant objections:

Matthew 17:3-4 & Luke 9:28-31.
Moses and Elijah (who are clearly heavenly saints, not “saints” in the way Paul would sometimes use the word) are with Christ during the Transfiguration.

Revelation 6:9-11.
The martyrs can talk to God.

From those three passages, we can gather that the saints in Heaven interact with God.

Luke 15:10.
The angels and saints (who, in Luke 20:35-36, Christ says are equal to the angels) are aware of earthly events.

1 Timothy 2:1 & James 5:16.
It is good for Christians to pray for one another.

Now, if the saints interact with God and are aware of earthly events (and can therefore hear us), why wouldn’t they pray for us, considering that it is good for Christians (which the angels and saints definitely are) to pray for one another?

Revelation 21:27.
Nothing imperfect will enter into Heaven.

Psalm 66:18 & James 5:16.
God ignores the prayers of the wicked, and the prayers of the righteous are effective.

Because the saints have reached perfection (they are in Heaven), their prayers are more effective than the prayers of those that are less righteous, so that’s why one might ask them to pray instead of asking another Christian on earth or simply doing it themselves.

Most definitely! ... if I'm understanding your question correctly, that is. When my mother passed away (a lukewarm Lutheran at best), we prayed for her soul (night and day), BUT we also asked for her prayers for her family. The reason her prayers might be heard more strongly than say, my husband's (who tries hard to live a good Catholic existence, but is still here on earth), is because my mom is "closer" to heaven; her soul in the process of being cleaned up.

Key word of my phrase was related to Catholics praying TO those in alleged "purgatory" state.

And the reason why this is quite relevant is -- that if you're not sure if a deceased person is either a "saint" in heaven...or, not...then couldn't praying directly TO that person constitute the sin of necromancy???

Didn't the prophet Isaiah ask: Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (8:19)

Look at ALL these different Christian denominations... link. Is it any wonder one might have questions?

Only if you're into denominationalism. Churches don't save. Denominations don't save. Denominations are irrelevant in regards to a person's salvation.

And are ALL these people respecting Christ correctly? According to His Father?

Maybe or maybe not. It depends on the individual, not the denomination.

And does it matter anyway, if you're leading a good Christian life?

Because leading a *good Christian life* only makes life more comfortable for those around you. It doesn't affect one's salvation. And if one isn't saved, then leading a *good Christian life* is meaningless.

Catholics should only be asking intercession, never praying TO anyone, save Jesus. [MLizzy, post #525]

Yeah, "should" technically. In practice, it's a whole 'nother ball game. A cursory search of prayers to saints reveals the depths of idolatry Catholicism endorses in its prayers to the dead. [Metmom]

Mlizzy...did you not see the very headline of this thread: It’s Biblical to ASK Saints to Pray for Us

How is a Catholic going to "ask" a heavenly saint to do anything if there's no cell phone service or batman-like red hotline available??????????????????

Doesn't asking a saint to do something equate to a "prayer?"

Have we finally cracked an inconsistent faultline here in this "doctrine" of consulting the dead...otherwise known as necromancy?

Only if you're into denominationalism. Churches don't save. Denominations don't save. Denominations are irrelevant in regards to a person's salvation.

Not saying you are doing this, mlizzy, but some Catholics play the "denominationalism" card like they do the "Luther" card. But, if you actually look at the reasons why there are so many denominations within Christianity or pseudo-Christianity, you would have to come back to what they specifically teach concerning the MAJOR tenets of the Christian faith. These can all be found plainly in Scripture and were the basis for most of the early creeds that were devised by Christians. These early creeds don't even mention such things as church governance or mode of worship services. Things such as music being allowed or not, the role of elders and deacons, the pastors, the way collections are taken up, even what the "proper" clothing should be for the worship service - all these things are MINOR compared to the major tenets. Just because there are numerous non-Catholic churches, doesn't mean that each one has their own version of those major tenets and hardly that every one has their own "interpretation" of Scripture. There can only BE a few ways to state any one tenet (i.e., either Jesus is God incarnate or He's not).

Many denominations have split due to conflict with either major or minor issues. Even the Catholic Church split in the eleventh century between the East and West over what were thought of as major tenets - major enough to warrant a split that has NEVER been repaired, that is. Though the Eastern Orthodox and the western Roman Catholic churches agree primarily on the tenets voiced in the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed, their differences separated them. The Roman Catholic Church today has its own issues with differences that, for all practical purposes, truly makes them seem as separate denominations of Catholicism (i.e., SSPX, Traditionalists, post-Vatican II, Liberals, Conservatives, etc.) It is often claimed here that these different "rites" still hold to the basic tenets of Catholicism, but this is not always the case. My own Mom chose one Catholic Church over another because one didn't have kneeling benches and she thought they should!

In somewhat the same vein, what is called "Protestantism" - or all the non-Catholic Christians bunched together in the same pail, may have started out holding to nearly the exact same major doctrines that the early Christians did and which Catholicism claims it does, too, there have been diversions as well. Some sects claim to be Christian but they are not recognizable when compared to the major tenets of the faith. Some others may have started out straight on those tenets but time, sin and human nature took its toll and they are a shell of their former self. The Reformers pointed out that the Roman Catholic Church had changed her doctrines over time on some of these major doctrines and is primarily why that rift was never repaired either.

What IS clear is that the ONLY authority we have to know what are or are not those major tenets of the Christian faith is Holy Scripture. That is why God gave it to us, why it has been preserved all these thousands of years and why ALL claims for truth must be measured BY it - not men - no matter what their claim to authority is. Like the Apostle John was inspired to write:

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)

If a denomination gets that part wrong, then who knows how far they might wander from all the rest of what makes up the faith?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.