"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" - 1 Timothy 2:5
Why do you feel the need to pray to dead people?
Does this mean "no" to the question of intercessory prayer? Is this something that is not scriptural in Calvinists view?
Also, I'm not sure of your reply to whether the Saints in heaven are part of the Body of Christ?
This then should indicate my reply. Intecessory prayer, the Saints are alive in Jesus Christ.
To address your "need" question, I have to go back to the question of minimalism. I do a great many things I don't need to do; I don't factor need into the equation. It's not, for me, trying to figure out the minimum I need to do. T
I believe that prayer helps me and helps others. I'd go so far as to say I know that it does. I pray for you, and I'd be grateful for any prayers of yours for me.
Maybe you could see this last part as most definitely needed? :)
thanks very much for your reply.
A Christian is a work in progress on his way to final justification and sanctification. He needs examples and prayers of others who had traveled on that road before him. It is by the prayers of the saints that God draws his elect to himself. It is then natural to ask the saints to pray for us to our Lord Jesus Christ, which they gladly and fervently do.
The Calvinist heresy denies cooperation with Grace, -- in fact, it denies infused grace to begin with, and hence your question. You cannot comprehend the answer until you drop the heresy.