Hi Hoss,
Have you been round the intercessory prayer discussion before?
This particular branch (the one you replied to) concerns the assertion:
“Those who have died cannot pray for others,” which involves two questions: intercessory prayer and the Communion of Saints.
The intercessory part of it is about Christians praying for others, not about whom one prays to; as in who is God. Pray also means ask. I can pray to you to pray for me. This would be asking for your intercession.
In this discussion it was posited that the Lord’s Prayer is the only prayer for Christians, i replied with the reference to intercessory prayer and St. Paul.
Specifically my question: “Are you unfamiliar with St. Paul and his words on intercessions?”
Those who are recall that St. Paul often asked others for their prayers for him (and for others). And that he urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all, saying this is pleasing to God. These would be prayers other than the Lord’s Prayer which was the point of my reply to which you replied.
And here we are, hopefully back on line now on the point of discussion concerning intercessions, intercessory prayer and asking others for theirs.
I surely have and I see that the the same silliness is being used by the RCC'ers here to justify a falsehood. Still.
The intercessory part of it is about Christians praying for others, not about whom one prays to; as in who is God. Pray also means ask. I can pray to you to pray for me. This would be asking for your intercession.
Well, you have part of it right. Intercessory prayer is to pray to God on behalf of others. I can pray to Him for you; you can pray to Him for me. But, as to the definition you assert, I would challenge you to do one thing:
After you read this, close your eyes, and utter a "prayer" to me and ask me to pray for you. I promise you: if I hear you, I'll tell you, because I'm still alive and here. However, if you ASK me by voice or writing in my hearing or reading, then I'll definitely know. Those who have already died and gone to Heaven are not omniscient and thus cannot hear any "prayers" from here.
Intercessory prayer is not the big issue; it's the Roman Catholic Church's false teaching of praying to anyone OTHER than God... like Mary... Saints... Angels.
That's the point. And here we are, hopefully back on line now on the point of discussion concerning intercessions, intercessory prayer and asking others for theirs.
Correct -- excluding ONE thing: prayer to anyone other than God. Not praying to the Saints, Mary, or anyone other than God -- Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Hoss