Your post still indicates you either do not understand what intercessory prayer is or you’re still mixing subjects up. Here, I will continue to try to stay on topic.
As to the cloud of witnesses, you’re welcome to your interpretation of course and you can imagine the Saints in Heaven excluded from the Body of Christ if you wish.
Likely you will also need a different interpretation for the fact that death does not separate us, for the family of God, one family in heaven and earth, the Transfiguration, the joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, that our God is the God of the living not the dead – Christ having defeated death, etc.
All the saints are members of one body, the Body of Christ. Not two, but we are One as Christ prayed in the garden.
We do not cease to be part of the One Body upon our earthly death; because, again, Christ has defeated death. You cannot have one body if the majority of its members are separated from the rest. If that were the case, there would be two bodies and one would not affect the other.
However, we are told:
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
I don’t know if it is part of your theology or church, but the Nicene Creed is the fundamental statement of belief for Catholics and, I believe, a majority of Protestants. What has been lost is the meaning of Communion of Saints.
There can be no communion without union. To posit complete separation between any saints is de facto negation of the Communion of Saints.
The Church is the Body of Christ is the Communion of Saints. One body, many members, connected – in communion.
thanks for your reply.
..or in the case of the RCC, THREE bodies. What about those who are “in Christ” in “purgatory”? “One family in heaven and earth”, and in purgatory?
The confusion is not mine.
“And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
This indicates praying to Saints is something that is taught to us by God's Word ... how???
You cannot have one body if the majority of its members are separated from the rest. If that were the case, there would be two bodies and one would not affect the other.
This teaches that we are to pray to anyone other than God....how?
You are very good at quoting scripture; however, the scripture you quote does not support your case! However, there are some very basic scriptures that DO indicate how to pray:
Matthew 6 -- "Pray then like this: Our Father....."
Not Mary.... not Saints, not Angels.
John 14 -- Christ tells about going to his Father -- and asking for things in his name.... not Saints, not Mary, not Angels. Not the Cloud of Witnesses.
Again, I ask: where in scripture does God teach us to pray to anyone OTHER than Him?
Hoss