Certainly the Bible prohibits consulting mediums and necromancers. However, if we define the Christian Church as the community of all believers in Christ, and we believe in eternal salvation and the immortality of the soul, I would suggest that those who have departed this earth are still quite alive in Heaven, and remain members of the Christian church (unless somehow they stop believing in Christ once they get to Heaven.)
When I *pray* to the Saints I really don't consider it anything different than me asking a fellow church goer, friend or family member to pray for me - to Christ. I also meditate on their lives, actions, faith and in many cases martyrdom not to worship them, but as a means of inspiration as to how my life may be better spent in Christ's service. I think we can agree that God (in three persons) should be the sole object of our worship, and the Scriptures the primary directive for implementing that worship. I think we can also agree that some of us implement the above better than others, so why not look to them as examples?
Praying to saints means you’re expecting them to do what only Jesus Christ can do.
Also, no one is in heaven yet as the day of judgement has not come. The dead in Christ are asleep awaiting Christ’s return.
Where’s it end? Do you talk with your dead grandmother? Do you talk with Adam? Do you talk with George Washington? Do you talk with Martin Luther? Do you talk with Pope John Paul II? Do you talk with Paul the Apostle? Do you talk with Mother Theresa? Do you talk with Jerry Falwell?
And do you expect a response from these dead people, as many might expect a response from the Living Lord Jesus?
I just don’t reason why anyone would try to “pray” (to use your term) or “talk” to those who’ve died, when there are so many living believers who’d be happy to join you in prayer.
I agree with you in part: It is very good to consider the lives of notable Christians, who’ve lived exemplary lives.
You guys say you do one thing but we see you doing something completely different...When we see you asking one Saint to find your lost car keys, and ask another Saint to spiritually influence the buyers of your house so you can better profit, that goes way, way beyond asking your aunt Nessie to pray for you...
Would you ask your late uncle Mortimer to watch over you for the purpose of keeping you safe while you drive down the road??? Of course not...
So we can see that you don't look upon these Saints as you would look upon a relative or friend...So why make that up???