I was thinking on this recently and it came to me that praying to created beings not only presupposes they have the ability to hear our prayers no matter where we/they are, how many others are praying the same prayers at the same time, but also the power to KNOW the thoughts and intents of our hearts. How many prayers do we say in our minds instead of out loud? Can they hear those, too? Can they know our motivations for what we pray about or the ability to know the will of God ahead of time and how it fits into His divine plan? I always believed that the devil couldn't hear my thoughts, couldn't read my mind, but, if angels and "saints" DO have that power, then they are gods, too! How else can it be explained? Some may rationalize this by claiming we don't know what power those in heaven have, but if we ascribe the SAME almighty abilities to them as to God, we are over the line into idol worship and cannot deny it logically. Far too much is swept under the rug so that the dogmas can be taught as true and the reason they are true is nothing more than "because we said so".
Excellent point. Also, as to created beings, notice the angels when they appeared, ALWAYS told those to whom they appeared NOT to pray to them or bow to them. ALWAYS. Why? Because they are creatures, not the Creator.
On this line of thought, if there are “proper designated dead creatures” to whom live creatures ARE allowed to pray, I assume only the Catholic Church can designate the dead creature? From where does more authority derive to keep adding names to the roll?
Firstly, as this definitively NOT found in the Scripture, and doing so is in direct contradiction to the Scripture and the 2nd Commandment of God, where does the Catholic Church get its authority?
What about what Christ said, “a house divided cannot stand”? If God says one thing and a church doctrine says the opposite, that is a divided house....and says a great deal about the church and the people who swear allegiance to its doctrines over God’s Word.
As I know you are aware, this doctrine of praying to Mary and the dead in Christ contravenes the Fathers will, invalidates Christ, contradicts what the Apostles teach, and cancels out God’s warnings on this subject as given through the prophets.
Only God searches the hearts and minds, only He sees all that there is, all at once - every where and every when - only He knows objective truth.
No mere creature has this power. No mere creature knows the desires of the heart much less can articulate them.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:26-27
You said it.
Interesting thing, isn't it?
This is a great example.....
Here we clearly and plainly post what we believe, and yet some people here will not cease and desist from badgering us about our denominational affiliation on the pretense that only that way can they know what we believe, as if group think represents what we as individuals think and believe.
They totally ignore the very words that we ourselves post stating as such and imply that only by knowing some statement of faith, can they understand where we're coming from.
Aside from times where we refuse to reveal personal information, where have any of us not clearly stated what we believe, and yet we're accused of it all the time?