I was told that praying or asking them to pray for you was bad. If so, why? If you believe in souls, a person with a soul isn't technically dead since their soul is in heaven. What's dead is their body. Kindly explain this.
2006-08-05 17:01:24 · 21 answers · asked by Equinox 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As a Methodist..I pray to god but I also pray and ask for my (dead) grandparents to help me through things they are alsways there when i really need them. When they are not there I know that God was watching over me. I feel there presence coming in to comfort me and that is what I am most greatful to our heavenly father for.
See the souls can come like Spirits and that it as wonderful as having them here with us.
2006-08-05 17:20:12 · answer #1 · answered by MayberryNR5 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Praying to relatives is OK. Most fundamentalist would probably frown on it; goes against their doctrine of not praying to 'dead saints'. But you make a good point about only the body being dead while the sould is alive. This is why Christians have prayed to the 'dead' since the very beginning. Probably a much better thing to do would be to pray FOR them. They may be suffering in purgatory and need your prayers to help them.
2006-08-06 00:11:11 · answer #2 · answered by infinity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The soul is not in heaven until the final judgment day. Until then everyone's soul remains outside of heaven. When the final judgment day comes that is when god will decide whether or not someone belongs in heaven. So praying to a dead person is useless, as it can't help you. Pray to the person who can answer all your prayers (Jesus).
2006-08-06 00:06:50 · answer #3 · answered by jt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The soul does not go to Heaven - it either rest in Paradise or Hades. In John 14 1-4 - Jesus said He is going to prepare a place for us - He is there now doing what He said He would do.
Praying to a person - Jesus said No one gets to God except through me - a person that has passed away cannot hear or know that anyone is praying to them - to say it is wrong, that is for Jesus to judge - but I know you can pray to Jesus - He will hear your prayer.
For additional information:
Check out http://www.johnfourteen.com from John 14 in the Bible
Look at "Studies in the Bible" and "Lessons from the Pulpit"
many answers to everyday life can be found.
2006-08-06 00:15:39 · answer #4 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jewish people have been praying for the dead and to the dead for intercession for thousands of years. Many fundamental churches see this as worship ping other Gods. Whatever. Purgatory is pointed to by God's Just nature and our inability to understand totally how we may have offended people. We may have to be cleansed somewhat before seeing God.
"As if through fire." This is a tough one for Pastors to explain without purgatory.
Here for Purgatory apoligetics (you decide):
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0511sbs.asp
Here for defense of the saints:
Jerome
"You say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each other, but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for another can be heard . . . But if the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs?" (Against Vigilantius 6 [A.D. 406]).
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9405frs.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/praying_to_the_saints.asp
It is easily defensible.
2006-08-06 00:13:45 · answer #5 · answered by BigPappa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The thing that's bad about it isn't that they are dead, it is that they are not God. You can talk to your relatives, or ask them to pray for you, if you wish, just as you would if they were still alive. They have no more sway now than they did when they were here. The truth is, the only one with power is the one you need to ask for help: Jesus. God has told us to pray to no one but Him. You are not to worship or pray to any one but Him. Asking for prayer is fine, but you need to pray yourself to Jesus, too.
2006-08-06 00:08:08 · answer #6 · answered by NotMySecret 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why pray for someone who is already in heaven? or yet, why pray for a soul who cannot be harmed, cannot fall in deppresion, cannot die since it's already dead.
I mean mourn for them is what i think you should do; but it is technically impossible for a prayer to be effective for a soul that is already dead, no longer of this world; so not worthy of a prayer.
I wouldnt say bad; but it doesnt make much sense if you ask me.
2006-08-06 00:07:40 · answer #7 · answered by smithelliott 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you believe that they are in heaven,then there is nothing wrong with it.Many people believe that the souls of relatives past watch over you.As they probably know you more than you think.
The souls in heaven experience joy while the souls in hell experience pain.Souls of relatives in hell,in my opinion, don't even receive prayers.Since its too late for them.
2006-08-06 00:16:03 · answer #8 · answered by david g 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible states that there is only one mediator (a person who prays on your behalf), and that is Jesus.
In Christianity to pray to something or some one other that Jesus is considered an Idol or spiritism.
2006-08-06 00:11:46 · answer #9 · answered by Shane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think this is wrong. I believe that praying is a very personal thing. That being said, I think it's wrong for other people to tell you how to pray.... Do what feels right for you.
2006-08-06 00:07:16 · answer #10 · answered by Sara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋