Catholics and other Christians?

Question

Why do so many protestants hound on Catholicism because they pray to people other than God. When at the same time they pray to Jesus?

Just to point out praying and worshiping are two different things.

Answer 1

You are correct. Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Biblical interpretation has always been a sore spot. The Catholic verses and interpretation has always been challenged after the fact 1000 of years later by wanna be theologians.

The Bible (collection of books)was formed by people who were alive at the time of Jesus and passed it on to bible theologian's and writers for 100's of years. Why would people want to water it down and not follow the true flow of God's revelations to man?

I think headstrong man had something to do with this!

God's work was collected and written in a manner for all of mankind for all times and beyond the 21st century. So literal interpretation is not a living bible. So the faithful reading the bible should ask how am I going to change because of the verse I just read. The wrong thing to say is God said it this way and that is it! People passed down the stories in their own knowledge and times and the theologians that studied years ago and today apply the real message for the faithful.

So if I read a history book from 1 BC and found the world to be flat should I still believe it. No! But I should believe in a world that they occupied and by the way it is now round-ish.

The Bible is living and God through his people interprets it for the 21st century and forever. The main stuff stays, 10 commandments and love and forgiveness etc. But the real answer is what does it do to me that makes me change to get closer to "the Christ", Jesus.

P.S for people that are really confused with the literal;Jesus last name was not Christ; He is the Christ that Old Testament promised to the Jews.

Answer 3

Jesus IS God, the second divine Person of the Most Holy Trinity. We as Catholics worship Jesus, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We do not worship anyone else. That would constitute idolatry, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church plainly states. But we do TALK to people other than God (why wouldn't we??), and we do ASK (=pray) them to intercede for us (why wouldn't we??). Intercession is the duty of every Christian person, whether living on earth or living in heaven. Hopefully you pray for your family? You are therefore an intercessor. If I pray for my family here and now as an earthly sinner, is it likely I will STOP praying for them once I reside before the throne of God??
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Answer 4

I don't think they pray to other 'people' like they would if they were Praying to God. (At least I hope they're not.) The protestants are probably thinking they are doing God's work because they're already thinking that these people are worshipping these people as they would God. I think they pray for the spirit to help them in their time of trouble or need, not to actually deliver them from their turmoil. Maybe you've noticed something I've noticed - that there are people in the world who can make up their mind about something, and no matter what you present to prove otherwise, they stand by their original belief no matter where it takes them.

Answer 5

Jesus is God withing the Trinity. Umm, the Protestants I know ask people to pray for them, or to pray for their families, and yes, many embrace Mary. I guess I'm clueless on what you're talking about.

Answer 6

First I am NOT Protestant I am Apostolic, (started On the day of Pentecost, in the upper room not 300 years later)

Jesus Is God that is why you pray to Him
Jesus is His Name when I talk to anyone here on earth I use there name why would I not do the same for Jesus (GOD)

why would I pray to someone who is gone and can not hear me, when I can pray to my Heavenly Father Himself

Answer 7

You're right - worship is not always involved in prayer. When someone kneels down before God to ask a question or to pray for someone, this is not worship prayer but request prayer. People fail to mention this all the time and wrongly accuse Catholics of idolatry when they themselves practice request prayer. It's kinda stupid when you think about it.

Answer 8

Why ask a saint to intercede with God? Isn't Jesus our one and only mediator with God? Yes, Catholics like Protestants believe that "there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all" (1 Tm 2:5f).

A saint can't answer prayers only God can

Answer 9

Because a lot of Protestants are taught that Catholics are following a false teaching and are doing things wrong and should be corrected. Catholics ask for saints and Mary to interceed on their behalf (like asking mom or sis to put in a good word for you and that computer game you want with your dad). We do not worship them, we do not place them on level or above God.

Answer 10

God granted us the privilege of praying to him directly, and having a relationship with him. Why would anyone go elsewhere when you can go straight to the Lord. BTW I have never read of Jesus praying to an intermediary.