Do you get different results than if you pray directly to God?
2007-04-12 04:55:47 · 34 answers · asked by Dr. Linder 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible nowhere instructs believers in Christ to pray to anyone other than God. The Bible nowhere encourages, or even mentions, believers asking individuals in Heaven for their prayers.
1 Timothy 2:5 declares, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." There is no one else that can mediate with God for us. If Jesus is the ONLY mediator, that indicates Mary and saints cannot be mediators.
God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). There is absolutely no basis or need to pray to anyone other than God alone. There is no basis for asking those who are in Heaven to pray for us. Only God can hear our prayers. Only God can answer our prayers. No one in Heaven has any greater access to God's throne that we do through prayer (Hebrews 4:16).
2007-04-12 05:01:20 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I would say yes because as a Christian not a Catholic I simply see Mary as a normal human being (very blessed and had some amazing things happen to her but was ultimately given these gifts in her life through God) So I would say that God in any part of the trinity is the best bet for prayer (the source of the power) instead of the saints (blessed, and righteous people). Personally I say that God is the only one to pray to, but I have tried to approach this from a catholic point of view.
2007-04-12 05:01:39 · answer #2 · answered by Jesk 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As you can see from the myriad of answers much of what people believe about Mary depends on their belief systems.
From what I understand of the Catholic stance is first you have to realize that Mary was the only human born immaculately , without the stain of original sin of ADAM and EVE. (Immaculate Conception), hence the prayer Hail Mary full of grace. She bore and raised Jesus so I am sure that In Jesus's heart she has a special place. I'm not sure what prayer you are saying , but if you are praying the rosary you
are invoking Mary's intercession while actually meditating on the life of Christ through the joyful, sorrowfull, luminous, and glorious mysteries. Yes Mary is a powerful intercessor before the throne of God . To pray to Mary in the Catholic view
is to open the floodgates of grace in our life. I don't know what you are praying for but do remember that God isn't a Pez dispenser. Like Mary we should be asking what does God want me to do in this circumstance. Yes you can pray directly to God but you can also ask for Mary's intercession.
What son wouldn't listen to his mother?
2007-04-12 05:46:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, although Mary was a wonderful person, she is not the person you should be praying to. The Lord God is the only person who can answer your prayers. If you pray with an open, honest heart, the Lord will anwer your prayer. He doesn't always answer yes, though. Sometimes the anwer may be no or wait.
2007-04-12 05:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by Katie J 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It perhaps reminds God that you are committing idolatry!
Though, in saying that, I believe we have a Wonderful, so Compassionate, and Merciful Heavenly Father who not only understands our weaknesses and hears every prayer, He may over-ride the fact that some of His children do this because they lack knowledge and Wisdom due to what they have been taught.
His Mercy extends beyond our limited capacity, but once a person has His Divine revelation about it, then there is no excuse.
He knows every heart, and is the judge of all!
*1 Timothy 2
*3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
*4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
*5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, a man, Christ Jesus.
*John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me"
2007-04-12 05:40:08 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah... you sin. The bible tells us that there is no intercessor between man and God but Jesus Christ. I don't care what the Catholic Church says. Praying to anyone other than the Holy Trinity is un-biblical and idolatry.
Praying to Mary is no different than praying to your dead grandfather.
If you can't pray through Jesus (and have to go through some other earthly person) then the whole Jesus - Messiah thing was for nothing.
Incidentally, anyone who says prayer doesn't work simply hasn't prayed with faith.
2007-04-12 04:59:47 · answer #6 · answered by Chris B 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
If you are going by the word of God, then this scripture should help:
The Bible states: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). So according to this scripture, it would be of no use to pray to anyone except God. And since Jesus is the mediator(go-between) between God and man, prayers would have to be submitted to God in Jesus' name. Psalm 65:2 tells us that God is the hearer of prayer.
2007-04-12 05:14:57 · answer #7 · answered by quaver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would you pray to Mary? She was a person just like you and I. She was chosen by God as the vessel to deliver his son to the world. But that's it.
2007-04-12 05:10:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe that praying to anyone besides God/Jesus Himself is a form of idoletry. There is no need for another person or spirit to hear your prayers. Christ tore down the temple curtain so we would not need to go through anyone but Him.
2007-04-12 05:02:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
What every other person who has replied to this question does not understand is that prayer to Mary is not like prayer to God.
When we pray to God, we praise and worship Him, we thank Him for the gifts He has given us, we ask Him for the things we need and want, and we ask for forgiveness.
When we pray to Mary or any of the saints, we are asking them to pray for us.
If you ask a family or Friend to pray for you, it is the same thing. The only difference is that your family and friends are limited to those in this life. Catholics include Mary and the saints in Heaven as those we consider family and friends.
2007-04-12 05:14:25 · answer #10 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋