2007-06-18 12:39:58 · 14 answers · asked by Midge 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Esther then why are there women pastors if it is Bible only, kind of seems like pick and choose to me.
2007-06-18 13:11:37 · update #1
If you ask that person to pray for you, why don't you think that they are mediating for you?
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-06-18 12:48:27 · answer #1 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
There is a vast difference between going to a friend, fellow church member, and asking them to pray with you about a situation, and talking to a dead person to "ask them to pray" for you.
First off, we are warned not to try to speak to the dead. That is the same as witchcraft.
Second, those that the Catholics call "saints" have no special pull with God. If Mary, who's real name is Miriam, and all the others are in Heaven (and there's no reason to believe most of them are not), they are in the heavenly choir and hold no greater status than any other soul.
Third, there IS only one mediator, Jesus. However, the prayers of more than one living person reaching His ears can hardly be discounted. If it were otherwise, it would be an exercise in futility when President Bush, or President Reagan before him, has asked the nation to pray in response to a certain situation.
This need not come down to a Catholic vs. Protestant thing. There are already more than enough of those arguments for the anti-Christians on this board to lick their chops over. It was rather foolish of the questioner to pose this one.
2007-06-19 04:30:17 · answer #2 · answered by †Lawrence R† 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't let anyone try to tell you that there is only one mediator between God and man. Only someone like Martin Luther would try to truncate God, and put artificial restraints on God to suit his own ego.
When you read the Bible, check out the *unabridged* version - the original Catholic one.
2 Maccabees and Book of Tobit - says it is proper to pray for the dead. IOW, there is more than just heaven and hell.
In more than one place in Scripture, it mentions that no man, in his natural state, will ever see the full face of God, and that a certain amount of purification, and purging by fire ("purgatory") will be needed by most people. True, the word "purgatory" itself is not mentioned in the Bible, but it is referred to nonetheless. We Catholics pray for the repose of souls of the faithful departed, as intercessory prayer on their behalf, to hopefully lessen their time spent in their purification on their way to heaven.
The fact is, anyone can be a prayer intercessor for someone else - and that includes saints in heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary, anyone. We are talking prayer here - not to be confused with the sacrifice that Christ made as God on the Cross - only Christ could do that.
2007-06-19 02:10:02 · answer #3 · answered by the phantom 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many people do not understand that the original meaning of the word pray, means to ask or petition. It only later took on a meaning by some as worship.
Also, some will say, if a person is dead they are dead unti the resurrection. However, they overlook the fact that Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross, "This day you will be with me in paradise."
2007-06-18 13:40:02 · answer #4 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Matthew 18:19 --James 5:14
2007-06-18 12:44:45 · answer #5 · answered by section hand 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are told to pray for one another in the NAME OF JESUS who is the mediator.
2007-06-18 12:45:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
for esther: you pickes the verse that tells us when 2 or three are gathered.........
over 1 billion catholics on earth agree with eachother so by what premise are we doing anything wrong.
as again we can pick and choose scripture to make our point or we can hold fast to the entire word of god in context for its full meaning. jesus gave authority to his church that was promised the guidance and protection of the holy spirit until he comes again. this church is the "pillar and bulwark" and has been for 2000 years.
good question i hope and pray our seperated brothers and sisters will take the time to find out what we catholics actually believe, this site may help www.scripturecatholic.com
2007-06-18 13:05:31 · answer #7 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Protestants have changed every tradition and rule to their own satisfaction. Since their 'sola scripture' is valid to them they can't interpret the bible anyway they want. They can ask each other to pray for themselves but if Catholics ask Saints to intercede for them, is a sacrilege!
2007-06-18 14:33:53 · answer #8 · answered by cynical 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
See, that is why we pray "to" saints. It is the exact same as asking our friends to pray for us as well. But they are already in heaven and saints are usually pretty close to God so they are in an even better position to help us. The focus is still on God though when we are praying.
God Bless,
Elisha
2007-06-18 12:53:58 · answer #9 · answered by Elisha 3 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I guess they're just hypocrites then. They're telling us that we Catholics are wrong to ask Mary (the Mother of God, born without sin) to pray for us when they ask their own friends (sinners) to pray for them and they call us wrong and they're doing the same thing, but asking less worthy friends to pray for them. Our Lady and the saints are powerful intercessors because they led good, holy lives. Who knows what kind of lives these Protestant friends lead. They profess their belief in the communion of saints; shouldn't they follow through with it?
2007-06-18 12:50:46 · answer #10 · answered by Atticus Finch 4 · 7⤊ 2⤋