To Whom should we send our prayers?

Question

Yesterday my three year old son asked what prayer was. I told him that it was talking to God. He looked at me strangely but didn't say anything. Today, I picked him up from my mother in law and she was scandalized. She couldn't believe it when my son told her that we should pray to God. She is a devout Orthodox (we live in Greece) and she called me un christian for teaching my son to pray to God instead of the Virgin Mary and St. George! When I told her that whereas Mary was a remarkable woman, she was only human as was St. George, and Jesus himself told us to pray to God (Our Father in the Heavens...), she flipped her lid. She asked where I had heard such nonsense, and I replied back "The Bible". She gave me a hard look and said 'don't read that book anymore.'
Is this what All Orthodox believe then? Or is my mother in law just another victim of religious leaders and their man made traditions?

I love it when the first answer to my question is posted by such an intelligent person. :)

(((NOLTE))) LOL.

BC...be careful of what you wish for...

Answer 1

lol...I am Orthodox. I can answer that question. I have never heard that you couldn't pray to God. Our main prayer, which is directed to Our lord and savior is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on Me a sinner," If you are against asking for intercession from saints, than that may be the problem she is referring to. We believe that we are not worthy to approach God because we are all sinners and with this humility, we ask for the saints to pray for us on our behalf because they are the ones who are in heaven and are close to God. It is like asking a friend to pray for you to God. Many people think that we pray to saints and not God...That is not true. Orthodox is the first form of Christianity ever to exist, founded by the apostles. If you are not comfortable of Orthodox beliefs, that is okay :) but there is nothing wrong in pray to God. But think about this...in Revelations, it does explain...Saints taking up prayers to God. If we do not believe that Saints exist, than we deny life after death. here are some links that may interest you.
http://www.forthelife.org/a9.htm
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/intro.html
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8032.asp

Answer 2

You told your sons the right thing and what you know is right and your answer to your mother in law is correct. I don't understand why people pray to Mary and the Saints they were only human who were born in sin just like you and i. Jesus came into the world took on our sins so that we could be redeemed unto the Father and then he overcame all that.
Mary is to be loved and respected as an instrument a woman who was chosen by God to bring His Son into the world.She is not to be praised and worshiped she cannot forgive us of our sins only God can. All the Honor and Glory belongs to Him. keep teaching your kids what you know is right. God Bless you

Answer 3

The Catholic Church has never required that anyone ask Mary for her prayers. You can be a faithful Catholic and never say a "Hail Mary" as long as you live. So no, that won't send anyone to Hell, nor will refusing to acknowledge papal succession: only rejecting Christ as your Lord and Savior will condemn you. And having said all that, I will also add that having the Blessed Mother's prayers and her love on your side makes life in Christ a lot safer and more pleasant. I've seen many wonderful things happen as a result of asking Mary for her intercession. 2009 -- Year of our Lord Jesus Christ and His true Church on earth Edit: If I have anything to say about it, it will -- at least in this Forum.

Answer 4

"Don't read that book anymore?" WOW!

Anyway, in the reference you gave, Jesus was telling His listeners that we should be praying in the context of the "Our Father in Heaven" prayer. (We should pray that the Lord's will be done, that He gives us just what we need to survive, that He forgives us of our sins, that we are not tempted and that He protects us from the Devil). As far as I know the Bible doesn't flat out say that we should ONLY be praying to God, but God DOES say in the Ten Commandments that, "You shall have no other gods before me." That in itself basically says that we should NOT be praying to anyone else besides God.

I completely agree with you that the Virgin Mary was an amazing woman, but only a human being. My belief says she's not worthy of the praise and glory that ONLY should be given to God, but again, that's just my belief. And your mother-in-law will probably stick with her beliefs until her heart is receptive to what God and the Holy Spirit wants to share with her.

Answer 5

You told your son the correct thing. We are supposed to pray to Heavenly Father. That is the way Jesus taught. There is nothing in the scriptures to make us think that we should pray to anyone else.

Answer 6

You should address your prayers to the god, gods, or beings that you know are listening and responding to you.
If that is abrahamic god, by all means, keep talking to him.
For me, it's other gods. Maybe for your mother in law, it's mary and st.george.
Your god does nothing for me, so I really don't see a point in praying to him. Maybe your mother in law feels the same and feels that she needs mediators.
Everyone should find the god or gods that they feel a connection to, and pray to them. And possibly try not to blame or accuse or belittle others who pray to different gods. ;)

Answer 7

How old is your mother in Law? I just guess she doesn't know. I never heard of not praying to God in my whole life.

Answer 8

I had a decent giggle at your mother in laws expense forgive me.....

Sounds like a fundie to me....and yes, she is a victim of religious leaders and man made traditions...

Don't read the bible...its evil and unchristian.....

Answer 9

The Nolte is happy to know I'm not the only one with demented in-laws.
((((Star))))

Answer 10

Up my *** is where a lot of Christians should send them. If only other people had mines like ours.