Is Praying To Departed Saints A Biblical Practice?

• Introduction: 

          -The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, certain Lutherans, and certain Anglicans believe that we can pray to and receive help from certain saints (and even angels) in heaven. It is believed that God has enabled them to intercede on our behalf before Him for nearly every aspect of human life.

          -"A further reinforcement, of the same idea, was derived from the cult of the angels, which, while pre-Christian in its origin, was heartily embraced by the faithful of the sub-Apostolic age. It seems to have been only as a sequel of some such development that men turned to implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. This at least is the common opinion among scholars, though it would perhaps be dangerous to speak too positively. Evidence regarding the popular practice of the early centuries is almost entirely lacking...” (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, "Down to the Council of Nicaea")

• A Practice That Is Not Consistent With The Biblical Pattern Of Prayer:

          -Throughout Scripture, there are dozens of references to prayer (Psalm 25; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Kings 8; Matthew 6:6-14; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 11:1-4; John 14:14; John 17; Acts 7:51-58; Romans 10:1; 15:30; Colossians 3:16-17; James 1:5-6; etc.). Each recorded instance was directed to God alone. Further, the central theme of the biblical narrative is man trusting only in God (Psalm 23; Psalm 50:15; Psalm 71:1; Psalm 91:15; Joshua 1:1-6; Isaiah 48:17-18; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 6:25-34; John 16:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 5:19-20; etc.). We have no examples in the Bible of people calling on entities other than Him, with the exception being pagans or idolaters. In the text, we never see God approving of the practice of praying to departed saints or angels. Therefore, the consistent application of biblical principles compels us to conclude that all prayer should be dedicated to God alone.

• Can Believers In Heaven Really Hear Us?:

          -It is important to recognize the inherent limitations of finite beings—limitations that make it impossible for them to simultaneously hear and comprehend the petitions of countless individuals across the globe, expressed in diverse languages and contexts. Such omnipresence and omniscience are unique characteristics of deity alone. By attributing this ability to saints in heaven, one inevitably encroaches upon the uniqueness of God and diminishes the sufficiency of Christ's completed work of intercession. The very notion of finite beings being able to receive prayers undermines the biblical truth that God alone possesses the attributes necessary to fulfill this role. Furthermore, this premise dilutes the distinction between Creator and creation, a distinction central to the Christian understanding of divine worship and dependence. Notice that in Scripture, all occasions involving two-way communication between or among beings from heaven (with the exception being God) and earth required the creations to be in the same realm (i.e. earth on earth communication), rather than being in two separate realms (i.e. heaven to earth contact is never found in Scripture for created beings). This is perhaps the clearest indication from Scripture that creatures in heaven are incapable of receiving prayers from earth.

• Unnecessary Assistance:

          -We do not need intervention from Mary or the saints in heaven, for Jesus Christ always intercedes for us before God. He is able to rescue sinners from eternal condemnation by Himself (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). His intercession alone is sufficient to meet all our needs. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength that we need during times of spiritual weakness. He also intercedes on our behalf before God (Romans 8:26). If two persons of the triune God intercede on our behalf in prayer, then what more could we possibly need? We can approach God with "boldness" and "confidence" as a result of Christ's atonement (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:14-16). Only God knows all of the thoughts and intentions of the human heart (1 Kings 8:37-39; 2 Chronicles 6:30). Consequently, praying to saints in heaven to grant our prayer requests is pointless because they do not have the same traits that God Himself has.

          -"The church appears to have painted itself into a theological corner. In trying not to detract from Christ, its theologians have so defined the role of Mary as to make it entirely indispensable: everything we need we get from Christ. If that's the case, what is the point or importance of Mary's mediation? One the other hand, the oft-heard affirmation that Mary can influence her Son to help us necessarily implies that the Son otherwise would be less disposed to do so. In fact, the very concept of a mediator presupposes that there are differences that need to be reconciled between two parties. This leads to the inescapable conclusion that, apart from Mary's mediation, Christ himself would not be perfectly reconciled to us. All this seriously compromises the integrity of his high priesthood. The church is stuck in a hopeless dilemma wherein either Mary's role is rendered superfluous, or the all-sufficiency of Christ's mediation is diminished. In trying to avoid either of these perceived pitfalls, it has fallen headlong into both." (Elliot Miller and Kenneth R. Samples, The Cult of the Virgin: Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions of Mary, p. 56)

• Why Accusations Of Prayers To Saints Being Necromancy Are Correct:

          -God expressly commanded the Jews to not have any sort of contact with spirits who have departed into the supernatural realm (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; 26:13-14 Leviticus 19:31; 20:26-27; Isaiah 8:19; 19:1-4). What prayers to departed saints have in common with pagan prayers to the deceased is this: personal communication. That is condemned in the Law. This is the underlying reason that those who pray to Mary and other deceased saints inadvertently engage in necromancy. There are to be no prayers for, to, or through the dead in the kingdom of God.

• Do Psalm 103:20-21 and Psalm 148:1-2 Support Prayers To Deceased People And Angels?:

          - The Psalmists are simply telling all creations in all places to praise God's name. Creation is a reflection of His glory. These passages do not in any way exhort us to honor or pray to beings other than the Lord. In Psalm 103:22, inanimate objects are told to praise God. In Psalm 148:3, the sun, moon, and the stars are also told to praise God. Should we also pray to these things?

• Does The Transfiguration Support Prayers To Deceased People, Since It Shows Jesus Speaking With Moses And Elijah?:

          -The point of the transfiguration was to show the preeminence of Jesus Christ. He was speaking to Moses and Elijah in His glory. These verses do not say anything in regard to prayer. Are there even any Catholics who offer prayers to Moses and Elijah?

• Does Luke 15:7-10 Support Prayers To Deceased People, Since It Says Angels In Heaven Rejoice Over The Conversion Of Sinners?:

          -Angels rejoicing over a conversion cannot simply translate into support for them receiving our prayer requests because they most probably know when a soul is added to the Book of Life. Even if saints and angels in heaven were conscious of events on earth, could hear prayers, and had the ability to pray for somebody on earth, it would not follow that we are justified in offering prayer petitions to entities other than God. Satan is without a doubt conscious of events taking place in this world, yet no Roman Catholic would ever suggest prayer to him.

• Does Hebrews 12:1 Support Prayer To The Saints, Since It Speaks Of Believers Being Surrounded By A Cloud Of Witnesses?:

          -The context of this passage relates to viewing the Old Testament saints as good moral examples. We are all united into a spiritual family by faith in Christ. There is nothing in that which would even remotely suggest prayer to these witnesses. People enter into the supernatural realm at the moment of physical death. So in that sense, believers on earth certainly are separated temporarily from those present in heaven.

• Do Revelation 5:8 And Revelation 8:3-4 Support Prayer To Saints, Since They Speak Of Them Offering The Prayers Of Saints To God?:

         -This simply means that God allowed saints in heaven to "hold" bowls of prayers. The text says nothing about prayers being directed to saints or angels in heaven, nor gives us permission to do so. The text does not indicate how these saints would be aware of our prayers. Bowls of wrath are mentioned in Revelation 16. Should we conclude that they were directed to the saints in heaven because they also carried them?