Is praying to other saints considered a form of idolatry?

[farouk]

13 minutes ago, Anne2 said:

That is speaking in love.

Indeed. Speaking in love is important, indeed.

[Anne2]

12 minutes ago, Stan Murff said:

But, don't offend catholics by saying  Jesus specifically said to pray to the Father in His Name!

As far as I can tell it concerns either or all...

1. "praying" vs "asking".

2. Are those that die in Christ dead, or alive in heaven

Also, some of the differences have to do with how each views

3. Eschatology, (the book of revelation).

Rev. 8: 3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
 

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by Anne2

[farouk]

13 minutes ago, Stan Murff said:

But, don't offend catholics by saying  Jesus specifically said to pray to the Father in His Name!

If one tells them what Jesus said... that wouldn't be speaking the Truth ion Love would it???

After all, catholics don't believe what Jesus said about this so this will offend them.

Go with what Scripture says.

[Anne2]

1 minute ago, farouk said:

Go with what Scripture says.

That is what they say to you as well.

There is a big difference between  being a nonbeliever, and misunderstanding scripture. 

[Big Boy Stan Murf]

4 minutes ago, Anne2 said:

That is what they say to you as well.

There is a big difference between  being a nonbeliever, and misunderstanding scripture. 

So when Jesus said He's the only way to the Father and we are to pray to the Father in Jesus Name... this is misunderstanding scripture???

They don't believe the Words oif Jesus Christ... so this makes them unbelievers.

Just because one believes Jesus existed, went to the Cross, and was raised from the dead does not make one a believer.  The devil believes this much  (James 2:19)

Christians submit to the Lord Jesus and follow what He says and discards what false religious organizations say such as catholics, mormans, and jehovah witnesses

[Anne2]

20 minutes ago, farouk said:

Indeed. Speaking in love is important, indeed.

1 Cor 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
 

[Big Boy Stan Murf]

And... "love" without the Truth of God's Word is nothing more than a human emotion that is meaningless and affirms false doctrine.

If we are not sharing the Truth of God's Word so people can turn away from serving the devil unto serving the Lord, then sadly we are NOT walking in the Love of God.

I'm not saying we need to be rude or polemic about it when sharing the Gospel with catholics.  None the less, what Jesus said must be shared if we love the Lord and we want to be led by His Spirit.

Ultimately it's a trick off the devil to think we better not tell catholics what Jesus said for fear of offending them.

The end result of that is catholics don't go to Heaven which is satan's objective fulfilled.

[Anne2]

4 minutes ago, Stan Murff said:

The end result of that is catholics don't go to Heaven which is satan's objective fulfilled.

Oh.

[Big Boy Stan Murf]

Does anybody question that Jesus was telling the Truth when He said....

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Or when Jesus had the Holy Spirit have this written?

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The catholics may say "oh yeah, we believe these verses" but their actions show that they do not and that they follow the teachings of their church over and above what the Lord says.

Therein lies the problem!

The Lord judges based on His Word, if He does not then His Words would be meaningless.

Edited August 30, 2023 by Michael37
Whitespace edited

[JimmyB]

There is nothing in the Bible that says we should pray to "saints".  We are told to pray to God.

"Saint" actually means sanctified person, which means everyone who has been saved and become part of Christ's body.  Calling some people "saints" because of their "works" conflicts with Scripture.