Should we pray to saints?

Lutero asks: 

Does the Bible teach that we should pray to the saints?

Yes.  When understood correctly.  The main difference between Protestant and Catholic understanding of Scripture is the idea of "Sola Scriptura" or "Scripture alone".  The teaching that Scripture is the only source of doctrinal truth and that doctrine must be "explicit" in Scripture in order for it to be true.

The first problem with that teaching is that IT isn't in Scripture.
The next is that it actually contradicts Scripture.  Since Scripture tells us that the Church teaches the Wisdom of God (Eph 3:10) and that we must also hold to Traditions (2 Thess 2:15).

As for Catholics, we are taught to understand the Spirit of the Word of God.  Because Scripture says that the letter kills:

2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Therefore, a literal understanding of the Word of God is unsuitable for understanding the spiritual teachings therein contained.

Jesus Christ taught His followers to pray to "our Father in heaven"  and throughout Scripture prayer is communication with God and part of our worship of Him.

That is true.  But Jesus also taught by example.  And Jesus communicated with "dead" saints on Mount Tabor:

Mark 9:4
And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

What else does the Bible say? Paul instructed "prayers to God" (Romans 15:30
). Moses was to "pray to the Lord" (Numbers 21:7
), and David sang to God "to You I will pray" (Psalm 5:2
). Christians can come directly to God's throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16
), and the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25
). We don't need saints to do that.

Whether we need them or not is really besides the point.  The fact is that God has given all saints a mandate to intercede for all mankind.  And they are under the same mandate.  Since, as you have seen, "dead" saints are alive in Christ.

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Romans 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Scripture shows saints refusing to accept the worship of people (Acts 10:26
; 14:8-18). The Bible also tells us not to worship angels (Colossians 2:18
), and it shows that angels refuse adoration and worship by humans (Revelation 19:10
).

This is true.  But we don't worship people or angels.  You see...

...The Catholic Church is the ancient Church of Christianity.  The One which Jesus Christ established. Let me show you.

First, Jesus Christ appointed a Pastor as head of the entire Church:
John 21:17
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

I see only a few Churches with such a Pastor. Further, Jesus Christ said that the Pastor over His Church would be infallible:

Matthew 16:17-19 (King James Version)
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The list of Churches accept this teaching gets smaller. Certainly, all Protestant denominations can now be eliminated.

Jesus Christ not only said that the Pastor was infallible but Scripture describes the Church as infallible:
Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The list remains the same, but now I can certainly eliminate all Protestant denominations.

Back to Matt 16:18, Scripture says that Jesus Christ established one Church. History shows that all the Churches sprang from the Church which is frequently described as the Mother Church. The Catholic Church.

By simple logic of elimination, that leaves only the Catholic Church.

SO?  Why did I go through that exercise?  Simply to be able to explain that the Catholic Church still uses the old definitions of words.  Definitions which are all but forgotten in today's society.

To us, "pray" does not necessarily mean "worship".  That certainly is one of the meanings of the word.  But evrery word has more than one meaning.  And "pray" originally meant "implore".  Therefore, we still occasionally hear someone say to another, "I pray, won't you pass the salt?"

Here's the Merriam Webster definition of pray:


Definition of PRAY
transitive verb
1: entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea <pray be careful>

2: to get or bring by praying

The same goes for the word "worship".  It includes the meaning of "respect".

Definition of WORSHIP

transitive verb

1: to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power

2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion <a celebrity worshipped by her fans>

And we see in Scripture, both words used in address to creatures:

Genesis 12:13

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Joshua 5:14

And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant.

Notice also Revelation 22:9
, where the apostle John saw in vision the time after the resurrection and fell down in awe at the feet of the being talking to him. "Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.'"

Obviously, St. John confused an angel for God.  But note how Joshua did reverence to an Angel described as the Captain of the host of the Lord.  According to Scripture, that is the Angel Michael:

Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Therefore, Joshua offered the right kind of worship or reverence to the Angel.  Whereas St. John confused the angel for the Divine Being.

Righteous created beings, whether human or angelic, refuse to be worshipped and they point us to worship the Creator. Only Satan and his followers seek others' adoration and worship (Matthew 4:9
; Acts 8:9-11

; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
).

They seek "adoration" as God.  But even the word "adoration" has other meanings.  Have you ever heard a husband or wife say to the significant other, "I adore you."  Do you think they consider the other person to be God?  I don't.  I think they simply love each other exceedingly.

Now, Satan and his followers seek to replace God.  And they do want us to worship them as God.

In addition to all this, praying to dead saints today assumes the doctrine of the immortal soul, which many people are surprised to find is not taught in the Bible. The Bible teaches that death is like sleep that lasts until the resurrection at Jesus Christ's second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-16


).

I think Abraham, Elijah and Moses will be surprised to hear that news:


Luke 16:23-25
King James Version (KJV)
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.


All these folks are dead and yet they are having a pretty lively conversation.

And we noted above that Jesus was conversing with those dead fellas, Moses and Elijah.

Sincerely,

De Maria