Bible Question:
Dear Emmaus, I have a question regarding your closing paragraph which speaks of a prayer to Michael the archangel. The Scripture teaches that we live our lives "corum deo" and have access directly to the Throne of Grace. Therefore, why would one seek, or even desire, to "pray" to a finite creature when he may make his request known directly to God Almighty? I have not found any teaching in the Bible that warrents prayer to a mere creature. John |
Bible Answer: John, We "pray" to other creatures in the archaic Elizabethean sense of asking for something, such as prayers. For "the prayer of righteous man availeth much," and "whereever two or three are gathered in My name and in agreement on a matter..." For example, "I pray thee Sir John, please join with me in praying that all Christians will do all they can to spread the Good News of God's salvation." It is in this sense that we ask the "saints" whether here on earth or in heaven to pray with us. Death does not destroy the communion of saints. We are all still together in the love of Christ. This is not necromancy, where people are asking the dead to come back and impart some hidden knowledge. It is rather asking someone in Christ, here or in heaven, to turn with us toward God in prayer. Have you ever asked anyone here on earth to pray with you or asked them to also pray about a specific matter that you were also praying about? If so , does this violate the priciple of going directly to God as an individual? And is not corporate pray what Christian congregations do when they pray together for their sick members? It is a "both and" understanding of prayer, not an "either or" understanding. Emmaus |