Saints who Protect

[W2L]

They say praying to saints is no different than asking any christian to pray for you. However if i ask someone to pray for me i dont make statues, icons, or necklaces of them. So its not the same thing.

 

[Natsumi Lam]

The thing is, you don't need to change your pov or agree with everyone to be accepted as their sister in Christ. We already agree on the first order doctrines, and things outside of these do not make someone more or less saved. If you decide you want to pray to the saints, I will still consider you my sister in Christ.

So far those verses do not support praying to the "dead". Nor do they support the concept contextually that dead people are alive in the way it has been portrayed.

 

[JacksBratt]

During my spiritual battle I asked for angelic help. And what I envisioned was pleasant. What I saw was otherwise. It was a hooded figure without a face. After four instances of the same I stopped asking. The same was true with the candles. Two exploded and one cracked. I didn't know better at the time but I'd never do it again.

While I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs I couldn't live under the same roof with these things. Or subject myself to the warfare that follows. And I'd be hard pressed to enter their home. I want no part of it.

I have heard of people being told that they have a "spiritual guide" we were warned of this danger in youth group in the 70's...

Our spiritual guide is the Holy Spirit that lives in us.. We may have unseen guardian angles.. but we don't pray to them or communicate with them..If we pray for protection they are there... some have been seen by others but never seen by the one being protected...

 

[FireDragon76]

A few Sunday's ago whoever wrote our Prayers of the People really messed up the commemorative prayer of St. Oscar Romero, using a form very similar to what we sometimes would pray to remember in general those who have died, that God would grant them rest. I almost felt telling Pastor, "Look pastor, Oscar Romero does not need our prayers... If anything, we would need his prayers".

 

[JacksBratt]

.

 

[JacksBratt]

Whether we ask the saints to pray for us or not, we have communion with them, not owing to our agreement here on earth, by by confessing the faith once delivered to the saints.

We have no communion with them at all. We share a common faith.. They are experiencing their fruits.. we are planting our seeds.

Only the Father, Son or Holy Ghost will hear me pray.. these are the ones that I pray to.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Hi Family,

I was searching Amazon for art supplies. I came across a pendant that had a saint who was to protect you.

How exactly does someone believe a saint can protect you?

By prayer.

What are the logistics?

Pray.

Why cant God be the sole protector?

Because God isn’t our sole protector. As connected, living beings we have the blessing of numerous people in a vast network over the entire earth who work to protect us.

Do you believe it diminishes the divinity of God?

Not any more than me needing help and calling 911 instead of a church does.

 

[FireDragon76]

We have no communion with them at all. We share a common faith.. They are experiencing their fruits.. we are planting our seeds.

Perhaps you don't sing the hymn, The Church's One Foundation as we do (I think it's one of those hymns that is a Lutheran favorite, even though it was written by an Anglican) ?

Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.

 

[W2L]

The people that I ask to pray for me are not dead.

Whats that have to do with my post?

 

[JacksBratt]

Whats that have to do with my post?

Not directed to you.. an addition to your post. Sorry for quoting you.. I'll fix it.

 

[W2L]

Not directed to you.. an addition to your post. Sorry for quoting you.. I'll fix it.

I see, thanks.

 

[ChicanaRose]

I have heard of people being told that they have a "spiritual guide" we were warned of this danger in youth group in the 70's...

Our spiritual guide is the Holy Spirit that lives in us.. We may have unseen guardian angles.. but we don't pray to them or communicate with them..If we pray for protection they are there... some have been seen by others but never seen by the one being protected...

I was once asked, since Mary and Saints are not omnipresent, how can they hear the prayers of thousands of people around the world? The list must be overwhelming.

 

[bèlla]

I have heard of people being told that they have a "spiritual guide" we were warned of this danger in youth group in the 70's...

Our spiritual guide is the Holy Spirit that lives in us.. We may have unseen guardian angles.. but we don't pray to them or communicate with them..If we pray for protection they are there... some have been seen by others but never seen by the one being protected...

This was during a period of spiritual hardship. I was fighting for my freedom. What I saw was not of God. I believe the Holy Spirit permitted it so I'd see it was not as I believed. I needed to know what was good and bad and the deceptions which pretended otherwise.

I am familiar with spirit guides but they are demons in disguise. I wasn't always aware of this but I was shown the truth. I have never seen an angel but I recollect something being pulled off of me during this period.

But I've seen a demon once and hope that's the lone occasion. I can sense their presence through hearing, touch and smell. I'll know if he's near me but I won't see his form.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I was once asked, since Mary and Saints are not omnipresent, how can they hear the prayers of thousands of people around the world? The list must be overwhelming.

I tend to suspect that their status as Saints highlights that they operate on a spiritual level and with awarenesses not available or utilized by the majority and therefore can feel and receive in ways most cannot or are unable to or choose not to be able to.

 

[ChicanaRose]

So far those verses do not support praying to the "dead". Nor do they support the concept contextually that dead people are alive in the way it has been portrayed.

The practice of devotion to the saints (i.e. a memorial to honor them) was present as early as the second century. Believers would gather around the burial sites of apostles. I don't know if that would be considered a scriptural practice, but some Christians started it. This devotion eventually turned into invocations, which was approved by the church by the fourth century. The fact that the practice has been around for a long time does not necessarily prove that it's scriptural. I mean, paganism has endured for way more than 2000 years, but it's certainly not scriptural. But I advise you to keep researching until you arrive at the truth. Ultimately, this will be between you and the Holy Spirit.

source
Sheridan, Mark. “The Saints as an Element in the Communion and Communication in the Early Church.” One in Christ 50, no. 2 (2016)

 

[W2L]

The practice of devotion to the saints (i.e. a memorial to honor them) was present as early as the second century. Believers would gather around the burial sites of apostles. I don't know if that would be considered a scriptural practice, but some Christians started it. This devotion eventually turned into invocations, which was approved by the church by the fourth century. The fact that the practice has been around for a long time does not necessarily prove that it's scriptural. I mean, paganism has endured for way more than 2000 years, but it's certainly not scriptural. But I advise you to keep researching until you arrive at the truth. After all, this is between you and the Holy Spirit.

source
Sheridan, Mark. “The Saints as an Element in the Communion and Communication in the Early Church.” One in Christ 50, no. 2 (2016)

Just because it was found in the second century doesnt mean its right. Also, just because a church approves something doesnt mean its right.

 

[JacksBratt]

This was during a period of spiritual hardship. I was fighting for my freedom. What I saw was not of God. I believe the Holy Spirit permitted it so I'd see it was not as I believed. I needed to know what was good and bad and the deceptions which pretended otherwise.

I am familiar with spirit guides but they are demons in disguise. I wasn't always aware of this but I was shown the truth. I have never seen an angel but I recollect something being pulled off of me during this period.

But I've seen a demon once and hope that's the lone occasion. I can sense their presence through hearing, touch and smell. I'll know if he's near me but I won't see his form.

Glad that is all you experienced. This sort of thing can be very attractive to anyone.
I wasn't quoting you to put you down. I was agreeing with you that this is real and very dangerous.

Glad to hear you figured it out.

 

[bèlla]

Glad that is all you experienced. This sort of thing can be very attractive to anyone.
I wasn't quoting you to put you down. I was agreeing with you that this is real and very dangerous.

Glad to hear you figured it out.

It went further than I've described and I didn't think you were being unkind. I spent many years looking for God in different places. But His loving-kindness and patience didn't fail me when I needed Him most. He revealed the truth and led me home. I'm indebted to Him.

I never had a spirit guide but I knew others who did. I could always tell when they were talking and the spirit was speaking through them. I don't know how. But I noticed the difference. Oftentimes people find their way to these teachings through New Age or Native American practices.

 

[truefiction1]

I was once asked, since Mary and Saints are not omnipresent, how can they hear the prayers of thousands of people around the world? The list must be overwhelming.

Matthew 19:26

Is God not in His saints? (John 14:23)

Is it not possible, or even likely, that you vastly underestimate the effects of God's grace in His saints and the power that His grace bestows upon them? If I did this (i.e. grotesquely underestimated the transformation of humankind by the Holy Spirit), I wouldn't bother asking any of them to pray for us either.

 

[ChicanaRose]

Matthew 19:26

Is God not in His saints? (John 14:23)

Is it not possible, or even likely, that you vastly underestimate the effects of God's grace in His saints and the power that His grace bestows upon them? If I did this (i.e. grotesquely underestimated the transformation of humankind by the Holy Spirit), I wouldn't bother asking any of them to pray for us either.

I don't think grotesquely is a fair term. I knew we are going to be sinless and have perfect bodies in heaven but I didn't know that we are also going to have god-like powers.

Sometimes, one's tone influences the hearer's receptivity. But aside from this, I will consider what you wrote.