- Jun 1, 2023
- 31
- 14
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Hello my Orthodox brothers and sisters,
Protestant here to ask you all questions regarding prayers for the dead. I have started to incorporate this practice into my prayer life because something (probably the Spirit) is compelling me to do so. I understand this practice comes from the idea of a "3rd state" of some sorts that was described in Maccabees. The Catholics interpreted this to be purgatory and I understand that your branch of the faith rejects that idea and that you have a more mystic approach. I was inspired to start praying for the dead after reading the parable of the persistent widow. What I pray for is that God will have mercy on those who rejected Him during their earthly life, that they knew not what they do, and that hopefully my persistence will be answered (perhaps this could be something others begin to do, when 2 or more gather in His name He is willing to answer, my personal testimony is extremely tied to this). Is this akin or acceptable to what your prayers for the dead consist of or would the idea be condemned by your branch as wrong? I know since I'm not Orthodox I don't necessarily have to follow what your branch teaches, but I respect your branch a lot so I wanted to see if my prayers have any merit to tradition.
Protestant here to ask you all questions regarding prayers for the dead. I have started to incorporate this practice into my prayer life because something (probably the Spirit) is compelling me to do so. I understand this practice comes from the idea of a "3rd state" of some sorts that was described in Maccabees. The Catholics interpreted this to be purgatory and I understand that your branch of the faith rejects that idea and that you have a more mystic approach. I was inspired to start praying for the dead after reading the parable of the persistent widow. What I pray for is that God will have mercy on those who rejected Him during their earthly life, that they knew not what they do, and that hopefully my persistence will be answered (perhaps this could be something others begin to do, when 2 or more gather in His name He is willing to answer, my personal testimony is extremely tied to this). Is this akin or acceptable to what your prayers for the dead consist of or would the idea be condemned by your branch as wrong? I know since I'm not Orthodox I don't necessarily have to follow what your branch teaches, but I respect your branch a lot so I wanted to see if my prayers have any merit to tradition.
