In my last post I reviewed many acts that when directed toward God can be worship but are not exclusive to worship. This includes actions like praying, bowing, offering praise, or showing honor and respect to others. Each of these acts has a context when it is appropriate for other people to receive our plea … Continue reading What Does It Mean to Worship? (Part 2)
Saints
What Does It Mean to Worship? (Part 1)
In my last post I reviewed why Catholics make sacred images and often venerate them, and how we understand that does not violate God’s command to not make or bow down to an idol. We also of course venerate (or honor) the saints, and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic understanding of that practice … Continue reading What Does It Mean to Worship? (Part 1)
Sacred Images – The Veneration of Images Honors the Reality They Represent
In my last post I reviewed the charge made by some that Catholics “leave out” the commandment that forbids creating images, and why that claim is false. In this post, I will review why we do make sacred images and venerate them, and how we understand that does not violate God’s command to not make … Continue reading Sacred Images – The Veneration of Images Honors the Reality They Represent
Sacred Images – Do Catholics “Leave out” a Commandment?
A common charge against the Catholic Church is we “leave out” one of the commandments – specifically the one to not make idols. An example of this thinking: The Catholic Church long ago began making allowances for the idolatrous use of images by the way they reference the Ten Commandments. In the Catholic catechism and … Continue reading Sacred Images – Do Catholics “Leave out” a Commandment?
The Saints – Does God Hear Prayers Based On Who is Praying?
Another very common objection we can find to the Catholic understanding of prayer to the saints is this: God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15)….. No one in heaven has any greater access to God's throne … Continue reading The Saints – Does God Hear Prayers Based On Who is Praying?
The Saints and Their Relics
The catechism tells us “Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, … Continue reading The Saints and Their Relics
The Saints – Examples in Scripture
Quite often Catholics are asked if we can provide any examples from the Bible of people in heaven interceding for those on earth. An example of this thinking: “Catholics argue that praying to Mary and the saints is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for us. Let us examine that claim. … Continue reading The Saints – Examples in Scripture
The Saints — Is it Unbliblcal to Acknowledge Only Certain People as Saints?
As Catholics we are certainly known for loving our saints! We have patron saints for a wide array of needs, we know their stories and allow them to inspire and form us, and we rely on their intercessory prayer to help us on our journey to heaven. We consider them as friends who are always … Continue reading The Saints — Is it Unbliblcal to Acknowledge Only Certain People as Saints?
The Saints and the Body of Christ
In my last post I covered the Catholic understanding regarding Christ as our sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), and why we believe this is not contradicted by our understanding that we can ask the saints for their prayers. The context of that passage after all is intercessory prayer. Because we are … Continue reading The Saints and the Body of Christ
The Saints and Jesus as our One Mediator
This Evangelical site posts a very common objection to the Catholic understanding that we can pray to the saints. That understanding of course is dependent on an accurate view of what we actually mean by praying to the saints, as was covered here. First Timothy 2:5 declares, "For there is one God and one mediator … Continue reading The Saints and Jesus as our One Mediator
The Saints – Does the Bible Forbid Contacting the Dead?
A very common objection to the Catholic practice of praying to the saints is the Bible forbids necromancy, which is defined as “the supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future.” An example of that view: Whenever the Bible mentions praying to or speaking with the dead, it is … Continue reading The Saints – Does the Bible Forbid Contacting the Dead?
The Saints — How Can They Hear a Multitude of People Praying to Them at One Time?
In my last two posts I’ve covered the Catholic understanding of what it means to pray to the saints and the Biblical evidence the saints are indeed aware of what is happening on earth in at least some sense. Even if these things are true, one of the more common objections to the Catholic understanding … Continue reading The Saints — How Can They Hear a Multitude of People Praying to Them at One Time?
The Saints – Do They “Know Nothing” About What is Happening on Earth?
One of the more common Scripture passages used to prove the Catholic understanding of praying to the saints is in error is from Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 -- “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward; but the memory of them is lost. Their love and … Continue reading The Saints – Do They “Know Nothing” About What is Happening on Earth?
The Saints, and What it Means to Pray
One thing that separates most Protestants from Catholics (and Orthodox) is the Catholic and Orthodox churches believe in the “communion of the saints,” and this communion is not broken by death but rather is perfected. As a result, we pray to the saints and request their help with our many needs in this life. This … Continue reading The Saints, and What it Means to Pray
Between the Farm and the Cross 