Praying to the Saints: A Protestant Critique

In this video I lay out a Protestant perspective on the practice of praying to the saints, focusing on providing some historical context to the issue and clarifying what the historic Protestant concern has been.

Truth Unites is a mixture of apologetics and theology, with an irenic focus.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.

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00:00 - Introduction
01:28 - Framing the Protestant Concern
03:50 - The Practical Concern
13:30 - The Historical Concern

[robertroud]

As a Protestant I agree we cant pray to the Saints, but they are Heros of faith that should be emulated, and held up as an example to live up to.

[Mark-cdwf]

“Time spent praying to Mary could be time spent praying to Jesus Himself.”

CS Lewis

[johnnyg.]

As a life-long, practicing Catholic, a layman with 2 degrees from Catholic Universities in Theology/Religious Studies and a teacher for 31 years,
I agree with your critique. I NEVER used the term "praying to Mary/the saints" my whole time in the classroom because of the very reasons you mentioned. I always used "praying WITH the saints" or "asking their intercession." Those excerpts you used show absolutely clearly that God ALONE is the One we PRAY TO. Even when I was in high school (1965 -69) and heard that pious drivel to Mary or some saint I thought "This is all wrong." Currently there are all sorts of "mystics, seers, you-name-it) that claim Mary, or St. Michael are holding back the hand of God from sending His divine wrath down to sinful earth! GIMME A BREAK as the saying goes. Dr. Ortland, you do a favor to Protestants and Catholics of all stripes in explaining why this is absolutely contrary to Scripture AND to Catholic and Protestant theology. Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[JoeLackey]

Jesus: "Here's how you pray: Our Father in heaven..."

Catholics and Orthodox: "Thanks, but we'll take it from here. Mother, to you I come..."

[harmonypizza]

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
[ Hebrews 4:14–16 ;NASB95 ]

[Jackie.]

Thank you Pastor Gavin for refuting the lie of “being deep in history is to cease being Protestant.” Thank you, for being a living example, that this statement is simply not true.

[Apriluser]

As an Anglican, I totally agree with you. It seems that Mary has taken the place of the Holy Spirit in some quarters of the church. And I like the language of “praying with the Saints“. That’s certainly how we see our worship: we are joining the whole company of heaven as we worship together.

[Rashomon]

Doesn’t the Bible say that there is ONE mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus?

[rosawolfe]

If ever someone was able to articulate so wonderfully well, my deep thoughts, reasoning and firm convictions on this matter, it's got to be you Dr. Gavin. Thankyou for all your hard work and study.

[tradertrader]

I was born into a pastor's family in 1991, in 2015 I became a part of the Orthodox Church and an active apologist for Orthodoxy in Georgia, because during the study of the history of the Church I thought I had found the "Apostolic Church" with "immutable truths" and now I am starting to return to evangelism again, and one of the reasons What has become an insurmountable dilemma for me is exactly praying with the saints.

[justchilling]

I’ll stick to praying to God alone, and respecting the Saints including the ones still living.

[costa]

As a former Orthodox, in discussion with Orthodox who use the passages you referred to as why they pray to the saints is timley. I needed some historical context and the Lord guided me to this video, definitely not a coincidence. 🙏

[rolandovelasquez]

Yes! 👍🏼 Thanks again. Yes, in the entire Bible, Old Testament and New, all believers always, without exception, pray directly to God the Father. Always.
And, I'd just like to add that, as we know, in God's Word, "the Saints" are we believers and not some special category of Christian as per Roman Catholic practice and teaching.
Thanks again Gavin. 👌🏼

[sarahlaslett]

The kind of praying and addressing Mary that Gavin Ortland quotes from ancient writings is still practiced today. ( eg. U Tube "Gabi after hours" and u tube "Mary's military Man"). Time and again Mary is put in Jesus' place and what should be attributed to Him is attributed primarily to Mary. There is a terrible displacement of Jesus in the above to the point of blasphemy. Jesus gets the odd mention which can make it seem ok. It isn't - it terribly isn"t

[sueregan]

These teachings were what I grew up with in the Catholic church in the mid 20th Century. But after completing a three year Bible study in the early 60’s, I could no longer consider Mary and other saints as my mediators. It is what keeps me from even considering going back to the Roman church, after years of going to God alone, through Jesus.

[caleb.lindsay]

the way you articulate is my favorite. I know hanging on the words chosen and the manner in which they are chosen is not a popular habit, but for those of us that enjoy that, this is great. you'd definitely be someone I'd love to chat with just so I could listen to the framing and delivery of your perspective on things.

[Rashomon]

I don’t buy the whole “ever-virgin and sinless Mary”, either. The Bible says, “For ALL have sinned…”

[metrx]

I have one very simply question to all my Catholic and Orthodox friends. One that usually opens a door to seeing things from a Protestant perspective. "What would Mary think of so many people expending huge amounts of time and energy on prayer and veneration directed at her (or through her) rather than God himself?" It is obvious to all Christians that Mary, who we all believe is blessed most highly of all woman, would want our entire focus on the Trinity.

[aarongebreslasie]

You're such a blessing! I watch your videos all the time and l learn new things. Keep what you doing my brother.

[mc]

praying to the saints/Mary is one of the practices I find most disturbing