Why Lutherans Don't Pray to Saints

Lutherans don't pray to saints because we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and promises to hear our prayer.

[FeedLips]

I'm a lutheran, and there are so theological problems here. The man doesn't understand what the word despise means, and he states that it doesn't matter how many people pray for you ( then what's the point in having people pray for you?), and he's trying to tell us that God will give us good anytime we ask for it. We all know that's not true. He gives us what we need, not what we want. I'm glad this didn't get very many views.

[BecomeAnOrthodoxChristian]

It's not just a Roman Catholic practice. It exists in all the other ancient denominations (ex. Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and the Assyrian Church of the East).

[SportZFanLfe]

Jesus said no one comes to the father except through him. He didn't say through saints or through your family and friends. Only through Jesus.

[aLadNamedNathan]

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (James 1:5-7)

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:14-16)

No wonder Luther wanted to amputate James from the Canon!

[davidgarcia]

I'm a little confused about your answer, . You are saying that there's no reason according to the Gospel to have others pray with you, but that doesn't make sense. The Gospel is the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, Matthew chapter 18 verse 20 (KJV) says "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Ecclesiastes isn't one of the Gospels, but says something similar Chapter 4 verse 12 (KJV) says, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold coard is not quickly broken.” These scriptures are talking about prayer, and strongly suggest that praying together with others is helpful. I don't believe in praying to the Saints, but that is because Jesus said to pray to the Father, and to the Father only. However, there does seem to be Biblical president to have others (living people) pray together in unison for something.

I would love to know your thoughts on this. I was brought up non-denominational, but have been gravitating more and more to Lutheran theology for a lot of reasons. I would be very interested in knowing the Lutheran perspective on this.

[codyyoung]

It's very Biblical to pray to saints. Revelation 5:8, Ephesians 6:18, Luke 6:19 where Lazurus prayed to Abraham and Revelation 8:3. The saints in heaven are still and more so the body of Christ

[faithofourfathers]

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN HAS GREAT POWER in its effects.” This verse doesn’t say, “The prayer of JUST ANY MAN has great power in its effects.” And of course some people are more righteous than others, in their cooperation with the grace our Lord offers. So, per this verse, it stands to reason that some peoples’ prayers are more effectual than others. The saints in heaven have totally completed the sanctification process, so can you understand why their prayers would be so effectual.

Lutherans, you are loved! Please see this point. Peace.

By the way, it’s “The Catholic Church”, not just “Roman” Catholic Church. Orthodox and others also ask the saints in heaven to pray for us.

[ProJatior]

We should pray for each other. The saints while they are to be respected didn’t exactly get taken up to heaven like 2 people other than Christ the Bible mentions. One in Genesis the other in Kings. That’s beside the point though.

I don’t see anywhere in scripture where we are to or can pray to people who have died. It sounds like ancestral worship but it’s called intercession. The point of it is irrelevant to me unless there is scripture to back it up. Otherwise it sounds like the doctrine/tradition of man.

From my understanding the only person we should be praying to is the God head.

[kawaiiboshi]

God bless you Pastor. Oh continue to preach this. Mariolatry can be rampaging and insisting, we need to hear what you say.

[ciso]

So I have a question, do you not ask your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for you then since it is irrelevant to do so as you say??

[IOT]

As usual you guys give this wish wash answers without even really know what you mean. Not sure what exactly you pray, apart God and the bible. It's better you guys formalise an official answer because apart philosophy you don't even know what you mean!