Is it ok to pray to Jesus?

[Maalik]

I tried to post this is in Remedial Christian Theology but either the admin is MIA or he didn't like the question.

Is it ok to pray to Jesus? To saints? To angels? To dead relatives?

I think I remember someone praying to the holy ghost, but they weren't sincere and it didn't end well for them.

Last, is it ok to pray for money?

Suggestion: a prayer forum, here on tweb

[Thersites]

Chaplain's Office is for prayer intentions, I believe.

As for your question, my short answer is that prayer to Jesus is good (Jesus is God, and prayer is therefore rightly directed to Him) and prayer to the saints can be beneficial, but that prayer to dead relatives is slightly less so.

My long answer involves delving into not only the nature of prayer but a rather complex Ecclesiology whose orthodoxy I cannot guarantee. The abridged explanation goes something like... God is Love, so no expression of love, be it to a member of the Godhead, a holy person long-departed, or a loved one recently departed, will be wasted. A true expression of self-giving love is a participation in the Life of God, so love for others expressed in prayer to and for others is natural not only for those who are in God's Presence and who share eternally in God's Love, but for us on Earth who would call ourselves God's children.

[mossrose]

Is it ok to pray to Jesus?

Yes. It is okay to pray to any of the members of the trinity.

To saints? To angels? To dead relatives?

No, no and no.

Last, is it ok to pray for money?

Do you need money? Jesus told us to pray for our daily bread. I take that as permission to pray for what we need.

Suggestion: a prayer forum, here on tweb

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/fo...plain-s-Office

[Thersites]

No, no and no.

Why not?

[mossrose]

Why not?

None of the mentioned, saints, angels or dead people are referred to in scripture as ones who can intercede for us. That comes out of tradition, and is not backed by God's word.

Our only intercessor is God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit.

[RBerman]

Is it ok to pray to Jesus?

Jesus taught his followers to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son.

To saints? To angels? To dead relatives?

Why would you do that when you can talk to the Father directly?

Last, is it ok to pray for money?

Possibly. Give me a scenario.

[mossrose]

Jesus taught his followers to pray to the Father, in the name of the Son.

I agree with you. And I find myself mostly praying to the Father. However, since Jesus and the Father AND the Holy Spirit are one, then I think addressing any one of the trinity is fine.

[theblueprint_Ni]

When confining the response to the text of Scripture, we find that the answer is far less encouraging of offering prayers to anyone other than God himself. Communion with God through the godman, Jesus, is the only safe, biblical way to pray without running the risk of committing the sin of necromancy - which was punishable by death in the OT (Deut. 18).

The difficulty of this question is inextricably connected to the perplexing doctrine of the Trinity itself, which is impossible for us to fully understand. That being said, when Jesus instructs the disciples on how to pray, he formally addresses the Father (Matt. 6:9, "Our Father in heaven..."). He also explains that the things we receive from God in prayer is administered by the Father (Matt. 7:10, "your Father who is in heaven give good things..." We have access to the Father by the priestly merits of the Son (Heb. 7:24-25), so in the name of the Son (Jesus) we pray to the Father.

Prayer to the Father in the name of the Son is probably the most correct way of practicing it theologically, but it's more of a minor point for those who have already been redeemed in Christ. Like when Peter walked on water to meet Jesus standing in the sea and began to falter when it became boisterous, he quickly cried out, "Lord, save me!" and Jesus reached out his hand in response, he only knew that he needed help and that Jesus was capable of doing it, so also we ought to remember that the minute details of theology really don't matter that much in the face of real, immediate need. We make our prayer before God, and let God himself work out the details of how he actually receives them.

However, I would again restate that who we pray to always matters to when it diverges from the personhood of God, be it human or angel, in this world or the next, knowing that some things are biblically prohibited.

[Cow Poke]

lemme pray about this and get back to you

[Obsidian]

One of the last verses in the Bible does technically say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." I think praying to the Father is generally best, though. Praying for money is fine. Praying to dead people and non-divine beings is bad.

[eklypised]

None of the mentioned, saints, angels or dead people are referred to in scripture as ones who can intercede for us. That comes out of tradition, and is not backed by God's word.

Our only intercessor is God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Exactly what I was thinking...

[Cow Poke]

lemme pray about this and get back to you

He said it was OK to pray to the Father or the Son, but recommends praying to the Father in the Name of the Son, and it's OK for me to speak to the Holy Spirit, too, since Jesus prayed the Father to send this "another comforter" while Jesus was away preparing my mansion.

He didn't say anything about praying to dead people.

He seemed more interested that I pray, than to whom I specifically address the prayer.

[One Bad Pig]

Is it ok to pray to Jesus?

Yes.

To saints?

To ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own.

To angels?

To ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own.

To dead relatives?

If they were Christian, and to ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own, and the intercession of non-Christians isn't going to get anywhere.

I think I remember someone praying to the holy ghost, but they weren't sincere and it didn't end well for them.

Praying without sincerity is worthless. Duh.

Last, is it ok to pray for money?

That depends on your motive. If it's needed, yes. If it's based on greed, no.

[Cow Poke]

Yes.

To ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own.

To ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own.

If they were Christian, and to ask for their intercession, yes. Otherwise, no. They have no power of their own, and the intercession of non-Christians isn't going to get anywhere.

Praying without sincerity is worthless. Duh.


That depends on your motive. If it's needed, yes. If it's based on greed, no.

Much as I hate to admit it, that just plum makes sense.

[theblueprint_Ni]

Much as I hate to admit it, that just plum makes sense.

Are you serious or are you being sarcastic?