To Whom Should We Pray? An Enquiry for Protestants/Evangelicals

[The Remonstrant]

In this thread, I wish to pose the following question specifically to who are Protestant or evangelical in their persuasion: While we all believe we are to pray to God only, which person(s) within the trinity should Christians direct their prayers to? Do you take the position that Christians should pray inclusively to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (i.e. all persons comprising the trinity)? Or should Christians pray exclusively to the Father and avoid directing prayers to the Son and/or the Holy Spirit? Please expound.

(I plan to provide a few thoughts of my own within the next few days.)

[theophilus]

Prayers are normally addressed to the Father but when Stephen was being stoned he prayed to Jesus.

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
(Acts 7:59 ESV)

[mossrose]

I think we neglect prayer to the Holy Spirit. There is no reason that we can't direct our prayer either collectively to the Trinity, or individually to each member of the Trinity.

I find myself most often directing prayer to the Father. Habit, I suppose.

[Cow Poke]

I think we neglect prayer to the Holy Spirit. There is no reason that we can't direct our prayer either collectively to the Trinity, or individually to each member of the Trinity.

I find myself most often directing prayer to the Father. Habit, I suppose.

Yeah, even in the same prayer, I may address parts of it to the Father, parts of it to the Spirit, and parts of it to Jesus. Perhaps as I understand their "roles" in the Bible, I tend to, somewhat naturally, address specific issues to each.

As such, I don't think it's so much important "which one" we're addressing, but that we address them often, and take time to listen.

[Cow Poke]

I think we neglect prayer to the Holy Spirit.

That always puts me in mind of ....

[Pentecost]

I ditto CP, and Mossrose, but my prayers are typically directed towards Jesus because He is our mediator and intercedes on our behalf.

[Cow Poke]

I ditto CP, and Mossrose, but my prayers are typically directed towards Jesus because He is our mediator and intercedes on our behalf.

I think it occurred to me that when I pray corporately (in or on behalf of the Church) I pray to the Father, I think.... and when I'm alone, I think I pray more to Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit.

[Jedidiah]

I pray to Almight God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In other words while I recognize the trinity I do not pray separately to the individual persons of the Trinity.

[The Remonstrant]

To briefly address my own enquiry, I will note that, prior to his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus instructed his disciples to pray to the Father (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 6:1–4, 11). On the eve of his crucifixion Jesus told the eleven that the Father will grant them whatever they ask in his (Jesus’) name (John 16:23–24; cf. 14:13–14; 1 John 5:13–15). As Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth upon his resurrection and ascension (Matt. 28:18; 1 Pet. 3:22), it is not difficult to imagine why believers should be instructed to pray and petition the Father in Jesus’ name. Theophilus (#2, above) was keen to observe that Stephen calls on Jesus while being stoned to death in Acts 7:59 (cf. also v. 60). Acts 7:59 echoes Luke 23:46 (cf. Ps. 31:5), a text in which Jesus is recorded as calling out and committing his spirit to the Father before breathing his last breath on the cross. That said, the New Testament pattern establishes that believers should pray specifically to the Father in Jesus’ name. (For an apostolic example of prayer to the Father in the epistles, see Ephesians 3:14–21.) In my judgement, the trinitarian baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19 (‘in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’) is neither descriptive or prescriptive of how (or to whom) disciples should pray.

Should we pray directly to the Spirit of God or in the Spirit’s name? Paul does tell us that the Holy Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints in their prayers in accordance with God’s will (Rom. 8:26–27). However, the aforesaid intercessory labour of the Spirit is not to be confused with the role with which Christ exclusively occupies as heavenly high priest. Christ is the sole mediator between God and humankind (1 Tim. 2:5; cf. Rom. 8:33–34; Heb. 4:14–16). I cannot recall a single instance where the NT authors encourage believers to pray or call on the Holy Spirit. (If I am mistaken on this point, I would appreciate correction.)

Related to prayer is confession, i.e. confession of Jesus Christ. Jesus unambiguously expects his disciples to confess (and not deny or be ashamed of) him even in the face of intense persecution. We are informed that our acknowledgement or denial of Christ will be returned in kind on the day of judgement (Matt. 10:32–33; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 12:8; 2 Tim. 2:12). Paul writes of believers’ initial confession of the Lord Jesus, a confession that results in salvation (Rom.10:9–13; cf. Acts 2:21; 22:16). Confessing and calling on the name of the Lord is something every believer should do throughout the entirety of his or her life.

[The Remonstrant]

By the way, thank you for your responses.

[The Remonstrant]

[SIZE=3]To briefly address my own enquiry, I will note that, prior to his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus instructed his disciples to pray to the Father (Matt. 6:9–13;Luke 6:1–4, 11[/B]). (par. 1)

Correction: Luke 11:1–4, 13. (I do not know how I botched this reference; I looked directly at the scriptural text prior to posting. Also, in the title of this thread there should not have been a colon placed after the question mark. It should rather read: ‘To Whom Should We Pray? An Enquiry for Protestants/Evangelicals’.)

[SerenityRiver]

I pray to Jesus

[Bill the Cat]

Also, in the title of this thread there should not have been a colon placed after the question mark. It should rather read: ‘To Whom Should We Pray? An Enquiry for Protestants/Evangelicals’.)

Fixed

[hedrick]

Ultimately it doesn't matter, but the one prayer Jesus intended as a model is addressed to the Father. So I'd suggest praying to the Father in Jesus' name.

[The Remonstrant]

Fixed

Many thanks.