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hn160
Guest
Yes, Body and Soul and she prays for us.
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FabiusMaximus
Guest
Lutherans believe she prays for us?Yes, Body and Soul and she prays for us.
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hn160
Guest
We believe that she and all the saints pray for us, it is just that we don’t ask the saints and Mary to pray for us.
Just adding to what hn160 said, Lutherans generally don’t practice invocation of the saints, not because we think its necromancy or something, but simply because, as our confessions says, there is no promise, command, or example of the practice in scripture.
Jon
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FabiusMaximus
Guest
But if Lutherans believe that the saints pray for us, wouldn’t it make sense to ask for intercession?
The reformers main beef was with the things that grew up around invocation, such as indulgences ( at least as it was practiced at the time). As there is no command, example or promise attached to it, there is no way of knowing whether or not it (invocation) has any value before God. What Lutherans do know is that they pray for us (scripture says so) without our requests that they do so. And with that in mind, it would make sense that we pray that God listen to their intercessions on our behalf.
Personally (not speaking for Lutheranism), I am reluctant to condemn the practice on a number of fronts. First, it is a practice long held by both east and west. Second, millions of Christians throughout the history of the Church have gained great comfort in the practice. Finally, scripture doesn’t condemn it, and there is implicit evidence in scripture that the Church Triumphant is aware of events on earth. For example, Luke 15:7; “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Jon
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