Only one mediator?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2ndGen
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
2

2ndGen

Guest
In their rush to denounce the Communion of Saints, some non-Catholic Christians justify their criticism of this ancient Christian tradtions with one verse taken out of context which has nothing to do with Intercessory Prayer:

“For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, Himself man, Christ Jesus.”
1Timothy 2:5

Now, I invite those who believe in this non-Catholic Christian belief to prove the “one Mediator” defense of their criticism of Christian beliefs that we can pray to The Saints for their intercessions.

Thank you.

🙂
 
Go back a few verses.

Mediator in context refers to his sacrafice on the cross. It is not limiting him to the only one who prays for us. In fact, in Romans 8, the Holy Spirit also prays for us.
 
Daniel_Marsh said:
Go back a few verses.

Mediator in context refers to his sacrafice on the cross. It is not limiting him to the only one who prays for us. In fact, in Romans 8, the Holy Spirit also prays for us.
Click to expand...
Hi Daniel.

Go back a few verses past that, and we see that they are talking about “intercessions”.

Yet those verses are never “seen” by those who offer up the “only one Mediator” defense of their criticism.

And exactly on your response.

Amen!
 
2ndGen said:
Hi Daniel.

Go back a few verses past that, and we see that they are talking about “intercessions”.

Yet those verses are never “seen” by those who offer up the “only one Mediator” defense of their criticism.

And exactly on your response.

Amen!
Click to expand...
2nd Gen,
Are Catholics “required” to ask intercession from Saints? Seems I read somewhere that is only strongly encouraged. As a Lutheran, I believe the Church Triumphant prays for the Church on Earth, though in a general sense. I frankly have no problem with prayers of intercession to the Blessed Virgin or the Saints, so long as they don’t distract from Christ as Mediator. I’m not sure if they are heard in the way Catholics believe, but I certainly see no problem with it if it is a source of comfort for those who practice it.

2 years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Reading about St. Perigrine was a great comfort to me in that time. I see nothing wrong with it.
 
“Amen to that. Besides, praying for intercessions has nothing to do with Jesus’ mediation in our salvation (which is what the text of that verse means). So praying to a Saint to request their intercessions for one is in no way contradictory to Christ’s role in our salvation…Saints don’t save.”

I think this is part of the misunderstanding. Some non-catholics hear “praying to Mary”, for example, means you are praying to her instead of to Christ. I liken what you as Catholics do as the same as our Prayer of the Church, where we ask for intercession and prayers from our fellow Christians. Semantics so often seems to be a problem.

"**It’s amazing how non-believers in The Saints are told to go to a therapist or to follow the examplse of common men who are not Saints.

Yet if we strive to emulate those that The Church has revealed to be already sanctified with God, there’s something wrong.

How many of us carry the examples of our ancestors (George Washington, perhaps deceased family members like Grandparents who are honored with their pictures prominently displayed in common areas, etc…), yet we cannot honor a Saint?

:confused:

It is a great comfort to rely on the stories of religiously holy persons and to not be limited only to secular persons, isn’t it*]?*"

Yes, it is!
Like private confession, we Lutherans have allowed our honoring of the Saints and Mary to fall into disuse, to our own loss. We have forgotten what even our confession says about honoring the Saints as godly men and women, worthy of being held up as examples of living godly lives. And prayers of intercession are not required to do this.
Blessings
 
JonNC said:
“Amen to that. Besides, praying for intercessions has nothing to do with Jesus’ mediation in our salvation (which is what the text of that verse means). So praying to a Saint to request their intercessions for one is in no way contradictory to Christ’s role in our salvation…Saints don’t save.”

I think this is part of the misunderstanding. Some non-catholics hear “praying to Mary”, for example, means you are praying to her instead of to Christ. I liken what you as Catholics do as the same as our Prayer of the Church, where we ask for intercession and prayers from our fellow Christians. Semantics so often seems to be a problem.

"**It’s amazing how non-believers in The Saints are told to go to a therapist or to follow the examplse of common men who are not Saints.

Yet if we strive to emulate those that The Church has revealed to be already sanctified with God, there’s something wrong.

How many of us carry the examples of our ancestors (George Washington, perhaps deceased family members like Grandparents who are honored with their pictures prominently displayed in common areas, etc…), yet we cannot honor a Saint?

:confused:

It is a great comfort to rely on the stories of religiously holy persons and to not be limited only to secular persons, isn’t it**]?"
Click to expand...
Yes, it is!
Like private confession, we Lutherans have allowed our honoring of the Saints and Mary to fall into disuse, to our own loss. We have forgotten what even our confession says about honoring the Saints as godly men and women, worthy of being held up as examples of living godly lives. And prayers of intercession are not required to do this.
Blessings

If the Lutherans would resort back to Luther’s teachings, they’d be a lot closer to Catholics than the are now for Luther had some extremely pro-Catholic views (especially on Mary).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top