Protestants and Mary

I don't agree that Evangelicals equate prayer with worship, but I do think they relate the two in that they consider both to be exclusive interactions with God.

Where there may be some confusion is the overt physical acts associated with Catholic prayer that are not usually present in those of a Protestant. I'm speaking mainly of the crossing onesself and kneeling in front of visual icons. I have seen Catholics kneel before a statue of Mary. It may be that there was no adoration happening and that it was simply a rite of prayer, but to someone who mainly associates kneeling with reverence and submission, it's not difficult to understand how the two could be confused.

 

Is this the only foundation for that belief? I don't at all see how that passage equates into an eternal prayer ministry.

 

Speaking in laymans terms, ive always felt praying to/thru Mary to be almost a natural progression of my faith. She's the virgin mother of Jesus, selected personally by God. Thats gotta mean something. We all have a special place in our hearts for our Mothers. And she was Jesus' Mother.
Its naturally respectfull to me. Plus, it couldnt hurt to ask her to put a good word in for you.

 

Can anyone explain to me how this translates into "Dear woman, I am appointing you to be the spiritual mother of all mankind."?

 

The dialogue mentioned in Luke 16 between the rich man and Abraham is between two people who have both died. The rich man is in hell, and Abraham is in heaven. Besides, the story is viewed by many as a parable anyway.

The encounter on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17) was between Jesus and Moses and Elijah. Peter only spoke with Jesus, not the other two, nor did they speak to Peter.

I don't recall anywhere in the Bible an instance or even an illustration of living people being able to communicate directly with anyone in heaven besides God. Now it's true (according to the Bible) that angels and God's people have been and will be sent back to earth for a short while for specific purposes. But that's not the same as an ongoing ability to hear from heaven the prayers of living saints and join with them in those prayers.

This kind of thing has always bothered me when I've heard it. The power of miracles does not reside in the prayers themselves, but in the One the people are praying to. If that lady was saved by supernatural intervention, it was God who saved her, not her family and friends at home on their knees in fervent prayer.

 

I think Luther might be going a bit over the top here. I would not share all of those sentiments.

 

That's certainly not correct, and definitely a misinterpretation of that particular verse. It is, however, unscriptural to bow before anyone else besides Christ, which IS the message of that verse.

 

I could not disagree with the bolded statement more. If the author wants to define prayer as any dialogue between a living person and a supernatural being, I guess he could make his point, but that premise opens up a big can of worms, and I think is a misleading use of the term.

 

Why not? Is John not one of the 24 cited in Revelation to be given thrones next to that of Christ, and who will sit with Him in judgment? Since when do angels "outrank" human beings? Did Christ offer Himself as a sacrifice to provide grace to save the angels who sinned?

I completely agree there is a hierarchy of angels, and that everyone and everything falls under the authority and lordship of Christ. However, I have yet to see anything to place mankind at the bottom of the heavenly "chain of command".

Within the ranks of angels, yes. In fact, I've got a very good book written by Billy Graham on that very subject. However, as far as I know, people are not a part of that hierarchy.

 

Sure -- Mary and every other saint. The army described in Revelation at the final battle isn't just Mary and the apostles.