• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection On the need for the intercession of saints

On the need for the intercession of saints

Posted on January 14, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment


Sister Marianne CopeI read the article in the Huffington Post entitled Marianne Cope, Catholic Nun On The Verge Of Sainthood and I feel the need to respond.

I do not have a problem with honoring those who have served God well during their lives. God does this when he refers to himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” in Genesis 3. By this reference, God honors the forebears of the nation of Israel. So if my Roman Catholic brothers want to pay special honor to some who have served well, I have no argument against that.

I do have a problem with the teaching that it is necessary or appropriate to ask the saints to intercede with God. What is being said about the character of God when this is taught? Whether it is intentional or not, God comes off looking like a grumpy old miser who has to be coaxed into granting a petition. Or perhaps God is uninformed or misinformed about the situation and the saint is there to set him straight. Is God only able to handle petitions one at a time and therefore it takes the pull of a saint to jump the line, like slipping the maître d’hôtel a $20 bill to get seated faster?

I don’t intend to be flip, nor do I intend to be disrespectful. Yet, I think it important to point out that this portrayal of God does not match with what I see in Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Can anyone read the Gospels and think that Jesus is unwilling to grant requests or provide healing? Can you point to one story where Jesus needed prompting by the Disciples to meet a need?

Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:5 that Jesus is the only mediator we need, saints are not required for intercession. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus us teaches us to pray directly to the Father.

One of the best ways to drive efficiency in business is to eliminate the middle man. Whenever possible, I prefer to go direct to the manufacturer. Why would we not go directly to God when we have been given a command to do so from Jesus?

I am open to being corrected if I have misunderstood or offered an incorrect portrayal of the Roman Catholic idea of sainthood. Please feel free to offer correction in the comments.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection Tagged With: Abraham, Catholic Church, God, Gospel, Huffington Post, Jesus

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

My god is too small

My problem is a belief problem. What I truly believe is indicated by my actions and when I observe my behavior, I must confess that my god is too small.

Thoughts prompted by Ed Stetzer on the Death of Christopher Hitchens

Recently I sat next to a well dressed man on an airplane. I engaged in some small talk with him while everyone was getting seated. I had noticed an Ohio State logo on his cell phone so we discussed his excitement about Urban Meyer taking over the football program. As he sat down, he  pulled […]

Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray on taking up the Cross

In Luke 9:23, we are told to take up our cross daily. Andrew Murray comments on what this means for the believer to take up his cross.

Water, chisel or dynamite? Choosing the right tool to drive change

For effective change to take place in an organization, the leader must understand the needs of the organization and select the proper tool to drive that change. The analogy of using water, a chisel or dynamite to change rock provides some insight as to the proper speed and amount of change that is needed.

Question 15

By what sin?

Question 15 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?”

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
June 2023
SMTWTFS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
« May    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in