Who Do I Pray To?

If you do a quick internet search, you will discover that the God of the Bible is not always considered the first god in history. You may find this surprising. How can the God who created the world not be the first god of the world? Clearly, history has become twisted.

But if you believe in the God of the Bible, then you must believe in the Bible. And if you believe in the Bible, isn’t it safe to assume you believe all of it?

Yet somehow, throughout the course of history, even within the same God-fearing, Bible-believing community, there seems to have developed a change in pattern on which god we worship – specifically which god we pray to.

 “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” – Acts 20:29-30

Now, for some, this distortion of prayer may stem from a rawness in faith. For others, it may be that you simply feel too unworthy to pray. You may feel like you cannot personally approach God in prayer.

Regardless of the reason, this has been a subject that has weighed heavily on my heart for some time now. I’ve only waited this long because it can be quite difficult to discuss this sort of topic without it sounding like some religious theological debate.

Please know that I don’t aim to attack anyone’s faith. My only goal is to provide encouragement in strengthening your relationship with Jesus. I also hope to clarify any confusion that may be present in your Christian walk so that you, as a child of God, will never feel any hesitation in running to your Father.

And let me begin with just that by saying yes, you can run straight to your Father. Jesus died for you so that you can boldly enter His throne room. The veil is torn!

 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,” – Hebrews 10:19-20

 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

Knowing that God welcomes you, let’s move on to why you can feel free anytime to talk to God Himself.

Why Pray to God?

 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6

God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit. They are all one. And they are the only One. The only Way. The only Truth.

The people of the Old Testament did not pray to the fathers and prophets of old. They did not pray to Father Abraham or to King David. The people of the New Testament did not pray to Mary or the apostle Paul or Peter. They respected them. They admired their role in God’s kingdom. But never, not once, did they pray to them.

We have Jesus as our mediator. We need no one else. Can Jesus not handle all the prayers of all His followers? Does God not already know our hearts?

The people who have gone on before us, including our own loved ones, did not become omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient at their death to where they could hear and handle all of the prayers going up. Only God can do that. After all, God is the One Who answers our prayers, so isn’t He the One we want to hear our prayers?

What Did Jesus Say?

In the gospels, one of the disciples asked Jesus specifically how they should pray. His response: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” (Matthew 6:9)

Again in Matthew 6:6, He said, “Pray to your Father.”

Paul confirmed this again in Philippians 4:6, “Let your requests be made known to God.”

Jesus said pray to God (our Father). He did not name anyone else. However, He did say that anything you ask of the Father, ask in His Name. That is because They are One. Likewise, we are encouraged to pray in the Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit for help. (Romans 8:26-27)

Jesus did not die in vain. You need no other mediator but Jesus. Why waste time praying to anyone else when you can go straight to Jesus Himself!

We can still admire the men and women who have gone before us, but we are told to pray to God, the only God, with the help of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name.

What About Mary & the Saints?

 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” – 1 Timothy 2:5

Yes, Mary was an important person in history. Yes, she played such a special role and should be admired for that role. But she is not your Savior. The apostles and disciples also led great examples of what God can do through people. They are most certainly to be admired. But they are not the ones who answer your prayers. God may send the angels down to fight for you, but that still doesn’t mean you pray to the angels. You pray to God to send them.

Nowhere in the Bible does it ever say to pray to anyone else but God. In fact, God makes it clear many times in the Scripture not to place anything or anyone else before Him. There is no reason to! God created the world, and Jesus redeemed it. Why offer your prayers to anyone else when He welcomes you to go straight to Him!

Can They Pray for Us?

Some believe that it is not about praying to the Saints or Mary but more so asking the Saints or Mary to pray for them in the same way that we would ask anyone else to pray for us. But this concept also strays from the truth.

Mary and the Saints are no longer alive on earth, and the Bible makes it clear we are not to communicate with the dead. (e.g. Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:10-11)

 “And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” – Isaiah 8:19

It doesn’t matter if we are trying to speak to someone we believe is holy. Even King Saul was trying to do the same when he requested a medium bring up the prophet Samuel for him to talk to. In fact, Saul met his death the very next day. (I Samuel 28)

The Bible encourages us to pray for each other here on earth, but nowhere does it say anyone in heaven is praying for us.

In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16), the rich man pleaded with Abraham to help those he left behind. But even Abraham said the rich man’s family had the people on earth. What could he do to help? Even if he, Father Abraham, would have come back from the dead, it would have done nothing. However, we know that Luke ultimately ended with Jesus having gone to earth and risen again to redeem us. This shows us once more that He is the One we go to. He is the One who brings change.

We Are Just as Worthy

In Luke 11 (the same chapter as the Lord’s Prayer),  Jesus cast out a demon and spoke to the people about the matter. A woman exclaimed, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you!” (vs 27) 

But Jesus responded, “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (vs 28)

What was Jesus saying here? More-so than Mary, YOU are blessed for hearing His Word and obeying it. If you are even equally as blessed as her, what separates you from praying to her versus anyone else who obeys the Word of God?

If we pray to those in heaven because they are pure and righteous once in heaven, then why not pray to anyone who might be there? Why single out a select few? Is the ground not level at the cross?

We like to single these people out as worthy of our prayers and admiration because they were all specially chosen by God. But guess what – so are you! Blessed is Mary? Blessed are YOU for obeying God’s Word! But that still doesn’t mean anyone should pray to you, does it?

Again, this is never to bash anyone’s love or respect for the people of the past but to show you a more freeing perspective – that you can and should boldly go to God with your prayers.

The people who have gone before us were no more righteous than any other believer in Christ. We, as children of the King, have the same privilege to enter the throne room and talk to our Father. And we should, personally, boldly, and freely.