Question 21: Why don’t you worship and pray to Mary and the “saints”?

Answer: Part of this question is addressed in the response to Question #15 above (Why don’t you pray the Rosary).  Additionally, there are also similar reasons for why we do not pray to the “Saints”.  The Bible has a lot to say about offering prayers to anyone other than the Lord:

  1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man: 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”  Plainly said, one mediator means ONE, not two or three or seventy.  Mary, nor any other dead Christian can mediate between God and men!
  2. There is not a word in the Bible encouraging Christians to seek help from the dead.
  3. To make images of men and then bow before them and pray is idolatry.  Even the angels would not allow men to bow before them – Revelation 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 

The Bible teaches men to pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ, not to dead men or in the name of dead men.  There is not one New Testament example of God’s people praying to the dead or approaching God through any mediator other than Jesus Christ.  Our only way to God is through Jesus Christ!  Hebrews 10:19-22 puts it this way: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  If we have Jesus Christ making intercession to us before God, we certainly do not need help from any dead saint!  (Although I really do look forward to talking with them in great length someday in Heaven).