Post by Cindy on Apr 24, 2015 10:21:07 GMT -5
I can't find something in the Bible
I have looked and looked and looked, but nowhere in the Bible can I find absolute proof of either a Jew in the Old Testament or a Jew or Christian in the New Testament praying TO anyone other then God. The Only examples of people praying to anyone/thing other then God that I can find in the bible are examples of folks who prayed to pagan gods like Baal.
I knew I had to just be missing something obvious so I even went so far as to ask current Jewish religious leaders if they were allowed to pray to anyone other then God, now or in their past. Surely they must have prayed or still pray to perhaps Moses, or Joseph or David, Solomon, or Isaiah, or maybe Abraham....
One of them was so shocked at my question that they basically called me a blasphemer and refused to answer me. The others were nicer about it though and I guess they just assumed I was really ignorant. Anyway they told me that they have never ever prayed to anyone other then the One True God and never would. They even showed me one of their religious statements which I guess could be likened to our "statements of faith", although it is of course much much older then anything any Christian religion could come up with. Here's what they said about it:
Here are copies of my emails to some of the leading Jewish teachers which will show you how scandalized they were at the thought of praying to someone other then God:
These were all emails so no links are possible; however the last Rabbi did list his site under his signature. And yes, I still have the original emails. There is one other one, but that one is the one where the Rabbi was so incensed that I would even have to ask such a thing that he got a bit rude so I won't post it as I wouldn't want to embarrass him. I'm sure if he understood why I had asked that he then would have been incensed at the RCC and not me.
There is a Jewish CULT that did and does allow prayers to others like Rachel, but again this is a CULT and not representative of the real Jewish religion as Jesus would have honored.
So why would I, as a Christian be looking at what the Jew's believe? Well, basically because there can't be a better source for information about the Jewish people and their belief systems. If anyone would know if the Jewish people would/could/should pray to someone/thing other then God, I would think that it would be the Jewish people! Since my Savior came to this earth as a Jew and lived a sinless life as a Jew, Obeying all the laws of Torah, I thought that I could find out for sure if Jesus would have prayed to someone/thing other then God or if He would have taught others to do so.
From everything I've read and learned, Jesus or anyone living in Old Testament times or the New Testament times that tried to teach or even simply "tolerate" someone praying to someone/thing other then the One True God, would have been put to death immediately as a blasphemer! So that leaves me with quite a problem. Where then do the catholics get the idea that it's OK for them to do this?????
God says in His Word that He does not change. He says He doesn't lie. He says that His Word doesn't change either. Nor have I found anywhere in the New Testament anyone including Jesus saying that Jesus came and died on the cross so that we might have life and so we could pray to other people too. Therefore, we must still be only allowed to pray to Him and no other. But that can't be right, because the RCC says it's not right...
You can see my confusion on this surely...both can't be true. Either God is True and men are liars, or the RCC is true and God is lying. According to the Bible, we are to pray to God and to God alone, period. So, who do you think is right, God or the catholic church?
Praying to anyone other than God is a sin, and a very serious one at that, because it's what God calls idolatry and spiritual adultery. It's certainly not something that most folks would want to have on their conscience I'm sure. The problem is that while the Pope, priests, and hierarchy of the Catholic Church will be judged most harshly for teaching this heresy, God still holds every single individual accountable for their sin if they've been praying to others besides Him. You may think that's not fair, but in God's Eyes it is quite fair, because everyone has the capability of studying their own bibles, and asking Him to show them the Truth about this, or anything else. Sadly, many will be condemned because they chose to trust their church or priest or pastor over God and His Word. I sincerely hope that anyone reading this will immediately pick up their own bibles and check it for themselves. I don't expect you to take my word for this, but I know without any doubt that if you study your bible after asking the Lord to show you the Truth, that He will and that you won't find anything in that Bible other than people praying to God or being told to pray to Him. Jesus is our only intercessor and mediator, and He is God. We don't need anyone else and no human being can take His place. God is very, very definite about this and says many times that He will not share His glory with another, and that's exactly what you're doing when you pray to someone other then God. You're saying that you don't trust Him or believe His Word, and that's a very dangerous thing to do. Never call on anyone other then our God:
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on Him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
“for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13)
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2)
“I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.” (Psalm 120:1)
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12–13)
Notice that none of these suggest we call out to anyone other then God Himself. You may not think that you're worshiping other gods when you pray to Mary or saints or whoever, but according to God's Word, you are, and I'm afraid that the only Word that counts is God's. So no matter what your church tells you, you need to pay attention to God and obey Him, not man.
““I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)
“For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)
I have looked and looked and looked, but nowhere in the Bible can I find absolute proof of either a Jew in the Old Testament or a Jew or Christian in the New Testament praying TO anyone other then God. The Only examples of people praying to anyone/thing other then God that I can find in the bible are examples of folks who prayed to pagan gods like Baal.
I knew I had to just be missing something obvious so I even went so far as to ask current Jewish religious leaders if they were allowed to pray to anyone other then God, now or in their past. Surely they must have prayed or still pray to perhaps Moses, or Joseph or David, Solomon, or Isaiah, or maybe Abraham....
One of them was so shocked at my question that they basically called me a blasphemer and refused to answer me. The others were nicer about it though and I guess they just assumed I was really ignorant. Anyway they told me that they have never ever prayed to anyone other then the One True God and never would. They even showed me one of their religious statements which I guess could be likened to our "statements of faith", although it is of course much much older then anything any Christian religion could come up with. Here's what they said about it:
Here are The Thirteen Principles of Faith that Judaism rests on, according to Maimonides. Please pay particular attention to number 5.
1) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, creates and guides all creatures, and that He alone made, makes, and will make everything.
2) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name is unique, and there is no uniqueness like His in any way, and that He alone is our G-d, Who was, Who is, and Who always will be.
3) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, is not physical and is not affected by physical phenomena, and that there is no comparison whatsoever to Him.
4) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name - is the very first and the very last.
5) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name - to Him alone is it proper to pray and it is not proper to pray to any other.
6) I believe with complete faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7) I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, peace upon him, was true, and that he was the father of the prophets - both those who preceded him and those who followed him.
8) I believe with complete faith that the entire Torah now in our hands is the same one that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be upon him.
9) I believe with complete faith that this Torah will not be exchanged nor will there be another Torah from the Creator, Blessed is His Name.
10) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, knows all the deeds of human beings and their thoughts, as it is said, "He fashions their hearts all together, He comprehends all their deeds." (Psalms 33:15)
11) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Bless is His Name, rewards with good those who observe His commandments, and punishes those who violate his commandments.
12) I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may delay, nevertheless I anticipate every day that he will come.
13) I believe with complete faith that there will be a resuscitation of the dead whenever the wish emanates from the Creator, Blessed is His Name and exalted is His mention, forever and for all eternity.
1) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, creates and guides all creatures, and that He alone made, makes, and will make everything.
2) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name is unique, and there is no uniqueness like His in any way, and that He alone is our G-d, Who was, Who is, and Who always will be.
3) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, is not physical and is not affected by physical phenomena, and that there is no comparison whatsoever to Him.
4) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name - is the very first and the very last.
5) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name - to Him alone is it proper to pray and it is not proper to pray to any other.
6) I believe with complete faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7) I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, peace upon him, was true, and that he was the father of the prophets - both those who preceded him and those who followed him.
8) I believe with complete faith that the entire Torah now in our hands is the same one that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be upon him.
9) I believe with complete faith that this Torah will not be exchanged nor will there be another Torah from the Creator, Blessed is His Name.
10) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Blessed is His Name, knows all the deeds of human beings and their thoughts, as it is said, "He fashions their hearts all together, He comprehends all their deeds." (Psalms 33:15)
11) I believe with complete faith that the Creator, Bless is His Name, rewards with good those who observe His commandments, and punishes those who violate his commandments.
12) I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may delay, nevertheless I anticipate every day that he will come.
13) I believe with complete faith that there will be a resuscitation of the dead whenever the wish emanates from the Creator, Blessed is His Name and exalted is His mention, forever and for all eternity.
Here are copies of my emails to some of the leading Jewish teachers which will show you how scandalized they were at the thought of praying to someone other then God:
Is it permissible to pray to anyone or anything other than God?
Dear Cynthia:
No, absolutely not. In Jewish Law the only entity that can be prayed to is God.
Best regards,
Rabbi Reuven Lauffer
Dear Cynthia:
No, absolutely not. In Jewish Law the only entity that can be prayed to is God.
Best regards,
Rabbi Reuven Lauffer
Can you please tell me if it is acceptable in the Jewish faith to pray to anyone other than G-d for any reason?
Dear Cynthia,
No it is not acceptable.
If you need further assistance feel free to contact us again,
Best wishes,
Chani Benjaminson
Dear Cynthia,
No it is not acceptable.
If you need further assistance feel free to contact us again,
Best wishes,
Chani Benjaminson
Cindy asked:
Can you please tell me if it is acceptable in the Jewish faith to pray to anyone other than G-d for any reason?
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Here are the Thirteen Principles of Faith that Judaism rests on, according to Maimonides.
Please pay particular attention to number 5. They are written here as they are commonly
printed in Jewish prayer books:
(I already quoted this one so I won't re-quote this part)
Rabbi M. Younger
Aish.com
Can you please tell me if it is acceptable in the Jewish faith to pray to anyone other than G-d for any reason?
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Here are the Thirteen Principles of Faith that Judaism rests on, according to Maimonides.
Please pay particular attention to number 5. They are written here as they are commonly
printed in Jewish prayer books:
(I already quoted this one so I won't re-quote this part)
Rabbi M. Younger
Aish.com
These were all emails so no links are possible; however the last Rabbi did list his site under his signature. And yes, I still have the original emails. There is one other one, but that one is the one where the Rabbi was so incensed that I would even have to ask such a thing that he got a bit rude so I won't post it as I wouldn't want to embarrass him. I'm sure if he understood why I had asked that he then would have been incensed at the RCC and not me.
There is a Jewish CULT that did and does allow prayers to others like Rachel, but again this is a CULT and not representative of the real Jewish religion as Jesus would have honored.
So why would I, as a Christian be looking at what the Jew's believe? Well, basically because there can't be a better source for information about the Jewish people and their belief systems. If anyone would know if the Jewish people would/could/should pray to someone/thing other then God, I would think that it would be the Jewish people! Since my Savior came to this earth as a Jew and lived a sinless life as a Jew, Obeying all the laws of Torah, I thought that I could find out for sure if Jesus would have prayed to someone/thing other then God or if He would have taught others to do so.
From everything I've read and learned, Jesus or anyone living in Old Testament times or the New Testament times that tried to teach or even simply "tolerate" someone praying to someone/thing other then the One True God, would have been put to death immediately as a blasphemer! So that leaves me with quite a problem. Where then do the catholics get the idea that it's OK for them to do this?????
God says in His Word that He does not change. He says He doesn't lie. He says that His Word doesn't change either. Nor have I found anywhere in the New Testament anyone including Jesus saying that Jesus came and died on the cross so that we might have life and so we could pray to other people too. Therefore, we must still be only allowed to pray to Him and no other. But that can't be right, because the RCC says it's not right...
You can see my confusion on this surely...both can't be true. Either God is True and men are liars, or the RCC is true and God is lying. According to the Bible, we are to pray to God and to God alone, period. So, who do you think is right, God or the catholic church?
Praying to anyone other than God is a sin, and a very serious one at that, because it's what God calls idolatry and spiritual adultery. It's certainly not something that most folks would want to have on their conscience I'm sure. The problem is that while the Pope, priests, and hierarchy of the Catholic Church will be judged most harshly for teaching this heresy, God still holds every single individual accountable for their sin if they've been praying to others besides Him. You may think that's not fair, but in God's Eyes it is quite fair, because everyone has the capability of studying their own bibles, and asking Him to show them the Truth about this, or anything else. Sadly, many will be condemned because they chose to trust their church or priest or pastor over God and His Word. I sincerely hope that anyone reading this will immediately pick up their own bibles and check it for themselves. I don't expect you to take my word for this, but I know without any doubt that if you study your bible after asking the Lord to show you the Truth, that He will and that you won't find anything in that Bible other than people praying to God or being told to pray to Him. Jesus is our only intercessor and mediator, and He is God. We don't need anyone else and no human being can take His place. God is very, very definite about this and says many times that He will not share His glory with another, and that's exactly what you're doing when you pray to someone other then God. You're saying that you don't trust Him or believe His Word, and that's a very dangerous thing to do. Never call on anyone other then our God:
“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on Him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
“for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13)
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2)
“I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.” (Psalm 120:1)
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12–13)
Notice that none of these suggest we call out to anyone other then God Himself. You may not think that you're worshiping other gods when you pray to Mary or saints or whoever, but according to God's Word, you are, and I'm afraid that the only Word that counts is God's. So no matter what your church tells you, you need to pay attention to God and obey Him, not man.
““I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)
“For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)
!!
