Protestand who don't believe in prayers for the dead; what is your answer to this?

Question

Luke 20 (37,38): But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him."

The above verse is an emphatic one that states the status of the dead people very clearly. This is said by the Lord himself and it has only one meaning: People who pass away from this world are not dead for God, but for us only. All live to him. If you people believe that, your prayers can be helpful for a living person (who is not physically dead), why can't it be helpful for a physically dead person? See and tell me the meaning of this verse:

1 Corinthians 15:29 - "Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?"

Wow! This verse speaks of receiving baptism on behalf of the non-baptized dead people. If their baptism can make effect in the status of the dead people, do you think prayers can not?

Now, according to your philosophy, a person is judeged solely based on his or her lifestyle on earth. He is responsible for his destiny; if this is the case, how can your prayer help him to receive salvation? Your prayer is worthless, if God is considering only the deeds of that person to judge his destiny! Prayers have no value if everyone of us is judged by our own acts and deeds. But, if you think they can get benefitted by our prayers, they what is your evidence to prove that, the prayers for the physically dead people shall not be accepted by God? Has he ever said so? Prayers have greater effects than you are taught. God resurrected the dead Lazarus, when they prayed to him. It is against the law of the nature; yet God did it out of his love. So, will he be rude to us only and will not give any value to our prayers, just because Protestants think so?

Answer 1

Protestants don't believe the Church is one and the same Church on earth and in heaven. To them, God has a separate love for those in heaven, and a separate love for those on earth. And none of their services are united with the great marriage feast in the book of Revelation as it is with every Mass.



The Church is an extension of the Incarnation united by the Eucharist. Gnosticism denies this and so does Protestant dualism. One cannot deny the doctrine of the Communion of Saints without re-defining the Church, and to deny the Church is to re-define the Incarnation. That way Satan makes it easier to blaspheme the Incarnation by calling His mother a sinner and she slept around on her Spouse.

Answer 2

In Luke 20:37,38 the topic of discussion was resurrection. Jesus was trying to convince the Sadducees that resurrection does take place. He quoted the verse, not to show that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have been resurrected and are now alive, but to show that God will raise them up in the future. Although they are dead but as far as God is concerned they are still alive since He will raise them to life. It is in His power - hence He is the God of the living not of the dead. If Jesus was trying to show that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob never died, did He really make a case for resurrection? I don't think so.



What about prayers for the dead? This whole conflict between good and evil is about making choices. Do you think we can make a choice for someone else? All we can do is to pray for them that they will make a choice in favor of good. That's all. We cannot force anyone, not even God. If the person was good then God will take care of him. If the person did not choose God while he was alive, how can he choose Him when he is dead? Does not make sense to me.



1 Corinthians 15:29 sounds a little tricky but, I think, what Paul is arguing is about Christ's resurrection (verses 3,4). He is trying to convince people that there is going to be a resurrection otherwise why are they "getting baptized for the dead"? That is, a person is baptized in the name of Jesus who was raised from the dead. Paul's argument is, if Jesus was not raised from the dead why are people being baptized for Him because if Jesus was not raised then they too will not be raised. A dead Savior cannot raise anyone.



There were no prayers offered for Lazarus. His sisters had called for Jesus while he was still alive but Jesus delayed so He would raise him up. Prayers have great power but salvation is not only about power. It is about individual choice. Personal choice is something that God is powerless against. Moreover, He would not be a God of justice if we pray for the wicked dead and He grants them heaven. We could pray for all of them. On what basis would He deny mercy to some?

Answer 3

It is symbolic.

Basically in the same way that Christ died for our sins and was alive again on the third day. We too die, in a sense, when we get baptised. When you're baptised you go under water (you're old self dying), then you come up out of the water (you're new self alive). That is what they mean by resurrection of the dead.

Through Adam we die, but through Christ we all will live forever.

You have to study the bible you can't just read one section and run with it.

Answer 4

Just a side note-- I'm LDS and as far as I know, are the only religion that practice baptisms for the dead.



Those who did not have a chance to learn the gospel on the earth will be taught and have a chance to accept or reject it after death. They need to be baptized in order to live with God again. So those who were born in places that were never taught the truth are not doomed to Hell, they can still choose to accept Christ.



www.mormon.org

Answer 5

You misunderstood 1Co.15:29.

The people were being Baptized in hope of being reunited with their Christian loved ones in eternal life.

Now to answer your 2nd question. We will not be judged on our sin's if we accepted Jesus as our Savior.

Our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus.

We will be rewarded for any works done in service for God,or lose rewards if we do nothing.

Examples:Evangelizing,witnessing, or leading people to accept Jesus as their Savior. (Soul winners)

Feeding the hungry,clothing the naked,helping the poor,the elderly,widows,orphans,visiting the sick,or those in prison.

We should strive to live a good life pleasing to the Lord though.

Prayers for the dead is useless.

It's not our prayer that leads people to salvation.

It's the prayer of a person with a sincere,repentant that receives salvation.

(Admit your a sinner,ask for forgiveness,believe Jesus died and resurrected from death for your sins,invite Jesus in your heart,Believe this and you are saved. God will give special value to this prayer,and all those there after.

We do pray to ask God to stir the hearts of those who are not saved.

God wants everyone to be saved and enter eternal life.

We as God's children share His desire,and are commanded to witness to the lost.

After death one must answer to God why they rejected God's free gift of salvation "Jesus".

Answer 6

Do you believe in God almighty? God answers prayer. Not saints, not even angels.

You have quoted from Old Testament. have you read any Israelite praying to Abraham or Moses.



Believe, our God is jealous God.

(Jealous God is very much like a man who dislikes his wife's devoted daily visits to the fine gentle man living next door and asking him for any of her personal needs. Think of her husband's personal esteem when she tells that she feels that fellow is more compassionate and accessible to her!!)



We have to acknowledge God as God.

Through prayers and worship we acknowledge the deity .



For God it doesn't matter you are a Roman Catholic or I am a protestant.

He wants both of us to acknowledge God through our worship and prayers unto Him.

Souls of saits are not dead. But it doesnot mean that we are permitted by God to pray unto them. God doesn't permit us to Pray to angels even.

Answer 7

Death what is that?



O Death where is thy sting? O Hell where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen."

Answer 8

Protestants - as far as I know - don't have problems praying *FOR* dead people....however they have a problem of praying *TO* dead people...



One word difference - but oh the difference that word makes.





also - my church (LDS) is the only church (that I know of) that does baptisms by proxy (baptisms for dead people)

Answer 9

"God is not a God of the dead, but of the living".............



On my screen, it appears as the third line of your body of written material.



For whom does the bell toll? That maybe debatable, but when the bell tolls..........it is over......game ended.



Please show me the courtesy of NOT presuming to tell me how I think, according to MY philosophy. You know none of these, my thoughts, my beliefs, nor my philosophy. Do not assume to do so...........

Answer 10

pray for the dead and the dead will pray for you

Answer 11

Once again it's over their heads. Good try though.

JMJ