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Errant preaching

Clifford L. Frazier

A prosperity preacher of some note recently said the following during a message "Christians have been praying to the wrong person. They have been praying to Jesus. But, Jesus is now sitting on the right hand of the Father and is not interested in the affairs of people. He’s done his work. The person you should be praying to is The Holy Ghost/Spirit." What scriptures could I use to refute this error? Thanks for the help.

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Pastor Dave Thomas

What scriptures could I use

Matthew 6:9 (ESV:2016) —Pray then like this: “Our Father...

Justin Gatlin

I would start with Hebrews 7:25-8:1 to show that Jesus is on the right hand of the Father, not because He is uninterested in the affairs of people, but to make intercession for us. Or to Stephen praying to Jesus in Acts 7. I think the general picture of prayer in the NT is to the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the Spirit. But prayer to Jesus or the Spirit would seem acceptable under the doctrine of the Trinity, just not normative.

MJ. Smith

Your post's heading implies a theological position -- that's not how we make everyone feel welcome.

They have been praying to Jesus.

Factually, I suspect this is incorrect ... as approximately 70% of Christians world-wide belong to liturgical churches and as the vast majority of liturgical prayers are addressed to the Father and closed with a Trinitarian formula. I don't trust Bible exegesis from people who don't bother to get their facts straight.

But I would start the Biblical argument with the two occurrences of the Lord's Prayer (Our Father).

Roy

Try a bible search for the following...

ask father "my name"

keep the quotes...and use spaces

Hopefully this will not violate the "No theology/doctrine discussion in the forums" rule.

DAL

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1250143#Comment_1250143

For the last few plenty decades of my life every church I’ve visited and been a member of has always prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus. So I don’t know where he gets that from. Jesus said to pray to the Father in His name. Anyway, keep practicing Acts 17:11 👍

DAL

xnman

A prosperity preacher of some note recently said the following during a message "Christians have been praying to the wrong person. They have been praying to Jesus. But, Jesus is now sitting on the right hand of the Father and is not interested in the affairs of people. He’s done his work. The person you should be praying to is The Holy Ghost/Spirit." What scriptures could I use to refute this error? Thanks for the help.

A good understanding of John 4:24 might help. Maybe link 1Thes 5:17 to show praying is part of worship... and I would throw in John 14.6 to show that everything is done through (by the authority of) Jesus....

then you have 1. We must worship God the Father per John and 2. Praying is part of worship and as such prayers are made to the Father in the name of Jesus.

It's a start.

Edit: I would also consider Matthew 6:5-15... where Jesus was asked to teach them to pray. Read that and notice how Jesus answered them.... Jesus definitely didn't say.... "Pray to the Holy Spirit" or "Pray to me".... Notice the words.... "Our Father in heaven...."..... I find that of particular interest.....

Don Awalt

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1250199#Comment_1250199

Actually, why do we always give people a free pass on assertions that can't be substantiated?

If it was me, I would first challenge the assertions:

1. "Christians have been praying to the wrong person. They have been praying to Jesus." - what is the source of this assertion, either biblically, in Jesus' teaching, or in a credible source of data on Christian prayer habits?

2. "Jesus is not interested in the affairs of people." - Scriptural or other proof?

The onus should be on the one making an assertion, don't just start jumping through hoops to "prove" something they likely won't believe or interpret the same way as you anyway.

It may also lead to a more productive discussion where both parties can benefit, like if the result of this line of discussion the person said something like, "Well I guess what I really meant to start with is, it *appears* to me that Jesus is not interested in our prayers/affairs because of this verse in the Bible - _________ How do you interpret that verse?"