We Should Pray to Angels?
I was flipping through the channels the other day while exercising and came across a talk show. I’m really not sure which one it is and as far as I’m concerned, most of them are basically interchangeable. Regardless, they were talking about how angels are involved in our daily lives and how we should even consider praying to them because they are so infinitely more wise than us they are and how much more powerful. This thinking is all-too common and it is quite unbiblical. Consider Hebrews 2:14-18:
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted
Or, consider 1 Peter 1:10-12:
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Think about what’s being said here, God does not help the angels the way He does people and our salvation in Christ has been something into which angels themselves even long to look. Oh, if only our talk-show hosts would read their Bibles. If only we would read our Bibles. If only we would understand the glory of salvation the way angels long to do.
- Read The Incomparable Christ by John Stott
Great post. I’ve been reading for a while but haven’t commented.
This reminds me of 2 Cor 4:6-7:
God uses our “jars of clay” or “earthen vessels” SO THAT the power (and glory) belongs to God and not us. This is not something the angels are even able to experience!
I disagree with your post. Your points do not exclude the value of the angels in our salvation. Your scriptural evidence does affirm the fact that humanity’s salvation is wholly unique to man and a mystery to even the angels in Heaven. Truly, God’s merciful love is beyond all the wisdom of creatures. It must also be affirmed that angels are far superior to man in wisdom and intelligence, for they are pure spirit and behold God face-to-face already; something that we hope for in this earthly life. It must also be affirmed that angels have played an indispensable role in God’s plan of salvation: it was the angel Gabriel that announced to Mary the Good News of the Incarnation of the Son of God in her womb; it was a host of angels that sang of the glory of God to the shepherds when the child Jesus was born; It was angels that ministered to Jesus in the desert and in the garden of Gethsemane; it was angels that announced the Resurrection of Jesus to the first witnesses. Consider also the fact that in the book of Revelation, John writes the seven letters to the seven Churches addressed to the angels of the Churches: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus…”, “To the angel of the church in Smyrna…”. Therefore, not only do angels communicate God’s saving message to us, but also we communicate God’s saving message to them. We are in a dialog with the saints and angels in Heaven. Just as we implore the holy men and women in our lives to help us get closer to God, and listen to the wise to learn from them, so we should implore the help of our brethren who already possess that beatific vision of God.
Why would God create angels in the first place, if not to assist us in our journey to Him? Why would they play such important parts in God’s plan of salvation only to ignore their role now?
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the assistance of angels separates us from God.
And if Jesus received their help in his most trying times, why should we assume that we do not need their help?
So we should pray to angels?