A friend recently asked me why she should ask the saints to pray for her. Why go to St. Joe, when you can go straight to God? I gave her the typical answers: You ask other earthly-people to pray for you, why not avail yourself of those who are closer to God? All of Christianity is one Body. All of us, throughout every time and age are united in one mystical Body. And just as in a body, each part relies on other parts for its own good. Availing oneself of the intercession of the Saints is akin to a cell in the arm availing itself of nutrients carried to it from the digestive system. All of this is made possible through and is for the purpose of God’s glory. But tonight, it occurred to me that these answers don’t penetrate to the heart of the matter.
The central issue here is really the central issue of all Catholic dogma. That is, how does God desire to be worshiped?
We often follow Korah’s path and ask, “Why do we need a Pope, when we all have the Holy Spirit?” “Why do I need to go to church? It’s just a building filled with ungracious people. I feel more worshipful when I walk on the beach.” “Why do I need the Eucharist? I have Jesus in my heart.” “Why do I need Baptism? The Bible says: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.’” “Why should I confess to a priest, when I can confess directly to my Lord?” “Why ought I commune with the saints, when I can commune directly with God?”
These-- and a thousand questions like them-- are really one big question: How do we know the right way to worship? Is there a ‘right’ way? Is the act of Christian worship analogous to the sacrificial act of Genesis 4? Or are there many right ways?
The answer seems to be a little bit of both. Some dogmas are required for proper worship, lest our worship be seen in the same manner as Cain’s sacrifice. Other dogmas, while not required for worship, are there to draw us deeper into God. The required dogmas are few and simple. They can be found in the ancient creeds. The enhancing dogmas are many, diverse, and beautiful. They deepen our worship and fill it with life and color. Prayers to the saints fall into this latter category.
In His wisdom and mercy, God has elected to use his creatures as a means to distribute and convey His grace. If God were a professor, his classes would involve lots of class-participation. If he were an artist, He would seem to desire to be seen with and sometimes through His art more often than He would wish to be seen alone. He is not a solitary God, but a social one. His house isn’t a sterile, empty city loft, occupied by a sole, self-absorbed tenant. It is a grand, warm, and inviting family farm-- overflowing with happy children.
Protestantism, as a general rule, is individualistic. In its birth, it severed itself from any authority save the authority of “me and Jesus”. And this can be seen in the way Protestants understand (or generally overlook) the subject of the communion of the saints.
Why ask the saints to pray with you? For the same reason you wouldn’t ignore the art and stare solely at the artist. For the same reason you wouldn’t ignore the children and lock yourself in a room with the Father. Why ask the saints to pray with you? Because this is the way God designed his Kingdom to work. An artist is more fully known and appreciated when you interact with and appreciate his art. God is more fully known and more fully glorified by you when you know Him in His Word, in your heart, in nature, and in others.
No comments:
Post a Comment