Chapel in Santa Fe, NM
Billy Graham once said something like: Some day you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t believe it. I shall be more alive than I am now.
Most would agree Billy Graham could carry some clout in Heaven, so why don’t Protestants ask him to intercede? Looking through a Protestant-lens, some reasons include:
- The Holy Spirit intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26-27)
- Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God. (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25)
- To ask Billy instead of God could be viewed as dishonoring or even rejecting God.
- Lack of Biblical support to believe Billy has any sort of power or influence in the lives of people on earth.
- Only the Triune God is able to simultaneously hear the millions of prayers of individual people.
- Even if Billy (or an angel) was sent as a messenger or agent of God, it would be God’s decision to send him. The action would not be initiated by Billy but by God.
As we explored earlier, through a Catholic-lens, things look different. Instead of further explaining the theology behind those beliefs, let’s instead hear what one Believer shared about their faith journey:
…I can speak personally for how the saints have helped me draw closer to God… In particularly dark moments, especially of fear (both when I was young and now), the prayer for the aid of St. Michael the Archangel has brought immense peace and comfort to me, stilling my mind so that I am able to focus on God even more. In praying the rosary in times of stress and pain, I have received consolation, and with consolation, hope to preserve me from despair… I know that Mary was interceding on my behalf. It’s a beautiful, wondrous thing to be able to have a relationship with the saints in Heaven….Catholic belief in saintly intercession is based on Paul’s extensive writings of the Body of Christ, of which Jesus is the head and we are the members. Christians here on earth are members of that body, as well as those in Heaven. And, since all the parts of physical body work to take care of itself, different parts of the body can ask other members to intercede for them. This does not pass by or negate the mediation of Christ the Head. It works exactly the same way as asking friends or loved ones to pray for us….We are in relationship through Christ’s body with ALL Christians, both on earth and in Heaven, so it is possible for the saints to hear our petitions. When we ask a saint or angel to provide something to us…it is asking God through them; we do NOT believe that the saints have power on their own, but only through God. Again, it’s like asking a friend to do something for us; we know that everything he or she has ultimately comes from God, and we are asking them to share some of it with us. In asking for a favor from a friend, we are not asserting that they alone have the power to provide us with that thing; we go under the implicit assumption that everything they have (and can give) ultimately comes from God. To assume otherwise (about a friend on earth or a saint in Heaven) would, in fact, be idolatrous. But, we don’t assume that about our friends, and Catholics don’t assume that about the saints.
In the midst of these different views, there are some truth both lenses clearly see. For example, both see the promise of eternal life for those who put their trust in Christ. Both believe this life will be enjoyed in the presence of God. Both believe we will know and be known both to God and one another…that relationship will continue beyond this life. This truth is what unites us…the hope and promise of eternity. In Heaven, there will be no tears, sorrow, death, or disease; no pandemics, social-distancing, or fear of an uncertain future. And, until that day, God wants us to be His light in this world…together.