You did not answer any of my questions. You threw out a few Bible verses, even though there are many verses in the Bible of Christians praying for one another: James 5:16; 1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Matthew 5:44; Matthew 18:19; to list just a few!
It is rather easy to proof text without maintaining the whole of Divine Revelation and Divine Tradition. There are thousands of independent protestants groups in the USA. Just about all of them claim to have the same God, the same Jesus and the same Bible, but they end up interpreting many fundamental passages in very contradictory ways. Did Jesus, the Son of God, not know that this would happen? Did Jesus not offer a solution to this confusion before He ascended into heaven? Is every Christian an infallible interpreter of the Bible and infallibly led by the Holy Spirit? If that is true, why are there these fundamental differences?
Jesus said “the truth shall set you free” (Jn 8:32). Was Jesus referring to the truth of God or the truth of man? Is everyone supposed to go on his own ego trip and tell everyone that he is infallible? How do I as an individual Christian know whether I am following the inspirations of God or of Satan or of my own egoism or of the world, whose prince is Satan (Jn 12:31; 14:30)?
If there is not a guide hear on earth to have certitude of interpreting the passages of Scripture according to God and not according to man, or the world or Satan, does this not lead to “Might makes right”, a dictatorship of subjectivism or of relativism? Who ends up making the laws if everyone interprets the Bible according to his own head or according to the group that agrees with him? Without a sure guide, will this not end up that the strongest decides the rules, which is a dictatorship?
That pretty much sums it up for the RCC when they had everyone under their thumb and full control of the Bible. Thank God for Luther! We are now free from the yoke of Rome. We can worship God in our own way. Just like Abraham, Moses and the prophets. Let God judge us and not (inquisition) Rome. God left us His Word not a denomination.
I guess you must have missed this one.
The point of the "few Bible verses" as you called them is to point out that we have the Holy Spirit and Jesus interceding on our behalf.
I guess somehow in Roman Catholicism that is insufficient.
Why do you ask others to pray for you? Who would have the most influence before God, to pray and intercede for us, the Mother of God or who?
The Bible teaches otherwise.
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-7 NASB
26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:34
We can approach the throne of Grace and fellowship with and ask God for our requests. In His sovereign will He will answer.
But if it will make you happy I'll answer your other question in your original post.
Why do you ask others to pray for you?
We have the NT examples of believers praying FOR each other...not TO each other as the Catholic does with Mary.
When Paul prays or he tells us to pray it is always directed TO GOD...not created beings.
Further what we do not see in the NT are the disciples making idols of Mary or praying to those who've died before them.
In fact, after Acts 1 Mary pretty much drops out of the picture.
Christ could have founded the Church with 12 perfect angels from heaven instead of 12 apostle who were sinners. Did Christ make a mistake?
Nope. He never makes mistakes.
Or are you suggesting that Christ should have founded the Church with 12 men as yourself?
Actually, the disciples were all flawed individuals. They were sinners. They were selfish. They were by no means perfect.
If you are a follower of Christ today....you are one of His disciples upon whom He continues to build His ekklesia.
I am a disciple of Christ. I follow Him and believe His promises. Do you?
There are very numerous examples in the whole Bible how God uses human instruments to accomplish His will and holy designs, even though God could have done it Himself. It takes humility to submit to God’s designs in which God chose to use men as instruments of salvation, instead of bypassing this humiliation and going straight to God. After all, I am worthy to go straight to God, and I do not need anyone to pray for me or intercede for me or anything else. Because I am I!
11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:11-12 NASB
For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 NASB
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NASB
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NASB
19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB
13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:13-15 NASB
The same Creator Who gave His only begotten Son as a one-time sacrifice for our sins has promised us He will listen to our prayer requests and He will answer in accordance with His will.
The Christian can approach the Creator with confidence.