... non-prohibition is the last sanctuary of those who cannot affirmatively support their cherished beliefs. It is a fallacious argument. The Scriptures do not teach that the idea of The Matrix is wrong either, now do they?
"prayers of the saints"
... Different meaning than "prayers to the saints."
"I don't need to redefine what "early church" means to make my point. I mean Matthew, Luke, John, Paul,
Then please quote what they said. Where did Matthew, Luke, John, Paul advocate, command, demonstrate or record any believer praying to a departed saint?
"If deceased saints aren't able to hear or communicate with us, what do you think Jesus was doing with Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration?
...Christ brought them to that geographical location for His glory. In the passage, the disciples are not speaking to Moses or Elijah. There is no evidence, even in this context, that Moses or Elijah were aware that the disciples were present to observe, nor heard. If you become God, presumably you would be capable of the same miracle, but we both know that isn't happening, so it remains a category mistake in this discussion.
There is nothing in Scripture that teaches the deceased saints aren't able to hear or communicate with us-
...You continue to flee to "invisible evidence" to try to prove your (I assume) cherished practice. It is still as invisible as the King's new clothes. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate putting pizza in our shoes will guard us against satan, or attract angels around us.
I appreciate the discussion as well, and will keep you in my prayers.
... Thank you! Please pray to God. I'll do the same for you.
You did not answer my question about who the "prayers of saints" in Revelation were for. I did not say it said "prayers to the saints", but per your own point about making reasonable inferences from what Scripture does say, I await your answer to this question. Who are the martyred saints in Revelation praying for? (And if you look down at 6:9-10, that verse does suggest they have awareness of what's going on on earth.)
My reference to Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul was referring to their general Mariology, not specifically to praying to departed saints, if you look back at the item I was replying to. You will not find praying to departed Christian saints in the early books of the NT for the logical reason that there were few Christian martyrs until after the fall of Jerusalem, so they're weren't dead Christians to pray to yet. But there are references to praying to OT saints in the Judaism of the time, and--I am arguing (in brief: obviously I am not doing a full-length study here, but I can provide a bibliography when I have more time if requested)--there are allusions to praying to saints in Hebrews and Revelation as well--by the time these books were written, there were a growing number of Christian martyrs.
The Transfiguration: how did Peter know it was Moses and Elijah if there was the absolute lack of awareness you posit? There is nothing in the passages in question that imply only Jesus was able to hear them. When God spoke and said "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!", the indication is that the Apostles could hear what was being said. Peter describes himself, James, and John as "eyewitnesses" to the event in 2 Peter. All indications are that they were fully present to the conversation (to the point where Peter offered to put up tents for their ghostly guests!).
"If you become God, presumably you would be capable of the same miracle, but we both know that isn't happening, so it remains a category mistake in this discussion." I do not need to become God--which is impossible--because God dwells in me through the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit "intercedes with us with groans that words cannot express"--and the Holy Spirit can certainly communicate with the faithful departed, which is another point I'd encourage you to consider.
Thank you for your prayers. I pray that God will guide us both to greater knowledge of the truth of His Word.