‘Calling upon angels’
Posted on March 27, 2007
Filed Under Apologetics, Cross Currents
On the Beliefnet.com website, the leading story today is called “Finding Your Angels.” Presented on this page are three “meditations” by author Doreen Virtue helping you to call on your guardian angel, relieve strees with the archangel Michael, and promote healing with the angel Raphael.
Far and away from biblical truth, these “meditations” sound more like prayers to angels. For instance, the transcript of the “stress relieving meditation” encourages the reader or listener to “call upon the Archangel Michael,” saying “please come to us now.” The author then encourages folks to ask Michael to clear them of unforgiveness, anger, and the like.
It is amazing how far from biblical truth the world has come. The public at large is more willing to call upon spiritual beings than to call upon God!
There is no doubt that angels are ministering spirits sent to do work that benefits those who will inherit eternal life (Heb. 1:14). But where in scriptures does one find instructions to call upon an individual angel for assistance? And where does one find the idea that each of us has a “guardian angel” that we can ask for help like a genie in a bottle?
The answer of course is that these ideas are not supported by scripture. First, the meditations offered by Virture are simply prayers with a different name. Anytime one requests things from a spiritual being, it would be considered prayer. Since we have one God, and one Mediator in Jesus Christ between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), there is no need to request anything from any other spiritual being. Neither is there any example of a man or woman offering prayer to an angel in the scriptures.
Second, we find no evidence in scripture of a “guardian angel” for each person. Some have taken Jesus words in Matthew 18:10 to give such evidence:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
However, notice that Jesus says “angels,” not singular. There is no single angel following each of us around watching over us. Surely God’s entire army of angels is doing His will, but to say we are each “assigned” a particular angel is certainly stretching scripture.
In pagan countries and in some Jewish sectarian beliefs, angels were given a much higher role than given in scripture. Paul even gave a warning in the Colossian letter about giving beings and practices a role in the worship of the church that God has not given.
Col 2:18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
Col 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (ESV)
Let this warning from Paul to the Colossians serve as a warning to those today who place angels between themselves and God.
RELATED POSTS:
‘Baptism doth also now save us’
Quail Springs hits the slippery slope of instrumentalism, 300 walk out
Calling out Quail Springs: Judgmental, or loving?
The Need for Balance
2,630 and counting…
Comments
One Response to “‘Calling upon angels’”
Leave a Reply
Polls
Loading ...-
John was chastized by an angel twice in Revelation 19:10 and 22:8,9 for bowing down and worshipping him. Peole like the thought of having “someone” looking out for them and they will believe whatever comes along.