Fellow Christians, do you pray to "the trinity" (read details ..)?

Question

Several questions ....

Some weeks ago in church I realized an elder praying to Jesus and yet shortly after it he said something like "you are our father". I found that strange.

Since clearly structured questions seem to work better ...

1) When you pray to God (Dear God ... ) do you believe you pray to the father and to Jesus at the same time?

2) When you address Jesus (Dear Jesus ...) do you address the father at the same time?

3) When you pray to the father (Dear father ...) do you mean the father plus Jesus?

4) When you pray with words like "Lord" and "Saviour", who do you mean, the father, Jesus, or both at the same time?

5) Do you ever pray to "the trinity", explicitely meaning the father, son and Holy spirit?

thx.

Answer 1

1) God is any of the members,or all at the same time. Generally, when praying, you have an idea of whom you are looking for.

2 and 3) The model prayer is to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus thru the Holy Spirit that lives with us.

I also call on Jesus... but I mean the Son when I do this. Jesus help me, Jesus take away this pain, Jesus be with me, etc.

4) Lord and Saviour I tend to use for both Father and Son,

5) Occaisionally... it's more of a worship thing for the Trinity than a prayer.

Answer 2

There are three separate persons in ONE God. Each is God by Himself; yet, there are not three gods. Each is separate and yet the Father is in the Son, the Son is in the Father and both are in the Holy Spirit and vice versa. Each person co-equally shares in ONE Divine Nature. And there is no such thing as 1/3 god. The reason for this is that the Trinity is actually just the thoughts and actions of ONE God actualized and recognizable in the scriptures as three separate entities (Profound Mystery incapable of being understood). When one prays to any one person, you are simply praying to ONE God who is Trinity. And there is only ONE Trinity. You may wish to consult with the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The Blessed Trinity" which can be easily found herein on the Internet.  

Answer 3

I have never really given it serious thought and now that I do, I would answer yes. Although the trinity is one it has three functions. God the father who reigns in heaven, God the son who has walked in our shoes and offers salvation by grace, God the holy spirit who communicates with all and transforms mans perception into knowledge. I think that the reason why blaspheming the Holly Spirit has great consequence is because communication (to man) is severed. I guess my line of thought is derived from a blessing in the bible "May the grace (goodwill) of our lord Jesus Christ and the love of God (1Cor.13) and the fellowship (sharing) of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever." I do not find referring to Jesus as the father odd because He is God just as my arm being part of my body is therefor my body.

Answer 4

I know you might want to save your points, but it would be easier if you only addressed one issue at the time

1. Yes. Jesus is God

2. Yes, Father and Son and Holy Spirit is one true God, holy Trinity

3. Jesus is different than the father in person but He is the same God

4. Jesus is God. The same God

5. Sometimes. I keep it simple with my heavenly daddy

Answer 5

Thats anytime to pray, you pray to the trinity. Jesus was the natural form of God on earth. When Jesus left he left us with the holy spirit to comfort us because he was gone.

Answer 6

In a court of law, you make your plea directly to the judge.   Your lawyer is standing by to defend you.   The lawyer is to Jesus as the judge is to the Father.

So, pray to the Father . . . in Christ's name.   Because Christ's name holds clout while yours does not.

Answer 7

When I pray the Our Father I understand I'm praying to Jesus.

Jesus is God presented in flesh to us.