Nate fields a fiery Maronite Catholic call labeling Protestants a cult while defending praying to saints and the one mediator.

Are Protestants a Cult? Praying to Saints & One Mediator

What happens when a Maronite Catholic from Lebanon dials in and declares that Protestants follow a cult worse than Islam? Nate finds himself in the middle of a rapid-fire debate on praying to saints, the Virgin Mary, and whether following the Bible alone makes anyone a cult member. The caller insists saints perform miracles doctors cannot explain and that asking them for intercession is no different from asking a living Christian to pray. Nate responds with the clear claim of Scripture that there is one mediator between God and men. The conversation quickly expands into church history, apostolic succession, and whether Catholics can be saved. Here is what unfolded on this TikTok Thursday episode of the Ask A Christian Podcast.

Praying to Saints: The Biblical Bottom Line

The heart of the exchange centered on whether believers should ask departed saints for intercession. The caller argued that highly devoted men and women in heaven stand closer to Jesus and can present requests on our behalf, pointing to miracles attributed to them. Nate countered that the Bible never instructs the living to address the dead. Instead, 1 Timothy 2:5 states there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. Scripture invites believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence through Christ alone. While all who are in Christ are called saints, the practice of praying to those who have already died finds no command or example in the New Testament. Nate affirmed that God still works miracles today and that the righteous lives of past believers deserve respect, yet that respect does not grant them mediatorial roles. For a clear summary of core biblical beliefs on authority and mediation, see our statement of faith. Related discussions on how to handle doctrinal differences appear in the Theology Unpacked category.

When the Call Center Turns into a Free-for-All

Between theological volleys, the episode delivered pure chaos. A weak connection prompted Nate’s offhand suggestion that the caller “venerate Mary for a better signal,” which another Catholic later called un-Christian. Shelby’s signal kept dropping mid-question about Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor, forcing multiple restarts. Near the end a brand-new Christian asked how to pray the rosary, only to receive the gentle reply that he had dialed the wrong number for that particular practice and should simply keep reading the Gospel of John. Connie’s closing remark about leftover tacos somehow felt like the most grounded moment of the entire two hours.