Is All Prayer Worship? Rev. Jordan Cooper vs. the Bible

Is All Prayer Worship? Rev. Jordan Cooper vs. the Bible

Photo credit: copyright 2025 by Catholic Bible Highlights.

 

Summary: Protestants, including the Lutheran Rev. Jordan Cooper, often assert that all prayer is intrinsically worship. But in fact, this notion is very difficult to establish from the Bible.

Introduction: Lutheran pastor, Dr. Jordan Cooper, insists that all prayer in the Bible is worship. Is this true? In simple (and biblical) terms, no! But this is something Protestants often say to Catholics in order to accuse them of idolatry when they ask (“pray” to) the saints to assist them. In this episode of Catholic Bible Highlights, Catholic apologist and author Dave Armstrong joins Kenny Burchard to debunk the often-repeated Protestant myth, “all prayer is worship!” Dave gives the viewer verse after verse demonstrating that there are many kinds of prayer that simply can’t be described as worship, such as: 

  • Supplication
  • Petition
  • Cries of Anguish
  • Repentance
  • Simple Asking
  • Intercession for the needs of others

. . . even though they are directed to God. He  also shares multiple verses in which people “pray” to others — legitimately asking them for things without worshipping them or committing any form of idolatry.

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Photo credit: copyright 2025 by Catholic Bible Highlights.

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