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Answer
The act of lighting candles for the deceased may or may not carry religious significance. Sometimes, following a tragedy, individuals gather for candlelight vigils or place lit candles at the site of someone’s passing. In these situations, the candles may simply represent the fleeting nature of life or serve as promises from the living to bring light to a dark world. There is no issue with lighting candles for such reasons. However, certain churches recommend lighting candles for the dead, often accompanied by prayers for them. This practice clearly contradicts biblical teachings.
The Roman Catholic Church asserts that lighting candles for the deceased alongside prayer extends and intensifies the prayer while also honoring the departed. The concept behind candles used in prayers for the dead is rooted in the Catholic belief in purgatory. The notion is that, after death, some individuals exist in a state of suffering between heaven and hell; Catholics hold that the prayers of the living can alleviate the suffering of those in purgatory and expedite their journey to heaven. Nevertheless, the doctrine of purgatory is not supported by the Bible but rather by Roman Catholic tradition.
The notion that candles expedite our prayers’ journey to heaven, enhance the potency or efficacy of our prayers, or contribute anything to our prayers is superstitious. Prayer is a dialogue with our heavenly Father—a conversation between two living, conscious, responsive beings who share the same Spirit. No candle can strengthen this connection.
There is nothing inherently wrong with candles. A lit candle can offer beauty and symbolize our witness in the world. However, candles are lifeless objects, devoid of power, strength, or mystical or supernatural capabilities. Candles do not influence how God responds to prayer, and they certainly do not aid in altering the eternal destination of a deceased person’s soul.
Lighting cHandling the deceased to assist them in transitioning to a better place is not supported by the Bible. It is common to feel the need to pray during times of anguish, hardship, and bereavement for our dear ones and companions, but supplicating for the spirits of the departed holds no significance. Rather, the emphasis should be on supporting the mourning loved ones and relatives of the deceased, providing empathy and hands-on help, demonstrating the love of Christ through practical means.
