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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | MARY--HONOR OR ADORATION? | 1 Pet 5:7 | kalos | 26958 | ||
MARY--HONOR OR ADORATION? 'It is unfortunately true that in many Protestant circles, largely in reaction to Catholic over-emphasis on the role of the Virgin Mary, that many Protestants have failed to grasp the Bible portrait of our Lord’s mother.' Part I 'This has led to the neglect of Mary as an example in Scripture, and to many Protestants forgetting that she was the greatest woman that ever lived because she was chosen to be the mother of the Saviour of the world. It is necessary that we respect the person of the Virgin Mary, that we love her memory as a sister in Christ, and acknowledge her devotion to the Word of God and the teacher of her Son. But to honor the person of Mary for her genuine accomplishments and character, is quite a different thing from the adoration of Mary and the concept that in order to have “the full gospel of Jesus Christ” one must adopt the Roman Catholic view of the role of the Virgin Mary. Catholic and Protestant Charismatics may agree to disagree about Mary’s role but neither can afford to ignore Holy Scripture which alone defines that role. The fullness of the gospel does not involve Mary at all but instead the recognition that redemption is by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ of whom the Virgin Mary said, “Whatever He says to you, do it (John 2:5). (...) 'It is essential that we understand, therefore, the historic Catholic view of Mary and contrast it with Biblical passages bearing on this important subject. Only by this method will we be able to ascertain whether or not the Roman Catholic view of Mary is consistent with Biblical theology, a factor which bears heavily on the concerns of the Charismatics. 'In his celebration of the Marian Year in Rome in 1950, Pope Pius XII accurately reflected the Church’s view of the Virgin Mary in his pontifical prayer. (...) 'This prayer is particularly interesting when contrasted with the teaching of the man Catholics believe to be the first Pope, Peter. In his first epistle, the Apostle wrote that we are to “cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). The substitution of Mary for Christ in the prayer of Pope Pius XII, is sobering along with the other assertions that Mary is “a fountain of faith” and Conqueress of evil and death.” In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed infallibly that the Virgin Mary’s body had been assumed into heaven without her having to pass through death, something her Son was denied. (...) 'A well-known Roman Catholic prayer substantiates the view of the Pope when it affirms that Mary is “Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” A direct violation of the Biblical revelation that Jesus Christ is our life and our hope. Another very popular prayer among Catholics is the “Hail Mary.” In that prayer Mary is designated as “Holy Mary, Mother of God.” Thus, bestowing upon her a most exalted title. It is reasoned in Catholic theology that Jesus is God and Mary is His mother: therefore Mary is the Mother of God. This reasoning, however, is illogical and ignores the triune nature of God. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Using the reasoning of Catholic theologians as evidenced in this prayer, God is a trinity. Mary is the Mother of God, therefore Mary is the Mother of the Trinity. This of course will be immediately denied, but it is perfectly logical, following from their own definitions. 'The term, “ Mother of God”, was not introduced to the Christian community until the Fourth Century, and even later Catholic theology bestowed upon her the title, “Queen, teacher, and sanctifier.” Both Catholic and Protestant Charismatics, however, are well aware of the fact that the Word of God sanctifies us (John 17:17 and 1 Tim. 4:5). The role of the Holy Spirit is specifically to sanctify us, to be the One who walks beside us. In the words of the Lord Jesus, “When He comes He will lead you into all truth.” In its official literature, the Roman Catholic Church has widely circulated the idea that because Mary is related to Christ, after the flesh, she therefore has some special intercessory power with Him. This idea however is at direct variance with the very words of the Lord Himself, “Whoever hears my Word and obeys it is the same to me as my mother, my brother or my sister” (Matt. 12:46-50). Since the genuine Charismatic is one who is in subjection to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, this creates enormous problems especially when the Mary of Roman Catholicism looms large on the stage of Christian fellowship." (To be continued) (STATEMENT DM160 Charismatics and the Cult of Mary by Walter Martin) (www.equip.org) |
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2 | MARY--HONOR OR ADORATION? | 1 Pet 5:7 | kalos | 26973 | ||
Part VIII MARY -- HONOR OR ADORATION? (Conclusion) 'Seven Steps to Deity 'The Voice of Mary? 'To underscore the importance of the emerging role of Mary in Catholic literature, one need only examine a recent book, a product of the Marian movement of priests, entitled Our Lady Speaks to Her Be1oved Priests. This material purports to be a collection of messages communicated by Mary from 1973 to 1977. The messages were dictated to an anonymous priest to whom Mary allegedly said: '“It is I who live, suffer, pray and act through a priest who has consecrated himself to my immaculate heart” (p. 89). 'The Virgin Mary allegedly stated: “My Son, how you need your Mother! She alone can understand and help you. She alone can hear you. She alone, through her Divine Plan, can snatch you from the hand of Satan and save you. Have recourse to me again, and I will be your salvation” (p. 88). 'It is evident from the preceding quotation that Mary’s role as Savior is accelerating to a place where it can be stated: '“Nothing shall be of interest or importance to you save living for me and with me... It is through your weakness that my strength will be manifested. It is through your nothingness that my power will be known.” 'The end-product of such teaching Cannot be ignored. it is nothing less than the absorption and possession of “Her Beloved Priests.” '“I will take possession of their lives, and gently I will transform them... Learn to let yourself be possessed by me, so that everything that you do will be done by me through you. It is necessary that the Mother act, and I want to act through you.” 'Such language is reminiscent of the world of the occult, not the theology of the New Testament. The one thing that Catholic Charismatics do not need is the world of the occult masquerading as Charismatic mysticism, imitating, and at length, discrediting the genuine movement of the Holy Spirit within the Catholic Charismatic renewal. With chilling clarity the Marian movement endorses total subjugation to Mary: '“If you remain in the garden of my Immaculate Heart, you become my property. Thus no one can ever take you away from me, because I am your defense. You must always feel that you have security. You must no longer fear either Satan or the world or the frailty of your nature ... I can defend you against the evil one, who can do nothing to harm those who are part of my property” (p. 204). 'Biblical theology underscores the fact that Jesus Christ is our defense and our security, and that Satan responds to Him, and Him alone. This is evidenced by the fact that exorcisms in the Catholic Church are done exclusively in the name of Jesus Christ, not in the name nor by the authority of Mary. She has no power over the demon world of possession. 'Let us strive, therefore, to proclaim the historic gospel of Jesus Christ which exalts Him as Savior and Lord. Let Protestant and Catholic Charismatics stand upon the unshakeable foundation of New Testament revelation. Let us together share in the fellowship of the redeemed, and turn away from all other voices and teaching not consistent with “the faith once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).' (STATEMENT DM160 Charismatics and the Cult of Mary by Walter Martin) (www.equip.org) |
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3 | MARY--HONOR OR ADORATION? | 1 Pet 5:7 | Hank | 26997 | ||
Kalos, in your eight-part post on "Mary -- Honor or Adoration" you have presented in a systematic manner an alternate view of the Roman Catholic dogmas on this subject. In so doing you have presented to the forum considerable background material and dissenting points of view that gives balance to the considerable numbers of postings heretofore made on the forum that promote the Catholic point of view. It is thus clear to this writer that such a documented presentation as your have made serves better to counterbalance the presentation of the Catholic points of view on this subject than do oceans of bitter debates that are prone to lead to personal assaults and insults. It is much more to my liking to be presented the issues in their fullness from both sides and be able to pick and choose for myself which is more likely the truer course, using to the best of my ability the word of God as my plumb-line. --Hank | ||||||