Subject: When did the catholic church go wrong? |
Bible Note: Greetings Emmaus! Hebrews 9:4 never states that the Ark of the Covenant was made of 'incorruptible wood'. Exodus 25:10 does not say this either! So if you are saying that the Ark was made of 'incorruptible wood', then either you are basing these assumptions on your own conclusions (which one cannot come to just by reading the text), or on the conclusions of a long standing tradition that does not prove to be 'supported' by Scripture here. All things must be supported by Scripture. If we begin to believe in tradition rather than Scripture, then we are taking our focus off of God's Holy Word, and putting our 'faith' in man's tradition, which is full of flaws, and God's Word is flawless (Psalm 12:6-7). I now see where you make the connection between Mary having the 'midden manna' of Jesus Christ and giving birth to Him, thus making her the new "Ark of the Covenant" and the "Queen of God", but this is nowhere to be supported in Scripture! Is it only coincidence that none of the Biblical writers ever even alluded to the same thing that you are talking about? Yes, all generations will call Mary 'blessed', since she was in a sense, the hand-maiden of God. However, Mary is in no way equal with God, nor does she have any characteristics of the Deity. If you read in Luke 2:34-35, does not Simeon say to Mary, "and a sword will pierce even your own soul"?? If this is so, then in what way is Mary shown to be Deity, since she will also be convicted of her sins? We should not call Mary, the mother of Jesus, 'blessed' to the point of worshipping her! This would be idolatry, and something that is not even acceptable to angels (Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9)! Mary was a servant of God as we are. In no way has she been placed as a "Goddess" over mankind. Not only does this teach polytheism but it is not Scriptural and is actually contrary to the teachings of the Bible. I agree with you that Jesus is the 'new Adam' because the Bible says so in 1 Corinthians 15:45. And 1 Corinthians 15:22 tells me this also. But Emmaus, where in the Bible does it say that Mary is anything more than a God fearing woman who gave birth to the Man, Jesus Christ? Mary may have given birth to Jesus, who was the fullness of God in bodily form, and Mary was the 'vessel' that God used to deliver His Son to this earth, but Mary did not 'give birth' to God. For God has no beginning and no end! (Revelation 22:13) And how could Mary be the mother of God if God has existed forever? Jesus Christ has always existed, even before the foundation of the earth! (John 17:24, Hebrews 13:8) So was Mary really the 'mother of God'? Or was she just a willing servant of God whom God used to 'introduce' His one and only Son into this world? Emmaus, I am not trying to put you on the spot here. I humbly ask you to please show me in Scripture with Bible Verses where it 'proves' that Mary is anything more than just a humble servant of God. Also, "man that was at the foot of the cross" and this brings me to John 19:26-27 where Jesus says, "Woman, behold, your son!" and to the 'man', "Behold, your mother!" If you were referring to these passages, where Mary, the mother of Jesus, is standing at the foot of the cross with John, His disciple, then please show me where it says here that Mary is anything more than just a woman of God. Emmaus, I ask you humbly, and not as a request! Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |