And do you think Jesus appreciates you bad mouthing His mother?
2006-11-12 08:40:36 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nope, He does't appreciate it! Jesus honored His mother, why shouldn't we? He said to imitate Him! Dishonoring His holy mother is not imitating Him! I don't get why they think we worship Mary when we tell them over and over again that we don't!
We pray to her because she is much closer to God than we are. If you can ask you friend to pray for you, why wouldn't you ask her to pray for you? She is the holiest person that ever lived!
2006-11-12 08:44:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jesus Christ would not condone "bad mouthing" anyone. However, the Bible is clear that Christians have only "one mediator between God and man, and that is the man Christ Jesus". The Bible also teaches we are to pray directly to the Father through Jesus Christ by the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Roman Catholicism also has idols and graven images to which some -not all- Catholics pray and we all know what the Bible teaches about idols and graven images. Besides, after Jesus was born Mary was no longer a virgin because Jesus had brothers and sisters. James, who wrote the book of James in the Bible, and Jude-who wrote the book of Jude- were the brothers of Christ. Also, the Bible teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are in need of His salvation. All means all, including Mary, like it or not.
2006-11-12 16:58:28 · answer #2 · answered by utuseclocal483 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Lord never intended Mary to be placed high on a pedistal and having people pray to her which is totally contrary to the teachings of Christ himself. It should be noted that whilst the Lord appeared to many in the Bible he did not appear to Mary but rather an angel of the Lord appeared to her and told her about the future birth of Christ, Jesus always existed and the scriptures make this very clear. mary was used as Gods instrument to allow Jesus come to earth in human form. When the angel appeared to Mary he told her that she was "blessed" This means "happy" The way the Catholics ramble on with their "hail mary" would be a total turn off for the Lord as he desires people to pray from the heart and not ramble the same thing over and over. The Bible is clear on this issue and the Lord desires that the total focus be on Christ who said himself that no man comes to the Father but by him. Today we have people praying to saints,Mary and who knows who else yet all these people are dead (asleep) Little wonder the Lord will destroy the Catholic Church during the tribulation as they have turned the simple truth of the Gospel of Christ into a huge lie. Read Revelarions Ch.17 V.19
2006-11-12 16:57:46 · answer #3 · answered by mandbturner3699 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While I don't generally have an opinion on this....I'll try to explain. The Virgin Mary wasn't what the Bible was about. She played a small KEY role in it, but after the birth of Christ...had smaller than a bit part through the rest of it. God/Jesus did not specify that she was to be prayed to or worshiped (even perceived worship is worship). I know many people that pray almost solely to Mary, and kneel in front of a statue of her as well. Seems a bit like idolotry to me...but again...preferences are preferences.
2006-11-12 16:45:43 · answer #4 · answered by tjjone 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I feel the same way. Protestants honor some saints, such as Paul, Peter, and other early church fathers, but for some reason they refuse to see Mary as worthy of the same honor! She was the most perfect saint, and a model of faith and holiness for all people. I feel that protestants, and especially fundamentalists, refuse to give Mary their praise and respect and instead mock our devotion because of attitudes which origionated at the reformation. Many protestant beliefs and practices are based on simply not doing what Catholics do. This feeling will make union especially difficult. (and I admit my attitude may be a little harsh also.)
2006-11-12 16:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by ben 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only reason these folks don't properly venerate the Blessed Virgin is because the Catholics and the Orthodox do.
2006-11-12 18:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fundamentalist and Evangelical protestants are so critical because they think it's a form of idolatry they don't believe in intercessors and they don't believe in the immaculate conception and as far as bad mouthing His Mother they could care less they bad mouth all Religions outside of there own.......everybody else is wrong and they are right....blah, blah, blah, blah
2006-11-12 17:03:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I dont know what "veneration" means, but I love Mary for her sacrifice..... I dont worship anyone but Jesus, Father and the Holy Spirit.
She is not God, but she was a wonderful sacrificial Jewish girl who is known world wide. Jesus never told us to pray to her, and when asked how to pray, he gave us the Lord's prayer as a model. Mary was never mentioned. I follow Jesus commands, not a church's.
That is my opinion, thanks!
David
2006-11-12 16:46:56 · answer #8 · answered by judge_smails_sir 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Holy Scripture records the Blessed Virgin herself saying that "All generations shall call me blessed"....That title appears to choke fundies.
At the Wedding Feast of Cana we were given an exact representation of HOW the Blessed Virgin intercedes, and how her Divine Son can not refuse her. He even said, "It is not yet my time...", meaning the time for His public works and miracles in particular had not yet arrrived.
In the same way, she pleads for us just as she did for the newly married couple. She would never ask Him for things that would hurt us, obviously, or which would go against His Divine Will, but she begs His Mercy for us, asks Him to grant us our prayers, and while our FRIENDS AND FAMILY'S prayers are certainly beneficial, NONE can be more powerful than that of our Mother, that Mother He gave to ALL of us from the cross, when He said, "Behold thy Mother." He was NOT just giving His Mother to St. John, but to ALL of us. And when He told her, "Behold thy son.", He was telling her she was to be spiritual mother to ALL of us. She does His Will more perfectly than any other creature ever has or will, and obeyed His command to the letter; she loves each of us even more tenderly than our own mothers do, and wishes al to be saved, to bring greater glory to her Son.
The devil hates and fears her. He would be the greatest force on EARTH in trying to have her despised, or at least diminish reverence and love for her. He seems to have done a fine job in certain sectors. I for one would hate be in the place of those who belittle her, on their judgement day they will face the wrath of the most devoted Son. He Who obeyed the Law perfectly while in His earthly travels, did perfectly obey the command "Honor Thy Father and They Mother", still highly honors BOTH Mary and Joseph; but Mary being the most perfecly created, perfectly united to God's Will, and without even ths slightest stain of sin on her soul shall always be the highest among Saints; she is beyond the saints and beneath only the Trinity Itself.
2006-11-12 16:58:24 · answer #9 · answered by Rebecca C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mary isn't the High Priest. Salvation is through the shed blood of the Lamb of God. Jesus is the High Priest forever.
If I prayed to my Savior Jesus Christ, and Jesus introduced me to Mary, I would be honored. But my salvation doesn't come from what she did, except that she was obedient to God & gave birth to Jesus. God bless Mary above all women.
But my salvation comes from Jesus & His redeeming blood. Jesus is the mediator, and I confess my sins to Jesus. He is just and faithful to forgive me my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I would not pray to Mary before praying to God because that would be having other God's before Him. God is the Father, Word & Holy Spirit.
I love Mary and honor her. She did have more children with her husband after Jesus was born in a Manger.
Some think she is always a virgin. Though, when everyone who is redeemed by the blood goes to heaven they are virgins. Any sinful behaviors (like fornications) get fried away & don't go to heaven. So Mary is a virgin in heaven. So are the others virgins who are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb.
I don't know what Orthodox veneration of the Virgin Mary is, but if born again Christians are critical of it, it is probably because there is false teaching about Mary in it or they made a God or images out of her. None of those images would do her justice. She certainly wouldn't float around them.
Also, every born again Christian on earth or in heaven is holy / a Saint. Holy & Saint come from the same greek New Testament word. It means washed clean, pure, set apart, etc... That is what happens the moment one is born of God. It is written to be Holy because God is Holy. Same as be a Saint because God is a Saint. Don't you know that your body is the temple of God. It is not your own, it is purchased with a price. So, honor God in your body.
Also it is written in Revelation (Johns vision from Jesus) that the Holy Mother is the Heavenly Jerusalem that comes down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. Those of the Heavenly Jerusalem are those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The foundation is Jesus Christ the corner stone and the names of the Lambs 12 Apostals. The pearly gates are the names of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Mother (I think) Mary does represent Israel (the woman, Jesus is the one brought forth of Israel) in Revelation 12. But that chapter is a bit confusing.
Also to add, Fundamentalist (believe in Christ foundation) and Evangelicals (called to be Evangelicals by the Lord Jesus Christ) do not bad mouth the Mother of Jesus Christ. Also, they believe all those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb go to heaven and are praying & interceding in heaven for us like any Saint. But we aren't to pray to them first. We pray to Jesus or to the Father in the name of His Son Jesus. We can only pray to God if our sins are washed in the blood. Once we are born of God, we are made the righteousness of Christ. If we feel convicted, we just repent to Jesus & His blood cleanses us. And we can come boldly before the throne of Grace in time of need.
I keep adding to my answer because I read others answers and some are good but then people falsely accuse in there answers. False accusations just irritate me.
2006-11-12 16:50:59 · answer #10 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋