Author : Keith Sharp
Certainly no woman prior to the kingdom of God was so blessed as was Mary the mother of Jesus. She was a humble peasant from a despised village in rural Northern Palestine, but she became the mother of the Christ the Son of God. It was no accident that God chose her to be the mother of His only begotten Son. Her character was such that she was eminently fitted to care for and provide guidance for the Child born to her. The angel Gabriel greeted Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28)
But the Catholic Church has raised the honor of Mary far beyond this level. Catholics refer to Mary as the “Mother of God.” (Gibbons. 137) She was indeed the mother of Jesus Christ the Son of God. But the Scriptures nowhere call her the “Mother of God.” Furthermore, she had nothing to do with His divine nature, which He has possessed from all eternity (John 1:1-3). This title elevates her above God Himself, as do Catholic practices in reference to Mary.
Catholics claim that Mary alone of all mere mortals born on earth was born without original sin:
‘We define that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first moment of conception… was preserved free from every stain of original sin.’….Unlike the rest of the children of Adam, the soul of Mary was never subject to sin…” (Ibid. 140).
This doctrine is termed “The Immaculate Conception.” Even Catholic scholars recognize they are on tenuous ground here. “Although the Immaculate Conception was not formulated into a dogma of faith till 1854, it is at least implied in Holy Scripture.” (Ibid. 141) Not only is it not implied in Scripture, even the doctrine of Original Sin is unknown to the Bible. “Original Sin” means “that we have all inherited the transgressions of our first parents, and that we are born enemies of God.” (Ibid. 220). The Bible teaches:
“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”(Ezekiel 18:20).
No one inherits sin, but all responsible people have sinned (Romans 3:23), and there is no scriptural reason to believe Mary is any exception.
Catholic dogma also holds that Mary was a perpetual virgin, even after her marriage. “The Church teaches us that she was always a Virgin – a Virgin before her espousals, during her married life and after her spouse’s death.” (Ibid. 138) Were this true, Mary would have failed to fulfill her obligation to her husband (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). The Bible implies she had sexual relations with Joseph (Matthew 1:25), names four brothers of Jesus and indicates he had sisters as well (Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3). The doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary implies there is something impure about sexual relations in marriage, whereas the Bible indicates they are pure (Hebrews 13:4).
Roman Catholics further teach that Mary ascended bodily into heaven without experiencing death, a doctrine called the Assumption (and it is indeed assumed) (Ibid. 134-162). There is not a shred of scriptural evidence that Mary is an exception to the general rule of mankind: “it is appointed for men to die once.” (Hebrews 9:27)
Catholic tradition teaches that Mary is our “mediatrix” (female mediator), who intercedes with her Son on our behalf. Catholics are taught to pray to her:
“The Church exhorts her children not only to honor the Blessed Virgin, but also to invoke her intercession…. Now, Mary has never forfeited in heaven the title of Mother of Jesus. She is still His Mother, and while adoring Him as her God she still retains her maternal relations, and He exercises toward her that loving willingness to grant her request which the best of sons entertains for the best of mothers.” (Ibid. 154, 155)
The “Hail Mary” is an example of prayer to Mary. The Scriptures teach there is but “one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) The one recorded time that Mary interceded with Jesus in behalf of another, He rebuked her for interfering with His ministry (John 2:4). Prayer is an act of worship, and prayer to Mary, Catholic denials notwithstanding, is worship of Mary. We must worship God alone (Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9).
The effect of all Catholic traditions about Mary is to give to her an honor that belongs to no mere human. “Now of all who have participated in the ministry of the Redemption there is none who filled any position so exalted, so sacred, as the incommunicable office of Mother of Jesus…” (Ibid. 136) Jesus Himself taught that those Who obey Him hold a closer relationship to Him than do His physical kin (Matthew 12:48-50; Mark 3:33-35; Luke 8:21). The Lord declared that “those who hear the word of God and keep it” are more blessed than His mother (Luke 11:27-28). Mary was a good woman and was highly honored of God, but she was just a woman, no more, and should receive no more honor than any other good human.
John Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers.
