[Bible Comment/Question From a Catholic] Well, firstly I will admit that I was a bit puzzled and curious as to why you decided to send me an article about Mary since I have not mentioned anything about her previously. (Did you have some sort of spiritual thoughts that maybe I hold her in high esteem?). I do in fact pray to her for her intercession as well as of course to God and to my Guardian Angel. I’ve never felt it to be a problem before but indeed lately I do seem to be feeling more positive towards Mary than towards Jesus probably because as a woman I feel like she can understand me somehow more.. (it probably isn’t so, I just feel it).
The passage 1 Cor. 6:9-11 which you mentioned also ties in with the figure of Mary if I’m correct? Do you perceive her as an idol in this context? Thank you in advance,
[Bible Answer] Thank you for your polite response. I’m very glad you shared your heart. There are several important Bible truths I need to mention related to your comments. Here they are:
* We are to pray only to God. I know Catholics have been entrenched in praying to Mary, angels and other Catholic saints, but we were taught wrong. [I am an ex Catholic.] That type of prayer is not Biblical and must stop. To pray to Mary or anyone else is to wrongly assume she/he is all-knowing for she would have to be able to hear multiple people praying to her at the same time. Only God is all-knowing and has the sovereign power to answer prayer, deliver us and save our souls. [Mary is not sovereign, as Pope John Paul II taught.]
* Please be assured that JESUS is more merciful than Mary. In fact, Mary being merciful or helpful to us in our needs doesn’t even fit into the equation because she can’t do anything for us. She is not the mediatrix or dispenser of grace, as Catholicism declares. She is not the sinless Queen of heaven and hope of sinners; neither is she our life, sweetness and hope. As you read and learn the New Testament, precious life-producing truths about JESUS will become apparent.
* JESUS is the focus and the key to eternal life and victory. We also get to Jesus by going directly to him, without first going to Mary. Jesus commanded us to come directly to him (Mt. 11:28-30; John 5:40; 6:37; etc.). It is a sin to disobey and try to go to him some other way, based on those Scriptures.
* Without question, the fabricated Mary of Roman Catholicism is not the Mary portrayed in the Bible. To be more precise, the Mary of Catholicism doesn’t exist. She has been invented and has evolved over the centuries. Now she has become a godless figure and savior to the misinformed. Such is not the Mary taught in the Bible. There is no resemblance between the two. Since Catholicism has exalted their fabricated Mary to being THE WAY TO GOD (Fatima Marian apparition) it is therefore, necessary for our personal salvation to reject that poisonous concept and go to Jesus and trust him 100% for our salvation. Mary has no role in salvation and neither do the sacraments or being a Catholic. A saving faith is a faith in JESUS, which follows and obeys him. It is one which has repented of sins and is serving God. It is a faith which has set one free from his sin addictions and has made one a new creation in Christ.
* YES, Catholicism has made their fabricated sinless Queen of heaven into an idol and they carry her around like the idolaters in the Old Testament did with their false gods:
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good. (Jer 10:3-5)
Finally, for all those listed in 1 Cor. 6:9,10, the remedy is cited in verse 11, but that vital remedy doesn’t mention Mary. The whole passage says:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11, NASB).
Please read this about saving faith very carefully.
