Wednesday, 10 September 2008
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Catholics and Mary, Mother of Jesus
I just finished Bible Study with my Mother. We read from 1 Timothy. A verse caught my eye.
1 Timothy 2:5 says "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
If this verse is in the Bible, why is it that Catholics believe that Mary is a the mediator, too? Correct me if I'm wrong. I just heard that from my Catholic boyfriend. I'm a Protestant, Pentecostal, Church of God believer. I've never understood the Hail Mary's. If someone out there could just clarify, that would be just peachy.
Thanks.
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Comments (4)
You're in Church of God, the one based out of Cleveland, TN? I'm assuming it's that one, bec. you said pentecostal.
I'm from the other Church of God, the one based out of Anderson, IN.
Anyway, Mary. The Catholic idea is based on a series of assumptions. First, let's assume that when we pray for each other, God hears that and answers those prayers. That is, we can help each other out through prayer. Next, assume that if I am struggling with something, I can ask you to pray for me, Now, assume that when people die, they are in the presence of God, but at the same time, they can still hear and see things we do on earth. If that's true, then why can't we ask people who have died to pray for us the same way I ask you to pray for me?
That's the series of assumptions behind the whole Catholics praying to saints thing.
Now, there are different "patron" saints for different aspects of life. This is based on the assumption that different people have different prayer burdens. So a woman who went through an abusive childhood would pray more passionately for young women she knows in abusive situation. Then assume that a saint who has lived and died still has those passions. That's why St. Benedict is the patron saint of cave-workers; because he lived in a cave for much of his life.
As for Mary, since she was the mother of Jesus and spent most of her life with him, Catholics assume that she has an especial interest in people who want to be close to her son.
That's the basic idea behind praying to Mary. She's not God, not co-equal to God, just a highly interested third-party. I don't believe it, myself, because I don't assume that the dead are watching the earth, but that's the idea.
-NDSR
Mary's is Jesus's mother. We praise God that Mary bore such as awesome child of God, but the way to heavne in Jesus Christ himself. John 14v6: Jesus answered, " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Matthew10v32:"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven."
The Bible is the Word of God spoken, So if God spoke it then thats the final say.
John 1v1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
You can't argue what God has said btwn what man has said.
Numbers 23v19:God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?
Isaiah 55v8-11: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
I pray that your personal relationship with God will get stronger and closer in him, your prayer life be constant, your love increase, and that your reading of the Word will increase so that the Holy Spirit will lead you in your understanding the God we serve fully and correctly.
1st Corinthians 2/9-13:However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"-but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
-Amen
@sirnickdon - Oh my gosh, I thought you were agreeing with them for a sec.
But thank you for answering my question. And yes, my base is in TN.
@memo2662 - Thanks . . . but I don't think you really answered my question. I wanted to understand why the Catholics pray to Mary and to other saints. It's ok, I've already gotten the answer.
God bless you both! :)
@i_am_ROYALTY - Would it be so bad if I agreed with them?
-ND