Thoughts from Pastor Tim - November 6

Dear Church Family –

Good news this week from the Vatican.  Well, sort of good news.

Tuesday, the Vatican released a 20-page paper saying that Catholics are often confused about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  The paper states that Mary should not be referred to as a “Co-redemptrix” with Christ, nor should she be called the “Mediatrix of all graces.” 

These titles, the paper says, tend to eclipse Christ’s work as the sole intermediary between God and man.  It affirms that Mary does not add anything to Christ’s sufficient atonement, and that any view of Mary that distracts Catholics from Christ, or that places her on the same level as Christ, would fall outside “authentic Marian faith.”

That’s good news after hundreds of years of Catholics praying to Mary as “the Queen of Heaven,” and venerating her as one whose intercession can bring eternal salvation.  (A notion clearly rejected by Scripture.  See Acts 4:12 and I Tim 2:5.)

So, does this new statement of Catholic faith mean that Catholics and Evangelicals now agree about Mary?  Sadly, no.

Catholics can still pray to Mary and still believe that she has a special place at Jesus’ side, and works with Him to help you with your salvation.  The notion of praying to Mary—or to anyone other than God—is foreign to Scripture.

Catholics also still believe other unbiblical ideas about Mary, such as…

The perpetual virginity of Mary, which is refuted by Matthew 1:25 and Mark 6:3.

The assumption of Mary into heaven “body and soul.”  There is no scriptural support for this idea and it wasn’t declared authoritative by the Catholic Church until 1950.

The sinlessness of Mary, which is not in Scripture and which seems to be contradicted by Mark 3:21, 31-35.

It will soon be Christmas when we are often reminded of the Biblical truth about Mary.  She was a godly young woman who was highly favored by God and who leaves us a marvelous example of godly character and virtue and submission to the sometimes puzzling will of God.  Jesus, while hanging on the cross for our sins, made sure that she would be cared for the rest of her life.  But she was a human being with a sin nature and the need to believe in Christ to be saved. 

Jesus Himself discouraged the veneration of Mary.  Luke 11:27-28 tells us, “As He said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’  But He said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’”

I’m glad that the Catholic church has dialed back, somewhat, their unbiblical ideas of Mary.  At the same time, it should remind us to stick to the teachings of Scripture, to beware the human tendency to make idols, and to not let anything diminish the glory and work of Jesus Christ!

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 1He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Col 1:13-20)

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday as we worship and honor Jesus, and seek Him in His Word.  -  Pastor Tim