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An Overview:
Notions/Truths in respect to The Word of God:
To open some truth in the matter I want
to begin, as I stated above, with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary should not be held in such high
regard that we petition our prayers through her or to her.
To pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not giving Jesus
the honor or the glory He deserves…and it is not recognizing
Him for who He is - He is the Son of God, He willingly went
to the cross for us, not Mary, in fact, Mary as far as I
know, died; but Jesus was resurrected. Jesus said the only
way to the Father is by way of Him, so this means that any
other effort is futile, it is pointless, useless and a
waste. Furthermore, it was never said, ask my mother first
and she will persuade me to do for you.
If ye abide in me, and my
words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you. That is scripture.
It is not Mary who answers prayer; but
to pray to her is to expect her to answer that particular
prayer. Twice we were given the example of how to pray, and
it starts out this way, “Our Father who art in Heaven.”
Anything else is simply not written.
Understand, it is Jesus who sets at the right hand of God
making intercession, not anyone else. It’s not my gospel,
it’s not my word, its God’s Word and if someone ever told
you any different, then someone lied to you and led you off
the straight and narrow.
Here is scripture found in Matthew 12:46-50.
46 While he yet
talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren
stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said
unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without,
desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered
and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who
are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever
shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same
is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Yes, Mary was favored by God, but she
was earthly, and is not an intercessor in any way nor is she
the queen of Heaven as some might think. To pray to her is
to put her in God’s place, and she is not God. Although we
can respect her as being chosen and special, she is not, nor
ever was indicated as “Holy.” This leads me to say the
rosary is somewhat out of line with God’s Word and thus too
easily becomes vain repetition.
Does scripture say, for all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God except Mary? Except
Peter? Except Paul? -- No, it says All. Mary herself
recognized this. None of those mentioned above are
omniscient, and so, when you pray to Mary, you are either
knowingly or unknowingly going against God’s Word, it is
anti-biblical. And if it is not biblical then why would
anyone want to put their belief system in a place of
jeopardy?
Sure some denominations do a lot of
good things for the community, but with out Jesus being the
forefront or center, and done His way, it means nothing.
Listen, Jesus says this – many will come and say but Lord,
we have done many works in your name…and He will say, depart
from me I never knew you. And certainly there are religions
that do much, yet they are wrong.
We need to absolutely do a self examination and put our
hearts in a “right-standing” position with God and His
Word. We are all walking a spiritual road and we each need
to search the answer to, “where am I on that road?Here is
the scripture, Matthew 7:13-15
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
God’s desire is that no one should
perish, He wants us to know the truth, He wants us to walk
in that truth. Jesus came to give life, and give it more
abundantly, not Mary. She was only a chosen vessel and she
was willing to be willing, used of God just as we should
be. It is Jesus we need to look to, not any one else.
Scripture says, we don’t receive because we ask amiss. This
is certainly just as applicable when we do not pray in
accordance to who we need to. Don’t allow someone else’s
influence lead you astray, find out for yourself. Each of
us has our own free-will to do with as we please, and each
of us is in control of that; where will you let your
free-will take you?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.”
Consider the whole gospel as stated in John 20:31, do not
take John 6:54 out of context. By taking it out of context,
some folks have the viewpoint that salvation is received by
faith, which is good, but with that they also think that
salvation must be “maintained” by good works and
participation in the Sacraments; and that is simply not
true. The correction is, we view these things as the result
of salvation, not a requirement for salvation, or a means of
maintaining salvation. Salvation is an accomplished work,
purchased by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God
offers us salvation and assurance of salvation because
Jesus’ sacrifice was fully, completely, and perfectly
sufficient. It is a gift given to us, and not something we
earn. We are saved by grace, through faith, see Ephesians
2:8-9.
Don’t believe someone else’s thought or
notion of what might be, should be, is, or isn’t; if it
isn’t written then it isn’t written. Don’t make something
out of it that is not there or try to add to what is.
Remember that you are in control of what you do, whether it
is right or wrong, and there will be no excuses when you get
to eternity. You have God’s Word, read it, and find what is
true. Remember to have a scriptural foundation to stand on
with what you believe, don’t take for granted that what you
had been taught in the past is correct; what does God say?
The
following pages will perhaps be more descriptive and
precise for you in these truths, and all given with
scriptural reference. I hope you can give this an honest
assessment, and remember it is not my intent to bash anyone,
but to help you in a closer walk with the Lord.
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