The Mary We Never Knew (Protestant's reclaiming Mary)

Christianity Today ^ | December 2006 | Scot McKnight

[NYer]

Why the mother of Jesus was more revolutionary than we've been led to believe.

There are two Marys. One wears a Carolina blue robe, exudes piety from a somber face, often holds her baby son in her arms, and barely makes eye contact with us. This is the familiar Blessed Virgin Mary, and she leads us to a Christmas celebration of quiet reflection.

Another Mary—the Blessed Valorous Mary—wears ordinary clothing and exudes hope from a confident face. This Mary utters poetry fit for a political rally, goes toe-to-toe with Herod the Great, musters her motherliness to reprimand her Messiah-son for dallying at the temple, follows her faith to ask him to address a flagging wine supply at a wedding, and then finds the feistiness to take her children to Capernaum to rescue Jesus from death threats. This Mary followed Jesus all the way to the Cross—not just as a mother, but as a disciple, even after his closest followers deserted him. She leads us to a Christmas marked by a yearning for justice and the courage to fight for it. Like other women of her time, she may have worn a robe and a veil, but I suspect her sleeves were rolled up and her veil askew more often than not.

[NYer]

But there are signs that those days are coming to an end. On the horizon today is nothing less than a Protestant reclamation of Mary, seen most completely in Tim Perry's new book, Mary for Evangelicals(InterVarsity, 2006). For the purposes of this article, we first need to ask, "Which Mary?" A good place to begin our search for answers is Mary's Magnificat. There we will discover not so much the Blessed Virgin Mary draped in piety, but the Blessed Valorous Mary dressed for action. If we read the Magnificat as the heartfelt release of a woman yearning for what God was—finally!—about to do in Israel and in historical context, we see it as a call to subvert unjust leaders. To turn this song into simple spirituality strips it of its meaning and leaves injustices—personified by Caesar Augustus and Herod the Great—on the throne.

---

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

[nmh]

Bible based Christians are not turning to Mary.

It is NOT in the Bible that Mary followed Jesus all around. In fact little is said about Mary and even less about Joseph. Bible based Christians are not turning Catholic. They can't ... . They know better.

[ConorMacNessa]

Beautiful post, NYer!

[trisham]

If you go to the article, you will find chapter and verse. The book about which the author of this article writes is written by an Evangelical.

On the horizon today is nothing less than a Protestant reclamation of Mary, seen most completely in Tim Perry's new book, Mary for Evangelicals(InterVarsity, 2006).

[Kolokotronis]

The icon you have posted is one of the most beloved. It is call Panagia Glykofilousia, The Holy Virgin of the Sweet Kiss. I have it hanging before me right now here in the office.

[LiteKeeper]

Amen!

[LiteKeeper]

Rick Warren is an evangelical too. But many of us are rejecting his books because of their theological weakness. Putting an "evangelical" label on a book does not make it true. The standard is the Bible, not the pedigree of the author.

[trisham]

Perhaps, but it helps to read the article before posting.

[Jaded]

Good luck.

[trisham]

It's a losing battle.

[wagglebee]

For whatever the reason, when Protestants see Mary, they just jump to a lot of erroneous conclusions.

[siunevada]

Free Republic and computers aren't in the Bible.

Maybe we aren't really posting these comments.

[NYer]

The icon you have posted is one of the most beloved. It is call Panagia Glykofilousia, The Holy Virgin of the Sweet Kiss.

Thanks for the title! It's absolutely beautiful! Fell in love with it.

(Are you ready to watch the meeting with the Patriarch? Coverage begins in 15 minutes :-)

[wagglebee]

It is NOT in the Bible that Mary followed Jesus all around.

She was obviously present at His Birth, she was also present at Cana where His first miracle took place, she was present at the Crucifixion, all of this is in the Bible. So please cite proof of major events that she was not present for.

Bible based Christians are not turning Catholic. They can't ... . They know better.

How do they "know" this? There are many Protestant denominations, why don't they all "know" the same thing? Why do they continue to disagee with each other on what they "know"? Were Martin Luther and John Calvin "Bible based Christians"?

[DungeonMaster]

I know I haven't "turned to Mary".

[Biggirl]

Could it be that the Holy Spirit is now calling all Christians, regardless of Church backround that we have to accept the fact that Mary is our spiritual mother, be we Catholic, Orthodox, or even Evangelical Protestant? Could this be a sign of growing unity?

[Cold Heat]

Nothing surprising that protestant churches are changing their views of Mary to draw the Mexican immigrant, legal or illegal into the church.

It is happening everywhere, and particularly in the methodist group.

It's all about the numbers......

[trisham]

Maybe we aren't really posting these comments.

***********

[bmwcyle]

(Protestant's reclaiming Mary)

We never lost her.

Protestant take Jesus off the cross and honor, Thou shall have no other God before me.

[wagglebee]

Protestant take Jesus off the cross and honor, Thou shall have no other God before me.

Huh?

[NYer]

My reaction as well.

[swmobuffalo]

I get it.

[wagglebee]

My guess is that it has never occurred to many that when the Lord said, "Behold your Mother" that the commandment to honor one's mother and father became applicable.

[nmh]

"How do they "know" this? There are many Protestant denominations, why don't they all "know" the same thing? Why do they continue to disagee with each other on what they "know"? Were Martin Luther and John Calvin "Bible based Christians"?"

The truth is there.

LIke Catholicism, you have the Roman Catholics, Jesuits and plain vanilla Catholics ... all agenda driven and don't want to be mislabed.

It's kind of interesting that focus on MEN not what the Bible states. Do I follow Luther? Calvin? NO! The focus needs to be on what the Bible states.

[nmh]

"Rick Warren is an evangelical too. But many of us are rejecting his books because of their theological weakness. Putting an "evangelical" label on a book does not make it true. The standard is the Bible, not the pedigree of the author."

Yes, the litmus test, standard, whatever you want to call it is the BIBLE! Still people are spiritually lazy. Their either told NOT to read it or too lazy to read it. It's easier for them to believe someone else. Someone who is FALLIBLE spiritually or otherwise. It's crazy but they are willing to gamble with eternity. How regretful they someday will be.

[Campion]

LIke Catholicism, you have the Roman Catholics, Jesuits and plain vanilla Catholics

Huh? What on earth are you talking about?

[wagglebee]

You have very conveniently NOT ANSWERED A SINGLE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.

LIke Catholicism, you have the Roman Catholics, Jesuits and plain vanilla Catholics ... all agenda driven and don't want to be mislabed.

There IS ONLY ONE CATHOLIC CHURCH, but for the record nearly every Catholic you will ever meet and certainly all Jesuits are Roman Catholic.

Do you call refer to the Virgin Mary as Blessed?

[wagglebee]

Don't forget the "scary lady in the penguin suit holding a ruler" variety of Catholics!!

[Campion]

Yes, the litmus test, standard, whatever you want to call it is the BIBLE!

You mean like this?

I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you -- 1 Cor 11:2

Or this?

So, then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. -- 2 Thess 2:15

Or this?

... and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. -- 2 Tm 2:2

Or this?

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. -- Heb 13:17

Or this?

So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you ... speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. -- 2 Pt 3:15-16

A lot more people talk about obeying the Bible, and believing the Bible, than actually obey and believe it, I've noticed.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If Ebangelicals of your particular flavor have a Biblical view of Mary, why do you not honor the Biblical prephecy and call her "Blessed"?

[wagglebee]

If Ebangelicals of your particular flavor have a Biblical view of Mary, why do you not honor the Biblical prephecy and call her "Blessed"?

Now don't go confusing things with FACTS!

[Salvation]

**Bible based Christians are not turning Catholic. They can't ... . They know better.**

Oh, really? Perhaps they should check out these Biblical references.


Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5; 2 Kings 2:1-13 ... Enoch and Elijah taken to heaven.
Lk 1:28 ... annunciation.
Lk 1:42-48 ... blessed among women. All generations shall call her blessed.
2 Tim 4:8, Jas 1:12, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev 2:10 ... coronation awaits saints.
Jn 2:1-5 ... Mary’s intercession.

[kenth]

Protestant take Jesus off the cross and honor, Thou shall have no other God before me.

Huh?

They seem to think we don't recognize His having arisen, and that we worship Mary as our savior. Some have a downright aversion to Mary and completely disregard her importance as the Mother of Jesus. She wasn't just any woman God picked, definitely after having been chosen. Respect for her, I don't know why that's so hard to fathom.

[samiam1972]

Madonna of the streets will always be my favorite!

[IMG]http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/samiam1972/images.jpg[/IMG]

[samiam1972]

Let me try that again!

[Nihil Obstat]

did you know this - http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jan2000/Feature1.asp

[Salvation]

Mary is not a God!!

She is the Mother of Jesus Christ and the mother of the Son of God as well as the Son of Man.

[wagglebee]

One of these days we'll teach you how to post pictures!!!

[LiteKeeper]

We do call her "Blessed" - we don't pray to her, we don't elevate her above any other man or woman. Only Jesus is deserving of our worship and prayer.

That is where we differ.

[wagglebee]

we don't elevate her above any other man or woman.

Then why did the Angel of God?

[LiteKeeper]

The Angel of God did not elevate her...beyond saying that she would be call "Blessed."

[marshmallow]

It's kind of interesting that focus on MEN not what the Bible states. Do I follow Luther? Calvin? NO! The focus needs to be on what the Bible states.

The Bible sez....the Bible sez.....the Bible sez......

We all know what the Bible says.

The real question is what it means.

And quite clearly, it means different things to different people.

[wagglebee]

He told her that she had found favor with the Lord and that the Lord was with her. Mary herself told Elizabeth that all generations would call her blessed. Elizabeth said that Mary was blessed AMONG women, that means all women.

[Mr. Jeeves]

These threads are so cool - it's like having our own little Northern Ireland, right here on FR. ;)

[murphE]

(Protestant's reclaiming Mary)

Seems more like Our Lady is reclaiming her lost children. ; )

[samiam1972]

Hey...I figured it out...the second time! LOL! I hate all the codes, etc. I'll never understand them.

[murphE]

The Bible sez....the Bible sez.....the Bible sez......

Where does one obtain one of these talking/teaching bibles? My bibles don't "say" anything. ; )

[samiam1972]

What an interesting story! I had no idea. She's still one of my favorites even if that was not the original intent! It's absolutely beautiful!

[samiam1972]

"These threads are so cool - it's like having our own little Northern Ireland, right here on FR."

LOL! That's a funny way of looking at it! I love these threads because I learn something new each time.