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To: NYer
I would agree that Protestants should probably pay more attention to Mary, but this article reads way too much into the Bible that simply isn't there.
Here's one scriptural example that the author conveniently left out:
Luke 11:27,28 (NIV) 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." 28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

When some of the new believers tried to give devotion to Mary, Jesus rebuked them. Same with us. We can admire Mary as a person and call her blessed as she says in the Magnificat (and Protesants should do more of that) but we should not give her any kind "devotion" which far too often tends to be worship. That would be violating the words of Jesus.

Here's another example:

Matthew 11:11 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Jesus said that John the Baptist was greater than any born of women. Mary was born of a woman. Thus, John the Baptist was greater than Mary.

Finally, there is the developing and dangerous new doctrince that designates Mary the Gateway to Heaven and Mary being a co-Mediatrix or co-Redemptor with Christ. The Bible is full of passages that speak of Jesus Christ as the one and only mediator between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Here a few other examples:

John 14: 6 -- no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Heb. 8: 6 -- he is the mediator of a better covenant. Heb. 9: 15 -- the mediator of the new testament. Heb. 12: 24 -- Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. 2 Ne. 2: 28 -- you should look to the great Mediator. D&C 76: 69 -- made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

The Bible plainly says in many places that Jesus is the one and only mediator between us and God the Father. The Bible says that Jesus has been given ALL power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18-20).

In other words the Bible is very clear that Jesus is the one mediator and that he has ALL power in heaven and in earth. Saying otherwise is a plain and wilfull contradiction of scripture.


12 posted on 10/08/2007 8:14:37 AM PDT by DallasMike
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To: DallasMike
Jesus said that John the Baptist was greater than any born of women. Mary was born of a woman. Thus, John the Baptist was greater than Mary.

Jesus was also born of woman. By your analysis then, John the Baptist is greater than Jesus.

19 posted on 10/08/2007 9:36:02 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: DallasMike
Jesus said that John the Baptist was greater than any born of women. Mary was born of a woman. Thus, John the Baptist was greater than Mary.

You'd best consider the whole verse: "He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than [John]."

22 posted on 10/08/2007 10:17:15 AM PDT by Campion
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