Pearls before swine...yes, indeed."
Ummm...calling folks swine isn't usually the best technique for changing their minds.
As for straying from Luther - it is hardly reasonable to expect one person, steep in the traditions of the Catholic Church, to figure out everything perfectly.
Nor do Protestants - at least the Baptists I know - dislike Mary, or think her a rotten person. However, the scriptural warrant for claiming she was without sin is a bit weak, and the idea she had no other children even weaker.
Hey Mr Rogers...:)
“Pearls before swine...yes, indeed.”
Casting such a beautiful pearl as the Blessed Mother is like casting pearls before swine on this forum.
The Bible actually has quite a bit to say about Mary, both explicitly in the New Testament and implicitly (prophetically) in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Mary is present at almost every major event in the life of Jesus:
His conception (Luke 1:2)
His development in the womb, including the fetal development of John the Baptist (Lk 1:43)
His birth (Lk 2:7)
Offering Him to God (Lk 2:22)
Early childhood (Lk 2:22-38)
His confirmation at 12 years old (Lk 2:49)
His start in public ministry and the first of his miracles, which she instigated. (Wedding at Cana Jn 2:3)
His death on Calvary (Jn 19:26)
The birth of the Church at the Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
I hardly think of these as a “few tiny references.” Mary’s role is infinitely greater than Jabez who won so much attention from many Evangelicals.
Mary said “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you to do.” (Jn:2:3)
She’s the first person in history to say this about Jesus.
Adrian Rogers, the famous Evangelical pastor, said “This is the best advice that anyone has ever given anyone!” (Apr. 13, 2009 Radio show)
And Jesus went ahead and turned the water into wine even though a minute earlier, he said “what has that to do with.”
Do whatever He tells you...