Nora Lozano
Posted on 08/01/2009 1:51:11 PM PDT by NYer
EDE, Netherlands (ABP) -- A Latina theologian says overreaction to Catholic veneration of the Virgin Mary has caused Baptists to miss important biblical teaching associated with the mother of Jesus.
Nora Lozano
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Lozano, a participant in theological conversations between the Baptist World Alliance and the Vatican, made the remarks in a presentation to the BWA Commission on Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation at a meeting of global Baptists in the Netherlands.
She noted the Mexican story of the Virgin of Guadalupe -- a purported apparition of Mary to an indigenous peasant in Mexico City in the 16th century -- and how closely it ties the identity of the nation's Catholicism with Mary, who serves as a sort of "demi-goddess."
There are analogous Virgin Mary cults of devotion in other Latin American countries.
Lozano said Mexican Baptists and other Protestants, meanwhile, actively ignore Mary, to the extent of giving the biblical character short shrift.
"It seems that there is a consensus among these Baptists to disregard, neglect or reject the Virgin Mary," Lozano said, speaking of an informal survey she had done of some of her global Baptist colleagues.
And, in countries where Catholics are a majority, she added, "Baptists tend to move back and forth between actively rejecting and simply ignoring Mary."
In those countries, Lozano noted, "This becomes one of the major barriers to relations between Catholics and Baptists."
Because Mary is so perfect in popular Catholic theology in Latin America -- perpetually a virgin, although a mother; blameless, even sinless -- Lozano said she becomes an impossible standard of womanhood. Nonetheless, many men look for this standard in the mother of their children.
On the other hand, Lozano noted, Mary's opposite -- the wanton harlot -- is what many men tend to look for in sex partners. Being forced to choose between the two stereotypes can be deadly for women.
"When these [images of Mary and her opposite] are misused, they become oppressive and a source of suffering for women," she said. "Neither one of these models is a good one for women, because they do not present women as complete human beings."
Lozano said that embracing the "life-giving" aspects of Marian veneration can be both healthy for all women and a bridge between Latin American Protestants and Catholics, she contended.
Lozano pointed to two passages dealing with Mary in the Christmas story as recorded in Luke's Gospel: The angel's announcement to Mary that she would bear Christ (Luke 1:26-38), and Mary's song of praise to God, often called the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary is not a passive presence in those stories, Lozano pointed out, but an active and willing participant in God's work who was "well aware of social injustices," she said.
"She is subject with a strong will and a social consciousness," Lozano noted.
Lozano delivered her remarks on the second day of the BWA's Annual Gathering in Ede, Netherlands. Hundreds of Baptists from around the world came to conduct BWA General Council business as well as observe the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement, which began in the summer of 1609 in nearby Amsterdam.
This episode took place during Jesus’ second tour of Galilee, probably in Capernaum some distance from his home in Nazareth. The crowd would not know that Mary was his mother and they would not know the men were his brothers unless they disclosed these relationships when pulling rank to be seen with Jesus. Instead of acknowledging his mother and brothers he uses the circumstance to demonstrate the greater relationship of those doing the will of the Father. The Greek word for brother if it meant any blood relative would have no serious meaning in the illustration and would be ironic if mother meant real mother but brother meant something else in the same illustration.
Mat 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
This episode takes place in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth and the townsfolk know the family of Jesus and accurately list his brothers and mention his sisters. The Greek word for brothers and sisters is the same root with masculine and feminine endings. It is the word used for the relationship of Peter and Andrew and John and James. The feminine word is used to describe the relationship of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. It is also used to describe the relationship of sister between Jesus’ mother Mary and Salome, the mother of John and James
Mat 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Luk 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Jhn 11:1 Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
Jhn 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Jhn 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been [dead] four days.
Jhn 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the [wife] of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
Matt. 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
Although his brothers had seen his miracles and heard his message (Jhn 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.) they still didn’t understand it or believe it. They wanted him to put on a demonstration, to “come out” with a display in the big city during the great festival. That’s why they were not at the crucifixion and why Jesus entrusted his mother to his cousin and disciple, John.
Jhn 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
Jhn 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Then the Bible just materialized in your hands? But of course not, and neither did the formula you recite just appear in your mind. It is a product of the reform tradition and people taught it to you.
That's "knew" in the Biblical sense Like Adam "knew" Eve and she bore Abel, etc. I know it doesn't mean they were just getting introduced!
These doctrines tells us more about Jesus than about Mary. The great question of the Bible is Who is Jesus. The Marian doctrines tell us he is God. The history of the Reformation tell us that if we abandon these doctrines, there is immediately a turn away from the doctrine of the Trinity and a refusal to accept the full divinity of Christ, to something like Arianism. Calvin’s great “sin” —in the eyes of liberals—is his execution of a man who preached this.
What is the BIZARRE FETISH with anti-Catholic bigots insisting--sometimes in withering, creepy detail--that she did?
The big deal was that we believe what you say is contrary to fact. One can make up stories that suit one’s theology. You think we do, and we think you do. As I see it, what happened to Joseph was like what happened to Paul. If the birth stories are true—and their differences remind us how little the Scriptures actually tell us, so that no “biography” of Jesus can be written—then Joseph’s mission in life was profoundly changed. What was normal to him before could hardly be normal afterwards. He had become the guardian of the Messiah.
Is Mary the Mother of God?
Why does my citing scripture in the format of the Hail Mary prayer evoke so much hostility and condescension?
Vicious anti-Catholic bigotry, often cult-based.
How ironic that it was the same Magesterium and Church 'fathers" that gave you the bible......
Simple: one's own personal interpretation of Scripture, or the typical cult leader lusting after some poor biddie's purse.
Who claims Mary is part of the Blessed Trinity?
Vicious anti-Catholic slander.
If it isn’t in there, it’s impossible to prove any of what you say.
The false work of heretics.
Nope. They believe what they interpret the Bible to say.
LOL
It never ceases to puzzle me why some would put far more stock in the preaching of Rev. Billy-Bob who dropped out of high school to attend the Bayou School of Divinity and Diesel Maintenance than the likes of St. Thomas Aquinas.
No, they did not contradict Scripture unless we stipulate in advance that you get to interpret Scripture. As to what your Heavenly Father tells you, does he tell you that Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity, or someone less than that. The Marian docrines tell us that Jesus was more than someone special and that the Virgin Birth was a sign of this. If Mary was less than what we say, then Jesus is a demi-god like Heracles rather than the Incarnation of the High God who spoke toe Moses on Sinai.
“Angry?”
Confused?
“It is called faith and understanding. If you do not possess it from within, then you will not have the gift of understanding the meaning. I pray for you, because you lack the gift of God.”
I’m not the one saying that Catholics deify Mary no matter what they believe. Take a step back and think about that statement. No matter WHAT Catholics believe, they supposedly deify Mary. Even if they know they don’t, it was stated they STILL do, no matter what they really believe. They must because another type of Christian thinks they must, despite Catholics knowing they don’t. Where is the “faith and understanding” in that?
Thanks for the prayers, don’t hesitate to ping the R.Mod to decide which of our posts has the most “faith and understanding”.
Freegards
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