I sure wish “Protestant” believers in Jesus had a little more mature understanding of Christianity and How God wants His Church to be. It’s called the Catholic Church. I support my protestant brethren when they oppose abortion and Jesus Himself adviced the apostles to not stop a guy who wasn’t with you because those who are with us are not against us.
But theologically, protestantism is very shallow and this is because the protestant churches had an evil beginning where they turned away from Mary, the Mother of God and they started following their own Jesus.
That’s how I see it. The author of this article sees it another way.
Where do you stand?
It is the fetishization of Mary as "coredemtrix" that is on my top five list as to why I would never chose the RCC were I to become a Christian.
I agree with Clemenza, although it is actually the arrogance by which Catholics condemn those that don’t follow in lockstep with their “traditions” that abhors me the most, I see that as an evil. There is only one Jesus that died for our salvation, I will follow in lockstep with Him, thank you.
Happy St. Bartholomew’s day!
The Reformation wasn't about "turning away from Mary." It was about turning TOWARD salvation by grace through faith. It was about trusting Christ for salvation, instead of trusting in the deeds prescribed by the "church."
I'm not a protestant, but if you are going to accuse the protestants of something, accuse them of something substantive. If revering Mary as the "mother of God" is so important, why was the practice not codified until the 5th century? The term "theotokos" doesn't even appear in early church literature until 320, almost 300 years after the resurrection of our Lord.
Why is it called the Catholic Church?
For one thing - we are told in the Bible - man should not set himself above other men. Jesus is who we follow - not a man.
We are also told in the Bible that we should elect elders and the criteria to select those elders is even written. These elders are shepherds of the church and of us to determine that the church follows truth.
One other thing of note - have you ever noticed that Jesus was born in a manger - not a palace. Every time God picked someone to do something - he picked - not the kings, the wealthy, the esteemed - he picked the unexpected - the meek, the common. Look at Mary - was she robed in splendor?
Jesus was a carpenter, he was beaten, mocked, tortured.
Why did God ignore the trappings of men and instead bring His Son into the world among the simple? Because God sees things differently than we do. Look at the apostles - were they wealthy, robed in splendor? Look at the prophets.
The catholic church has wonderful people - but I feel that the emphasis of the church is pompous glorification of the men chosen as leaders. Wealth and power have diminished their message. The leaders have developed all manner of ways to buy off sins - when all we are told to do is pray and ask for forgiveness and show our heart is sincere in repentence.
I firmly respect the stands the Catholic Church has taken morally in this world - but the fact they have a Pope established to be esteemed and to be between man and God - proves them a false doctrine to me, precisely because I do not find that in the Bible.
Why did Mary require a Savior?
Which you have no biblical support in the veneration of Mary, and is one of the reasons why orthodox Christians cannot embrace the RCC.
Scripture alone.
In a completely different universe than you do ..