As a non-Eastern Orthodox Christian, I see none of these things in the Mary of Scripture, so I reject them.
In theological circles, one may do well leaving it as Mother of God. But we live in a generation that doesn't even understand what the Incarnation is and think that Jesus is just some guy on a cross or just a baby in a manger that we think of twice a year. Things have to be clear if the gospel is to reach people. They have to be broken down. I understand that by calling her Mother of God you do not mean that she preceded Christ's divinity. But would a non-theologian realize that? Someone pics up a book just on Mary. It isn't particularly a theological book, but it offers a devotion to her as Mother of God. What are they going to think?
Paul, when he preached to the Athenians, broke it down into their language. The language was unequivocal.
In this day and age of sound bites, we don't always have that luxury.
Jesus. All God. All Man. Born of a Virgin. Crucified to pay the penalty for our sinning. Resurrected to give us life. Sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Coming again for us in power and Glory.
The Catholic and Orthodox operate based on the councils of the Church and episcopal decisions. Our primary function is to preserve the truths once taught. "Mother of God" is one of them; it was not chosen in 5c. for frivolous reasons, and people had very serious misunderstandings about the Christian faith then. If the Evangelicals do not want to teach that, why no one is forcing you. Neither Reader David or I, I assure you, plan to spend days on end arguing with the Evangelicals what to teach their flock.
If, however, someone is going to look at our teachings and erroneously conclude from them that Mary is God, or preexisted Christ, or what have you, we will correct them. This is why we have the Catechism.
The actual Bible Teaches Jesus established His Church upon Peter, not you.
The actual Bible Teaches the Church is Jesus (see what He said to Saul)
The actual Bible Teaches Who hears you hears me
And, yet here you come trying to bring us another Gospel...
Blogger, what does the actual Bible teach about one who comes bringing another Gospel?