John MacArthur on Mariolatry

Church Mouse ^ | November 18, 2010

[Gamecock]

It seems as if there might be a sizable number of Christians who are unaware of the text of Jeremiah, particularly Jeremiah 44, which discusses a goddess called … the Queen of Heaven.

John MacArthur uses Jeremiah 44 as his text to introduce two sermons on Mary in Catholic Church dogma. These date from 2006.

The links to the full text are at the bottom of the post. I’ll provide excerpts, indented below, which will give many of us food for thought. Emphases mine throughout.

On Jeremiah 44

God condemns apostate Judah for worshipping this goddess of paganism called the Queen of Heaven that has had a number of different names throughout history. The latest name for this goddess, sad to say, is a name borrowed from the earthly mother of our Lord, none other than Mary who has now been morphed by apostate Christianity into the latest edition of the Queen of Heaven. Is it important to address this issue? It is … [In] Timothy 1:3, Paul says, “I urge you that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor pay attention to myths and endless genealogies which give rise to mere speculation, rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”

Christian obligation to point out error

It’s important to say at the outset that this is not because we are mad or hateful or resentful, but it is love from a pure heart. If you do not address error, if you do not address strange doctrine, damning heresy, this is not love, this is indifference. Love from a pure heart and a clear conscience and a sincere faith demands such a confrontation. And so we come to address this same age-old goddess heresy of paganism in its newest form with the modern goddess having stolen the name of Mary, a terrible dishonor to her. But there is nothing sacred to Satan anyway. And to address it is not a lack of love, but is the sincerest, purest kind of love rising out of a good conscience and a sincere faith.

It does make one wonder why the Catholic Church would refer to Mary in this way. Yet, Jeremiah 44 refers specifically to the Queen of Heaven in an idolatrous context. Here are verses 18 and 19:

¹⁸But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” ¹⁹And the women said, “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

Much of the text concerns St Alphonsus Liguori‘s The Glories of Mary, a 750-page work first published in 1745 in response to the 17th century Catholic heresy of Jansenism, which originated in the Netherlands, became popular in Paris and, in many ways, bears a close resemblance to Calvinism. Francophones may recall that the philosopher Blaise Pascal and the playwright Jean Racine (for a time) were Jansenists.

I have linked to an 1888 online version of the book above so that you can peruse the text yourselves. An eye-opener, to say the least. MacArthur has read it cover to cover. We didn’t study this book at school, I hasten to add. I never even knew it existed until this week. But then, I do recall one of the nuns telling my mother that there is much about the Catholic Church which would not be included in religion classes. My mother, mentioning Vatican II, said, ‘That’s a relief.’ Sister replied, ‘Oh, no, it’s not so much Vatican II as it is other texts.’ Could she have meant this one?

Unbiblical

MacArthur says that Mariology is unbiblical, much as the Book of Mormon and Christian Science’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. What his sermons show us is the importance of being biblically literate — every book of the Bible. You will wonder how it is that Mary, not only bearing the appellation of a pagan goddess but having so many thousands, probably millions, of words written about her through the centuries is mentioned so seldom in the New Testament. That last one surprised me greatly when I was a teenager, and I suspect many Catholics would be similarly surprised should they read the gospels and epistles.

How could so many details be obtained about her life, from childhood to death? MacArthur reads excerpts from the Glories of Mary and papal documents from latter days to his congregation. You can find them in the sermon text. They are amazing.

Mythical

MacArthur tells us how Mariology began. Many will find this startling, although it ties in with what Dr Gregory Jackson, a Lutheran professor, said on Ichabod and reproduced here:

Now this idea about Mary, though it really wasn’t formally dogmatized until the twentieth century goes way, way back and you start to read about this in the fifth century as paganism and pagan goddess worship at the very earliest gets mingled. Remember the Holy Roman Empire, as it was called, the Holy Roman Empire was really not holy, it was Roman, for sure, but the emperor in the 325 decided that the best thing to do to unify the great empire was to make everybody automatically a Christian. And since the emperor was rife with paganism, they just married a kind of Christianity with paganism and all of this came very early. So it’s in the rule of somebody who calls himself Galacius(?) I, a self-appointed leader of the church in the fifth century, this comes up at that time. There’s a discussion about Mary being assumed into heaven. So already this goddess cult has imposed itself on poor Mary. And it was at first considered heretical. There was no evidence for it historically, there’s no evidence for it biblically, obviously. So the earliest appearance of this idea is in a very apocryphal work, an unreliable work like the gospel of Judas and hundreds of others. It was called Transitus Getti Marii (???) and it was in the fifth century it was denounced as a heresy. So when it first showed up in the fifth century, the 400′s, it is denounced as a heresy. But things began to develop over the years in regard to Mary. Praying to Mary arrives in 600…

A transitus is a service recalling a saint’s death and begins the eve of his feast day. Presumably in Mary’s case, the work mentioned involved the Assumption.

It should be mentioned that John MacArthur has nothing against Mary, just the hype and apparent falsehood built up around her life and death.

‘Mother of God’

MacArthur traces the origins of this title to Alexander, the 4th century Bishop of Alexandria:

Goddess worship, the very outset, the Holy Roman Empire comes into existence in the fourth century, early in the century. This mother of God comes in rapidly by the year 431 and the Council of Ephesus and 451, The Council of Chalcedon, this is established. She is to be called the mother of God, this contributes to centuries and centuries and centuries of accumulated deification of Mary. She becomes equal to God. And though the Church tries its best to wiggle out of this, it tries its best to deny this, the truth of the matter is, she really is superior to God and superior to Christ as becomes very evident in what they say and in how they portray her in cathedrals all over the world. She rules in heaven as queen, sovereign, saving, sanctifying, sympathizing, all this power is given to her that belongs only to God.

Apparitions and their nature

Like many of us, MacArthur wonders how the number of Marian apparitions can be increasing in frequency. I should like to mention here for the benefit of my Protestant readers that it used to be that the Church viewed these with scepticism and was very careful to investigate them thoroughly. Most investigations went no higher than local or diocesan level. Very few were authenticated.

Mary keeps appearing. Have you noticed? She keeps appearing. She descends from heaven to earth to make herself known to people. She comes quite frequently. She always comes with secret messages. She comes with secret messages for very isolated people …

The latest Pope, Pope Benedict XVI … said this, noted this, “In 1984 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the head of the Roman Catholic Church’s congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” that was where he came from, he came from being the doctrinal gate keeper of Roman Catholicism, “declared … : ‘One of the signs of our times is that the announcements of Mary in apparitions are multiplying all over the world,’” … He made this observation as a comment on the many reports of the appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary to individuals located in a wide variety of countries, cultures and political systems. In fact, the last century and a half has seen numerous appearance of the Blessed Virgin, they say, and they have received official approval by the Roman Catholic Church …

A book in 1993 had about a thousand appearances of Mary that were documented thirty times in the eighteenth century, 200 times in the nineteenth century and 450 times in the twentieth century. So they are escalating at a rapid rate. Cardinal Meisner claims that Mary brought Christ to Europe from Fatima and one would ask where was he before that if she brought him? She visited a farm in Georgia, an office building in Clearwater, Florida, and a subway wall recently in Mexico City. She comes so often and she comes to the down and out and she comes to the little children, she comes to the peasant people and this validates the fact that she is this loving, sympathetic, merciful, tender-hearted compassionate person …

The only person if there is someone really appearing to them is right out of hell. This is demonic, for sure….for sure. But what assurances and what cleverness the demons offer for the deceived and the damned with their hellish counterfeits.

‘Mediatrix’

MacArthur quotes from the aforementioned documents, including Liguori’s book, as well as from the latest Catholic catechism from the 1990s — published during John Paul II’s papacy. No wonder so many of these notions — ‘New Eve’, ‘New Ark of the Covenant’ and ‘Co-Mediatrix’ — are so alien to me. When you read the quotes he uses, take note of the word ‘sovereign’ used in connection with Mary. He then offers the commentary below, based on what he reads to the congregation:

The point is, you go to Mary because Jesus can’t resist Mary. And Mary, because she’s so merciful, can’t resist you. Mary, claims the Church, can persuade God to grant what He otherwise wouldn’t grant …

You’re really banging on steel if you go to God yourself. Go to Mary and He listens to Mary …

You see, Roman Catholicism is pagan goddess worship, completely distracted. God is reinvented as judgmental, harsh. Christ is reinvented as indifferent. Everybody worships Mary …

She commands Jesus.

John Paul II

MacArthur tells us of the importance that Mary played in the late pope’s life from his childhood through to his papacy. He reads the congregation excerpts from some of John Paul II’s Marian thoughts and says:

Now that…that’s a pretty bold statement. She is not only the mediatrix of all grace, the channel through which all grace comes, the one to whom we go for everything, but she is even involved in our redemption …

Now I could go on and on with all of this, but I think you get the picture. The Church says nothing comes to us except through Mary’s mediation for such is God’s will. The Church says Mary is the most powerful mediatrix and advocate of the whole world with her divine Son.

[Lauren BaRecall]

I find that most Protestants do not understand veneration, because they do not see the nature of Worship in its fullness.

[3] And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
[4] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
[5] His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. KJV John 2:3-5

And neither do they have a full concept of intercession.

What do Protestants do to honor the memory of the Mother of Jesus, especially during Christmas time? She who carried in her womb the Son of the Most High? Do they thank God for her and for His design that through her the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us?

[48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. KJV Luke 1:48

[D-fendr]

I think you are correct on both counts.

Add in the loss of the full knowledge of the Communion of Saints among some outside the Church and it explains the incapacity to comprehend veneration, prayers, and communion with the Saints in Heaven.

[norge]

I feel fortunate that most of the Reformed Protestants I know don’t use such tactics but debate charitably and honestly on matters of doctrine.

You are fortunate, indeed. Many Reformed Protestants are arrogant, intolerant and quite consumed with the intellectual superiority of their arguments.

BTW, I am, I suppose, an "evangelical" Protestant, of the variety whose salvation is predicated on the Grace of the shed blood of Christ, and that alone. I fully expect to see many of my Catholic friends enjoying the worship of God for eternity.

[RobbyS]

From the earliest years, Mary was called “the second Eve.” She being , as Tennyson put it, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast.” Understand that the doctrine of original sin is a development of what Paul says on the issue, and as now understood based on the opinion of St. Augustine.The objection to her exemption was that if she were without original sin that she would not need salvation on the cross. My view is that salvation is to be admitted to the presence of God and to see him face to face. Certainly she was sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Immaculate conception simply says that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah and thereby became a pure vessel.

[norge]

What do Protestants do to honor the memory of the Mother of Jesus, especially during Christmas time?

Not much, really, and that could well be a mistake that many Protestants don't take into account. However, the more recent song "Mary, Did You Know?" is a tender acknowledgement of her role in the birth of Christ. I also realize that many Catholics did not appreciate it.

[Just mythoughts]

From the earliest years, Mary was called “the second Eve.” She being , as Tennyson put it, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast.” Understand that the doctrine of original sin is a development of what Paul says on the issue, and as now understood based on the opinion of St. Augustine.The objection to her exemption was that if she were without original sin that she would not need salvation on the cross. My view is that salvation is to be admitted to the presence of God and to see him face to face. Certainly she was sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Immaculate conception simply says that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah and thereby became a pure vessel.

Earliest years? I think the earliest would be long time after her death, certainly was not penned by Heavenly direction. The only flesh being that has passed through this flesh age perfect and without sin is Christ, in the flesh called Emanuel... God with us.

Now I do not know but is the general acceptance that Eve went to or is going to .ell? Because see I do not believe that decision has been made. As Eve certainly did not commit the unforgivable sin, as that sin can only be committed at an appointed time and that time has not yet arrived.

I think there are going to be a great number of very disappointed people when all mysteries are revealed... Eve could well have repented and accepted Christ when He was in the tomb ministering to all those back to this time.

[Lauren BaRecall]

And, by the grace of God, if they truly grasped these concepts as the Catholic Church teaches, they’d all be Catholics. :-)

[fatboy]

Dude, seriously, do you even know anything?

[RobbyS]

Mary was called the Virgin with such regularity that modern liberal schools asserted that she was confused with pagan goddesses such as Athena who were known as Virgins. This, of course, assumed that the Virgin Birth was a myth, one useful to Christians to promote the divinity of Jesus. But interest in Mary in the second century and following is surprising if one assumes that most Christians gained all their knowledge from Scripture. Unlikely that all churches even had copies of the whole New Testament. Christians works abounded, and the pro-gospel of St. James, the most famous of them provides a picture of the early life of Mary as well as Jesus. The doctrine of the Incarnation cannot, of course, be discussed without reference to Mary’s role. Many Marian devotions use language even i find excessive, but what surprises me is the downplaying of Mary even at Xmas time.

[Just mythoughts]

Mary was called the Virgin with such regularity that modern liberal schools asserted that she was confused with pagan goddesses such as Athena who were known as Virgins. This, of course, assumed that the Virgin Birth was a myth, one useful to Christians to promote the divinity of Jesus. But interest in Mary in the second century and following is surprising if one assumes that most Christians gained all their knowledge from Scripture. Unlikely that all churches even had copies of the whole New Testament. Christians works abounded, and the pro-gospel of St. James, the most famous of them provides a picture of the early life of Mary as well as Jesus. The doctrine of the Incarnation cannot, of course, be discussed without reference to Mary’s role. Many Marian devotions use language even i find excessive, but what surprises me is the downplaying of Mary even at Xmas time.

There is really nothing new under the sun, just look back to what the House of Israel and House of Judah did in their idolatry, so much so it is recorded in Jeremiah that God divorced the adulterous House of Israel. Jeremiah 3:8-25.

Paul says ICorinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We have the script of what would take place again and over and over again the warning is about false prophets drawing the children astray... and no doctrine is left untouched.

[Lauren BaRecall]

Maybe this would be a good devotional, to think about and thank God for the path He decided upon to enter time and become one with His creation by becoming part of it. How intimate is His intimacy with the human race by His conception in the womb of a woman, who was not only His Holy of Holies, but also His dear Mother. How special she must be to Him.

In His conception we see how profoundly He keeps His promises - how truly He is the heir of David’s throne.

All of this, and more, was accomplished because the woman He chose to be the Christ bearer said Yes, I will cooperate with Your plan and Your grace.

We would do well also to contemplate the quiet obedience and faith of Joseph, who believed the angel’s message regarding this unprecedented conception and took Mary into his home.

[Lauren BaRecall]

Thanks for the background info/quotes. A real eye-opener.

Merry Christmas to you!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Way to make the muzzy's job easier

Rome's the one nuzzling the muzzies...

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Grat thread, Gamecock!

And so we kneel to none but Christ!

[Cronos]

Quite frankly, there is a big difference between a non-Catholic such as yourself (who disagrees with Catholic teachings) and an anti-Catholic whose sole purpose in life is to post threads like this.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

grat

Drat!

GREAT thread.

[Cronos]

You believe the anti-Catholic posters here are Proddy Scum?

The Anti-Catholics are even anti-Protestant. Is there no end to their bigotry and hatred?

That is so true -- on another thread we have the same crew of Calvin-followers who went on to tell LUTHERANS what they believe. Belt stated what he believed and the Calvin-cliche member said "no, this is what you believe"

And another member of the cal-cliche went on to attack Lutherans, Orthodox, Catholics, Anglicans, Orientals etc. as "drinkers of blood", somehow thinking of us all as vampires.

[Cronos]

You may need to explain your post to our friends game, met and rn — the nestorian bit would be confusing to them...

[Cronos]

Caww (a gracious non-Catholic but hardly anti-Catholic like the author of this thread) had raised an interesting point in another thread.

posts. Interesting that during this time of year where we celebrate Christ's birth...the fact the discussions are NOT about Him, rather Mary

--> And it's a very interesting question. Why exactly are some folks (non-Catholics all, like you, G or Rn etc.) so obsessed with this during this time of the year when we celebrate Christ's birth?

[Lauren BaRecall]

It must be all those Madonna and Child Christmas cards floating around. Some people want to make sure Mother Mary is properly minimized for the occasion.