Contemtable attack on Mary

The totally reconstructed, brand-new Estonian National Museum opened on September 28 with a blasphemous attack on Mary, the Mother of God.

“Visitors at Estonian National Museum [are] offered to kick Virgin Mary’s image” - - and it’s definitely true. I’ve verified it.

“The National Museum which opened in Estonia in the presence of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves last week, is offering its visitors to kick one of the exhibits, an interactive image of Virgin Mary, causing the picture to fall into pieces.” [my emphasis]

The display is “a depiction of Virgin Mary on a big light screen almost the size of a human being. It is static until someone kicks a specially marked spot at the bottom of the picture, causing the virtual figure fly into pieces and the word "Reformation" appear on the screen.”

Then the image “resets” to Our Lady of Graces again, and the whole thing starts anew.

First of all, you ought to have apologized for saying Catholics worship Mary, which is not true. You may have said this out of ignorance, which is, of course widespread amongst us all, but now that you have been corrected, a simple "sorry" is in order.

Second, it is incorrect to equate intercessory prayer of the saints within the Body of Christ, with conjuring the spirits of the dead. Anyone who conjures departed spirits via witchcraft, seances, etc is acting at best out of superstitious ignorance, but it is dangerous and hence forbidden. We all know this.

Third, the "Body of Christ" is another term for the "Communion of Saints". It makes no sense to say that the saints on earth have the spiritual gift of being able to help each other by "effectual fervent prayer," but lose this power --- or become unready, unwilling or unable --- ion heaven, as if their spiritual gifts had been suddenly truncated, when Scripture says their spiritual gifts in heaven will be so much greater, we cannot even imagine it.

I believe this whole comprehension gap stems from tn underlying false and unBiblical idea that the holy ones who have passed on to be with Jesus in Heaven are "dead."

“(First of all, you ought to have apologized for saying Catholics worship Mary, which is not true. You may have said this out of ignorance, which is, of course widespread amongst us all, but now that you have been corrected, a simple “sorry” is in order.)”

- My Apologies to you and other Catholics who do not Worship Mary!
Unfortunately, when visiting Catholic Churches, I have seen many Catholics who bow down to a Statue of Mary and worship her. This is wrong on many fronts, particularly, a violation of the 2nd Commandment – “Thou shall not make a graven image (Idol) of any likeness on earth (i.e. Mary). And you shall not worship them.”

“(Second, it is incorrect to equate intercessory prayer of the saints within the Body of Christ, with conjuring the spirits of the dead. Anyone who conjures departed spirits via witchcraft, seances, etc is acting at best out of superstitious ignorance, but it is dangerous and hence forbidden. We all know this.)”

- I agree, but you did not provide any Scripture allowing for LIVING Believers to contact saints who have passed on. I know of no such Scripture that allows one to pray to Mary, Moses or Abraham, etc.

“(Third, the “Body of Christ” is another term for the “Communion of Saints”. It makes no sense to say that the saints on earth have the spiritual gift of being able to help each other by “effectual fervent prayer,” but lose this power -— or become unready, unwilling or unable -— ion heaven, as if their spiritual gifts had been suddenly truncated, when Scripture says their spiritual gifts in heaven will be so much greater, we cannot even imagine it.)”

- Jesus told the thief on the Cross: “today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43
In heaven, the ‘thief on the Cross’ became a Saint and was able to do many things, including pray for others residing on earth most likely.
But nowhere in Scripture are we earthlings told to pray to or attempt to contact anyone in heaven, such as Mary, ‘the thief on the Cross’, etc. We are to pray to God -— “Our Father in Heaven” as Jesus taught us in the ‘Lord’s Prayer’.

“(I believe this whole comprehension gap stems from tn underlying false and unBiblical idea that the holy ones who have passed on to be with Jesus in Heaven are “dead.” )“

- No, no “the ones who have passed on to be with Jesus in Heaven are NOT “dead.” “
They are having a wonderful time in heaven with Jesus -— right now! But the issue is, are we supposed to contact the Saints in Heaven (pray to them, etc.)? And I see no evidence in scripture that is what we are to do.
My Dad is in heaven after being a Pastor for many years. I would love to contact him, but I see no evidence in scripture that such is possible until I meet him someday in heaven. Praise God, I will do that some day!

Cheers!

OK, I think I see what the problem is here. It's failing to make a distinction between bowing in adoration, and all the other kinds of bowing.

It would be as if a fellow got on his knees in the old-fashioned way to propose marriage and to present his beloved with an engagement ring, and she were to say, "Eeek! No, no, this is blasphemy. I am not God!"

A comical scenario, of course, but it's just as i said above: a failure to recognize the difference between one kind of bowing and another.

This non-comprehension probably afflcts all of us more and more as the last customary traces of ceremony decay and disappear. Fellows don't kneel to their intended-fiancees anymore. Kissing of hands is not done. No child knows what is a "bow" or a "curtsey". People bring mounds of Teddy bears and dilly mylar balloons to the mortuarty to honor (?) deceased, esp. kids, but no one (any more) kneels at the coffin or bows to the dear remains of the deceased.

For many people, I suspect, about the only place you see solemn customary behavior anymore is at a military funeral.

Know what I mean? I note that because I am part of a (non-denominational) prayer team at the VA Hospital at Mountain Home, TN.

Thanks for sharing.

I live in Houston, TX and am a Deacon at Second Baptist Church. I teach Bible studies at church and sometime to the residents at the MD Anderson Cancer Center for people who come from all over the world for treatment.

I will pray for you on the prayer team at the VA Hospital at Mountain Home, TN.

By the way, I was born in Asheville, N.C.

Thanks,

Tom

My brother-in-law is a Baptist pastor. I married into Baptists, an honorable tribe.

I know God listens to your prayers and I really value you praying for my VA prayer group. The project is called "No Veteran Dies Alone": we "sit and watch" and pray at the bedsides of terminally ill vets in the Hospice and Special Care Units.

We pray for the doctors, nurses, therapists and other hospital staff too, and they often tell us they appreciate it. We appreciate The Lord! I really think that if we do not surround each other with prayer, especially at the time of dying, we don't just fall short of being Christian; we fall short of being human.

May the Almighty reward you.

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