Mary

Recently I got to thinking about Mary and her role in God's plan. Mary was an outstanding believer. Just think about all that must have gone through her mind as she carried out God's instructions.  It was not easy.  Just the bare fact that she became pregnant before marriage to Joseph caused no end of gossip and pressure. If she had gotten pregnant after she married Joseph, then Jesus would have been regarded as Joseph's son, not the son of God. Mary had a distinct picture that something miraculous had happened and that probably encouraged her to carry it out with believing.  She simply believed.

Mary had to nurture, raise, discipline, and support God's only begotten son. She is someone to be respected and thankful for. She was never intended to be a savior or a mediator. That was delegated to God's son. It is significantly important to understand who she was and that she is now asleep and, as all dead are, awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way to God, he makes intersession (Hebrews 7:25 'ever liveth' to make intercession for) for believers. Mary does not. I'm sure she prayed for people when she was alive just as we can all do, but she can't now in her present situation.

When people need help or answers to prayer, we have access to God through Jesus Christ. That is just simply how the God who made heaven and earth set it up. There is plenty of information about Mary written in God's word, but nothing about an ascension or that she was queen of heaven (that's not even logical - how does that work?: King Jesus and Queen Mary??) nor the mother of God (who was the father of God?).

The reason I am writing about this is not to put Mary down nor to be critical, but because it is the truth that sets people free. In thankfulness to God and in time of need, prayer to Mary is fruitless because, it is Jesus Christ who is Lord and savior.  He shows us the path to God and wholeness. The truth of about God's son is so vital to our well-being and peace that we need to know exactly who he is from God's point of view and not allow anything to detract from what he is meant to be.

No person or thing should take his place in our lives. No human being, aside from Jesus, is elevated to lordship over other men. That includes other humans like Mary, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, John, Paul, martyrs, heads of religious bodies, and even the equipping ministries of Ephesians 4:8,11.(1 Corinthians 1:25-2:5, I Timothy 2:1-5 study 'authority' Strong's #5247 and #5242 ~ a great study)

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I Timothy 1:5 

Mary Worship

What are Rosary beads? I should know, but recently I decided to look  up the reason for this type of praying.  It requires repetition of prayer.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.9 After this manner (along his line) therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:7-10

In the rosary there are basically three prayers that are repeated:The 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary' and 'Glory Be'.  For every 1 'Our Father' there are 10 'Hail Mary's'. The Our Father is found in Matthew 6 where Jesus gave his disciple and example of what is contained in prayer, not something that was to be memorized and repeated over and over.

The truly alarming part of this is the 'Hail Mary':

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

This prayer is to be said 9 times more than the 'Our Father' prayer Jesus used as an example in Matthew 6.

Mary was a special woman, yes, but mother of God?  Is Mary to be worshiped?  Absolutely not! The 'fruit of thy womb' is not to engender uterus worship! There is a big difference between 'worship' and 'honor'.  We worship God above all else.  Mary deserves honor because she loved God and did what He asked her to do.

Another point about Mary is that Jesus Christ died for her too. In that sense also, we honor her as we honor all those who love God and recognize what He did through Christ.

Actual prayer involves 'seeking first the kingdom of God' (also in Matthew 6) and in that thinking we don't just robotically recite words and not think about what they are implying. There is a whole lot more in the Lord's prayer than a mere repetition of words.