The Idolatry Of Mary, the mother of Jesus

Continuing with the posts that I know will not be received well we will look at the horrific idolization of the mother of Jesus Christ. She is "venerated" by members of the Catholic faith, but it is completely against the Bible and is satanic and witchcraft. I implore any Catholic who may read these words and be infuriated stop and get out a Bible and read for yourself what God has to say in his Word! I love you and I want you to see what the Bible has to say about how we are to relate to God and how He relates to us!


When St. Paul was preaching in Ephesus, he had an exceptionally serious problem with the local idolatry. In fact, this is the only time that the Bible says that persecution of Christians came directly from the conflict of the Church with idolatry. The people of Ephesus, prior to the introduction of the Christian Faith, had mainly been worshippers of the pagan Greek goddess Artemis, also known by her Roman name, Diana. This was one of the largest active pagan religions in the world at that time. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the biggest and most splendorous temples ever built. In it was an image of Artemis that her believers swore fell from the sky. Her worshippers made pilgrimages to Ephesus from all over the Greco-Roman world. Some of the Ephesian worshippers of Artemis gained their income from making images of her, presumably household shrines for sale to other worshippers. The spread of Christianity that resulted from St. Paul's ministry in Ephesus was so powerful a movement (Acts 19:11-20) that it provoked alarm in the people who made the images of Artemis, and this alarm resulted in a riot, which we read about in Acts 19:23-41.

Paul had to leave Ephesus after the riot, but the Church remained, and in time, the cult of Artemis was totally replaced by Christianity.


Our Problem

While the cult was gone, the satanic powers behind the cult still existed. These, considering to whom the Epistle was written, and what the circumstances were, were the powers that Paul was specifically referring to in Ephesians 6:12. There was and is real spiritual power behind pagan religions, but it is satanic power. In other words, demons! Although they had been outwardly defeated, the demons behind the cult were not about to give up the fight against the Truth. So, they found another way of attacking Christianity. This time, they made their attack in a more subtle way, from within. They discovered a female personality in the history of Christianity that they could disguise themselves as, and thus deceive Christians into accepting a powerful and subtle yet seriously evil counterfeit of Christianity.

That counterfeit personality, unfortunately, is "Mary"!

Paul also told us, in I Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons". So what we have today, steadily gaining power throughout the world, already effectively controlling the Roman Catholic Church, and even gaining increasing influence among Protestants, is the cult of "Mary" It should be noted that the cult of "Mary" did not begin until several centuries later.

Note: The word "Mary" is put in quotes when used in connection with the cult in this page because the spiritual entity being worshipped as "Mary" is not the Mary of the Bible.

As stated before, if anyone preaches another gospel to us, that person, angel, or whatever, is to be considered accursed, which is to say, evil. Anyone who looks at the cult of "Mary" from the standpoint of Scripture can see that what she is saying, and what is said about her, is in fact another gospel. Therefore, it is not to be accepted. In fact, in the spirit of "touch no unclean thing" (II Corinthians 6:17), anything having to do with "Mary" is something that Christians should stay away from.


The Assumption of "Mary"

It is a matter of Catholic dogma that the supposed "Assumption" (instant resurrection and ascension to Heaven following death) of Mary took place in Ephesus. The story of the "Assumption" alleges that Mary went to Ephesus with John. It must be noted that there is no record of this idea among the Early Church Fathers until the Fourth Century. The earliest known account treats the story with suspicion. Actually, there is good reason, although unfortunately this can't be proven at present, to believe that Mary actually died in Jerusalem before John left. There is, in fact, an ancient structure in Jerusalem known as the "Tomb of Mary", though unfortunately it is by no means certain that Mary's remains are in it. However, its existence does tell us that someone long ago seriously believed that Mary died in Jerusalem - not Ephesus! But the actual "veneration" of Mary definitely began in Ephesus, which had been the center of a very powerful pagan cult. This is not a coincidence.

The Cult of Mary has grown tremendously in the past two centuries. (This, by the way, is another sign that we are in the age of the Church of Laodicea healings, etc. Again, appearances are deceiving! Literally!!!


What The Bible Says About Mary, vs. "Mary"

When asked to defend their position from Scripture, "Mary" - worshipping Catholics always point to passages like Luke 1:28, 42 & 48. "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women...". There is no question about it, Mary the mother of Jesus is blessed among women. No Christian would deny that. But just what is really meant by her being "blessed"? It is necessary to know and consider the totality of what the Bible says about Mary to get a truly Scriptural understanding of this. Mary the mother of Jesus is blessed, yes, but there is another side to what the Bible says about her, which is contrary to what "Mary" worshippers make of her.

Catholic readers might protest the use of the word "worshippers" with the old line that Catholics don't "worship" "Mary"; they "venerate" her. Frankly, this is what is known as double talk. The words "worship" and "venerate" can be considered synonymous. Not only that, but some Catholics do openly admit to worshipping "Mary". This writer had an experience some years ago when, while he was doing outdoor evangelism, a Catholic man told him, quite emphatically, and in front of a crowd of people, that he worshiped "Mary"! Not Jesus! He was an exception to the norm only in that he was so forthright about it.


The Mother of God?

Mary was chosen to be the mother of the man who would become the Savior of the world. This is a great blessing. It guaranteed her the position of being the most honored woman in the history of mankind. But she, in her famous psalm of praise, known as the "Magnificat", referred to God as "my Savior". If she is, as the Catholics call her, the Mother of God, how then can God be her Saviour? The two ideas are contradictory. Also, the Bible never calls her the Mother of God. She is called the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.


Immaculate Conception?

Another piece of Catholic dogma about "Mary" is the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, the idea that Mary was somehow miraculously born without the curse of original sin. In other words, she too supposedly lived a sinless life. All that this writer can say about this is that he has challenged a number of Catholics to show him Scriptural support for this. None has been shown. None exists. The idea is a fantasy.


How Blessed?

In Luke 11:27 & 28, Jesus made a statement that effectively dethrones "Mary". As He was teaching, a woman in the crowd spoke up and made this comment: "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked".

Now understand this: There is a pattern in the Gospels of Jesus complimenting anyone who did or said anything commendable in regard to Him. The most famous example of this is His statement to Peter in Matthew 16:17. Jesus had asked the provocative question, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter responded with the famous proclamation: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God".

And Jesus replied with the beautiful compliment, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven".

Of course there are numerous other examples of this in the Gospels. The idea is, Jesus believed in giving affirmation where affirmation was merited; credit where credit was due. If Mary is what the Catholic Church makes of her, than what this woman said was an enlightened statement equal to Peter's. She should have also received a compliment from Jesus. She didn't.

In fact, what Jesus said to her is a mild rebuttal: "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" Jesus said, in other words, that spiritually, as Christians go, there is nothing special about Mary. Any Christian who really lives a life of obedient faith is at least just as blessed as she!


Catholic Dogma?

Then there is the Catholic dogma to the effect that Jesus will not refuse anything to His mother. This does not stand up to Scripture either. There is a passage in the Gospel of Matthew that refutes both this and something else that Catholic dogma teaches: her supposed perpetual virginity.

In Matthew 12:46-50, while Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, the Bible says that "His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him". Note that this, plus other Scripture references, tells us that Mary had more children after Jesus was born. Contrary to what the Catholic Church teaches, she did not stay perpetually a virgin. This is taking the Bible to mean exactly what it says. Jesus was told about His family being there, and if the Catholic dogma mentioned above was true, Jesus would have gone out to them. He didn't. Instead He asked this rhetorical question:

"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

Then He pointed to His disciples and answered His own question:

"Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

In saying this, Jesus clearly told us that in the Heavenly order of things, again, there is nothing special about Mary. Her "blessedness" begins and ends with her being the mother of the man, Jesus of Nazareth. Period.

Understand that the level of blessedness she received must have included extreme divine protection, spiritually and materially, during most if not all of her life, plus, most likely, a generous portion of divine providence (like those gifts the Wise Men brought). Again, she became the most honored, and in fact, materially speaking, glorified woman in history. She was blessed. But not the way Catholic dogma says.


Queen of Heaven?

This is an idolatrous title given to "Mary" by her worshippers. If she was that, we should expect to find the term applied to Mary somewhere in the New Testament. It isn't. "Mary" may well be the "Queen of Heaven", but only in the Old Testament sense. The Old Testament "Queen of Heaven" may very well have been the same satanic "power" that was behind the cult of Artemis.

The only place we find that term in the Bible is in the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 44; verses 17 - 19 & 25. The context makes it clear that the entity referred to is a pagan deity. The people of Judah had been burning incense (sounds familiar) and offering drink offerings to her. In verse 27, God pronounces the consequences to them:

"Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine until there is an end to them".

This may very well taken as a warning to those who worship the "Queen of Heaven" now.


Mediatrix?

One of the most blatantly unscriptural claims made for "Mary" is calling her a "Mediatrix" - a term found nowhere - not even hinted at - in the Bible. There is only one thing that can be said, Biblically, about this: "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus Christ" (I Timothy 2:5). This verse alone, if taken to mean exactly what it says, knocks "Mary" right out of the picture. If she were indeed a "Mediatrix", this verse would be false doctrine!

We might also note what is said about the Lord Jesus Christ in Colossians 1:19 & 20: "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things in earth or things in Heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." What Jesus did for us on the cross was all that needed to be done to give us full salvation.

And doesn't the Scripture also say of Jesus, "Therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25)?

Therefore, where in heaven is there any need for a "Mediatrix"? NO WHERE!!!


Praying to "Mary"

Relevant to the idea the "Mary" is the "Mediatrix" is the idea the Christians should pray to her. To begin with, this usually involves repetition of the "Hail Mary". That is not what Jesus told us to do: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetition as the heathen do." (Matthew 6:17). Jesus then proceeded to show us the right way to pray:

"In this manner therefore pray,

'Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name...' "

(Matthew 6:9)

and

"In that day you shall ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came forth from God".

(John 16:26 & 27)

Jesus told us to pray directly to God the Father in His name (i.e. His authority, by faith). He says, in so many words, that He won't pray for us Himself. He doesn't need to, because the Father Himself loves us! It is His pleasure to answer our prayers. If we don't even need Jesus to pray for us, how much less do we need "Mary" (or any of the saints, by the way) to do it? We can go directly to the Father!

There is no need in Heaven or on earth for the "Mediatrix"!


Healings and Miracles

The visions and apparitions connected with "Mary", as stated above, have much in common with the UFO Phenomenon. They constitute evidence for the satanic, rather than for the divine origin of the cult. But there also have been many healings. In fact, it is this that is one of the biggest "draws" to the cult of "Mary". Actually, although it hasn't been anywhere near as big a part of it as a part of the cult of "Mary", there have also been healings connected with UFOs and UFO cults.

Again, as far as deception is concerned, especially in the last days, all things are possible with Satan. Including healing. In some cases of severe and perhaps chronic illness, the disease may be due to demonic oppression (see Luke 13:10 - 13). Especially if the illness is one of those ailments that baffle the doctors. In such a case, all Satan has to do to affect a cure is to just withdraw the oppression. Then the victim has experienced the miraculous healing of an illness that baffled the doctors. The victim, and others close to the victim, would really be impressed! It has long been this writer's observation, from what he has observed happening in cult groups generally, that Satan will gladly heal your body or help you overcome any specific problem you have if he can, in doing so, make you think you have really found "the answer", and thereby insure your damnation, plus plant seeds of confusion, and steal glory from Christ in the process.

It has been observed by some Christian leaders, notably Billy Graham, that it may be possible for a person to go so far into sin that it is no longer possible for that person to be saved. Healing people through the cult of "Mary" may be ways in which Satan gets people to go beyond the spiritual point of no return.

Note that way back in Deuteronomy 13:1-3 we are told that signs and wonders can lead us astray. Satan has far more freedom to produce "lying signs and wonders" (II Thessalonians 2:9) now than he did then.

I implore anyone who is not saved or sure of where you will spend eternity please ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and that you wish Him to be the Lord of your life. No matter what you've done and no matter what you've been you are forgivable and Jesus will accept you back as His own. We all have to come to Jesus as broken and flawed as we are because He knows this and still loves us! No sinner's prayer and no pomp and circumstance. Just a one-to-one conversation with Jesus. Find a church that is focused on the Bible and not religion and then begin to read that same Bible like your life depended on it. Trust me, if you really want Jesus to live in and through you He will do just that.

God Bless You All!