Mary's role

I agree. It's almost like a "Catholic-phobia."

God must have thought Mary was pretty special cause He picked her out of all the women who ever lived to be the human vessel to carry His Son for nine months and then to raise Him. What a woman!

Worship her? Pray to her? No. Give her honor and respect? Yes.

 

What was that the angel said?
Luke 1:28
And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

Not too shabby if you ask me!

Diane

 

Mary did not earn being called blessed among women on her own, it was given by God just as it is today. We do not earn God's approval on our own without Him, and neither did Mary, we do not accomplish His will for our lives on our own without Him, but He accomplishes it through us.
I ahve no problem with Mary having her proper place, but it seems you can not do that without someone wanting to raise her up and worship her.

 

Mary's advice to us...

John 2:5
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.



HankD

 

Hank, what does that mean to us about Mary about who she is?

 

On second thought, does He tell us to give her extra recognition?

 

Mat 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Mat 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Jason

 

Take a good look at what she said.

She said "do what HE says", she didn't say "do what I say".

I've used it with Catholics.
Mary took the focus off of herself and on to Him.

HankD

 

One of the concepts with Mary is that in Catholicism she is viewed as " our Mother" etc.

But Scripturally, women are viewed as 'daughters of Sara" Mary is never even inferred in that manner in the Scriptures.

1 Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

 

Thank you jason, Hank, and SS, just as I thought. No where in scripture are we told to look at Mary more highly(more honor and respect) then anyone else. If anything scripture leads us not to.
Instead of saying what a woman she must have been pretty special, we should be saying what a God to be able to take a sinner whose good is as filthy rags and make her acceptable as flesh to bear His Son. Mary is no different from any other woman on her own, she was blessed simply because God choose her.

 

Mary had a 'servants' attitude. We should all be so willing to be used of God in spite of what we might face! Mary could have been put to death for her 'out of wedlock' pregnancy!

Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

 

Some us just may have a servants attitude, just becasue we have not given birth to the Son of God does not mean we do not. God asks us to do things hard and unpleasant,and some He asks to do things that do casue their death. Many people are willing to do God's will no matter what it means they have to do or go through.
But yet the scriptures still do not tell us we are to lift Mary up in any way.
According to scripture, all have sinned, even Mary, all have fallen short, even Mary, there is none righteous, even Mary, there is none who seeks after God, even Mary, all good deeds are filthy rags, even Mary.
We have no righteousness on our own, neither did Mary, we have no acceptable good deeds on our own, neither did Mary, none of us is worthy, neither was Mary, none of us has anything acceptable apart from God's work in us, neither did Mary.
She is no different then anyother christian whose willing to serve God.

 

Dr. Bob

 

I think that would wrong Murphy.
The above quote wasn't meant in reply to this question of yours, but to a few other posts in this thread.

 

Excellent perspective Dr Bob.

 

I have no problem saying Mary was special, she was. She was called of God to a very special ministry. Have you ever changed Jesus' diaper? She endured a level of persecution and harassment for her out of wedlock pregnancy. She endured special trails and performed a special ministry for our Lord that will never be repeated. The disciples lived with Jesus for three years. Mary lived with him for 30.

Dr. Bob said

Yet her works did contribute. If nothing else she had remained a virgin. She kept herself pure and put herself in a position where God could call her and use her. He could not use a woman who was not a virgin to carry His son. I think this honorable work on her part is worthy of our respect and honor. We should challenge all of our church members to live holy after her example that God can use them.

I am not saying that she was sinless, I know she was a sinner like anyone else, but she was also sexually pure. I have often used her example when dealing with young people to encourage them to keep themselves pure and not exclude themselves from the ministry God has planned for their lives.

 

I don't think Baptist truly bash Mary. I think Baptist bash the elevated concept of Mary taught by Catholics and perhaps some others.

In my circles I see people who respect Mary for her role assigned by God. I wouldn't dream of being critical of her.

I think she was unique because she was chosen by God... not that she was chosen by God because she was unique.