Don't need Pius, Mary, or a bevy of Saints to emulate when I can gain strength, wisdom, and comfort from the Real Source and His holy scriptures.
I think Catholics are awesome Christians but i will never understand the Mary thing, I guess. I could see imitating the saints and the “fathers of the faith” and such but I don’t see much actually written about Mary in the Bible. She was humble, that’s a good thing obviously, to imitate. But the veneration takes her to a new place altogether. I’m sure I’m uninformed somehow....
2 out of 3. Christ is obviously to be the supreme and ultimate example,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
Yet in that interest we are to look to human examples of souls who followed the Lord Jesus, but only insofar as they did, consistent with Scripture:
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:17)
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
But conversely, this means turning away from those who do not follow Christ, or insofar as they did not, which includes "Pius," and the imaginary Mary of Rome:
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10)
Pius along with others, supported the progressive deformation of the church which Rome is the primary example of .
Which the Mary of Catholicism is made to be the most loved leader of, making the humble and holy Mary of Scripture, who is an example for us to follow, which means obeying Christ who thinking of me above that which is written, which Rome has done.
For in the the Catholic quest to almost deify Mary, it is taught by Catholics*,
as Christ was sinless, so Mary was;
as the Lord remained a virgin, so Mary;
as Christ was called the Son of God, indicating ontological oneness, so Mary is called the Mother of God (which easily infers the same, and is not the language of Scripture);
as the emphasis is upon Christ as the Creator through whom God (the Father) made all things, including Mary, so it is emphasized that uniquely “to her, Jesus owes His Precious Blood,” shed for the salvation of mankind, (the logic behind which can lead back to Eve);
as Catholics (adding error to error) believe Christ gave His actual flesh and blood to be eaten, so it is emphasized that Mary gave Him this, being fashioned out of Mary's pure blood and even being “kneaded with the admixture of her virginal milk,” so that she can say, "Come and eat my bread, drink the wine I have prepared" (Prov. 9:5);
as Scripture declares that Christ suffered for our sins, so Mary is said to have done so also;
as Christ saves us from the condemnation and death resulting from the fault of Adam, so it is taught that man was condemned through the fault of Eve, the root of death, but that we are saved through the merits of Mary; who was the source of life for everyone.
as the Lord was bodily ascended into Heaven, so Mary also was;
as Christ is given all power in heaven and in earth, so Mary is “surpassing in power all the angels and saints in Heaven.”
as Christ is the King of the saints and over all kings, (Rv. 15:3; 17:14; 19:16) so Mary is made Queen of Heaven and the greatest saint, and that “Next to God, she deserves the highest praise;”
as the Father made Christ Lord over all things, so Mary is enthroned (all other believers have to wait for their crowns) and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things;
as Christ is highly exalted above all under the Father, so Mary is declared to be the greatest saint of all, and as having a certain equality with the Heavenly Father;
as Christ ever liveth to make intercession for the saints, so is Mary said to do so;
as all things come from the Father through the Son, so Mary is made to be the dispenser of all grace;
as Christ is given all power on Heaven and on earth, Mary is said to have (showing some restraint) “almost unlimited power;”
as no man comes to the Father but through the Son, so it is taught that no one can come to the Son except through Mary in Heaven;
and as the Lord called souls to come to Him to be given life and salvation, so (in misappropriation of the words of Scripture) it is said of Mary, “He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord;” “that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain everything through Mary.”
And as Christ is given many titles of honor, so Mary also is, except that she is honored by Catholics with more titles than they give to the Lord Himself!
Mary was a holy, virtuous instrument of God, but of whom Scripture says relatively little, while holy fear ought to restrain ascribing positions, honor, glory and powers to a mortal that God has not revealed as given to them, and or are only revealed as being possessed by God Himself. But like as the Israelites made an instrument of God an object of worship, (Num. 21:8,9; 2Kg. 18:4) Catholics have magnified Mary far beyond what is written and warranted and even allowed, based on what is in Scripture.
I’ll give a big Amen to that! Jesus is our salvation, not the “church”. Our way to Christ is not through some ritual or fallen carnal man. Our way to Christ is on our knees in prayer with guidence from the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for saying what I was thinking. God bless.
You need to check out #43 too.
“...the life...” or the light? I don’t know...you tell me, please feel