Should we pray to Mary?

[poppa_50]

We just watched the movie, Exorcism of Emily Rose.

The movie may depart from actual events. Who knows? But Mary appears at the end. My wife is sure God could have used her for that event.

Does the exorcism by a Catholic Priest validate the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church? They did pray the Rosary in the exorcism as I think Catholics would. Is God wrestling with the decision of who He will help?

Does it fit the Scripture of those who preached from wrong motives but found their preaching still productive?

[Ayala]

First off, Catholics will tell you that they don't pray to Mary or any saint...they ask them to pray to God for them. This is strictly unbiblical. Flat out. You'll find it absolutely no where in the Bible. There is no intercession between us and the Lord. The only mediator between us and the Father is Christ Jesus.

[Vhayes]

I Timothy 2
5 - For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Scripture says there is one mediator. I don't see Mary's name anywhere.

Hope that helps -
V

[-SEEKING-]

It's a movie we're talking about. All those apparitions of Mary are just bogus. She was a great woman. But she's dead.

[poppa_50]

Hail Mary is not a prayer? It is in football.

From Wikpedia herself, "A rosary provides a physical method of keeping track of the number of Hail Marys said."


"The custom of the family praying of the Holy Rosary is a most efficacious means. What a sweet sight - most pleasing to God - when, at eventide, the Christian home resounds with the frequent repetition of praises in honor of the High Queen of Heaven! Then the Rosary, recited in the family, assembled before the image of the Virgin, in an admirable union of hearts, the parents and their children, who come back from their daily work. It unites them piously with those absent and those dead. It links all more tightly in a sweet bond of love, with the most Holy Virgin, who, like a loving mother, in the circle of her children, will be there bestowing upon them an abundance of the gifts of concord and family peace."

Lutherans are also distinctive in casting out the devil at baptism and renouncing him and all his works. They just do it without the assistance of Mary.

[Ayala]

"High Queen of Heaven"? Oi. Care to find that term in the Bible? I've studied the Bible quite a bit...can't say I've come across it. Mary has no such place of authority over man. And to deify her in such a manner is idolatry. As for the perpetual virginity of Mary...

Mathew 1:24-25 - "And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

[Dani H]

Does it fit the Scripture of those who preached from wrong motives but found their preaching still productive?

Depends on how you define "productive" then, doesn't it?

Spiritual warfare is often a can of worms and if you don't approach it with the right mindset, under the right authority (and last I checked that was the name and Personhood of Jesus alone), then you may see "results" but would have no way of verifying where exactly they'd be rooted in and what exactly happens behind the scenes. God is certainly merciful but why test His grace outside of what we know His tried and true way is? If we know the truth as laid out in Scripture, then we've no right to say "oh let's check over here, maybe there's something to it?" without getting ourselves burned in the process, and rightfully so because that's when we step outside of the assurance of true faith and into assumption and speculation.

The Bible says that Jesus cast out demons "with a word". That's not with a sermon or with a rosary or with a string of bunches of prayers, and crucifixes and candles and other such props; that's with one word. And they obeyed. Why would we, who claim to walk in His authority, settle for anything less? Certainly the exorcism makes for entertaining movie material, but the reality of a believer in Christ is a lot more simple and straightforward, as it should be. God doesn't unnecessarily complicate things and His ways are clear and to the point.

Matthew 8:16
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

I stake my personal claim with the Lord of Hosts and with the one rightful Authority properly laid out in Scripture that has stood the test of time for thousands of years. You can stake your personal claim where you wish, just make sure the ground you step on doesn't turn out to be quicksand.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Mark 16:17
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons;

As to Mary ... I admire her. She was a great woman of faith and took on a great risk by carrying out God's promise to her. She deserves her own place in the annals of human history, and for good reason. But pray to her? Would she approve? Honestly? Apparitions and superstitions laid aside, if you were Mary and a mere human being who gave birth to an exceptional Person, would you accept being elevated by people to a position that God Himself never openly gave you? How do you think she feels about that? If I was her, I'd be horrified at how easily people can be misled and manipulated. Let's say for argument's sake that her "appearance" actually happened and is verifiable. How is that any different than say, the Transfiguration where Elijah and Moses appeared to Jesus, being witnessed by His disciples. Do we use that as a basis to worship Elijah and Moses now, and to pray to them because they appeared to the Lord 2000 years ago? No? Then why would we do that to Mary? What right do we have? Did Jesus worship Moses and Elijah? No? Then why would we even consider it?

Matthew 17:3-5
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

On the other hand, if some apparition of "Mary" showed up at your home tonight claiming she is the "blessed Virgin" would you honor that? On what Biblical basis?

My Bible tells me to test every spirit to see if they're of God. We don't just blindly go "oh okay, lemme just take your word for it then" to anything that manifests itself to us from the spirit realm, claiming it's who-knows-what. That's how false religions are born, just like that. We as believers are supposed to test those things, to their face, on the basis and authority of Scripture.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Something to think about, perhaps ... This is the New in Christ forum and so I think it's important to answer your questions and get you started off on the right foot, so to speak. And, you can verify everything I've said here against Scripture, so be my guest.

[Skipscan]

I would never pray to Mary. She was a special person with a special purpose, but she was a person.

[minister ralph]

No we shouldn't pray to mary......there are no blessings nor salvation tied to mary. Mary can't do anything for you. Mary was a very important person and played a very important role....but to pray to her deifies her. Which we all know we aren't supposed to do

[Tonton]

Mary was a blessed woman among women, and she was honoured to bear Christ, but she was just human - not a god, and not an intermediary.

ANY other statement is unbiblical and is teachings of man, not of God.

Remember Mary, but pray to God in the name of Jesus. That is how the Lord's Prayer teaches us.

God bless!
Anton

[Faithwalker]

Should we pray to Mary?

All power in Heaven and Earth was given to the Son, not the Mother. [Mat 28:18]

That simple fact should cause anyone to conclude, that it is a waste of breath to pray to Mary.

As for me, I prefer to pray to the One who has promised to draw near to me if I draw near to Him. [James 4:8]

Eph 1:11 In Christ we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything according to the intention of his will,
Eph 1:12 so that we who had already fixed our hope on Christ might live for his praise and glory.

[HisLeast]

Is God wrestling with the decision of who He will help?

I have a hard time picturing the Almighty with His brow wrinkled and wringing His hands, pacing the floors worrying about how He'll use His "limited" resources in the most effective way.

[poppa_50]

I have a hard time picturing the Almighty with His brow wrinkled and wringing His hands, pacing the floors worrying about how He'll use His "limited" resources in the most effective way.

I think you miss the argument.

Should God help an exorcism ritual where Mary is prayed to in order to beat up the devil or does he stay out of the fray because as many suppose here...praying to Mary and praying to Jesus creates confusion if done in the same breath.

Now u get it?

[RabbiKnife]

I think you miss the argument.

Should God help an exorcism ritual where Mary is prayed to in order to beat up the devil or does he stay out of the fray because as many suppose here...praying to Mary and praying to Jesus creates confusion if done in the same breath.

Now u get it?

Yeah, I get it.

No human ritual ever cast out any demon. Demons are cast out by the Holy Spirit, not by human ritual.

[The Mighty Sword]

Mary was the vessel for Christ and should be respected for that, but not prayed to, it would contradict John 14:6, I Am the way, the truth and the life, No one comes to the father but by me.