A Protestant view of the Mother of God

[Ite_ad_Ioseph]

First, I have taken a liking to of calling Mary Mother of God like the Greeks, who never say Mary alone, but either use her title or her title and name together. It offends Protestants even more but I don’t care.

A YouTube video discussed the difference between the ‘Catholic Mary and the Bible Mary.’ The main topic was that when God has a plan it happens with out a choice. That is, if Mary said no during the Annunciation, it would have happened anyway. They used Jonah and the whale through a picture, never spoke about it: Jonah didn’t want to do something but God made a whale swallow him and he did the job anyway. Also, it said Mary would have been scared like every other Jewish teenager should be, and that Gabriel was basically telling her, not asking, what was going to go down. Now I am not saying anything; just thinking. Your thoughts? I never thought about this before.

 

[gr8ful1]

I may be wrong but I thought Mary heard the angels strange greeting, then asked how this birth could be possible and then it was explained to her. She then unequivocally stated yes let it be done to me according to Gods will. I always believed this was the perfect yes. By that I mean she agreed to Gods plan for her life with unquestioning faith.

 

[Eucharisted]

So suddenly the YouTuber knows the thoughts of Jewish teenagers?

And, his argument is shot down when you remember that God has given us free-will. Remember the story of the fall of man?

 

[Wolves]

First, I have taken a liking to of calling Mary Mother of God like the Greeks, who never say Mary alone, but either use her title or her title and name together. It offends Protestants even more but I don’t care.

A YouTube video discussed the difference between the ‘Catholic Mary and the Bible Mary.’ The main topic was that when God has a plan it happens with out a choice. That is, if Mary said no during the Annunciation, it would have happened anyway. They used Jonah and the whale through a picture, never spoke about it: Jonah didn’t want to do something but God made a whale swallow him and he did the job anyway. Also, it said Mary would have been scared like every other Jewish teenager should be, and that Gabriel was basically telling her, not asking, what was going to go down. Now I am not saying anything; just thinking. Your thoughts? I never thought about this before.

The “Catholic Mary” and the “Bible Mary” are one and the same. Catholics wrote the New Testament and decided what books were to go into it. The Bible is a Catholic book.

Those people are suggesting that God would have made Mary have a baby even if she had said no?

 

[JonNC]

=Ite ad Ioseph;5207659]First, I have taken a liking to of calling Mary Mother of God like the Greeks, who never say Mary alone, but either use her title or her title and name together. It offends Protestants even more but I don’t care.

Not all of us. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary Mother of God, Theotokos. How could these names offend?

A YouTube video discussed the difference between the ‘Catholic Mary and the Bible Mary.’ The main topic was that when God has a plan it happens with out a choice. That is, if Mary said no during the Annunciation, it would have happened anyway. They used Jonah and the whale through a picture, never spoke about it: Jonah didn’t want to do something but God made a whale swallow him and he did the job anyway. Also, it said Mary would have been scared like every other Jewish teenager should be, and that Gabriel was basically telling her, not asking, what was going to go down. Now I am not saying anything; just thinking. Your thoughts? I never thought about this before.

Free will was available to the Blessed Virgin. Had she said no, it would have happened anyway… with someone else.

Jon

 

[soblessed]

Free will was available to the Blessed Virgin. Had she said no, it would have happened anyway… with someone else.

Respectfully, I disagree. I think that, had Mary said no, that we (as humans) may have gotten a “second chance” to say “yes” to salvation, but it would have occurred in a different way; perhaps in a way even more difficult. Just as God makes every person unique, so, too does He make every opportunity unique.

And remember, Eve said “no” to God’s offer to live forever with Him. The next time He offered eternal life with Himself, it came in a much harder way and with a much higher price. And with a long, long time of suffering prior

Nope, I think Mary saved us (all humans) by her “yes”.

To say she was incidental and the Lord would just move on to the next woman on His list, so to speak, is to ignore how very much she threw herself into trust in the Lord. How very much she COOPERATED with His will. She did this in a way that very, very few others have done or could do, not just in her time, but in all of history, past and present and future. And in cooperating so fully with the grace the Lord gave her, she was the perfect choice to be Mother of God.

Thank you for your “yes”, O Holy Mother!

 

[cranster]

It’s easy to speculate about what if’s, but the reality is that God chose her to be His mother. She is the Immaculate Conception, God’s greatest creation. God prepared her in particular to be the Theotokos from her conception, and granted her a singular grace that preserved her from sin so she was a fitting vessel for Jesus. God did not intend for that singular grace to be granted to anybody but her… period. Our salvation absolutely hinged on her fiat.

 

[BootCampJr]

The Ever Blessed Virgin was chosen because God knew she wouldn’t say “no.” Just like we hold our mothers in such high regard, we do so for the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

[JonNC]

=soblessed;5208370]Respectfully, I disagree. I think that, had Mary said no, that we (as humans) may have gotten a “second chance” to say “yes” to salvation, but it would have occurred in a different way; perhaps in a way even more difficult. Just as God makes every person unique, so, too does He make every opportunity unique.

Perhaps. Of course, it is all speculation (fortunately).

Nope, I think Mary saved us (all humans) by her “yes”.

Maybe better said that Christ saved us, and Mary cooperated in His plan. Saying Mary saved us is a bothersome statement for me.

To say she was incidental and the Lord would just move on to the next woman on His list, so to speak, is to ignore how very much she threw herself into trust in the Lord.

I never said she was incidental. In fact, acknowledging her free will honors her “yes”, it doesn’t ignore it.

How very much she COOPERATED with His will. She did this in a way that very, very few others have done or could do, not just in her time, but in all of history, past and present and future. And in cooperating so fully with the grace the Lord gave her, she was the perfect choice to be Mother of God.

I would never argue with that.

Jon

 

[soblessed]

Perhaps. Of course, it is all speculation (fortunately).

Fortunately, indeed!

Maybe better said that Christ saved us, and Mary cooperated in His plan. Saying Mary saved us is a bothersome statement for me.

you’re right; that’s a better phrasing.

I never said she was incidental. In fact, acknowledging her free will honors her “yes”, it doesn’t ignore it.

super

 

[JonNC]

JonNC
Maybe better said that Christ saved us, and Mary cooperated in His plan. Saying Mary saved us is a bothersome statement for me.

you’re right; that’s a better phrasing.

I think her role here might be similar to the role my parents played in my baptism: by bringing me to Baptism when I was just a month old, they did not save me, but they certainly cooperated with Christ in His plan to save me.
Your thoughts?

Jon

 

[soblessed]

I think her role here might be similar to the role my parents played in my baptism: by bringing me to Baptism when I was just a month old, they did not save me, but they certainly cooperated with Christ in His plan to save me.

I would say your parents imitated Mary’s role in miniature. They presented you for baptism, as Mary did with Jesus, in their great love for you and faith in Christ. And praise God they did!

Our parent’s presenting us in baptism, however, is one important piece of a larger picture of what they do. The whole puzzle involves loving you, raising you in the faith, saying “no” when they had to, discipling you, sacrificing their wants for your needs, letting you go, encouraging you, praying for you, etc.

Just so, Mary’s “yes” was instrumental, but her whole life was a “yes” to God for their son, Jesus. She played the role of mother, but she played the role of Mother to our Lord, which was never done before, has never been done since and will never be done again.

The more I know Mary, the more I pray with her and to her, the more I know that she was unique. I just find it hard to compare her to someone else because what she agreed to, and then lived out with every fiber of her soul, was so…monumnetal, I guess.

It’s very difficult to explain and I’m sorry I can’t be more eloquent. Can you understand where I’m coming from?

 

[JonNC]

I would say your parents imitated Mary’s role in miniature. They presented you for baptism, as Mary did with Jesus, in their great love for you and faith in Christ. And praise God they did!

Our parent’s presenting us in baptism, however, is one important piece of a larger picture of what they do. The whole puzzle involves loving you, raising you in the faith, saying “no” when they had to, discipling you, sacrificing their wants for your needs, letting you go, encouraging you, praying for you, etc.

Just so, Mary’s “yes” was instrumental, but her whole life was a “yes” to God for their son, Jesus. She played the role of mother, but she played the role of Mother to our Lord, which was never done before, has never been done since and will never be done again.

The more I know Mary, the more I pray with her and to her, the more I know that she was unique. I just find it hard to compare her to someone else because what she agreed to, and then lived out with every fiber of her soul, was so…monumnetal, I guess.

It’s very difficult to explain and I’m sorry I can’t be more eloquent. Can you understand where I’m coming from?

Actually, you were quite eloquent, and I do understand. I pretty much agree with your thoughts. Of course, as a Lutheran, I don’t pray to her, though I know that she and the saints pray for the Church militant. I have come to thank God for the incredible role model she was and is for all Christians.

Jon

 

[soblessed]

Actually, you were quite eloquent, and I do understand. I pretty much agree with your thoughts. Of course, as a Lutheran, I don’t pray to her, though I know that she and the saints pray for the Church militant. I have come to thank God for the incredible role model she was and is for all Christians.

I think that’s terrific and I think that makes perfect sense, considering where you’re coming from. I respect your position and I can tell that you’re comitted to growing in your faith. May He bless you always…

 

[Verbum]

High Ite,

There is no point in saying that, had Mary said no, God would have worked out savation some other way.

The real point is that he chose her knowing that she would say yes, thus “accomplishing great things” for her so that “all generations [would] call [her] blessed.” By honoring Mary, we are fufilling this prophecy.

Verbum

 

[JonNC]

I think that’s terrific and I think that makes perfect sense, considering where you’re coming from. I respect your position and I can tell that you’re comitted to growing in your faith. May He bless you always…

And I respect your position and the sincerity and reverance you show toward Mary. I know you and millions of Christians gain great comfort through intercession, and that should be respected.
May He bless you, as well,
Jon

 

[soblessed]

Well, aren’t we just the Mutual Admiration Society, eh?

Seriously, though, I really appreciate inter-faith dialogue that is respectful and peaceful. Such a gift from God

 

[gcnuss]

Well, aren’t we just the Mutual Admiration Society, eh?

Seriously, though, I really appreciate inter-faith dialogue that is respectful and peaceful. Such a gift from God

A hearty “AMEN” to that. Like my fellow Lutheran, Jon, I have great respect for Mary as the Mother of God even as I am not comfortable with some aspects of Marian veneration. But, I cannot fault my Catholic brothers and sisters for their veneration of her if it serves to bring them closer to the one who is the source of our salvation, our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

 

[Holly3278]

The “Catholic Mary” and the “Bible Mary” are one and the same. Catholics wrote the New Testament and decided what books were to go into it. The Bible is a Catholic book.

Those people are suggesting that God would have made Mary have a baby even if she had said no?

Exactly Wolves! The “Catholic Mary” and the “Bible Mary” are one and the same. They are identical. After all, as you state, Catholics wrote the New Testament and decided what books were to go into it. And yes, the Bible is a Catholic book. Good post!

Personally, I recommend the following reading to anyone who objects to Mary’s title, Mother of God:

catholic.com/library/Mary_Mother_of_God.asp

 

[antonabe]

One of the most important virtues of Mary is her immaculate conception.Was she preordained to be the Mother of God?