Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>Dr. John Ankerberg:Let me ask you, do you think that Catholicism has stepped over the
line in defining how Mary mediates, and it cannot be justified by saying other Christians
are asked to proclaim the gospel and pray for their friends? Her role of mediation is
completely different than ours? If there is any doubt in your mind about this,
look at what Pope Pius IX said about Mary: �God has committed to her the treasury of
all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope,
every grace, and all salvation. For this is his will, that we obtain everything through
Mary.� Further, he said, �Just as no one can approach
the highest Father except through the Son, so no one can approach Christ except through
His Mother.� Pope Pius XI said, �Every blessing that comes to us from the Almighty
God comes to us through the hands of our Lady.� Pope Leo XIII prayed, �None, Oh Mother of
God, obtains salvation except through thee; none receives a gift from the throne of mercy
except through thee.� But nowhere in the Bible is Mary�s role
in the dispensing of graces mentioned. Nowhere in the Bible will you find what these Popes
have stated about Mary being in the mediating position between Jesus and all the rest of
mankind. Such devotion to Mary crosses the line, and it is not justified by saying that
the Church gives only secondary or subordinate honor to Mary.
When God says, �You shall have no other gods before me,� [Ex. 20:3] these words
literally read: �You shall have no other gods before my face.� God is not saying
you shall have no other gods above me, what He is saying is, you shall have no other gods
above me, even with me, subordinate to me, in addition to me, you shall have no other
Gods before His face, period. God demands undivided loyalty and devotion.
Although the Roman Catholic Church is careful to say Mary is not an infinite and eternal
being, like God, she is described in terms every bit as real as the false gods and goddesses
of the ancient world. Remember, those pagan deities were described as finite beings with
very human characteristics and passions. In comparison, Mary is described in terms far
exceeding those pagan deities in her excellency, power and achievements. In Catholicism, Mary�s
roles and how she is described makes her virtually indistinguishable from the Son of God Himself
and only differs in degree in the minds of people.
For example, the Bible says Jesus was the Son of God. Catholicism says Mary was the
Mother of God. The Bible says Jesus was sinless; Catholicism says Mary was immaculately conceived
and lived a sinless life. The Bible teaches Jesus was born of a ***; Catholicism says
Mary was a perpetual ***. The Bible says Jesus ascended bodily into Heaven; Catholicism
claims Mary ascended body and soul into Heaven. The Bible says Jesus is the King of Heaven.
Catholicism says Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Jesus is the Mediator between God and man;
Mary in Catholicism is the Mediatrix between Jesus and man. Biblically, Jesus is the only
Redeeme