Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most interesting and important women found in Scripture. The Bible describes her magnificent faith, from the time she became pregnant, until she stood at the foot of her Son's cross. Hers is a compelling story.
But over the centuries, Catholicism has developed Mary's story to the point where today she is called sinless, "the gate of heaven," and the mediator between God and man. How did this very holy Bible woman evolve into a sinless, undying female mediator through whom men can approach God? The answer may help us understand how all error progresses.
Let's start with reality. Mary's story is a marvelous one. While a virgin, she conceived, through the Holy Spirit, the Christ child. Seven hundred years earlier, Isaiah foretold this event (Isaiah 7:14). This woman was God's chosen instrument for bringing His Son Jesus into the world as a fleshly being. The things Mary endured evidence her strength. Her story needs no mythological additions to make it wondrous, inspiring, and faith-building.
But the fact that additions aren't needed has not prevented men from "cunningly devising fables." (2 Peter 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-4)
Fable of the Immaculate Conception
Many presume the term "immaculate conception" refers to the fact that Jesus was born without sin. But that is not the case. Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary was born without sin. "When we say that Mary was conceived without sin, we mean that from the very first moment of her existence, she was free from original sin, she was full of grace." (Mary-Doctrine for Everyman, page 17)
We're exploring the evolution of error. So, did you notice, from the Catholic explanation above, why they came to believe she was born without sin?
It's because they believe another error--that men are born in sin because they inherit Adam's sin through their parents.
But Jesus' birth and sinless nature places grave doubt on the doctrine of inherited depravity. If babies inherit their parents' sinful nature, how did Jesus come to be born without sin? Why didn't he "catch" or otherwise "pick up," through Mary, all the sins of his ancestors?
So, Catholic scholars were faced with a choice. Repudiate the false notion of inherited sin or come up with a solution to their dilemma.
They chose the latter route. On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX declared Mary to have been born without sin. Thus, they explained Jesus' sinless nature and retained the doctrine of inherited sin. But one can't help wondering. If Mary was sinless, why did she say, "my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior." (Luke 1:47-48) Describing someone as your savior implies the need for salvation. Mary must have realized that she had sinned.
Fable of Mary's Perpetual Virginity
The Bible clearly states that Mary was a virgin who had never known a man sexually and continued in that state from the time she conceived until after Jesus' birth (Matthew 1:18, 23-25; Luke 1:26-35). Thus, Jesus' birth was absolutely unique. The manner of his birth helps depict our Lord's two-fold nature--being both man and God at once.
But why would the Catholic Church contend that Mary remained a virgin throughout her entire life on earth? They contend she never had sexual relations with a man or had any other children. To quote their approved writings: "It is Catholic faith that Mary was a virgin before the divine birth; during it; and after it--our Lady never had any other children." (Mary-Doctrine for Everyman, page 14)
Like our first fable, this one finds its root in yet another false premise. The Catholic Church teaches that abstinence from marriage and sexuality is a superior position spiritually. This is the reason priests, nuns, and other church leaders take celibacy vows.
But the myth about Mary's perpetual virginity, concocted to maintain their celibacy doctrine, runs headlong into conflict with the Bible. The Bible declares that Joseph did not know his wife sexually only "till she had brought forth her firstborn son." (Matthew 1:24-25) The Bible declares that Jesus had brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3; Matthew 12:46-50; Acts 1:14). And Hebrews 13:4 teaches that marriage, including the sexual component ("the bed"), is honorable.
The Apostle Paul taught that husbands and wives should not deprive or defraud one another of the sexual component of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-5), and the sexual union is a part of a man and woman becoming "one flesh" (Matthew 19:5-6).
It is interesting to note that the Catholic Church is willing to "annul," and say it never really existed, a marriage that isn't sexually "consummated." Did Mary and Joseph's marriage not really exist?
What a tangled web is weaved when error is compounded by more error. But that is the nature of the evolution of false teaching.
Fable of Mary's Assumption Into Heaven
Some books call this the "great assumption." That's a pretty good description. This Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary never died but was taken directly to heaven, as were Enoch and Elijah. "When the course of our Lady's life on earth was ended, she was taken up body and soul into heaven." (Mary-Doctrine for Everyman, page 34)
The Bible says absolutely nothing about Mary after reporting her and Jesus' brothers assembling with the disciples after the Lord's ascension (Acts 1:14). So why did Catholics feel the need to create this doctrine?
Remember, error leads to error. Earlier in this article, we saw how the doctrine of original sin led to the development of the doctrine of immaculate conception? That doctrine (immaculate conception) didn't end the problems Catholics had with the belief that men inherit sin from their forefathers.
By declaring Mary sinless, they created a new dilemma. Everyone who has read the book of Romans knows the Bible says: "the wages of sin is death." (6:23) But, wait a minute. If Mary had no sin, why would she die? Why would she receive a sinner's wages when she'd done nothing to earn them?
Once more, Catholic doctrine had created a clear conflict. So, they had to choose between repudiating the immaculate-conception and original-sin doctrines or "fixing" the conflict with an explanation. The Catholic Church chose the latter course.
In 1950, the year before I was born, it became official Catholic dogma that Mary didn't die.
Fable of Mary As Mediatress Or Mediatrix
If Mary was sinless and went straight to heaven without facing the judgment of our Lord, she certainly would be greater than Moses, the mighty lawgiver of old. She would be greater than Abraham, the model of faith. So, where does her "assumption" lead?
Now we really see how error evolves into complete and total blasphemy. The Catholic Church refers to Mary as a mediatress or mediatrix (feminine form of mediator). "The name mediatress is given her, insofar as she exercises this influence in heaven." (Mary-Doctrine for Everyman, page 40)
This is problematic because the apostle Paul said, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) If Mary is a mediator, that makes "two" of them.
Again, the Catholic Church had to choose. They could back away from this doctrine (Mary as mediatress) or develop it further. They chose the latter.
They called her "the mother of God." And they also described her as the "gate of heaven," because, they say, no one can enter the blessed kingdom without passing through her.
So, Catholics pray to Mary. They claim that, as judge, Jesus is too harsh, but that Mary will not refuse anyone. Wow! That makes it sound like Mary is even more full of grace and mercy than our Lord. And He's the one who died on the cross for our sins.
Jesus told his disciples to pray to God "in my name." (John 14:13-14) He declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) As the church first began, Peter preached, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) He was speaking of Jesus, not Mary.
Jesus also declared (in Matthew 28:18) that all power "in heaven and on earth" had been given to him. That wouldn't leave any for Mary.
So, the Catholic Church had a choice. It could repudiate this error and worship Jesus as Lord and the only mediator, or it could further develop this doctrine (Mary as mediatrix). It chose to develop its error.
And that latter course is pure blasphemy, assuming for Mary the prerogatives of deity. In the same Catholic document previously quoted, we read, "All power is given to thee (Mary-rb) in heaven and on earth" and "at the command of Mary, all obey--even God." What? Even God obeys Mary?
"The whole Trinity, O Mary, gave thee a name... above every other name, that at thy name, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth," says the same Catholic document. All that leaves a Bible believer with mouth agape.
Why It Is So Important to Oppose Error
Perhaps you are seeing, not only Catholicism's errors about Mary, but also the more important issue--how error evolves into monstrous and blasphemous false doctrine that totally repudiates Scripture's teaching and elevates the human to the divine level.
Beginning with the doctrine of original sin, the myths and fables about Mary have grown, until now she is viewed as sinless and virtually equal with Jesus. For several years now, a movement has been afoot to declare her a co-mediator with Christ.
Her supposed assumption into heaven and the associated doctrines make her equal in glory with Jesus, and her declared mediation makes it appear as though she actually has greater influence than the Lord himself.
This article has explored the development of one area of false doctrine in one human denomination. But the principle also applies in the Lord's church. If we teach and believe error and then refuse to repent when it obviously conflicts with the clear teaching of Scripture, then we can expect the false teaching to evolve into much more egregious error.
Brother Blackaby has done a masterful job of showing how error can progress. Whenever one leaves the truth, further departures are inevitable. The second error covers the first, and on and on it goes. Truth has nothing to fear from an open examination. The same cannot be said for men's ever-evolving false teachings. (KMG)