Protestant here, and this is a really interesting video! I would love to chime into the conversation a little bit though, being as fair to you as I can be. Your main points (as I understood them, please correct me if these are not accurate summaries) are: 1. God loves using mankind to do His will. 2. The story of Moses depicts someone interceding for Israel, and that God's intention was always to save Israel and to do so because of Moses' intercession. 3. God is best honored by His creation that is in His image. 4. "In His image" means someone who creates and spreads goodness. 5. The best creature is the one who creates the most goodness. 6. Mary's statement that "all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48b) reflect her knowledge that she was the good creation which could intercede for all generations. 7. Mary's statement that her soul "magnifies the Lord" (Luke 1:46) reflects her knowledge that she is like a magnifying glass that helps other people see the Lord more clearly through herself. 8. This one is short enough to quote directly: "God has chosen to lead the lower things to the higher things through the middle things," and this is supported by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1. 9. The saints are more relatable than Jesus. 10. The motherhood of Christ is the highest honor that God could bestow on any human. 11. Because the motherhood of Christ is the highest honor, Mary must be the highest creature. I have some respectful criticisms of most of these points though. 1. "God loves using mankind to do His will." I 100% agree so far. 2. "The story of Moses depicts intercession..." Yes, yes it does. I can't deny that. This demonstrates that God is (or was) open to intercession... From Moses. This point cannot be expanded to somehow include Mary without something that makes her qualified to do so, like a story of Mary interceding in any of the Gospel accounts. All this point can demonstrate is that God is open to intercession. But it takes more to prove to me that Mary is qualified for this. When we read the New Testament, after the veil comes down, only two types of intercession occur (from my memory). First, believers "intercede" for each other by praying for each other (intercede is in quotations here because I don't think that word is ever actually used for it in the New Testament, at least in English). Secondly, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us directly according to Romans 8:26 (The only actual occurrence of the word "intercession" in the New Testament that I could find). The tearing of the veil and the events of Pentecost mean that something has fundamentally changed about the way intercession works. Do I need Mary to intercede for me if God Himself, who now dwells in me personally, is doing the interceding? I don't think God needs Mary's help for that. So again, an Old Testament depiction of intercession means that intercession is a thing, but it doesn't prove that Mary somehow bears that role in the afterlife, I would need more evidence of that. 3. "God is best honored by His creation that is in His image." Yes. 4. "'In His image' means someone who creates and spreads goodness." Yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean intercession. 5. "The best creature is the one who creates the most goodness." Yes He is. The New Testament is covered with references to Jesus that make Him the archetype of a "New Adam." Jesus is the new man. Now, obviously I'm not trying to claim that Jesus is a created thing (like in the Mormon sense) but He certainly was a man. Beyond Jesus, I'm not sure I would ever classify anyone as the "best creature." ALL have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In any case, this is not a point that makes me more likely to pray to Mary, this argument still doesn't come together here. 6. "Mary's statement that 'All generations will call me blessed' reflects her knowledge that she was the good creation which could intercede for all generations." I really strongly disagree with this take. This just simply doesn't pass the Scriptural Context test. In the context of where this verse is written, nobody would ever conclude that she said that to mean that she was who Catholics were going to pray to long after she had died. All generations would call her blessed because she was privileged with being part of the Gospel story of Jesus Christ. This passage is not Mary talking about herself as much as she is praising God for what He was about to do through Jesus. Look at the last verse of her song of praise: "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." She celebrating the coming the Messiah, the completion of the promise given to Israel. That's why she's blessed, is because she got to be a part of that story. The only way to think that she's talking about being prayed to in the future is to believe for some other reason that she was made to be prayed to and then read that theology into this text. So once again, I'm missing the biblical evidence that God made Mary so we could pray to her. 7. "Mary's statement that her soul 'magnifies the Lord' (Luke 1:46) reflects her knowledge that she is like a magnifying glass that helps other people see the Lord more clearly through herself." This has all the same problems as the previous statement plus one more. This word, "Magnify" is never EVER used that way in the New Testament. It means to "make bigger" or "to exalt." That is not the same as being the thing which makes something else appear bigger to someone else. This is a classic case of reading theology from words in English, and why we always have to check key words for their original language context. In this context, Mary is just making a statement of praise, and the supporting context of the passage and the meaning of the word in Greek both testify to this and deny any interpretation that Mary is talking about herself in the way Paul talked about later in 1 Corinthians 11:1. This also shows another problem I see in your argument. Even if Mary is a magnifying glass, why should I pray to her? I respect the work you put into this video, but you're arguing for two different things and smearing them together. You've conflated veneration of Mary's character with why we should pray to her. Ironically I think that hurts your argument because now it sounds like you should pray to her for reasons that sound a lot like idolatry. 8. "God has chosen to lead the lower things to the higher things through the middle things." I don't actually disagree with this part. As a general statement, I think that's fair and quite accurate. But it's also too general to be used as evidence for "Why I should pray to Mary" as your title says I ought to do. But yes, Paul does say to look to him as an example of Christ just as he imitates Christ. Mary does show some great qualities, as many people in Scripture do, and Protestants do tend to respect these qualities without feeling the need to pray to her. 9. "The saints are more relatable than Jesus." I can't disagree with that either. They are more relatable than Jesus for sure, but only because they are screw-ups like we are. When I relate to figures like the apostles, I relate to them because of the bad reasons, like Paul's "Two Natures" lament in Romans 7:14-25. When I look for good character, I look directly to Jesus if at all possible and only to the apostles and their wisdom for how it supplements the understanding of Christ that we get from the Gospel accounts. Everything they said must point back to Christ, and I'm not shooting to be like Paul, I'm shooting to be like Christ. All of this applies to Mary as well. And again, no matter how relatable Mary or Paul are, I'm not convinced I should pray to them yet. 10. "The motherhood of Christ is the highest honor God could bestow on any human." Sure, I'll give you that too. But again, why should I pray to her? This is an argument for the veneration of Mary. Should I pray to her because she's awesome? That would be blatant idolatry, brother. Love means I could not possibly understate this. 11. "Because the motherhood of Christ is the highest honor, Mary must be the highest creature." And this is more of the same. It is not an argument for why I should pray to Mary, I think it's quite a dubious claim that ignores many core Scriptural principles. So, all in all, I respect what you're doing and I love to see good Christian content here on TH-cam. But when it comes to this issue, I simply cannot agree. But I don't want it to just be, "I'm a protestant and you're wrong," I want to make it clear why we argue the way that we do. Hopefully you can see why we can't go along with what you're saying here, from our perspective there are just too many holes in this argument. I don't know if anyone is going to read all of that, but I hope it was at least challenging and edifying to anyone who did. -Tyler
I did read it! Thanks for the comment. Lots of great insights here and I'm glad we actually share a fair amount of common ground! I think you make some really good points, but the crux of the issue is who has the authority to interpret the Bible? You seem quite well read in the Scriptures, so you and I could go back and forth throwing Bible verses at one another trying to destroy the opposing argument, but at the end of the day the Holy Spirit is the author of unity and not discord. There must be some third party that can govern our discussions and play the part of a "referee." This is essential to maintain unity in the Church.
This reply to this video was awesome. I am a Protestant who started RCIA 3wks. ago. I struggled with praying to Mary. Some of the Catholic beliefs are great, but praying to Mary just seems useless to me. Because I can go to Christ personally. This video comment is making me leave the RCIA and go back to my Protestant church. Thanks You
@@matthewbrown8056 Happy to help man! Many Catholics are great people and I don't want to completely disassociate from them. But if your presence in their services is distracting you from Christ instead of being you to Him, I think that warrants a change of atmosphere. I pray you find an amazing congregation to welcome you!
It is heretical to deny Mary as the mother of God because in doing that you deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ. If you say Mary was only the mother of Jesu's body or only the mother of his human nature then i would ask where was the second person of the Trinity God the Son when Mary was pregnant with Jesus? If you say God the son was identical to the fetus in Mary's womb then you have to admit Mary is the mother of God. If that fetus is God and being pregnant with a human fetus means you are a mother then Mary is the mother of God. Mary did not give birth to anything pre-incarnate because birth occurs after the incarnation. But Mary did give birth to the word to the logos John 1:14 literally says " And the Word became flesh and dwelth among us". To say Jesus is a human person and a Divine person can be easily twisted to say the second person of the Trinity a Divine person changed in his very person at the incarnation to become a composite human Divine person. But God is infinite being itself. God cannot change God is immutable.
Glad you're torn, it's a very important thing to think about. One side says "you should do this, it's good." And some in their group even say you have to, while those who disagree will say "it's meaningless and burdensome" As for what the scripture actually says, this guy is misleading. Mary doesn't elevate herself to the highest of all creatures and desire that people pray through her. That is a huge stretch if we're honest. She is blessed, but not to the point of literally making images and praying to (or through her). And her work is done now that she's dead. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 ESV [5] For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. Continue to seek The lord on this issue. This man can't identify with Christ very well, in his own admission, but claims you shouldn't seek to identify with him better, only to settle for a halfway image of a woman. I don't encourage you to settle. You can identify with Christ. Even now you are seated in heavenly places, His own righteousness is now yours - notably it's Christ's righteousness and not Mary's. I truly believe it's a huge stumbling block that people claim is humble - but in reality it's like looking your husband or wife in the eye after they say "I love you so much" and saying in return "I can't identify with you, so I'll just keep my distance for a while. Maybe I'm just not good enough." The issue is that it's actually pride that keeps people praying to Mary and to saints when Christ has called us to himself. See John 15 and meditate on Jesus's own bold words.
God bless you and your family. Thank you for putting this into view for me. The more I dig into the faith, the more everything makes sense. I could not do this on my own, only follow those closely who do have the spirit. Please pray for my baptism, as I will pray for you and your family. ❤
Awesome logic, content and exposition. Cameron shines light on the fundamentals of the role the medium level creatures as well as the economy of God. Well done!! FYI, my son is also Jude.
It's a great name!!!! We saw a first class relic of St. Jude about a week before our son was born. We feel like it was God's way of telling us we're headed in the right direction :)
I don’t mean he was married 😅 he wasn’t. I just mean that he grew up with a mom and a dad and maybe siblings just like the rest of us! Thanks for the positive comment 😁
We don't need to pray to the saints to talk to Jesus for us. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain ar the temple ripped in two, meaning the Holy Spirit is free that way we can pray directly to him. We are told to take all things to Jesus, not Mary or any of the saints. God Bless.
So what just do it . But God chose other ways for a reason, he gave us ways to make it easier. The Bible says a person of high virtue has more powerful prayer . And saints are closer to God . God gave us saints as others as Instruments. So we will take the extra graces. You do your hing
The union with Christ isnt individual. Its not just between you and Him. Its between us and Him. He didnt just want to save us. He wanted us to be united to Him, so that we might be one as He and the Father are one. His love overflows to all who believe in Him. Saints arent just in heaven. You are a saint too because Jesus makes us holy as we are truly united to him and to his redeeming sacrifice. The true union with Christ isnt just between you and God, the true union with Christ is with his Church who is his body and His fulfilment. Mary or saints, including you, are the body of God. Nothing that we do is apart from His grace. God could have reaveled Himself to you in your dream, but He chose to become united with the human flesh through obedience of a woman. You cant fully understand why God became flesh and what it means to the unity between us and God if you neglect how God worked through Mary.
Thanks for the comment! Jesus gives us a share in His priesthood! All of us who are in Christ's grace are members of His body. Just as the head of a man's body works through His hand, so does Jesus work through us when He causes us to pray for one another. When we pray, we pray in Christ as a member of His body. When the Saints in heaven pray, they do the same. All glory to Jesus.
Beautifully said Cameron :) as much as our protestant brothers can learn from us about Mary as much we can learn from them that that Mary leads us to God, we honour her but having God and only God in mind. Anything else is wrong.
@@KingOppSanti “A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them." Who came in response to them? An angel. Who did Daniel bow on his knees to? An angel. Why? Couldn't God come directly? Was He busy? I thought you said "no angels needed". Why did Daniel need an angel? Why did Daniel have to communicate with an angel? Are you better than Daniel that you feel that you don't need no angel? Where is your arrogance coming from? I am not sure if you are being serious with your comments or you're just trolling...
I might be returning to the Church, but I still have problems with the Marian prayers and devotions. I have no problem with the Hail Mary, but the Holy queen prayer (our sweetness, our hope) is troubling to me, plus other ones. I have been asking for an answer but no Catholic apologetics site has answered. The question: recently, the TH-cam channel Anglican Aesthetics made a video about how the words used for Blessed Mary are words that should only be said to God. What is the defense? How do these Marian prayers not cross the line of honor (dulia) to worship (latria)? Simply saying the words are hyperbolic is not a good justification if the words should only be said to God. I mean no disrespect to Our Lady, the Queen Mother, to be clear. Thanks for your time
Great question. I actually think that the highest honor that the Church bestows upon Mary is the title "Mother of God." Jesus Christ Himself was taken from her flesh. Jesus was obedient to Mary. Jesus honors His mother and (in a certain sense) we can never honor Mary too much because we can never honor her more than Jesus. It seems to me that part of the way Jesus honors Mary is by making her not just good, but the cause of goodness in others. This is the highest honor that Jesus can bestow on a creature and He bestows it in the highest degree to His mother. I hope that helps! God bless you! I will pray for you.
Overcoming your issues with Marian devotion is well worth the effort, because as spiritual mother, Our Lady will bring you closer to her son & magnify your love of Him. Suggest that you pray the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament asking for her guidance. Read Marian books to gain a better understanding & your faith will grow.
I read most of the comments here, the Protestant ones in particular. Let me first say that they, as victims to false teachers, are taught well to play on words and verses, mainly to sink someone's in useless debates. One example is when they use one verse out of context, to prove something not related to the subject initially. Of course sometimes a verse is self interpreting, but sometimes, it relate to other ones to complete the real context. Another point is, they always refuse Jesus teachings about Authority and who can bind and loose Laws. Since they're mainly mislead by false teachers initially, they, ironically, put themselves in contradiction with Jesus Himself, not even only with the Catholic Church. Their reasoning basically is to avoid the "Authority" and "who can bind and loose". Doing so, they ignore that Jesus is the God of order and wisdom, not the God of chaos and ignorance. Since neither Jesus asking St. Peter to shepherd his sheep three times, yes, three times, and neither "You're Peter" till "anything you bind on earth is bound in heaven" doesn't seem to ring a bell, i'm certain "give what's Cesar to Cesar.." won't do better, and i'm pretty sure even, they ain't capable to establish any relation to order and wisdom. Since Cameron already mentioned that most of the issues will be treated in later videos, i'll restrain from further.... well, let me say exposing. Only one thing, strictly related to the subject at hand, and it's about how God wants to venerate some chosen people.. Two examples, one from the O.T. is when God disregarded Moses disobedience in divorces laws. The second is when, the same God, broke a divine project course, only to venerate his earthly Mother, when he transformed water to wine. Protestant or anyone else, are you better than God and Jesus?..
@@davebrummage6632 No, She's the Most blessed among creatures, definitely not equal to a creature like you.. While at it, i suggest you get some knowledge about what God asked Solomon to do!!
The Bible warns against necromancy (talking to spirits of dead people). Even if it is possible to do it though mediums, God forbids it many many times. And even if Mary did hear the prayers, she probably gets a 1000 prayers every minute. How could she forward all of the requests in time? Praying to (making spiritual contact with) Mary, a dead human, is not allowed in Christianity. Leviticus 20:6 “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people." Deuteronomy 18:10-12 "There shall not be found among you anyone who (...) tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. (...)" Take care brother, trust in the Lord and know he is all powerful. He will hear your prayers.
Necromancy is forbidden. It's black magic (negromancia). It's pegan because you have to "perform" it as a ritual. By performing the ritual you'd have to offer a sacrifice. Supplication for all the saints is permitted. We're not performing a pegan rite, which would include a sacrifice because Jesus already sacrificed for us.
Thanks for the comment! If Mary knows God, then it would be easy for her to know all of creation. If you know the creator, it's easy to know the creation.
I was raised catholic, baptised, made my communion and confirmed. All as a child and young man. Now I'm Christian alone. . Praying to a mortal woman is idolatry and one of the things that never sat right with me. Prayer and worship is for God alone.
Prayer is not worship. Two different things. The Catholic Church does not worship Mary. We worship God by offering a perfect sacrifice as it says in Malachi 1:10-12.
@@CameronRiecker Yes, it is. To whom you are praying TO is your god. Praying TO someone is what gives that person/entity divine attributes, because we only pray TO God. Jesus taught you how to pray and TO whom to pray to and it was Lords prayer, not Hail Mary.
Your analogy of Jesus being a flower and Marry being a magnifying glass to get closer to Jesus is rather more like you going to someone you admire to learn more about someone else you admire more….you will never get close to that person you truly want to get close to until you make that person the go to person, just like a friendship or relationship. Seems you’re closer to Mary or Saint Paul than Jesus from my pov. Something is off when you can see yourself relate to Paul more than Jesus. When the whole point is to know and get closer to Jesus. Appreciate your thoughts on this.
So i've seen the whole thing now, but i still don't think you ever actually answered "Why should i pray to Mary". At least, you definitely didn't for me. I understand the middleman used to magnify the Lord. That makes sense, and that's what I've believed and been taught, so i have no issues there. But, I fail to see how you can justify praying TO that middleman in hopes of it magnifying God.. let me try and explain. You used the example of the magnifying glass on a flower, which i love. It's clear cut and it shows how an outside object can help us see the object of our choosing better. But let's say I wanted to see that flower better, so I got a magnifying glass and got close in order to. Would it make sense to then praise the magnifying glass for the flowers beauty? to go around saying "look at what the magnifying glass does to this flower!" - That's kinda how I view the Catholic tradition of praying to saints/mary. I can acknowledge they are good examples to look towards, and that they can help me understand how to grow better. But it would be ignorant to pray to them for what they did, and undermine that the ONLY reason I view them as good examples is because they are more like Christ than I. I cannot justify praying to another human being, it just doesn't make sense. regardless of how "good" they were they are infinitely more evil than God, so I shall choose to pray only to our Lord, but I would love to hear your rebuttal, maybe i'm still misunderstanding.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! I appreciate the thought you put into it. I would advise you to take this to prayer and rely on that even more than on my answer! However, what I will say is that if the Saints are placed over all of the master's possessions as the Gospel says, then it would make sense to go to them for specific favors. If I want a new iPhone I don't talk to the CEO of Apple, I go and talk to my local iPhone salesman at the store. The CEO of Apple delegates his power to his subordinates and it would be odd to ask the CEO of Apple for an iPhone. (I'm not saying not to pray to Jesus, this is just a limited analogy) This analogy is clearly imperfect, but I hope it communicate my point!
@@CameronRiecker i get that, but in my opinion where that analogy fails most is that it doesnt have to same relational aspect that we have with God. If i wanted to get an iphone and had a personal deep 1on1 relationship with the CEO I would always go to him over the lower ranked employees, especially if, like God, the “CEO” had told me that going to him was good. ie praying is good. I guess the misunderstanding is that just because people have been given power by God over certain things, isn’t a good reason to pray to them. I believe my Relationship with God is exclusive Him and I. it doesn’t depend on angels or saints or other humans. and thus the same way i shouldn’t pray to my biological father I believe the saints/angels are the same.
You begin on a solid footing, and then you veer into quicksand. Yes, God does move upon living people to be a blessing to other living people. Jesus counsels us to "remain in the vine" (God) and to "bear much fruit" (works). But nothing in Scripture says or even suggests that deceased, departed people have jobs or works to fulfill in heaven; in fact, Scripture suggests the opposite is true. When Paul was about to be killed, he wrote to Timothy (2 Tim 4:7), "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Rev. 14:13 says in part, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, _that they may rest from their labours..." According to Holy Scripture, the departed saints are finished with their "race of faith" and are at rest! They don't have work to do! Their tasks and acts of obedience & love toward the living people on earth are at an end! Revelation does mention angels standing with bowls of the saints' prayers, but we can't draw firm conclusions from this vision. Angels are not redeemed, departed humans; they are separate beings altogether. The bowls of prayers are probably from saints on earth, but it does not say that saints in heaven intercepted them, nor does it suggest that the bowl contains _all_ prayers, so we really can't tell what or how many prayers the saints in heaven have been made fully aware of. It is all quite speculative, and in addition it is a vision... and the RCC tends to teach that one cannot take prophetic visions in Revelation literally! (Do you believe there will be a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth after the 2nd Advent, for example?) Besides, you are _assuming_ that the departed saints have been endowed with super-human capability to know the content of millions of prayers, both spoken _and unspoken,_ being prayed _simultaneously, from all over the globe._ If you ask me (a living mortal person) to pray for you, you can have a reasonable expectation that I receive your request, because we have open avenues of communication (the living can speak to one another face to face, they can mail, they can phone, they can text, etc.) and because those avenues make positive connections between two people. But when you speak or merely nonverbally think a prayer to a departed saint, you have no good reason to know that the person is capable of receiving your transmission. Human beings can't read minds. Humans can't hear other humans beyond a certain distance without the aid of messengers or electronics. There's no mail service to heaven, no cell service to heaven, no internet in heaven. On top of that, humans are incapable of hearing several people's verbal messages *when they all speak at once.* _Upon what Biblical basis do you assume that Mary or St. Anthony or St. Whatshisname in heaven has become capable of super-human perception of your prayer alone, let alone accurate reception of yours plus thousands or millions of other prayers, from all points of the globe, all at one time? You are ascribing abilities to the departed saints which are impossible for human beings to innately possess,_ and departed saints are still human beings (although they lack their physical bodies), so _the only way they can hear all of our prayers_ (including the unspoken prayers, which requires that they read our minds!) _is if God imbues the departed saints with His own God-like ability_ to hear all prayers. What evidence do you have that the saints, _prior to the general judgment and the resurrection, would be granted such immense capabilities and given tremendous workloads_ to "listen to" and _pass along_ millions of prayers every day? When Mary said she magnified the Lord, she was doing so personally with her words, her thoughts, and her obedience to God. Taking that word "magnify" and applying it to a "magnifying glass" is a false equivalence. Mary didn't say or imply that she was making the Lord easier for others to see! This use "magnify" is a disingenuous, deceptive claim. Mary and the Apostles were great examples for us to follow, truly. So riddle me this: where in Scripture do you read of Mary or the Apostles praying to deceased people? If you can't see your "great example" doing it, _maybe you shouldn't do it, either!_ Did you ever think of that??? For that matter, did Jesus ever pray to deceased people? No, He didn't. (He did command some of them to return to mortal life, though, so we know it's okay for us to raise the dead if the Father tells us to.) Jesus is our ultimate example! Jesus didn't pray to the deceased, and neither should we. Why should we be innovating and doing things our Biblical exemplars neither practiced nor advocated? Cameron, I admire your dedication and sincerity. I know you really believe what you've been taught. But remember that you have a long road of life ahead of you, and God has not finished maturing your faith yet. May you never lose sight of Jesus, our head (which is easy to do since the body is so big, it sometimes obscures our view of the Head).
Heb 12:1 says otherwise and if God can allow the evil one, who is not omnipresent either, to hear all of us, how much more will He allow His Holy ones to hear us? But lets not get into a Bible pingpong match that the whole world is playing. Answer the following question 1st with all its implications… History shows us that Jesus didn't leave us a bible, - the apostles didn't tell us which books belong in the bible, - the church fathers never agreed on the 27 books of the NT through the 4th century, - not only did they not agree but their individual lists of would-be NT canons were GROWING during this time, growing in numbers of hundreds of “inspired” NT writings. Therefore, if it wasn't the Catholic/Orthodox church that compiled the 27 books of the NT in the 5th century with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and preserved it by laboriously hand copying them over and over throughout the centuries before the invention of the printing press, the “rule of faith” for many, please tell us, show us, who did? And if this church no longer exists today, what good is the text which came forth from her if she couldn't sustain herself?
@@srich7503 You wrote: "Heb 12:1 says otherwise", so let's look at it. Hebrews 11 is talking about great men of faith like Abraham, Noah, Enoch, etc., who persevered through many trials by faith in God. Let's pick it up in 11:36... Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 *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. Chapter 12 goes on to exhort us to live holy lives, to persevere in faith, and to trust in Jesus. For we have come "to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh." (v. 24, 25). The context shows that we are being taught to persevere in our faith and trust in Jesus, our high priest who made the ultimate, fully efficacious sacrifice for our sins. Out of this context, you are trying to lift one verse and fit it into your paradigm. Is that a valid way of interpreting the Bible? This was not written as a teaching about prayer to saints. It merely calls the faithful patriarchs "a great cloud of witnesses." Imagine a spectator event, such as a football or baseball game. There may be thousands of spectators in the stands. Thousands of witnesses! Do you suppose they all can hear every word spoken on the field? If one player looks up at a particular fan and says something, do you suppose the fan high up in the stands can hear him? Do you think all of the spectators are watching 100% of the time and are privy to every word and every movement that takes place down on the field? Or does a spectator's mind wander? Does he get up and walk somewhere for a while? Does he talk to a neighbor and lose track of what's happening on the field? Now you should be able to see what is wrong with interpreting Heb. 12:1 as _proof_ that departed saints are paying attention and are hearing all the prayers being said. Besides, the very next verse says that we should be looking, not to the saints, but to *Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.* God always hears our prayers. He is always attentive. He doesn't miss a thing! We *KNOW* that He hears us, for sure! 1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. Let me ask you something. As a Catholic, do you KNOW that you have eternal life? Do you have the assurance from the indwelling Holy Spirit of your salvation? I do. Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God Peace.
@@srich7503 I think it is interesting that you throw a scripture at me, and then in advanced self-defense (so as to not be shown wrong) you say, "let's not play Bible ping pong..." What an interesting way to "win"! 😁 I deny that the early church was "The Catholic Church" or "The Orthodox Church." In the first couple centuries after the ascension, it was just Jesus' church. After all, Jesus said, "I will build MY church." Not the Pope's church or the patriarch's church or the Magisterium's church. Were the believers first called Catholics at Antioch, or Orthodox? Neither. They were called Christians because they followed Jesus the Christ. That's what I am: a follower of Jesus. I am a Christian. Catholics always magnify their Roman Catholic Church. Christians magnify Jesus Christ. I don't care which denomination you attend, so long as you trust 100% in the propitiation Jesus made for your sins 2,000 years ago on the cross. IOW, don't divide your faith & trust between Jesus and your denomination, your Sacraments, your clergy, your works, or anything else. Peace.
@@rexlion4510 and i deny it was anything but Catholic. The difference is history tells the story i presented not my “opinion” of scripture interpretations. If you are not going to address the 2 points i presented above - 1) that the church fathers never agreed on the 27 books of the NT through the 4th century, and 2) that not only did that not agree on the 27 books but their individual would-be canons were GROWING during this period, then you are ignoring history itself. As we Catholics have been told, no matter how ugly history is, you can never hide from it. 🤷🏽♂️
@@srich7503 The version history with which the RCC indoctrinated you, you mean. Your precious RCC would be unrecognizable to the early churchmen. Anyhow, you're just engaging in sophism. Your church teaches that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God and an infallible source. I believe that, too. There's no dispute over that. What you're trying to allege is that I can't believe the Bible is infallible unless I also believe that your Magisterium is infallible (and thereby could infallibly declare the infallibility of Scripture). The Magisterium is demonstrably fallible! History shows that the Councils operated like a committee or a legislature; two or more opposing viewpoints argued back and forth, there was a vote, and the majority carried the day on whatever issue they were debating. The Magisterium is the entire body of bishops along with the head bishop, the pope; if the Magisterium were infallible, then the Holy Spirit would have told *all of them* the proper Truth and there would have been no back-and-forth. History would show evidence of the Spirit making all of those clergymen infallible in their teachings. Instead, we see plenty of disputes, disagreements, and committee-like behavior. How could an infallible Magisterium have infallible differences of opinion that sometimes were diametrically opposed? Even on an issue like the papacy, there was no consensus in the early church. Origen had one idea about what Matt. 16:18 meant. Tertullian had another. Chrysostom had a third opinion. Augustine said something similar, but not quite the same. And _none of the above_ believed that Peter _together with all his successors_ were "the rock." Out of this morass of disagreement, the RCC chose the interpretation which most suited its goal of becoming a religious, social, and political powerhouse, and it was not an interpretation believed with any unanimity in the early church! Besides, the RCC clearly lost its Apostolicity when it had 3 competing popes simultaneously, each of whom went about "ordaining" his own following. Your church is a hot mess!
@@John_Six if explaining how to pray in reference to the Godhead doesn't explain that, I don't know what else to say. I pray you find the answers in the Scriptures.
Supplication for all the saints. Since Mary is blessed (made holy) for all generations, she is a saint. Saint from the word Sanctus means holy. Supplication - the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
Praying to the Saints is something that is rooted in the Scriptures and comes from the Apostles and Church Fathers :) If you're looking for a Bible verse that commands you to pray to Saints, you won't find it!
Your understanding is limited because you limit yourself to the bible alone, "Sola Scriptura" - a Protestant teaching. Not your fault. The bible leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and this is why it's important to become Catholic and read church writings, saints' writings, elaborate prayers, Catholic texts like the Roman Breviary, what are sacramentals, why pray in Latin etc. because all the missing information is found in these texts --and more! 🙂
First of all, congratulations on the birth of your son! May God bless him and his mother, just as the LORD has blessed you through them :) That said: The word "magnify" that Mary uses in Luke 1:46 is Μεγαλύνει, it means to make or declare great. Clearly, Mary's soul is not capable of making the LORD greater than He is, nor does that make any sense in the context - Mary is praising the LORD for the things He has done for her, and is thus declaring that He is already great. It is used in the same way in Acts 5:13, 10:46 & 19:17 and Philippians 1:20. She is not calling her soul a tool through which others can better see the greatness of the LORD, or which brings us closer to God. She's just saying how wonderful God is. Does anyone pray to Mary in the Bible? Did Jesus teach us the Rosary when His disciples asked Him how they should pray? Or does he teach us to pray to his Father instead? In fact, the only time Jesus mentions his mother at all is to downplay her significance: "While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” - Luke 11:27-28 "But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matthew 12:48-50 If Jesus Himself says that whoever does the will of the Father is His mother, that anyone who hears the word of God and observes it is blessed, not the womb that bore him; then Jesus is explicity stating that all other believers were her equal, not subordinates. While she is briefly mentioned in Acts as being with the disciples, she takes no special role, performs no miracles, and recieves no prayers. It's also worth remembering how Israel sinned in the past, with Asherah poles in the high places. Asherah was a pagan goddess whom the ancient Israelites mistook for LORD wife, and called the Queen of Heaven. Archaeologist have found inscriptions in the Holy Land dedicated to "Yahweh and his Asherah" - this was a terrible sin, and was part of what lead to the Israelites being exiled for 70 years in Babylon. While the wife of the Father is not identical to the mother of the Son, they are far to close for comfort, and the fact that Roman Catholics call Mary the Queen of Heaven and pray to her, when prayer is meant for God alone... it seems like history repeating itself. I suppose the question is, why should we elavate Mary to such a high posisition, when the Bible itself seem to go out of it's way to deter us from exactly that? If Jesus wanted us to pray to Mary, why didn't he command us to do so directly, instead of discouraging it?
You have a very strange (wrong) way of seeing things. Your slew is very anti-christian. Your example of Lk 11:27-28. Someone in the crowd tried to say Mary must be great simply by her association with Jesus. However Jesus does not downplay His mother; He actually goes out of His way to show the true reason why Mary should be held in esteem; because outside of Jesus no one else in the whole bible heard the word of God and obeyed it than Mary herself. So what exactly is going on in your mind that it so quickly goes to the gutter and thinks in such an unchrisitian manner!!!??? Again in Mt 12:48-50. It is precisely Mary who is held as the standard. If you obey God as His mother does; then you too can be considered a member of His family. This is so simple that I wonder what kind of malice you must hold to twist it out of context like that??? "....Does anyone pray to Mary in the Bible? Did Jesus teach us the Rosary...." and ooohhhh where in the bible do we see the Apostles and Nicene creeds, or airplanes, cars, mega-protestant churches, ... Just because it isn't specifically in the bible does not make it untrue or an unchristian practice. "....why should we elavate Mary to such a high posisition...." maybe because the bible says we should. Inspired by the Holy Spirit; Mary says 'henceforth all generations shall call me blessed". Who else in the bible are we COMMANDED to remember them in such a way. She is also espoused to the Holy Spirit, carried the Son of God in her womb and was entrusted to raise Him to manhood. Are you really that daft to think that in heaven God will treat you as her equal????? Do you know what kind of demonic influence would make a person think that way!!??? Jesus did not discourage anyone from seeking her intercession. It was by her intercession that the wedding guests at Cana had the best wine to drink, despite Jesus protesting it wasn't his time yet, and that the lack of wine was no concern of His. If anything the bible recorded this episode to show how great of an influence His mother had on Him becasue of her geat humility. I sure hope you learn to quell that great pride of yours. It seems to be getting you into a lot of trouble and making you think strange thoughts.
@@CameronRiecker I have heard of such Apparitions but I wouldn't say I've studied them. Ill look into it after church though, can you recommend any reputable sources regarding them?
@@xaelath7771 You can look up Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of Guadeloupe. They're pretty fascinating miraculous and conversion stories.
@@CameronRiecker Having looked into Fatima, I must admit I find some of the details quite disturbing: First, the three children initially claimed that World War 1 would end on 13 October 1917. This did not happen. Lúcia would later report that Mary had predicted the imminent deaths of her two cousins in 1918, but this claim was not reported until she wrote her memoirs, starting in 1936, as so is itself questionable. "But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him" - Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Worse than this, the children all began to practice self-mortification, apparently with Mary's approval, going days without drinking water, or only drinking from a dirty laundery pond, during the middle of summer. In one of several memoirs, Lúcia wrote that the children tied "penitence cords" so tightly around their waists that the ropes became blood-stained, and that the apparition of 13 September 1917, told her, "God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the rope on; only wear it during the day." They also flogged themselves with stinging nettles. She wrote, "I began then to have doubts as to whether these manifestations might be from the devil [...] truly, ever since I had started seeing these things, our home was no longer the same, for joy and peace had fled. What anguish I felt!" - she later changed her mind, but I'm not so sure. "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" Galatians 1:8. What gospel did this apparition teach? That instead of Jesus suffering for the sins of the world, that children should suffer in his place? Why would the Virgin Mary desire to see little children in pain? Why would she send them horrfying visions of hellfire and damnation? And why would the "infallible" church approve of such things?
Properly "based" refers to a person who boldy expresses their opinion without concern for it's popularity, especially if the opinion is considered unpopular. Though it can often be used to express agreement with such an opinion too.
Thank you . Looks like there are times when I'm based. 😀 Good video again . Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu in mulieribus et Benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Sancta Maria mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc,et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
This is one of the best videos I have seen on the subject, great work brother. Thanks. Whats your take on Genesis 12:3 is he stating to protect Israel like Zionists do? Let me make sure I am not misunderstood. I believe in what is right.
Thanks for the positive comment! Admittedly, I don't know much about Zionist beliefs. I see Genesis 12:3 as a prophecy of how Christ will be a blessing on all nations.
@@CameronRiecker Awsome work brother. Just a head up looks like we will soon get accused of creating the rapture lol. I started reading more into the doctrine of the rapture, we know early 1800 Darby and Scofield. Now the weirdest part is supposedly Manual Lacunza wrote the book that supposedly started everything named The Coming of the Messiah in Glory. Now for what I read the Catholic Church banned the book. You know how everyone blames the Catholic Church or Vatican 2 for everything wrong in the world.
I love where, in the book of acts, the start of the first church, where they make sure to pray to mary who was also in the upper room with them. Or when paul writes that we should all pray to mary in order to pray to jesus. Oh wait…. It’s not in there.
I love that in the book of Acts, in the upper room, Mary is the only one named with the apostles. It sounds like she was very important. I wonder why protestants don't think of her the same way? Oh, by the way, random question. Is Jesus a Davidic King?
@@CameronRiecker That’s actually insane that you would take something outside the Word of God for Truth! It’s heathenistic. Galatians 1:9-10, if anyone teaches anything outside of the word of God then you should be accursed. This is why Catholicism is failing, the precedent was set that you can take extra biblical liberties away from truth, and now the pope says that gay marriage is perfectly acceptable!? This is what happens when you use the wisdom of man over the wisdom of Jesus.
@@John_Six Yes, she was in the upper room, I pointed that out… They didn’t pray to her!! Riddle me that? Mary also had to go through the process of Salvation. She was in the upper room when Peter said repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the Holy Ghost. Even the Mary who you (wrongly) pray to had to be baptized in the name of Jesus and be filled with the Holy Ghost for salvation. She is merely human, if she were alive she would be so ashamed to think that people were praying to her instead of the One living God.
Show me in the Bible where it says there is a Heavenly Mother or we need to pray through Mary believing she was sinless? Where in the Bible that says there should be a pope who believers bow and kiss his ring calling him Holy father. Even though he is a sinner like you and me and falls short from the Glory of God? Where in the Bible does it say the Popes word comes before Gods word? Where in the Bible does it say we should Babtize infants so they can be born again even though they have no freewill or choice in the matter? Where in the Bible does it say we need the 7 sacraments for Hods Grace? Where does it say in the Bible does it says that we should pay indulgences for forgiveness of our sins and loved ones sins so they can enter heaven? Where does the Bible say we should go to a confession box and confess our sins to another sinner who will tell us to go chant memorized prayers over and over including the “Hail Mary” for forgiveness of our sins.
@@CameronRiecker So no verses justifying those blasphemous Catholic beliefs? Maybe it’s because there are none. Your beliefs contradict what the Bible says. That’s why the Catholic Church didn’t want to translate the Bible to English. As soon as Martin Luther and the like did you were seen for your lies and heresy. Where do you think ANY man gets the right to add subtract or change Gods word? Duet 4:2 Revelation 22:18-19 Proverbs 30:6 You can’t just believe what you want take some leave some change something here and there. That’s not how it works you can’t compromise on the truth and The Bible is Authoritative and I demand you show it some respect and stop serving people pagan worship with a God LIKE veneer. it says many times that all you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus Christ Death on the Cross as sacrifice for your sins be babtised and repent. Acts 16:30-33 Acts 2:38 Acts 4:12 John 3:16 John 14:6 Titus 3:5 Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 10:9-10 The Bible says all you have to do to be saved is…it says we are not saved through works….Why would there be more for us to do to be saved and Paul and Peter and John leave all that out? They didn’t say these are the first things you need to do the rest will come later from a Pope who will stop diddlin little Alter boys in the basement of the Vatican long enough to come tell you what works to do to get Gods Grace in order to go to heaven and charge you indulgences. Thanks for proving to me what I already knew. God Hep You!
Sorry forgot the verse in the Bible that answered your question directly. 2 Tim 3:15-16 “and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Protestantism is so pedantic because a sola Scriptura view is limiting as not everything is in the bible Jn 21:25. Sacred Tradition, which existed from the time of Christ complements Sacred Scripture under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit providing a stable three legged stool compared the confusion, division & scandal,of 000’s of sects resulting from personal interpretation which is not of Jesus who willed unity Jn 17 11-23 Protestants are also irrational & hypocritical when they seek biblical evidence for Catholic doctrine, yet, they selectively cherry pick & ignore scripture when they don’t like what they read ie personal interpretation starting with - Jesus founded His One True Church Mt 16 18-19 - giving her hierarchy & an authoritative leader - He appointed Peter as His representative on earth - Peter was the first leader/Pope - The CC is the pillar & foundation of Truth 1 Tim 3:15 - Jesus instituted 6 sacraments for the transmission of His Grace - Jesus instructed us to be baptised Jn 3:5 & to receive His Real Presence in the Eucharist Jn 6 51-58, saying that both sacraments are essential for salvation - prayers of intercession, praying FOR not to, the dead, purgatory - Jesus prayed for unity Jn 17 11-21, not possible with 000’s of scandalous Protestant sects - Oral Sacred Tradition existed from the time of Christ & teaching was initially handed down orally 2 Thes 2:15 - the CC codified the Bible in 382 AD which complements Sacred Tradition under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium providing a stable three legged stool - the CC today still practises & teaches what the Early Church practised as documented by the Early Fathers Finally, the CC made a major contribution to the development of Western Civilisation in virtually all areas of life.
The Mother of Jesus is Holy, pure, sweet and charitable. Jesus as King of the Universe and can do whatever He wants including bringing His Mother right beside Him in Heaven when Mary’s time on earth was over. We are the children of God and God wants us all to stay in love, peace and always charitable with each other here on our temporary lives on earth. Love and serve one another, peace and pure as children of God. And Mary is the best example daughter that God has of His children. Obedient Jesus and Mary. When having His Son on earth, God chose not just any woman to be the mother of His only begotten Son, but God chose the most blessed, the most pure, the most obedient daughter ( opposite of disobedient Eve who gets fooled by the evil serpent ) that will carry His Divine Son, in her womb. She is the Ark of the Covenant. And she is the Queen in the Book of Revelation.
I haven't watched the whole video yet so i an cautious to post this but i will anyways and will edit it if I am incorrect. However, in the first minute or so you say that Jesus could have gone on his own and preached the gospel to each person and ascended when everyone had been baptized, OR what Jesus actually did (die on cross, resurrect, send the Spirit and the apostles etc.). This is just not true. The death and resurrection of Jesus was necessary for our salvation, so he couldn't have just taught everyone the correct knowledge and dipped out as if that was the need to be with God after death. It seems to me like there is a misunderstanding of what "the gospel" means. in definition meaning "the good news" the only thing that makes the gospel worth sharing is the death and resurrection of Christ, since, if that never happened we shouldn't believe any of it. Also, Jesus couldn't have gone to each and every person just on a time level, while yes he was and is God, whilst in human form on earth he limited himself to the constraints that we all have. So no, he could not go individually and make sure everyone on the planet knew the gospel, since that's not humanly possible.
After the Resurrection, He could have appeared to large groups over and over again like He does in 1 Cor 15. He would have been able to appear to however many He wanted :)
There is no issue asking Mary for intercession. All the churches that were established by the Apostles pray to Mary for intersession. The issue is that you follow a man-made religion with no connection to the Apostles. Your religious sect was formed by an egocentric man and his Bible interpretations that you follow are based on his own arrogance and ignorance. But you can still be saved. Join an Apostolic church before it’s too late.
Have you ever wondered why catholic ignore the bible? Pray to dead people and break the commandments? Leviticus 26:1 "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God." Not only do they have statues of marry but they have statues of all the saints and pray to them. But what does the bible say? In 1 timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" Mary doesn't hear your prayers she's not listening she's not intercessing for you. Only jesus can do that. I encourage all catholics to read the Bible and get your faith from the words of God not the words of men. Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Stop saying hail marrys no one hears them not Mary's not God. Repent and be saved. Your baptism doesn't save you' your praying and worshiping marry doesn't save you' you have a false religion and a false God. Repent and believe the gospel
@amiepatterson8 I just poste literally 5 verses the roman catholic church either removes or ignores in their teaching. So instead of just making a blanket statement how about addressing the fact of what was written.
@amiepatterson8 I'll make it easier. Answers these questions using the bible. Why do catholics pray to marry as a mediator between then and God when the bible says in 1 timothy 2:5 there is only one mediator between God and man christ Jesus Why do you repeat a hail marry over and over again when the bible says not to pray in vain repetitions in matthew 6:7 Why does the roman catholicchurch state that salvation is not by grace alone bylut by good works which clearly contradicts ephesian 2:8-9? They definitely ignore the bible. And it's not a negative statement if someone sees the error of their ways and gets saved. Many catholic on their way to hell will say in the day of judgemenr WHY didnt someone tell me. Just because someone has a differing opinion doesn't mean it's negative. What's negative is if you knew the truth of salvation and didn't tell someone and pretended it was okay and they went to hell because you were too afraid to speak up
Hey man, let me present to you how Catholics answer these verses: To answer Leviticus 26:1, we also have to look at Exodus 25:18 "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat." This is in regard to the Ark of the Covenant, so from this we can have either of two conclusions: - God commanded Israel to sin when He commanded them to make the Ark. - Making a graven image is not in itself sinful and something else in addition to the image makes it a sin. The Catholic position is the second one, and we group the prohibition of idol-making into the first commandment, since it prohibits the same thing as that commandment which is having other gods. You say Mary is not interceding and only Jesus can do that, but the same chapter in 1 Timothy goes against it: 1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men,". Catholics take that into account and look at 1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time." to mean that the mediation of Jesus was to give Himself as ransom, not that all mediation/intercession belongs exclusively to Jesus. This is also seen in daily life, we pray for others in our lives all the time and that's good, not a theft of the proper place of Jesus. For the Heavenly metaphysics of this we can see in Revelation 5 "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints". We might say this is all a metaphor, but we can't deny that there are others in heaven who present prayers to Jesus. This goes against any who say that we can only hand our prayer directly to Jesus, He can receive it from saints (the elders in Revelation). On the repetition thing, you're correct in that saying more Hail Marys does not make our prayer stronger, but that's not why we have so many of them in the Rosary. In that case it's for the sake of practicality. The Rosary was first used as meditation tool that should take you 20~min, with every bead representing one Psalm, and you would do the 150 Psalms in three Rosaries. You could say a Psalm instead of a Hail Mary and be fine if repetition offends your sensibilities, but practically speaking it's much easier to get someone in the habit of prayer for 20min if the only requirement is the Our Father and the Hail Mary instead of the 150 Psalms. Blessings to you, hope this clarifies Catholic teaching
I will make videos addressing a lot of these in the future :) They are fair objections! However, each of them has a logical answer. For example, in 1 Tim 2:5, it says that Jesus is the mediator between God and men. Men in this case could also be translated as humanity. Jesus is the only one who can reconcile God with humanity. However, that doesn't stop us from interceding for one another in Christ :)
mary is Jesus mother and Jesus wanted all to thank and worship her for if it were not for her obediance to God whom sent Jesus to live not die to bring forth a promised king there would be no saviour nor king of kings if it were not for Mary the blessed mother of jesus
Necromancy Magic involving communication with the deceased Necromancy is the practice of magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events and discover hidden knowledge. Sometimes categorized under death magic, the term is occasionally also used in a more general sense to refer to black magic or witchcraft as a whole. Therefore, the intercession of the Saints and Mary is not Necromancy.
@georgepierson4920 Why waste time speaking to someone who can't hear you when you can speak to someone who can and is always there to help you? People on the dark side resist the truth just like Jesus said. John 3:19-21. And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
Bro, God works through the living persons to do his works and not those who have died. The bible repeated says "DO NOT CONSULT THE DEAD" You use the words 'GOD choses..." According to the bible , did GOD choose anyone who has died to be an intercessor or mediator other than Jesus Christ??. Can you quote any verse of the bible to this effect? GOD works through living people is because of FREE WILL not because he chose to. GOD does not dictate. GOD does not punish. GOD is love. Infinite love. Infinite love means, there is never a moment that GOD doesn't love you. No conditions. Not even sinners. If you repent, he will accept you. Just like the repentant thief on the cross with Jesus. GOD only guides. If you chose the true path, you will receive his blessings. If you chose the wrong path, you will receive it consequences. The flower??? It was Jesus who came down from Heaven so that we can see GOD and his GOODNESS. Jesus is incarnate magnifying glass of GOD the Father we cannot see. Now you say, we need Mary the magnifying glass to see Jesus???? Maybe we need the magnifying glass of the pope and priest to see the saints to see through magnifying glass of saints to see Mary through her magnifying glass to see Jesus through HIS magnifying glass to see GOD the Father. Don't put anything between you and GOD other than Jesus Christ who is GOD himself. Magnifying glasses can distort the truth. Authority in heaven is only with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Not GOD the FATHER with Mary the Mother and Jesus the SON. Mary is not Queen of heaven. Mary is the surrogate mother of Jesus. A vessel. Like the jar in the wedding of Canna. The jar or the wine has none or little significance. It was about Jesus power. God the Son wills and it happens. God uses Mary to save the entire world through her prayers????? Similarly, Jesus rode on a donkey when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. So is the donkey important?? Should we have an idol of the donkey to be venerated because GOD chose a donkey to carry Jesus to Jerusalem. Should we venerate the tomb where Jesus was buried? Idol worship. Venerating anything as divine besides GOD is idolatory. Preaching and teaching such is blasphemy. You don't learn to love GOD by imitating Paul. Paul is an imperfect being needing salvation. You need to learn to love from Christ, the perfect man and perfect GOD. And his love brought salvation to you. And to know how to love is to read the bible and listen to the Holy Spirit of Truth. Repent! Repent! Repent!. Read the scriptures and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Follow Jesus Christ. Not Mary, Not Paul, Not the Pope or anybody else. Please don't justify the traditions of the Catholic Church against the commandments of GOD. Mark 7:7-13 King James Version (KJV) For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Thanks for the comment! That's true. However, just because it's not in the bible doesn't mean it isn't good. The word Trinity is not in the Bible. The Jesus prayer is not in the Bible. The phrase "Accept Jesus as your personal savior" is not in the Bible. Even if the Scriptures do not specifically reference something, it still may be good.
@@CameronRiecker My argument was not the exact phrase is not in the Bible but the Teaching...Trinity doctrine IS in Scripture, Calling on Jesus to be saved IS in Scripture...so understand my argument
@@Maximusinthehouse Protestantism is so pedantic because a sola Scriptura view is limiting as not everything is in the bible Jn 21:25. Sacred Tradition, which existed from the time of Christ complements Sacred Scripture under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit providing a stable three legged stool compared the confusion, division & scandal,of 000’s of sects resulting from personal interpretation which is not of Jesus who willed unity Jn 17 11-23 Protestants are also irrational & hypocritical when they seek biblical evidence for Catholic doctrine, yet, they selectively cherry pick & ignore scripture when they don’t like what they read ie personal interpretation starting with - Jesus founded His One True Church Mt 16 18-19 - giving her hierarchy & an authoritative leader - He appointed Peter as His representative on earth - Peter was the first leader/Pope - The CC is the pillar & foundation of Truth 1 Tim 3:15 - Jesus instituted 6 sacraments for the transmission of His Grace - Jesus instructed us to be baptised Jn 3:5 & to receive His Real Presence in the Eucharist Jn 6 51-58, saying that both sacraments are essential for salvation - prayers of intercession, praying FOR not to, the dead, purgatory - Jesus prayed for unity Jn 17 11-21, not possible with 000’s of scandalous Protestant sects - Oral Sacred Tradition existed from the time of Christ & teaching was initially handed down orally 2 Thes 2:15 - the CC codified the Bible in 382 AD which complements Sacred Tradition under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium providing a stable three legged stool - the CC today still practises & teaches what the Early Church practised as documented by the Early Fathers Finally, the CC made a major contribution to the development of Western Civilisation in virtually all areas of life.
Friendly reminder that the early church didn't believe in this. If John, the adopted son of Mary by Christ's decree, didn't preach praying to Mary then I assume it's heresy. Mary was an honored woman, but even i am more holy than she was when she gave birth to christ now that Christ has died for my sins. She was a virgin at birth, and it's a stupid claim that she maintained her virginity afterwards. Zero evidence, zero historical accounts of early church leaders teaching this. And worse of all, zero understanding of what the Father is calling you into. Keep your crutch to yourself, my faith and the faith i long to grow others in needs no mediary between my love, my Jesus, and my Father - for we are one, even as Christ and the Father are one.
I would like to dispute your claim that none of the early Church leaders believed in Mary's perpetual virginity. The The Protoevangelium of James states that Mary had taken a vow of Virginity. Here are some others Origen And I think it in harmony with reason that Jesus was the first fruit among men of the purity which consists in [perpetual] chastity, and Mary was among women. For it were not pious to ascribe to any other than to her the first fruit of virginity” (Commentary on Matthew 2:17 [A.D. 248]). Athanasius “Let those, therefore, who deny that the Son is by nature from the Father and proper to his essence deny also that he took true human flesh from the ever-virgin Mary” (Discourses Against the Arians 2:70 [A.D. 360]). Jerome We believe that God was born of a virgin, because we read it. We do not believe that Mary was married after she brought forth her Son, because we do not read it. . . . You [Helvidius] say that Mary did not remain a virgin. As for myself, I claim that Joseph himself was a virgin, through Mary, so that a virgin Son might be born of a virginal wedlock (Against Helvidius: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary 19 [A.D. 383]). Ambrose “Imitate her [Mary], holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son set forth so great an example of material virtue; for neither have you sweeter children [than Jesus], nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another son” (Letters 63:111 [A.D. 388]). Augustine “Heretics called Antidicomarites are those who contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary and affirm that after Christ was born she was joined as one with her husband” (Heresies 56 [A.D. 428]). The early Church was basically unanimous that Mary was a Virgin her whole life. For more reading :) www.catholic.com/tract/mary-ever-virgin
@CameronRiecker Nonsense, the nearest source is over 200 years after the initial creeds were kept. Galatians 1:8-9 directly puts these ideas in their place. The apostles never preached this message, and Paul never brings up anything slightly close to your idolism of Mary - yet it is core to catholicism. That sounds like a different gospel to me. Unanimous is a far cry, considering every quote you offered is literally a rebuttal to the opposite argument. And it was only contested after the apostles died out, which says a lot.
Thanks for the comment! :) Do you accept that the Church Fathers are reliable witnesses to the faith of the Apostles? I do. So, when I see all of them defending the doctrine of Mary's virginity, it makes me think she was perpetually a virgin!
@CameronRiecker Absolutely not, considering how many times are we warned in the scriptures that false prophets and false teachers were rampant. There are some - undoubtedly, that heard directly from the apostles and brought up the arguement that Jesus wasn't God in flesh. If the next generation could go that far, then I'll stick strictly to the scriptures and the apostles teachings. Which call YOU into intimacy with the Father, not Mary as a vicarious idol. You also never addressed the literal idol making of the image of Mary. You've got a statuette of her that you unashamedly pray to. It's absurd to me - Jesus said I am one with the Father. I choose to believe Him, and not to believe my flesh that says I can't identify with Him and be one with God. He is my Father, Mary has no place in this intimacy.
@@RooBoodlehe doesn't pray to the state, as in a piece of plaster or whatever it is made of. He's praying to the real Mary, but using the statue as a tangible thing to fix his focus on, because humans live in a physical world.
Unfortunately for Catholicism. Not one of us is allowed before the Father through Mary. Jesus says Him and the Father are one. You have to go through Jesus to get to Him.
@@CameronRieckerNope, nothing is above Jesus. If Mary is above Jesus. Mary would be God. Because Jesus is God. I’m talking about the ability to enter God’s throne room while on the earth. That’s the Bible verse when Jesus Christ said “No one can get to the Father except through Me.” He was talking about a relationship covenant. If you’re talking about using Mary as a gospel preaching piece. Sure why not.
Didn't The Lord Jesus tell us to pray to our heavenly Father 🤔 So why deviate from His command when we have direct access to God through Christ Jesus & in unison with the Holy Spirit! 🙏🫶🙌✨️
Luke 1:46-56 Mary's Praise 46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, 48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed So why are you not calling Mary blessed? It's in the Bible telling you to do so....... Rather you blaspheme the mother of your God For that you going to hell BLASPHEMY is a sin.
Your logic is flawed and antithetical to biblical teaching, both OT and NT. Moses' prayer does NOT save Israel, Jesus' grace does. Mary is not the bearer of grace. Christ is. Praying to Mary has no basis in Scripture and is an abomination to the work of Christ in His first Advent. Pray to Christ or the Father only, by the redeemed person. Any other prayer is not heard. Mary cannot hear your prayer. Mary was no longer a virgin, after Jesus' birth. Jesus had brothers and sisters born by her. She did not then become a virgin or immaculately conceive brothers and sisters. She was honored and blessed, but cannot be deified.
@@John_Six I don't pray TO the Holy Spirit, but WITH the Holy Spirit. All true believers have Holy Spirit in them, to guide them, convict of sin, encourage repentance, point to Jesus, etc. By the Holy Spirit: Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Jesus is on that throne, not Mary. Mary now being dead cannot intercede for anyone. No, being children of the Most High God gives us direct access to the Holy of Holies by our Great High Priest, Jesus (who is also Yahweh)
@@BM-si2ei Those verses do not say to pray to the Holy Spirit. Those verses say that the Holy Spirit assists you in prayer. Where does the bible say to pray to the Holy Spirit?
Can you imitate Paul? You think it's easy? Trials and jails and persecutions. More important: Did Paul sought the help of Mary to magnify JESUS? May HOLY SPIRIT lead you to truth and repentance and salvation. Amen.
Your taking away from jesus. She is bleesed because she is Jesus's mother but you take it to extremes. She needed saving just like the rest of us. This is coming from a catholic whos learning and seperating from the catholic faith.
Your comment shows that you don't know what the catholic church teaches. I don't know how to swim. If I'm drowning in a pool and you pull me out did you save me? If I'm walking towards a pool and I'm not aware of it then you stop me from falling in did you save me?
I think you misunderstand. The grace that Mary has comes from God, that does not take away from God. She has lots of it though. And it is correct to say that Mary was saved by God through grace, that is absolutely Catholic teaching. Could I suggest you read a Catechism?
You can never love or honor Mary more than Jesus did :) Jesus is not competitive with His creatures. When they are honored, He is honored. If my son one day grows up to be an NBA MVP and people are praising him, I'm not going to jump in and say "Hey! I raised him and taught him everything he knows!" I'm happy that my son is honored and by honoring him they honor me. Jesus loves to say "well done my good and faithful servant."
moses and the golden calf---that day 3000 men were struck down, the rest who lived, yet had sinned against God with the calf, he sent a punishment of plagues upon them. the entire israelite nation was not saved, and never was, throughout their generations. only a faithful remnant. moses is a picture of jesus who ever lives to intercede on our behalf (hebrews) a priest forever. while moses was alive, he interceded for israel. mary and the saints that you pray to are dead. mary never interceded for the saints. so then, why don't you pray to moses? is moses praying for christians? as for paul and the apostles---"the gospel is the power of God" to save those who believe. someone's gotta preach it. faith comes by hearing. you should learn what exegesis is. you have no scripture to back up any of what you say. "God has ordained that people be saved thru the prayers of mary". uh, where is that? mary magnifies the Lord? hilarious. john 14:21 (christ alone) he that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me, and my father will love him, and i will love him and MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM. he will magnify himself to us. no middle man. 13 minutes--i am done. read luke 11:27,28 ...."blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it"
I am sorry but I do not agree. The only thing we need to take a closer look at Jesus is Scripture. Christ is revealed and seen closer through Scripture not through Mary. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
You're so very confident in your belief that I really want to understand but I just can't get there. It sounds just as delusional as Mormonism to me. You're putting Mary between you and God. You literally say this. I feel like you haven't taken this thought to its conclusion. In Matthew Jesus says the greatest commandment that the entire law and prophets rest on is to 'Love the Lord your God with ALL heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind.' As long as you believe Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, then you're fine. It HAS to be exclusive. It can ONLY be Jesus's sacrifice. Anything else and you are worshipping a false God.
Yes, you shall love the Lord your God with everything you have. But, Mary helps me to love Jesus more :) Praying the Rosary has made me more Christlike and a better servant of Jesus.
We ask Mary to go to Jesus on our behalf and ask Him to grant us what it is we desperately need. We ask Mary to intercede on our behalf. That is why Catholics pray to Mary; it is not because we believe Mary is God, or the equal of Christ, or that we worship Mary, it is because Mary birthed Jesus, she is His mother, and because she is His mother she walks in Christ's favor.
In the beginning God created a perfect man Adam and a perfect woman eve in the new testament God reverses it created a new eve mary and the holy spirit overshadowed mary and she gives birth to Jesus the new Adam.can you have a new Adam without a new Eve. I call Mary my perfect prayer partner.Two prayers reaching the heart of our heavenly father. Amen
mary is Jesus mother and Jesus wanted all to thank and worship her for if it were not for her obediance to God whom sent Jesus to live not die to bring forth a promised king there would be no saviour nor king of kings if it were not for Mary the blessed mother of jesus
Thank you for a wonderful lesson, Cameron. It certainly clarified something on my mind as a new convert.
Protestant here, and this is a really interesting video! I would love to chime into the conversation a little bit though, being as fair to you as I can be. Your main points (as I understood them, please correct me if these are not accurate summaries) are:
1. God loves using mankind to do His will.
2. The story of Moses depicts someone interceding for Israel, and that God's intention was always to save Israel and to do so because of Moses' intercession.
3. God is best honored by His creation that is in His image.
4. "In His image" means someone who creates and spreads goodness.
5. The best creature is the one who creates the most goodness.
6. Mary's statement that "all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48b) reflect her knowledge that she was the good creation which could intercede for all generations.
7. Mary's statement that her soul "magnifies the Lord" (Luke 1:46) reflects her knowledge that she is like a magnifying glass that helps other people see the Lord more clearly through herself.
8. This one is short enough to quote directly: "God has chosen to lead the lower things to the higher things through the middle things," and this is supported by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1.
9. The saints are more relatable than Jesus.
10. The motherhood of Christ is the highest honor that God could bestow on any human.
11. Because the motherhood of Christ is the highest honor, Mary must be the highest creature.
I have some respectful criticisms of most of these points though.
1. "God loves using mankind to do His will." I 100% agree so far.
2. "The story of Moses depicts intercession..." Yes, yes it does. I can't deny that. This demonstrates that God is (or was) open to intercession... From Moses. This point cannot be expanded to somehow include Mary without something that makes her qualified to do so, like a story of Mary interceding in any of the Gospel accounts. All this point can demonstrate is that God is open to intercession. But it takes more to prove to me that Mary is qualified for this. When we read the New Testament, after the veil comes down, only two types of intercession occur (from my memory). First, believers "intercede" for each other by praying for each other (intercede is in quotations here because I don't think that word is ever actually used for it in the New Testament, at least in English). Secondly, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us directly according to Romans 8:26 (The only actual occurrence of the word "intercession" in the New Testament that I could find). The tearing of the veil and the events of Pentecost mean that something has fundamentally changed about the way intercession works. Do I need Mary to intercede for me if God Himself, who now dwells in me personally, is doing the interceding? I don't think God needs Mary's help for that. So again, an Old Testament depiction of intercession means that intercession is a thing, but it doesn't prove that Mary somehow bears that role in the afterlife, I would need more evidence of that.
3. "God is best honored by His creation that is in His image." Yes.
4. "'In His image' means someone who creates and spreads goodness." Yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean intercession.
5. "The best creature is the one who creates the most goodness." Yes He is. The New Testament is covered with references to Jesus that make Him the archetype of a "New Adam." Jesus is the new man. Now, obviously I'm not trying to claim that Jesus is a created thing (like in the Mormon sense) but He certainly was a man. Beyond Jesus, I'm not sure I would ever classify anyone as the "best creature." ALL have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In any case, this is not a point that makes me more likely to pray to Mary, this argument still doesn't come together here.
6. "Mary's statement that 'All generations will call me blessed' reflects her knowledge that she was the good creation which could intercede for all generations." I really strongly disagree with this take. This just simply doesn't pass the Scriptural Context test. In the context of where this verse is written, nobody would ever conclude that she said that to mean that she was who Catholics were going to pray to long after she had died. All generations would call her blessed because she was privileged with being part of the Gospel story of Jesus Christ. This passage is not Mary talking about herself as much as she is praising God for what He was about to do through Jesus. Look at the last verse of her song of praise: "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." She celebrating the coming the Messiah, the completion of the promise given to Israel. That's why she's blessed, is because she got to be a part of that story. The only way to think that she's talking about being prayed to in the future is to believe for some other reason that she was made to be prayed to and then read that theology into this text. So once again, I'm missing the biblical evidence that God made Mary so we could pray to her.
7. "Mary's statement that her soul 'magnifies the Lord' (Luke 1:46) reflects her knowledge that she is like a magnifying glass that helps other people see the Lord more clearly through herself." This has all the same problems as the previous statement plus one more. This word, "Magnify" is never EVER used that way in the New Testament. It means to "make bigger" or "to exalt." That is not the same as being the thing which makes something else appear bigger to someone else. This is a classic case of reading theology from words in English, and why we always have to check key words for their original language context. In this context, Mary is just making a statement of praise, and the supporting context of the passage and the meaning of the word in Greek both testify to this and deny any interpretation that Mary is talking about herself in the way Paul talked about later in 1 Corinthians 11:1. This also shows another problem I see in your argument. Even if Mary is a magnifying glass, why should I pray to her? I respect the work you put into this video, but you're arguing for two different things and smearing them together. You've conflated veneration of Mary's character with why we should pray to her. Ironically I think that hurts your argument because now it sounds like you should pray to her for reasons that sound a lot like idolatry.
8. "God has chosen to lead the lower things to the higher things through the middle things." I don't actually disagree with this part. As a general statement, I think that's fair and quite accurate. But it's also too general to be used as evidence for "Why I should pray to Mary" as your title says I ought to do. But yes, Paul does say to look to him as an example of Christ just as he imitates Christ. Mary does show some great qualities, as many people in Scripture do, and Protestants do tend to respect these qualities without feeling the need to pray to her.
9. "The saints are more relatable than Jesus." I can't disagree with that either. They are more relatable than Jesus for sure, but only because they are screw-ups like we are. When I relate to figures like the apostles, I relate to them because of the bad reasons, like Paul's "Two Natures" lament in Romans 7:14-25. When I look for good character, I look directly to Jesus if at all possible and only to the apostles and their wisdom for how it supplements the understanding of Christ that we get from the Gospel accounts. Everything they said must point back to Christ, and I'm not shooting to be like Paul, I'm shooting to be like Christ. All of this applies to Mary as well. And again, no matter how relatable Mary or Paul are, I'm not convinced I should pray to them yet.
10. "The motherhood of Christ is the highest honor God could bestow on any human." Sure, I'll give you that too. But again, why should I pray to her? This is an argument for the veneration of Mary. Should I pray to her because she's awesome? That would be blatant idolatry, brother. Love means I could not possibly understate this.
11. "Because the motherhood of Christ is the highest honor, Mary must be the highest creature." And this is more of the same. It is not an argument for why I should pray to Mary, I think it's quite a dubious claim that ignores many core Scriptural principles.
So, all in all, I respect what you're doing and I love to see good Christian content here on TH-cam. But when it comes to this issue, I simply cannot agree. But I don't want it to just be, "I'm a protestant and you're wrong," I want to make it clear why we argue the way that we do. Hopefully you can see why we can't go along with what you're saying here, from our perspective there are just too many holes in this argument.
I don't know if anyone is going to read all of that, but I hope it was at least challenging and edifying to anyone who did.
-Tyler
I did read it! Thanks for the comment.
Lots of great insights here and I'm glad we actually share a fair amount of common ground!
I think you make some really good points, but the crux of the issue is who has the authority to interpret the Bible?
You seem quite well read in the Scriptures, so you and I could go back and forth throwing Bible verses at one another trying to destroy the opposing argument, but at the end of the day the Holy Spirit is the author of unity and not discord.
There must be some third party that can govern our discussions and play the part of a "referee." This is essential to maintain unity in the Church.
@@CameronRiecker Awesome, I'm more than happy to participate in these conversations!
This reply to this video was awesome. I am a Protestant who started RCIA 3wks. ago. I struggled with praying to Mary. Some of the Catholic beliefs are great, but praying to Mary just seems useless to me. Because I can go to Christ personally. This video comment is making me leave the RCIA and go back to my Protestant church. Thanks You
@@matthewbrown8056 Happy to help man! Many Catholics are great people and I don't want to completely disassociate from them. But if your presence in their services is distracting you from Christ instead of being you to Him, I think that warrants a change of atmosphere. I pray you find an amazing congregation to welcome you!
It is heretical to deny Mary as the mother of God because in doing that you deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ. If you say Mary was only the mother of Jesu's body or only the mother of his human nature then i would ask where was the second person of the Trinity God the Son when Mary was pregnant with Jesus? If you say God the son was identical to the fetus in Mary's womb then you have to admit Mary is the mother of God. If that fetus is God and being pregnant with a human fetus means you are a mother then Mary is the mother of God. Mary did not give birth to anything
pre-incarnate because birth occurs after the incarnation. But Mary did give birth to the word to the logos John 1:14 literally says " And the Word became flesh and dwelth among us". To say Jesus is a human person and a Divine person can be easily twisted to say the second person of the Trinity a Divine person changed in his very person at the incarnation to become a composite human Divine person. But God is infinite being itself. God cannot change God is immutable.
That make so much sense! Thank you!!!!
I'm glad you found it helpful! God bless!
It made sense the first time, im watching again because its that good. lol
As a Catholic woman, on praying to Mary I feel I am embodying her qualities of chastity, humility and acceptance of the will of God.
Thank you for posting this. I've been torn on this topic lately and this info is much needed!!
Thanks for the comment! I am glad you enjoyed. Let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have! God bless!
Glad you're torn, it's a very important thing to think about. One side says "you should do this, it's good." And some in their group even say you have to, while those who disagree will say "it's meaningless and burdensome" As for what the scripture actually says, this guy is misleading. Mary doesn't elevate herself to the highest of all creatures and desire that people pray through her. That is a huge stretch if we're honest. She is blessed, but not to the point of literally making images and praying to (or through her). And her work is done now that she's dead.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 ESV
[5] For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. [6] Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.
Continue to seek The lord on this issue. This man can't identify with Christ very well, in his own admission, but claims you shouldn't seek to identify with him better, only to settle for a halfway image of a woman. I don't encourage you to settle. You can identify with Christ. Even now you are seated in heavenly places, His own righteousness is now yours - notably it's Christ's righteousness and not Mary's. I truly believe it's a huge stumbling block that people claim is humble - but in reality it's like looking your husband or wife in the eye after they say "I love you so much" and saying in return "I can't identify with you, so I'll just keep my distance for a while. Maybe I'm just not good enough." The issue is that it's actually pride that keeps people praying to Mary and to saints when Christ has called us to himself. See John 15 and meditate on Jesus's own bold words.
As a prot considering catholicism, thank you for this video!
God bless you! I hope to see you in mass some day :)
God bless you and your family. Thank you for putting this into view for me. The more I dig into the faith, the more everything makes sense. I could not do this on my own, only follow those closely who do have the spirit. Please pray for my baptism, as I will pray for you and your family. ❤
Amazing! I will pray for your baptism :) God is with you
Amazing video. Cheers from Brazil. We love catholicism... God bless your newborn
Thanks for the comment! 😁
Catholicism is the best!
Cheers!
Based.
Thank you for your support! God bless!
Awesome logic, content and exposition. Cameron shines light on the fundamentals of the role the medium level creatures as well as the economy of God. Well done!! FYI, my son is also Jude.
It's a great name!!!!
We saw a first class relic of St. Jude about a week before our son was born. We feel like it was God's way of telling us we're headed in the right direction :)
Very well explained thank you
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the comment and God bless you!
Good logical explanation.
Thank you! I appreciate the positive feedback!
Great work on this one. Question: when you brought up St. Paul you said "he had a family". Can you explain?
I don’t mean he was married 😅 he wasn’t.
I just mean that he grew up with a mom and a dad and maybe siblings just like the rest of us!
Thanks for the positive comment 😁
@@CameronRiecker Very good, I was doing chores and must have missed the context just a bit. God bless your work brother.
We don't need to pray to the saints to talk to Jesus for us. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain ar the temple ripped in two, meaning the Holy Spirit is free that way we can pray directly to him. We are told to take all things to Jesus, not Mary or any of the saints. God Bless.
Supplication for all the saints. So it's permitted.
So what just do it . But God chose other ways for a reason, he gave us ways to make it easier. The Bible says a person of high virtue has more powerful prayer . And saints are closer to God . God gave us saints as others as Instruments. So we will take the extra graces. You do your hing
The union with Christ isnt individual. Its not just between you and Him. Its between us and Him. He didnt just want to save us. He wanted us to be united to Him, so that we might be one as He and the Father are one. His love overflows to all who believe in Him. Saints arent just in heaven. You are a saint too because Jesus makes us holy as we are truly united to him and to his redeeming sacrifice. The true union with Christ isnt just between you and God, the true union with Christ is with his Church who is his body and His fulfilment. Mary or saints, including you, are the body of God. Nothing that we do is apart from His grace. God could have reaveled Himself to you in your dream, but He chose to become united with the human flesh through obedience of a woman. You cant fully understand why God became flesh and what it means to the unity between us and God if you neglect how God worked through Mary.
Thanks for the comment!
Jesus gives us a share in His priesthood! All of us who are in Christ's grace are members of His body.
Just as the head of a man's body works through His hand, so does Jesus work through us when He causes us to pray for one another.
When we pray, we pray in Christ as a member of His body. When the Saints in heaven pray, they do the same. All glory to Jesus.
Beautifully said Cameron :) as much as our protestant brothers can learn from us about Mary as much we can learn from them that that Mary leads us to God, we honour her but having God and only God in mind. Anything else is wrong.
I pray directly to God. No angels or saints needed.
God is good!
God has commanded angels to guard you
@@swim96ful so? Only God can answer my prayers. I bow to no one but the Father.
@@KingOppSanti “A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
Who came in response to them? An angel. Who did Daniel bow on his knees to? An angel. Why? Couldn't God come directly? Was He busy? I thought you said "no angels needed". Why did Daniel need an angel? Why did Daniel have to communicate with an angel? Are you better than Daniel that you feel that you don't need no angel? Where is your arrogance coming from? I am not sure if you are being serious with your comments or you're just trolling...
@@swim96ful I know what the Bible teaches and it says I can go directly to God. I need nothing else for help. Pray only to the true God, Jesus Christ.
I might be returning to the Church, but I still have problems with the Marian prayers and devotions. I have no problem with the Hail Mary, but the Holy queen prayer (our sweetness, our hope) is troubling to me, plus other ones. I have been asking for an answer but no Catholic apologetics site has answered. The question: recently, the TH-cam channel Anglican Aesthetics made a video about how the words used for Blessed Mary are words that should only be said to God. What is the defense? How do these Marian prayers not cross the line of honor (dulia) to worship (latria)? Simply saying the words are hyperbolic is not a good justification if the words should only be said to God. I mean no disrespect to Our Lady, the Queen Mother, to be clear. Thanks for your time
Great question.
I actually think that the highest honor that the Church bestows upon Mary is the title "Mother of God."
Jesus Christ Himself was taken from her flesh. Jesus was obedient to Mary. Jesus honors His mother and (in a certain sense) we can never honor Mary too much because we can never honor her more than Jesus.
It seems to me that part of the way Jesus honors Mary is by making her not just good, but the cause of goodness in others. This is the highest honor that Jesus can bestow on a creature and He bestows it in the highest degree to His mother.
I hope that helps! God bless you! I will pray for you.
Overcoming your issues with Marian devotion is well worth the effort, because as spiritual mother, Our Lady will bring you closer to her son & magnify your love of Him. Suggest that you pray the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament asking for her guidance. Read Marian books to gain a better understanding & your faith will grow.
Why would you listen to an Anglican video in the first place? 🙂
Based.
Thanks for the comment :)
I read most of the comments here, the Protestant ones in particular. Let me first say that they, as victims to false teachers, are taught well to play on words and verses, mainly to sink someone's in useless debates.
One example is when they use one verse out of context, to prove something not related to the subject initially. Of course sometimes a verse is self interpreting, but sometimes, it relate to other ones to complete the real context.
Another point is, they always refuse Jesus teachings about Authority and who can bind and loose Laws. Since they're mainly mislead by false teachers initially, they, ironically, put themselves in contradiction with Jesus Himself, not even only with the Catholic Church.
Their reasoning basically is to avoid the "Authority" and "who can bind and loose".
Doing so, they ignore that Jesus is the God of order and wisdom, not the God of chaos and ignorance. Since neither Jesus asking St. Peter to shepherd his sheep three times, yes, three times, and neither "You're Peter" till "anything you bind on earth is bound in heaven" doesn't seem to ring a bell, i'm certain "give what's Cesar to Cesar.." won't do better, and i'm pretty sure even, they ain't capable to establish any relation to order and wisdom.
Since Cameron already mentioned that most of the issues will be treated in later videos, i'll restrain from further.... well, let me say exposing. Only one thing, strictly related to the subject at hand, and it's about how God wants to venerate some chosen people.. Two examples, one from the O.T. is when God disregarded Moses disobedience in divorces laws.
The second is when, the same God, broke a divine project course, only to venerate his earthly Mother, when he transformed water to wine. Protestant or anyone else, are you better than God and Jesus?..
Thanks for the well thought out comment!
They only use emotional words like "I pray directly to God, thank you 🥴" without any sort of reasoning over the issue
@@davebrummage6632 No, She's the Most blessed among creatures, definitely not equal to a creature like you.. While at it, i suggest you get some knowledge about what God asked Solomon to do!!
@JOEGAMESLAB th-cam.com/video/QVmnawGFaVs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Ywa5RhaiY_BAChod
The Bible warns against necromancy (talking to spirits of dead people). Even if it is possible to do it though mediums, God forbids it many many times.
And even if Mary did hear the prayers, she probably gets a 1000 prayers every minute. How could she forward all of the requests in time?
Praying to (making spiritual contact with) Mary, a dead human, is not allowed in Christianity.
Leviticus 20:6
“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people."
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
"There shall not be found among you anyone who (...) tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. (...)"
Take care brother, trust in the Lord and know he is all powerful. He will hear your prayers.
Necromancy is forbidden. It's black magic (negromancia). It's pegan because you have to "perform" it as a ritual. By performing the ritual you'd have to offer a sacrifice. Supplication for all the saints is permitted. We're not performing a pegan rite, which would include a sacrifice because Jesus already sacrificed for us.
Thanks for the comment!
If Mary knows God, then it would be easy for her to know all of creation.
If you know the creator, it's easy to know the creation.
Our Blessed Lady is alive and well. When a saint "dies" they only die a "civil" death, not a physical death. Understand now? 🙂
@@grilawrfr101 Our Blessed Mother, aka, Mary, is alive and well, just like Jesus. Saints only die a "civil" death, not a physical one.
@@PrincessMariaAlejandra I agree.
I was raised catholic, baptised, made my communion and confirmed. All as a child and young man. Now I'm Christian alone. . Praying to a mortal woman is idolatry and one of the things that never sat right with me. Prayer and worship is for God alone.
So do you equate prayer with worship?
Not all prayer is worship :)
You did the right thing ! I truly support your action. 😊
Prayer is not worship. Two different things. The Catholic Church does not worship Mary. We worship God by offering a perfect sacrifice as it says in Malachi 1:10-12.
@@CameronRiecker Yes, it is. To whom you are praying TO is your god.
Praying TO someone is what gives that person/entity divine attributes, because we only pray TO God.
Jesus taught you how to pray and TO whom to pray to and it was Lords prayer, not Hail Mary.
Where does tge holy spirit factor in? Doesn't he help us like a middle man?
Yes! But He works through creatures :)
Your analogy of Jesus being a flower and Marry being a magnifying glass to get closer to Jesus is rather more like you going to someone you admire to learn more about someone else you admire more….you will never get close to that person you truly want to get close to until you make that person the go to person, just like a friendship or relationship.
Seems you’re closer to Mary or Saint Paul than Jesus from my pov. Something is off when you can see yourself relate to Paul more than Jesus. When the whole point is to know and get closer to Jesus. Appreciate your thoughts on this.
Thanks for the comment!
I do think that Paul and Mary help me to love Jesus more. I don't see the two as competing!
So i've seen the whole thing now, but i still don't think you ever actually answered "Why should i pray to Mary". At least, you definitely didn't for me. I understand the middleman used to magnify the Lord. That makes sense, and that's what I've believed and been taught, so i have no issues there. But, I fail to see how you can justify praying TO that middleman in hopes of it magnifying God.. let me try and explain.
You used the example of the magnifying glass on a flower, which i love. It's clear cut and it shows how an outside object can help us see the object of our choosing better. But let's say I wanted to see that flower better, so I got a magnifying glass and got close in order to. Would it make sense to then praise the magnifying glass for the flowers beauty? to go around saying "look at what the magnifying glass does to this flower!" - That's kinda how I view the Catholic tradition of praying to saints/mary. I can acknowledge they are good examples to look towards, and that they can help me understand how to grow better. But it would be ignorant to pray to them for what they did, and undermine that the ONLY reason I view them as good examples is because they are more like Christ than I.
I cannot justify praying to another human being, it just doesn't make sense. regardless of how "good" they were they are infinitely more evil than God, so I shall choose to pray only to our Lord, but I would love to hear your rebuttal, maybe i'm still misunderstanding.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
I appreciate the thought you put into it.
I would advise you to take this to prayer and rely on that even more than on my answer!
However, what I will say is that if the Saints are placed over all of the master's possessions as the Gospel says, then it would make sense to go to them for specific favors.
If I want a new iPhone I don't talk to the CEO of Apple, I go and talk to my local iPhone salesman at the store. The CEO of Apple delegates his power to his subordinates and it would be odd to ask the CEO of Apple for an iPhone. (I'm not saying not to pray to Jesus, this is just a limited analogy)
This analogy is clearly imperfect, but I hope it communicate my point!
@@CameronRiecker i get that, but in my opinion where that analogy fails most is that it doesnt have to same relational aspect that we have with God. If i wanted to get an iphone and had a personal deep 1on1 relationship with the CEO I would always go to him over the lower ranked employees, especially if, like God, the “CEO” had told me that going to him was good. ie praying is good.
I guess the misunderstanding is that just because people have been given power by God over certain things, isn’t a good reason to pray to them. I believe my Relationship with God is exclusive Him and I. it doesn’t depend on angels or saints or other humans. and thus the same way i shouldn’t pray to my biological father I believe the saints/angels are the same.
You begin on a solid footing, and then you veer into quicksand. Yes, God does move upon living people to be a blessing to other living people. Jesus counsels us to "remain in the vine" (God) and to "bear much fruit" (works). But nothing in Scripture says or even suggests that deceased, departed people have jobs or works to fulfill in heaven; in fact, Scripture suggests the opposite is true. When Paul was about to be killed, he wrote to Timothy (2 Tim 4:7), "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Rev. 14:13 says in part, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, _that they may rest from their labours..." According to Holy Scripture, the departed saints are finished with their "race of faith" and are at rest! They don't have work to do! Their tasks and acts of obedience & love toward the living people on earth are at an end!
Revelation does mention angels standing with bowls of the saints' prayers, but we can't draw firm conclusions from this vision. Angels are not redeemed, departed humans; they are separate beings altogether. The bowls of prayers are probably from saints on earth, but it does not say that saints in heaven intercepted them, nor does it suggest that the bowl contains _all_ prayers, so we really can't tell what or how many prayers the saints in heaven have been made fully aware of. It is all quite speculative, and in addition it is a vision... and the RCC tends to teach that one cannot take prophetic visions in Revelation literally! (Do you believe there will be a literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth after the 2nd Advent, for example?)
Besides, you are _assuming_ that the departed saints have been endowed with super-human capability to know the content of millions of prayers, both spoken _and unspoken,_ being prayed _simultaneously, from all over the globe._ If you ask me (a living mortal person) to pray for you, you can have a reasonable expectation that I receive your request, because we have open avenues of communication (the living can speak to one another face to face, they can mail, they can phone, they can text, etc.) and because those avenues make positive connections between two people. But when you speak or merely nonverbally think a prayer to a departed saint, you have no good reason to know that the person is capable of receiving your transmission. Human beings can't read minds. Humans can't hear other humans beyond a certain distance without the aid of messengers or electronics. There's no mail service to heaven, no cell service to heaven, no internet in heaven. On top of that, humans are incapable of hearing several people's verbal messages *when they all speak at once.* _Upon what Biblical basis do you assume that Mary or St. Anthony or St. Whatshisname in heaven has become capable of super-human perception of your prayer alone, let alone accurate reception of yours plus thousands or millions of other prayers, from all points of the globe, all at one time? You are ascribing abilities to the departed saints which are impossible for human beings to innately possess,_ and departed saints are still human beings (although they lack their physical bodies), so _the only way they can hear all of our prayers_ (including the unspoken prayers, which requires that they read our minds!) _is if God imbues the departed saints with His own God-like ability_ to hear all prayers. What evidence do you have that the saints, _prior to the general judgment and the resurrection, would be granted such immense capabilities and given tremendous workloads_ to "listen to" and _pass along_ millions of prayers every day?
When Mary said she magnified the Lord, she was doing so personally with her words, her thoughts, and her obedience to God. Taking that word "magnify" and applying it to a "magnifying glass" is a false equivalence. Mary didn't say or imply that she was making the Lord easier for others to see! This use "magnify" is a disingenuous, deceptive claim.
Mary and the Apostles were great examples for us to follow, truly. So riddle me this: where in Scripture do you read of Mary or the Apostles praying to deceased people? If you can't see your "great example" doing it, _maybe you shouldn't do it, either!_ Did you ever think of that???
For that matter, did Jesus ever pray to deceased people? No, He didn't. (He did command some of them to return to mortal life, though, so we know it's okay for us to raise the dead if the Father tells us to.) Jesus is our ultimate example! Jesus didn't pray to the deceased, and neither should we.
Why should we be innovating and doing things our Biblical exemplars neither practiced nor advocated?
Cameron, I admire your dedication and sincerity. I know you really believe what you've been taught. But remember that you have a long road of life ahead of you, and God has not finished maturing your faith yet. May you never lose sight of Jesus, our head (which is easy to do since the body is so big, it sometimes obscures our view of the Head).
Heb 12:1 says otherwise and if God can allow the evil one, who is not omnipresent either, to hear all of us, how much more will He allow His Holy ones to hear us? But lets not get into a Bible pingpong match that the whole world is playing. Answer the following question 1st with all its implications…
History shows us that Jesus didn't leave us a bible, - the apostles didn't tell us which books belong in the bible, - the church fathers never agreed on the 27 books of the NT through the 4th century, - not only did they not agree but their individual lists of would-be NT canons were GROWING during this time, growing in numbers of hundreds of “inspired” NT writings.
Therefore, if it wasn't the Catholic/Orthodox church that compiled the 27 books of the NT in the 5th century with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and preserved it by laboriously hand copying them over and over throughout the centuries before the invention of the printing press, the “rule of faith” for many, please tell us, show us, who did? And if this church no longer exists today, what good is the text which came forth from her if she couldn't sustain herself?
@@srich7503 You wrote: "Heb 12:1 says otherwise", so let's look at it. Hebrews 11 is talking about great men of faith like Abraham, Noah, Enoch, etc., who persevered through many trials by faith in God. Let's pick it up in 11:36...
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 *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.
Chapter 12 goes on to exhort us to live holy lives, to persevere in faith, and to trust in Jesus. For we have come "to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh." (v. 24, 25). The context shows that we are being taught to persevere in our faith and trust in Jesus, our high priest who made the ultimate, fully efficacious sacrifice for our sins. Out of this context, you are trying to lift one verse and fit it into your paradigm. Is that a valid way of interpreting the Bible? This was not written as a teaching about prayer to saints. It merely calls the faithful patriarchs "a great cloud of witnesses."
Imagine a spectator event, such as a football or baseball game. There may be thousands of spectators in the stands. Thousands of witnesses! Do you suppose they all can hear every word spoken on the field? If one player looks up at a particular fan and says something, do you suppose the fan high up in the stands can hear him? Do you think all of the spectators are watching 100% of the time and are privy to every word and every movement that takes place down on the field? Or does a spectator's mind wander? Does he get up and walk somewhere for a while? Does he talk to a neighbor and lose track of what's happening on the field?
Now you should be able to see what is wrong with interpreting Heb. 12:1 as _proof_ that departed saints are paying attention and are hearing all the prayers being said.
Besides, the very next verse says that we should be looking, not to the saints, but to *Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.* God always hears our prayers. He is always attentive. He doesn't miss a thing! We *KNOW* that He hears us, for sure!
1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Let me ask you something. As a Catholic, do you KNOW that you have eternal life? Do you have the assurance from the indwelling Holy Spirit of your salvation? I do.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God
Peace.
@@srich7503 I think it is interesting that you throw a scripture at me, and then in advanced self-defense (so as to not be shown wrong) you say, "let's not play Bible ping pong..." What an interesting way to "win"! 😁
I deny that the early church was "The Catholic Church" or "The Orthodox Church." In the first couple centuries after the ascension, it was just Jesus' church. After all, Jesus said, "I will build MY church." Not the Pope's church or the patriarch's church or the Magisterium's church. Were the believers first called Catholics at Antioch, or Orthodox? Neither. They were called Christians because they followed Jesus the Christ. That's what I am: a follower of Jesus. I am a Christian.
Catholics always magnify their Roman Catholic Church. Christians magnify Jesus Christ. I don't care which denomination you attend, so long as you trust 100% in the propitiation Jesus made for your sins 2,000 years ago on the cross. IOW, don't divide your faith & trust between Jesus and your denomination, your Sacraments, your clergy, your works, or anything else.
Peace.
@@rexlion4510 and i deny it was anything but Catholic. The difference is history tells the story i presented not my “opinion” of scripture interpretations. If you are not going to address the 2 points i presented above - 1) that the church fathers never agreed on the 27 books of the NT through the 4th century, and 2) that not only did that not agree on the 27 books but their individual would-be canons were GROWING during this period, then you are ignoring history itself. As we Catholics have been told, no matter how ugly history is, you can never hide from it. 🤷🏽♂️
@@srich7503 The version history with which the RCC indoctrinated you, you mean. Your precious RCC would be unrecognizable to the early churchmen.
Anyhow, you're just engaging in sophism. Your church teaches that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God and an infallible source. I believe that, too. There's no dispute over that. What you're trying to allege is that I can't believe the Bible is infallible unless I also believe that your Magisterium is infallible (and thereby could infallibly declare the infallibility of Scripture). The Magisterium is demonstrably fallible! History shows that the Councils operated like a committee or a legislature; two or more opposing viewpoints argued back and forth, there was a vote, and the majority carried the day on whatever issue they were debating. The Magisterium is the entire body of bishops along with the head bishop, the pope; if the Magisterium were infallible, then the Holy Spirit would have told *all of them* the proper Truth and there would have been no back-and-forth. History would show evidence of the Spirit making all of those clergymen infallible in their teachings. Instead, we see plenty of disputes, disagreements, and committee-like behavior. How could an infallible Magisterium have infallible differences of opinion that sometimes were diametrically opposed?
Even on an issue like the papacy, there was no consensus in the early church. Origen had one idea about what Matt. 16:18 meant. Tertullian had another. Chrysostom had a third opinion. Augustine said something similar, but not quite the same. And _none of the above_ believed that Peter _together with all his successors_ were "the rock." Out of this morass of disagreement, the RCC chose the interpretation which most suited its goal of becoming a religious, social, and political powerhouse, and it was not an interpretation believed with any unanimity in the early church!
Besides, the RCC clearly lost its Apostolicity when it had 3 competing popes simultaneously, each of whom went about "ordaining" his own following. Your church is a hot mess!
I'll pray directly to God, through Jesus, in the Spirit, that your eyes are opened to your error.
Thanks for the prayers :)
Do you ever pray to Jesus or pray to the Holy Spirit?
@@John_Six so many replies, so little learning.
@@BM-si2ei I'm asking because it sounds like you don't pray to Jesus or pray to the Holy Spirit. Do you not believe that they are God?
@@John_Six if explaining how to pray in reference to the Godhead doesn't explain that, I don't know what else to say. I pray you find the answers in the Scriptures.
Where does Paul pray to Mary? Just a question, Im trying to understand. Ive never understood why people pray to her, and still dont.
He doesn't in the Bible, but I assume Paul prays to Mary in this misguided man's head.
Supplication for all the saints.
Since Mary is blessed (made holy) for all generations, she is a saint.
Saint from the word Sanctus means holy.
Supplication - the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
Praying to the Saints is something that is rooted in the Scriptures and comes from the Apostles and Church Fathers :)
If you're looking for a Bible verse that commands you to pray to Saints, you won't find it!
Your understanding is limited because you limit yourself to the bible alone, "Sola Scriptura" - a Protestant teaching. Not your fault. The bible leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and this is why it's important to become Catholic and read church writings, saints' writings, elaborate prayers, Catholic texts like the Roman Breviary, what are sacramentals, why pray in Latin etc. because all the missing information is found in these texts --and more! 🙂
God has commanded angels to guard you
I hope you're right :) Thanks for the comment!
First of all, congratulations on the birth of your son! May God bless him and his mother, just as the LORD has blessed you through them :) That said:
The word "magnify" that Mary uses in Luke 1:46 is Μεγαλύνει, it means to make or declare great. Clearly, Mary's soul is not capable of making the LORD greater than He is, nor does that make any sense in the context - Mary is praising the LORD for the things He has done for her, and is thus declaring that He is already great. It is used in the same way in Acts 5:13, 10:46 & 19:17 and Philippians 1:20. She is not calling her soul a tool through which others can better see the greatness of the LORD, or which brings us closer to God. She's just saying how wonderful God is.
Does anyone pray to Mary in the Bible? Did Jesus teach us the Rosary when His disciples asked Him how they should pray? Or does he teach us to pray to his Father instead? In fact, the only time Jesus mentions his mother at all is to downplay her significance:
"While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” - Luke 11:27-28
"But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matthew 12:48-50
If Jesus Himself says that whoever does the will of the Father is His mother, that anyone who hears the word of God and observes it is blessed, not the womb that bore him; then Jesus is explicity stating that all other believers were her equal, not subordinates. While she is briefly mentioned in Acts as being with the disciples, she takes no special role, performs no miracles, and recieves no prayers.
It's also worth remembering how Israel sinned in the past, with Asherah poles in the high places. Asherah was a pagan goddess whom the ancient Israelites mistook for LORD wife, and called the Queen of Heaven. Archaeologist have found inscriptions in the Holy Land dedicated to "Yahweh and his Asherah" - this was a terrible sin, and was part of what lead to the Israelites being exiled for 70 years in Babylon. While the wife of the Father is not identical to the mother of the Son, they are far to close for comfort, and the fact that Roman Catholics call Mary the Queen of Heaven and pray to her, when prayer is meant for God alone... it seems like history repeating itself.
I suppose the question is, why should we elavate Mary to such a high posisition, when the Bible itself seem to go out of it's way to deter us from exactly that? If Jesus wanted us to pray to Mary, why didn't he command us to do so directly, instead of discouraging it?
Thank you for the kind words!
I appreciate the thought you put into your comment :)
Have you looked into any Marian apparitions? Specifically Fatima?
You have a very strange (wrong) way of seeing things. Your slew is very anti-christian.
Your example of Lk 11:27-28. Someone in the crowd tried to say Mary must be great simply by her association with Jesus. However Jesus does not downplay His mother; He actually goes out of His way to show the true reason why Mary should be held in esteem; because outside of Jesus no one else in the whole bible heard the word of God and obeyed it than Mary herself. So what exactly is going on in your mind that it so quickly goes to the gutter and thinks in such an unchrisitian manner!!!???
Again in Mt 12:48-50. It is precisely Mary who is held as the standard. If you obey God as His mother does; then you too can be considered a member of His family. This is so simple that I wonder what kind of malice you must hold to twist it out of context like that???
"....Does anyone pray to Mary in the Bible? Did Jesus teach us the Rosary...." and ooohhhh where in the bible do we see the Apostles and Nicene creeds, or airplanes, cars, mega-protestant churches, ... Just because it isn't specifically in the bible does not make it untrue or an unchristian practice.
"....why should we elavate Mary to such a high posisition...." maybe because the bible says we should. Inspired by the Holy Spirit; Mary says 'henceforth all generations shall call me blessed". Who else in the bible are we COMMANDED to remember them in such a way. She is also espoused to the Holy Spirit, carried the Son of God in her womb and was entrusted to raise Him to manhood. Are you really that daft to think that in heaven God will treat you as her equal????? Do you know what kind of demonic influence would make a person think that way!!???
Jesus did not discourage anyone from seeking her intercession. It was by her intercession that the wedding guests at Cana had the best wine to drink, despite Jesus protesting it wasn't his time yet, and that the lack of wine was no concern of His. If anything the bible recorded this episode to show how great of an influence His mother had on Him becasue of her geat humility.
I sure hope you learn to quell that great pride of yours. It seems to be getting you into a lot of trouble and making you think strange thoughts.
@@CameronRiecker I have heard of such Apparitions but I wouldn't say I've studied them. Ill look into it after church though, can you recommend any reputable sources regarding them?
@@xaelath7771
You can look up Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of Guadeloupe. They're pretty fascinating miraculous and conversion stories.
@@CameronRiecker Having looked into Fatima, I must admit I find some of the details quite disturbing:
First, the three children initially claimed that World War 1 would end on 13 October 1917. This did not happen. Lúcia would later report that Mary had predicted the imminent deaths of her two cousins in 1918, but this claim was not reported until she wrote her memoirs, starting in 1936, as so is itself questionable.
"But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him" - Deuteronomy 18:20-22
Worse than this, the children all began to practice self-mortification, apparently with Mary's approval, going days without drinking water, or only drinking from a dirty laundery pond, during the middle of summer.
In one of several memoirs, Lúcia wrote that the children tied "penitence cords" so tightly around their waists that the ropes became blood-stained, and that the apparition of 13 September 1917, told her, "God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the rope on; only wear it during the day." They also flogged themselves with stinging nettles.
She wrote, "I began then to have doubts as to whether these manifestations might be from the devil [...] truly, ever since I had started seeing these things, our home was no longer the same, for joy and peace had fled. What anguish I felt!" - she later changed her mind, but I'm not so sure.
"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" Galatians 1:8. What gospel did this apparition teach? That instead of Jesus suffering for the sins of the world, that children should suffer in his place?
Why would the Virgin Mary desire to see little children in pain? Why would she send them horrfying visions of hellfire and damnation? And why would the "infallible" church approve of such things?
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 Plain and simple.
But Mary helps us get to Jesus :)
What's based mean??
Properly "based" refers to a person who boldy expresses their opinion without concern for it's popularity, especially if the opinion is considered unpopular. Though it can often be used to express agreement with such an opinion too.
Wow I've never heard a colloquialism defined so eloquently before!
Thank you .
Looks like there are times when I'm based. 😀
Good video again .
Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum,
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et Benedictus fructus ventris tui
Iesus
Sancta Maria mater Dei
ora pro nobis peccatoribus
nunc,et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
This is one of the best videos I have seen on the subject, great work brother. Thanks.
Whats your take on Genesis 12:3 is he stating to protect Israel like Zionists do? Let me make sure I am not misunderstood. I believe in what is right.
Thanks for the positive comment!
Admittedly, I don't know much about Zionist beliefs.
I see Genesis 12:3 as a prophecy of how Christ will be a blessing on all nations.
@@CameronRiecker Awsome work brother.
Just a head up looks like we will soon get accused of creating the rapture lol.
I started reading more into the doctrine of the rapture, we know early 1800 Darby and Scofield. Now the weirdest part is supposedly Manual Lacunza wrote the book that supposedly started everything named The Coming of the Messiah in Glory. Now for what I read the Catholic Church banned the book. You know how everyone blames the Catholic Church or Vatican 2 for everything wrong in the world.
I love where, in the book of acts, the start of the first church, where they make sure to pray to mary who was also in the upper room with them. Or when paul writes that we should all pray to mary in order to pray to jesus. Oh wait…. It’s not in there.
Neither is the verse that says "All you need for your faith is the Bible" :)
Catholics believe Tradition is also a source of Revelation!
Do you believe Mary is blessed?
I love that in the book of Acts, in the upper room, Mary is the only one named with the apostles. It sounds like she was very important. I wonder why protestants don't think of her the same way? Oh, by the way, random question. Is Jesus a Davidic King?
@@CameronRiecker That’s actually insane that you would take something outside the Word of God for Truth! It’s heathenistic. Galatians 1:9-10, if anyone teaches anything outside of the word of God then you should be accursed. This is why Catholicism is failing, the precedent was set that you can take extra biblical liberties away from truth, and now the pope says that gay marriage is perfectly acceptable!? This is what happens when you use the wisdom of man over the wisdom of Jesus.
@@John_Six Yes, she was in the upper room, I pointed that out… They didn’t pray to her!! Riddle me that? Mary also had to go through the process of Salvation. She was in the upper room when Peter said repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the Holy Ghost. Even the Mary who you (wrongly) pray to had to be baptized in the name of Jesus and be filled with the Holy Ghost for salvation. She is merely human, if she were alive she would be so ashamed to think that people were praying to her instead of the One living God.
👍🙏
Thanks for the comment! :)
A lesson on Let’s do what the Bible doesn’t say to do and make a TH-cam video on it.
Where does the Bible say only to look in the bible for truth?
Show me in the Bible where it says there is a Heavenly Mother or we need to pray through Mary believing she was sinless?
Where in the Bible that says there should be a pope who believers bow and kiss his ring calling him Holy father. Even though he is a sinner like you and me and falls short from the Glory of God?
Where in the Bible does it say the Popes word comes before Gods word?
Where in the Bible does it say we should Babtize infants so they can be born again even though they have no freewill or choice in the matter?
Where in the Bible does it say we need the 7 sacraments for Hods Grace?
Where does it say in the Bible does it says that we should pay indulgences for forgiveness of our sins and loved ones sins so they can enter heaven?
Where does the Bible say we should go to a confession box and confess our sins to another sinner who will tell us to go chant memorized prayers over and over including the “Hail Mary” for forgiveness of our sins.
Thanks for the comment 😁
Where in the Bible does it say everything you need to believe to be saved is written in the Bible?
@@CameronRiecker So no verses justifying those blasphemous Catholic beliefs? Maybe it’s because there are none. Your beliefs contradict what the Bible says. That’s why the Catholic Church didn’t want to translate the Bible to English. As soon as Martin Luther and the like did you were seen for your lies and heresy. Where do you think ANY man gets the right to add subtract or change Gods word?
Duet 4:2
Revelation 22:18-19
Proverbs 30:6
You can’t just believe what you want take some leave some change something here and there. That’s not how it works you can’t compromise on the truth and The Bible is Authoritative and I demand you show it some respect and stop serving people pagan worship with a God LIKE veneer.
it says many times that all you have to do to be saved is believe in Jesus Christ Death on the Cross as sacrifice for your sins be babtised and repent.
Acts 16:30-33
Acts 2:38
Acts 4:12
John 3:16
John 14:6
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 10:9-10
The Bible says all you have to do to be saved is…it says we are not saved through works….Why would there be more for us to do to be saved and Paul and Peter and John leave all that out? They didn’t say these are the first things you need to do the rest will come later from a Pope who will stop diddlin little Alter boys in the basement of the Vatican long enough to come tell you what works to do to get Gods Grace in order to go to heaven and charge you indulgences.
Thanks for proving to me what I already knew.
God Hep You!
Sorry forgot the verse in the Bible that answered your question directly.
2 Tim 3:15-16
“and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Protestantism is so pedantic because a sola Scriptura view is limiting as not everything is in the bible Jn 21:25.
Sacred Tradition, which existed from the time of Christ complements Sacred Scripture under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit providing a stable three legged stool compared the confusion, division & scandal,of 000’s of sects resulting from personal interpretation which is not of Jesus who willed unity Jn 17 11-23
Protestants are also irrational & hypocritical when they seek biblical evidence for Catholic doctrine, yet, they selectively cherry pick & ignore scripture when they don’t like what they read ie personal interpretation starting with
- Jesus founded His One True Church Mt 16 18-19
- giving her hierarchy & an authoritative leader
- He appointed Peter as His representative on earth
- Peter was the first leader/Pope
- The CC is the pillar & foundation of Truth 1 Tim 3:15
- Jesus instituted 6 sacraments for the transmission of His Grace
- Jesus instructed us to be baptised Jn 3:5 & to receive His Real Presence in the Eucharist Jn 6 51-58, saying that both sacraments are essential for salvation
- prayers of intercession, praying FOR not to, the dead, purgatory
- Jesus prayed for unity Jn 17 11-21, not possible with 000’s of scandalous Protestant sects
- Oral Sacred Tradition existed from the time of Christ & teaching was initially handed down orally 2 Thes 2:15
- the CC codified the Bible in 382 AD which complements Sacred Tradition under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium providing a stable three legged stool
- the CC today still practises & teaches what the Early Church practised as documented by the Early Fathers
Finally, the CC made a major contribution to the development of Western Civilisation in virtually all areas of life.
The Mother of Jesus is Holy, pure, sweet and charitable. Jesus as King of the Universe and can do whatever He wants including bringing His Mother right beside Him in Heaven when Mary’s time on earth was over. We are the children of God and God wants us all to stay in love, peace and always charitable with each other here on our temporary lives on earth. Love and serve one another, peace and pure as children of God. And Mary is the best example daughter that God has of His children. Obedient Jesus and Mary.
When having His Son on earth, God chose not just any woman to be the mother of His only begotten Son, but God chose the most blessed, the most pure, the most obedient daughter ( opposite of disobedient Eve who gets fooled by the evil serpent ) that will carry His Divine Son, in her womb. She is the Ark of the Covenant. And she is the Queen in the Book of Revelation.
Well said!
Based and Christ-pilled.
Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! 🇻🇦
Thanks for the feedback! Love that Latin.
I haven't watched the whole video yet so i an cautious to post this but i will anyways and will edit it if I am incorrect. However, in the first minute or so you say that Jesus could have gone on his own and preached the gospel to each person and ascended when everyone had been baptized, OR what Jesus actually did (die on cross, resurrect, send the Spirit and the apostles etc.). This is just not true. The death and resurrection of Jesus was necessary for our salvation, so he couldn't have just taught everyone the correct knowledge and dipped out as if that was the need to be with God after death.
It seems to me like there is a misunderstanding of what "the gospel" means. in definition meaning "the good news" the only thing that makes the gospel worth sharing is the death and resurrection of Christ, since, if that never happened we shouldn't believe any of it.
Also, Jesus couldn't have gone to each and every person just on a time level, while yes he was and is God, whilst in human form on earth he limited himself to the constraints that we all have. So no, he could not go individually and make sure everyone on the planet knew the gospel, since that's not humanly possible.
After the Resurrection, He could have appeared to large groups over and over again like He does in 1 Cor 15. He would have been able to appear to however many He wanted :)
There is no issue asking Mary for intercession. All the churches that were established by the Apostles pray to Mary for intersession. The issue is that you follow a man-made religion with no connection to the Apostles. Your religious sect was formed by an egocentric man and his Bible interpretations that you follow are based on his own arrogance and ignorance. But you can still be saved. Join an Apostolic church before it’s too late.
It's hard for me to take advice from someone with a profile picture like you have :) God bless you!
Have you ever wondered why catholic ignore the bible? Pray to dead people and break the commandments?
Leviticus 26:1 "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God."
Not only do they have statues of marry but they have statues of all the saints and pray to them. But what does the bible say?
In 1 timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"
Mary doesn't hear your prayers she's not listening she's not intercessing for you. Only jesus can do that.
I encourage all catholics to read the Bible and get your faith from the words of God not the words of men.
Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
Stop saying hail marrys no one hears them not Mary's not God. Repent and be saved. Your baptism doesn't save you' your praying and worshiping marry doesn't save you' you have a false religion and a false God. Repent and believe the gospel
Catholics do not ignore the Bible. Please do some research instead of typing negative comments
@amiepatterson8 I just poste literally 5 verses the roman catholic church either removes or ignores in their teaching. So instead of just making a blanket statement how about addressing the fact of what was written.
@amiepatterson8 I'll make it easier. Answers these questions using the bible.
Why do catholics pray to marry as a mediator between then and God when the bible says in 1 timothy 2:5 there is only one mediator between God and man christ Jesus
Why do you repeat a hail marry over and over again when the bible says not to pray in vain repetitions in matthew 6:7
Why does the roman catholicchurch state that salvation is not by grace alone bylut by good works which clearly contradicts ephesian 2:8-9?
They definitely ignore the bible. And it's not a negative statement if someone sees the error of their ways and gets saved. Many catholic on their way to hell will say in the day of judgemenr WHY didnt someone tell me.
Just because someone has a differing opinion doesn't mean it's negative. What's negative is if you knew the truth of salvation and didn't tell someone and pretended it was okay and they went to hell because you were too afraid to speak up
Hey man, let me present to you how Catholics answer these verses:
To answer Leviticus 26:1, we also have to look at Exodus 25:18 "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat." This is in regard to the Ark of the Covenant, so from this we can have either of two conclusions:
- God commanded Israel to sin when He commanded them to make the Ark.
- Making a graven image is not in itself sinful and something else in addition to the image makes it a sin.
The Catholic position is the second one, and we group the prohibition of idol-making into the first commandment, since it prohibits the same thing as that commandment which is having other gods.
You say Mary is not interceding and only Jesus can do that, but the same chapter in 1 Timothy goes against it: 1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men,".
Catholics take that into account and look at 1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time." to mean that the mediation of Jesus was to give Himself as ransom, not that all mediation/intercession belongs exclusively to Jesus.
This is also seen in daily life, we pray for others in our lives all the time and that's good, not a theft of the proper place of Jesus.
For the Heavenly metaphysics of this we can see in Revelation 5 "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints". We might say this is all a metaphor, but we can't deny that there are others in heaven who present prayers to Jesus. This goes against any who say that we can only hand our prayer directly to Jesus, He can receive it from saints (the elders in Revelation).
On the repetition thing, you're correct in that saying more Hail Marys does not make our prayer stronger, but that's not why we have so many of them in the Rosary. In that case it's for the sake of practicality. The Rosary was first used as meditation tool that should take you 20~min, with every bead representing one Psalm, and you would do the 150 Psalms in three Rosaries. You could say a Psalm instead of a Hail Mary and be fine if repetition offends your sensibilities, but practically speaking it's much easier to get someone in the habit of prayer for 20min if the only requirement is the Our Father and the Hail Mary instead of the 150 Psalms.
Blessings to you, hope this clarifies Catholic teaching
I will make videos addressing a lot of these in the future :) They are fair objections! However, each of them has a logical answer. For example, in 1 Tim 2:5, it says that Jesus is the mediator between God and men. Men in this case could also be translated as humanity. Jesus is the only one who can reconcile God with humanity.
However, that doesn't stop us from interceding for one another in Christ :)
mary is Jesus mother and Jesus wanted all to thank and worship her for if it were not for her obediance to God whom sent Jesus to live not die to bring forth a promised king there would be no saviour nor king of kings if it were not for Mary the blessed mother of jesus
It's necromancy to speak to the dead and Jesus is the only mediator between us and the Father.
Necromancy
Magic involving communication with the deceased
Necromancy is the practice of magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events and discover hidden knowledge. Sometimes categorized under death magic, the term is occasionally also used in a more general sense to refer to black magic or witchcraft as a whole.
Therefore, the intercession of the Saints and Mary is not Necromancy.
@georgepierson4920
Why waste time speaking to someone who can't hear you when you can speak to someone who can and is always there to help you?
People on the dark side resist the truth just like Jesus said.
John 3:19-21. And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
Bro,
God works through the living persons to do his works and not those who have died.
The bible repeated says "DO NOT CONSULT THE DEAD"
You use the words 'GOD choses..."
According to the bible , did GOD choose anyone who has died to be an intercessor or mediator other than Jesus Christ??. Can you quote any verse of the bible to this effect?
GOD works through living people is because of FREE WILL not because he chose to.
GOD does not dictate. GOD does not punish. GOD is love. Infinite love. Infinite love means, there is never a moment that GOD doesn't love you. No conditions. Not even sinners. If you repent, he will accept you. Just like the repentant thief on the cross with Jesus.
GOD only guides.
If you chose the true path, you will receive his blessings. If you chose the wrong path, you will receive it consequences.
The flower??? It was Jesus who came down from Heaven so that we can see GOD and his GOODNESS. Jesus is incarnate magnifying glass of GOD the Father we cannot see.
Now you say, we need Mary the magnifying glass to see Jesus???? Maybe we need the magnifying glass of the pope and priest to see the saints to see through magnifying glass of saints to see Mary through her magnifying glass to see Jesus through HIS magnifying glass to see GOD the Father.
Don't put anything between you and GOD other than Jesus Christ who is GOD himself. Magnifying glasses can distort the truth.
Authority in heaven is only with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not Joseph, Mary and Jesus.
Not GOD the FATHER with Mary the Mother and Jesus the SON. Mary is not Queen of heaven.
Mary is the surrogate mother of Jesus. A vessel. Like the jar in the wedding of Canna. The jar or the wine has none or little significance. It was about Jesus power. God the Son wills and it happens. God uses Mary to save the entire world through her prayers?????
Similarly, Jesus rode on a donkey when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. So is the donkey important?? Should we have an idol of the donkey to be venerated because GOD chose a donkey to carry Jesus to Jerusalem.
Should we venerate the tomb where Jesus was buried? Idol worship. Venerating anything as divine besides GOD is idolatory. Preaching and teaching such is blasphemy.
You don't learn to love GOD by imitating Paul. Paul is an imperfect being needing salvation.
You need to learn to love from Christ, the perfect man and perfect GOD. And his love brought salvation to you. And to know how to love is to read the bible and listen to the Holy Spirit of Truth.
Repent! Repent! Repent!.
Read the scriptures and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Follow Jesus Christ. Not Mary, Not Paul, Not the Pope or anybody else.
Please don't justify the traditions of the Catholic Church against the commandments of GOD.
Mark 7:7-13 King James Version (KJV)
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mary is never prayed to in Scripture, its simple
Thanks for the comment!
That's true. However, just because it's not in the bible doesn't mean it isn't good.
The word Trinity is not in the Bible. The Jesus prayer is not in the Bible. The phrase "Accept Jesus as your personal savior" is not in the Bible.
Even if the Scriptures do not specifically reference something, it still may be good.
@@CameronRiecker
My argument was not the exact phrase is not in the Bible but the Teaching...Trinity doctrine IS in Scripture, Calling on Jesus to be saved IS in Scripture...so understand my argument
@@Maximusinthehouse Protestantism is so pedantic because a sola Scriptura view is limiting as not everything is in the bible Jn 21:25.
Sacred Tradition, which existed from the time of Christ complements Sacred Scripture under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium guided by the Holy Spirit providing a stable three legged stool compared the confusion, division & scandal,of 000’s of sects resulting from personal interpretation which is not of Jesus who willed unity Jn 17 11-23
Protestants are also irrational & hypocritical when they seek biblical evidence for Catholic doctrine, yet, they selectively cherry pick & ignore scripture when they don’t like what they read ie personal interpretation starting with
- Jesus founded His One True Church Mt 16 18-19
- giving her hierarchy & an authoritative leader
- He appointed Peter as His representative on earth
- Peter was the first leader/Pope
- The CC is the pillar & foundation of Truth 1 Tim 3:15
- Jesus instituted 6 sacraments for the transmission of His Grace
- Jesus instructed us to be baptised Jn 3:5 & to receive His Real Presence in the Eucharist Jn 6 51-58, saying that both sacraments are essential for salvation
- prayers of intercession, praying FOR not to, the dead, purgatory
- Jesus prayed for unity Jn 17 11-21, not possible with 000’s of scandalous Protestant sects
- Oral Sacred Tradition existed from the time of Christ & teaching was initially handed down orally 2 Thes 2:15
- the CC codified the Bible in 382 AD which complements Sacred Tradition under the unifying authoritative interpretation of the Magisterium providing a stable three legged stool
- the CC today still practises & teaches what the Early Church practised as documented by the Early Fathers
Finally, the CC made a major contribution to the development of Western Civilisation in virtually all areas of life.
Friendly reminder that the early church didn't believe in this. If John, the adopted son of Mary by Christ's decree, didn't preach praying to Mary then I assume it's heresy. Mary was an honored woman, but even i am more holy than she was when she gave birth to christ now that Christ has died for my sins. She was a virgin at birth, and it's a stupid claim that she maintained her virginity afterwards. Zero evidence, zero historical accounts of early church leaders teaching this. And worse of all, zero understanding of what the Father is calling you into. Keep your crutch to yourself, my faith and the faith i long to grow others in needs no mediary between my love, my Jesus, and my Father - for we are one, even as Christ and the Father are one.
I would like to dispute your claim that none of the early Church leaders believed in Mary's perpetual virginity.
The The Protoevangelium of James states that Mary had taken a vow of Virginity.
Here are some others
Origen
And I think it in harmony with reason that Jesus was the first fruit among men of the purity which consists in [perpetual] chastity, and Mary was among women. For it were not pious to ascribe to any other than to her the first fruit of virginity” (Commentary on Matthew 2:17 [A.D. 248]).
Athanasius
“Let those, therefore, who deny that the Son is by nature from the Father and proper to his essence deny also that he took true human flesh from the ever-virgin Mary” (Discourses Against the Arians 2:70 [A.D. 360]).
Jerome
We believe that God was born of a virgin, because we read it. We do not believe that Mary was married after she brought forth her Son, because we do not read it. . . . You [Helvidius] say that Mary did not remain a virgin. As for myself, I claim that Joseph himself was a virgin, through Mary, so that a virgin Son might be born of a virginal wedlock (Against Helvidius: The Perpetual Virginity of Mary 19 [A.D. 383]).
Ambrose
“Imitate her [Mary], holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son set forth so great an example of material virtue; for neither have you sweeter children [than Jesus], nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able to bear another son” (Letters 63:111 [A.D. 388]).
Augustine
“Heretics called Antidicomarites are those who contradict the perpetual virginity of Mary and affirm that after Christ was born she was joined as one with her husband” (Heresies 56 [A.D. 428]).
The early Church was basically unanimous that Mary was a Virgin her whole life.
For more reading :)
www.catholic.com/tract/mary-ever-virgin
@CameronRiecker Nonsense, the nearest source is over 200 years after the initial creeds were kept. Galatians 1:8-9 directly puts these ideas in their place. The apostles never preached this message, and Paul never brings up anything slightly close to your idolism of Mary - yet it is core to catholicism. That sounds like a different gospel to me.
Unanimous is a far cry, considering every quote you offered is literally a rebuttal to the opposite argument. And it was only contested after the apostles died out, which says a lot.
Thanks for the comment! :)
Do you accept that the Church Fathers are reliable witnesses to the faith of the Apostles? I do. So, when I see all of them defending the doctrine of Mary's virginity, it makes me think she was perpetually a virgin!
@CameronRiecker Absolutely not, considering how many times are we warned in the scriptures that false prophets and false teachers were rampant. There are some - undoubtedly, that heard directly from the apostles and brought up the arguement that Jesus wasn't God in flesh. If the next generation could go that far, then I'll stick strictly to the scriptures and the apostles teachings. Which call YOU into intimacy with the Father, not Mary as a vicarious idol. You also never addressed the literal idol making of the image of Mary. You've got a statuette of her that you unashamedly pray to. It's absurd to me - Jesus said I am one with the Father. I choose to believe Him, and not to believe my flesh that says I can't identify with Him and be one with God. He is my Father, Mary has no place in this intimacy.
@@RooBoodlehe doesn't pray to the state, as in a piece of plaster or whatever it is made of. He's praying to the real Mary, but using the statue as a tangible thing to fix his focus on, because humans live in a physical world.
Unfortunately for Catholicism.
Not one of us is allowed before the Father through Mary.
Jesus says Him and the Father are one. You have to go through Jesus to get to Him.
Go through Jesus to get to the Father and go through Mary to get to Jesus? :)
@@CameronRieckerNope, nothing is above Jesus.
If Mary is above Jesus.
Mary would be God.
Because Jesus is God.
I’m talking about the ability to enter God’s throne room while on the earth. That’s the Bible verse when Jesus Christ said “No one can get to the Father except through Me.” He was talking about a relationship covenant.
If you’re talking about using Mary as a gospel preaching piece. Sure why not.
what do people promise to be bowing to some people. Jesus is the Lord. every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord.
Jesus is Lord!
Mary is His Queen :)
is not the congregation the bride of Christ.@@CameronRiecker
but do you try to become righteous through law works, or through your own rules, works, yourself.@@CameronRiecker
Didn't The Lord Jesus tell us to pray to our heavenly Father 🤔 So why deviate from His command when we have direct access to God through Christ Jesus & in unison with the Holy Spirit! 🙏🫶🙌✨️
Luke 1:46-56
Mary's Praise
46 And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed
So why are you not calling Mary blessed? It's in the Bible telling you to do so....... Rather you blaspheme the mother of your God
For that you going to hell
BLASPHEMY is a sin.
Your logic is flawed and antithetical to biblical teaching, both OT and NT. Moses' prayer does NOT save Israel, Jesus' grace does. Mary is not the bearer of grace. Christ is. Praying to Mary has no basis in Scripture and is an abomination to the work of Christ in His first Advent. Pray to Christ or the Father only, by the redeemed person. Any other prayer is not heard. Mary cannot hear your prayer. Mary was no longer a virgin, after Jesus' birth. Jesus had brothers and sisters born by her. She did not then become a virgin or immaculately conceive brothers and sisters. She was honored and blessed, but cannot be deified.
Do you pray to the Holy Spirit?
@@John_Six I don't pray TO the Holy Spirit, but WITH the Holy Spirit. All true believers have Holy Spirit in them, to guide them, convict of sin, encourage repentance, point to Jesus, etc. By the Holy Spirit:
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV - Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is on that throne, not Mary. Mary now being dead cannot intercede for anyone. No, being children of the Most High God gives us direct access to the Holy of Holies by our Great High Priest, Jesus (who is also Yahweh)
@@John_SixI often ask the Holy Spirit to fix a broken/confused prayer, based on Romans 8:26-27. He is, after all, part of the Godhead.
@@BM-si2ei Those verses do not say to pray to the Holy Spirit. Those verses say that the Holy Spirit assists you in prayer. Where does the bible say to pray to the Holy Spirit?
@@TheTurtlee1 Is the Holy Spirit God (YHWH)?
The Roman empire had many gods, including female goddesses and they just became "christian" and kept doing the same thing.
Your source is Gerald Massey. He was an esoteric atheist that hated Christianity. No scholar recognizes his work because he wasn't an Egyptologist.
Catholics do not hold that Mary is a goddess :) Her role is much different than the Roman goddesses.
Can you imitate Paul? You think it's easy? Trials and jails and persecutions. More important: Did Paul sought the help of Mary to magnify JESUS? May HOLY SPIRIT lead you to truth and repentance and salvation. Amen.
Your taking away from jesus. She is bleesed because she is Jesus's mother but you take it to extremes. She needed saving just like the rest of us. This is coming from a catholic whos learning and seperating from the catholic faith.
Your comment shows that you don't know what the catholic church teaches.
I don't know how to swim.
If I'm drowning in a pool and you pull me out did you save me?
If I'm walking towards a pool and I'm not aware of it then you stop me from falling in did you save me?
I think you misunderstand. The grace that Mary has comes from God, that does not take away from God. She has lots of it though. And it is correct to say that Mary was saved by God through grace, that is absolutely Catholic teaching. Could I suggest you read a Catechism?
You can never love or honor Mary more than Jesus did :)
Jesus is not competitive with His creatures. When they are honored, He is honored.
If my son one day grows up to be an NBA MVP and people are praising him, I'm not going to jump in and say "Hey! I raised him and taught him everything he knows!"
I'm happy that my son is honored and by honoring him they honor me.
Jesus loves to say "well done my good and faithful servant."
moses and the golden calf---that day 3000 men were struck down, the rest who lived, yet had sinned against God with the calf, he sent a punishment of plagues upon them.
the entire israelite nation was not saved, and never was, throughout their generations.
only a faithful remnant. moses is a picture of jesus who ever lives to intercede on our
behalf (hebrews) a priest forever. while moses was alive, he interceded for israel.
mary and the saints that you pray to are dead. mary never interceded for the saints.
so then, why don't you pray to moses? is moses praying for christians?
as for paul and the apostles---"the gospel is the power of God" to save those who believe. someone's gotta preach it. faith comes by hearing. you should learn what exegesis is.
you have no scripture to back up any of what you say. "God has ordained that people be saved thru the prayers of mary". uh, where is that? mary magnifies the Lord? hilarious.
john 14:21 (christ alone) he that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me, and my father will love him, and i will love him and MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM.
he will magnify himself to us. no middle man. 13 minutes--i am done.
read luke 11:27,28 ...."blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it"
To your point about Moses, one of my friends has a devotion to him and prays to him fairly often :)
@@CameronRiecker devotion:>unwavering loyalty, faithfulness, religious worship, allegiance.
I am sorry but I do not agree. The only thing we need to take a closer look at Jesus is Scripture. Christ is revealed and seen closer through Scripture not through Mary. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
You're so very confident in your belief that I really want to understand but I just can't get there. It sounds just as delusional as Mormonism to me. You're putting Mary between you and God. You literally say this. I feel like you haven't taken this thought to its conclusion.
In Matthew Jesus says the greatest commandment that the entire law and prophets rest on is to 'Love the Lord your God with ALL heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your mind.'
As long as you believe Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, then you're fine. It HAS to be exclusive. It can ONLY be Jesus's sacrifice. Anything else and you are worshipping a false God.
Yes, you shall love the Lord your God with everything you have. But, Mary helps me to love Jesus more :)
Praying the Rosary has made me more Christlike and a better servant of Jesus.
Nope
Good point lol
@@CameronRiecker 😂
We ask Mary to go to Jesus on our behalf and ask Him to grant us what it is we desperately need. We ask Mary to intercede on our behalf. That is why Catholics pray to Mary; it is not because we believe Mary is God, or the equal of Christ, or that we worship Mary, it is because Mary birthed Jesus, she is His mother, and because she is His mother she walks in Christ's favor.
Well said!
We are just going up the chain of command!
But if Jesus is god, Mary wouldnt see his son, Jesus. So how can this happen.
@@CameronRiecker AVE MARIA JESUS AMEN 🙏🙏🙏
AVE MARIA JESUS AMEN 🙏🙏🙏
In the beginning God created a perfect man Adam and a perfect woman eve in the new testament God reverses it created a new eve mary and the holy spirit overshadowed mary and she gives birth to Jesus the new Adam.can you have a new Adam without a new Eve. I call Mary my perfect prayer partner.Two prayers reaching the heart of our heavenly father. Amen
Based.
Thanks, bro!
mary is Jesus mother and Jesus wanted all to thank and worship her for if it were not for her obediance to God whom sent Jesus to live not die to bring forth a promised king there would be no saviour nor king of kings if it were not for Mary the blessed mother of jesus