DO NOT WORSHIP MARY!

As a former Roman Catholic, I was taught some wonderful, although untrue, things about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  And while I still view her highly as the woman God entrusted to bring His only begotten Son into this world, I no longer believe the teachings that practically made her the "fourth member of the Trinity!"  For one thing, and perhaps the most significant, Mary was not "immaculately conceived" by her mother.  That doctrine was created to declare that His human mother was sinless.  However, even the Douay-Rheims Version (Catholic Version) tells us Mary was a sinner, needing a Savior:  "And Mary said, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God MY SAVIOUR.'" (Lk. 1:46-47 D-RV)

As with her birth, false doctrine was produced concerning her death.  According to the Roman Catholic Church, Mary ascent into heaven, known as "The Assumption," is described as follows: 

"...the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death." [LG 59; cf. Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950):  DS 3903; cf. Rev. 19:16.]

Ironically, by the time of her death, Mary had had several children, and was not a virgin.  The Gospel of Matthew makes it clear:  "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  and knew her not TILL she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." (Mt. 1:24-25 D-RV)

Mary's other children, called the Lord's brethren, are mentioned in several verses (Mt. 12:46; 13:55; Mk. 3:31; Lk. 8:19; Jn. 2:12; 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:14).  For those who challenge the meaning of the word "brethren," it is the same word used to describe the sons of Jacob in Matthew 1:2.  "Brethren" is from the Greek ἀδελφός (adelphos), which means "one's siblings."

Amazing as well, is the fact that the Apostle John reveals His "brethren" did not believe in Him:

"His brethren therefore said unto Him, 'Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that Thy disciples also may see the works that Thou doest....'  For neither did His brethren believe in Him." (Jn. 7:3, 5 D-RV)

So, while it is abundantly clear that Mary was unique, a "one-of-a-kind" individual, she was not chosen because she was sinless, or because she was worthy; even the Catholic Rosary declares Mary to be "full of grace."  Grace, as it is used in the Bible, means UNMERITED favor!

There is ONE MEDIATOR between God and man:  Jesus!  (1 Tim. 2:5 D-RV)