Indeed, there are many remarkable things about Mary. She was a virgin when she brought forth the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 7:14; Lk. 1:34; Matt. 1:25). She believed the angel when he told her how she would conceive and bring forth Jesus (Lk. 1:38). She was blessed among women and highly favored by the Lord (Lk. 1:28, 42). She praised the Lord (Lk. 1:46-55). And she is noted for other such things.

However, these remarkable characteristics still do not warrant her worship. To worship Mary violates the word of God, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve," (Lk. 4:8). In the book of Revelation, John attempted to worship an angel that showed him some things and the angel replied, "… worship God," (Rev. 22:9; 19:10). No one, other than God, is worthy of our worship (Ps. 29:2).

See, in addition to Mary’s good qualities, she also had some problems that are common to man. She was a sinner. In Lk. 2:22-24, Mary offered a sacrifice according to the law found in Lev. 12:8. The sacrifice was a sin offering and atonement for her. Some teach that she was immaculately conceived (that is, without sin). But that is not true, according to Luke and also according to Paul, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23).

To worship Mary or to use her statue as an aid to worship is, therefore, idolatry and a violation of the second commandment. Ex. 20:4-5 says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."

Some people teach that Mary is actually a co-mediatrix or co-redemptrix with Jesus Christ. In other words, they teach that you need to go through her to get to God. That doctrine directly contradicts 1 Ti. 2:5 and Jn 14:6. 1 Tim. 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." You see, there is only ONE mediator, not two. Jn 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The only way to God is by Jesus Christ, not Mary.

To worship or pray to Mary is wrong. Mary can’t intercede for you, only Jesus and the Holy Spirit do that (Rom. 8:26; Heb. 7:25). Mary can’t answer your prayers, only God and Jesus do that (Jn. 15:16; Jn. 14:13-14). Mary can’t save you, only Jesus can do that (Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10).

Hope this helps,

Pastor Welder