Christians, if Mary the mother of Jesus is so important why is she ignored?

Question

I've attended many different Protestant services and never hear Mary mentioned (except at Christmas).

This a very holy woman and a model for all mothers - and God chose her out of every woman that has ever lived to be the mother of His Son! She is crucial to the whole redemption story.

Old Testament women are frequently extolled and Christians name their daughters Naomi and Ruth and Sarah and Rebecca, etc........ but by and large ignore the most important woman who ever lived....and the first woman to have received the Savior Jesus Christ in faith.

Answer 1

God hates women

Answer 2

I wouldn't say my church ignores her.  We don't preach on Ruth, Naomi, etc, on a weekly basis either.  Mary was unique and special because of the role that she played in birthing Christ, but what we know about her (from Scripture) is actually very little.  I haven't studied Catholicism or what role she really holds in your church.  All that Mary contributed to the Redemption is that she provided the vessel for Christ's arrival.  God could have chosen anyone and even Mary points out her ordinariness.  I look at her faith and I'm inspired, but she doesn't garner any other special attention for most Protestants.  Why should she hold a higher role in the Church?

Redemption was about the sacrifice Christ made for us.  Mary's magnificat is beautiful, but just because she birthed Christ doesn't mean I give her any credit for my salvation.  She was a helper along the way just like John the Baptist and countless other people listed in the geneaology of Christ.

Answer 3

One of the oldest catacombs contains a drawing of the Madonna and child dating back to the second century

And the oldest know request to Mary. The Sub Tunm Paresidum dates back to at least 300 AD, It reads

We fly to your patronage oh  Holy Theotokosz despise not our petition in our necessities but deliver us always from all dangers o ever glorious and blessed Virgin 300 AD

Martin Luther wrote the veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart

September 1522.

Martin Luther

Christ, our Savior, was the real and natural fruit of Mary's virginal womb . . . This was without the cooperation of a man, and she remained a virgin after that.

Christ . . . was the only Son of Mary, and the Virgin Mary bore no children besides Him . . . I am inclined to agree with those who declare that 'brothers' really mean 'cousins' here, for Holy Writ and the Jews always call cousins brothers.

A new lie about me is being circulated. I am supposed to have preached and written that Mary, the mother of God, was not a virgin either before or after the birth of Christ . . .

Scripture does not say or indicate that she later lost her virginity . . .

When Matthew [1:25] says that Joseph did not know Mary carnally until she had brought forth her son, it does not follow that he knew her subsequently; on the contrary, it means that he never did know her . . . This babble . . . is without justification . . . he has neither noticed nor paid any attention to either Scripture or the common idiom.

John Calvin

Helvidius displayed excessive ignorance in concluding that Mary must have had many sons, because Christ's 'brothers' are sometimes mentioned.

[On Matt 1:25:] The inference he [Helvidius] drew from it was, that Mary remained a virgin no longer than till her first birth, and that afterwards she had other children by her husband . . . No just and well-grounded inference can be drawn from these words . . . as to what took place after the birth of Christ. He is called 'first-born'; but it is for the sole purpose of informing us that he was born of a virgin . . . What took place afterwards the historian does not inform us . . . No man will obstinately keep up the argument, except from an extreme fondness for disputation.

Under the word 'brethren' the Hebrews include all cousins and other relations, whatever may be the degree of affinity.

Huldreich Zwingli

He turns, in September 1522, to a lyrical defense of the perpetual virginity of the mother of Christ . . . To deny that Mary remained 'inviolata' before, during and after the birth of her Son, was to doubt the omnipotence of God . . . and it was right and profitable to repeat the angelic greeting - not prayer - 'Hail Mary' . . . God esteemed Mary above all creatures, including the saints and angels - it was her purity, innocence and invincible faith that mankind must follow. Prayer, however, must be . . . to God alone . . .

'Fidei expositio,' the last pamphlet from his pen . . . There is a special insistence upon the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Zwingli had printed in 1524 a sermon on 'Mary, ever virgin, mother of God.'

I have never thought, still less taught, or declared publicly, anything concerning the subject of the ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our salvation, which could be considered dishonourable, impious, unworthy or evil . . . I believe with all my heart according to the word of holy gospel that this pure virgin bore for us the Son of God and that she remained, in the birth and after it, a pure and unsullied virgin, for eternity.

Heinrich Bullinger

Bullinger (d. 1575) . . . defends Mary's perpetual virginity . . . and inveighs against the false Christians who defraud her of her rightful praise: 'In Mary everything is extraordinary and all the more glorious as it has sprung from pure faith and burning love of God.' She is 'the most unique and the noblest member' of the Christian community . . .

'The Virgin Mary . . . completely sanctified by the grace and blood of her only Son and abundantly endowed by the gift of the Holy Spirit and preferred to all . . . now lives happily with Christ in heaven and is called and remains ever-Virgin and Mother of God.'

John Wesley (Founder of Methodism)

I believe... he [Jesus Christ] was born of the blessed Virgin, who, as well after as she

brought him forth, continued a pure and unspotted virgin.

This dufous never herd of intercessory prayer ....

The Lord is the only one to be worshiped or prayed to? (in so many words)

"Mariolatry" means the worship of Mary, giving her the kind of honor due only to God (Greek: latria). Since Catholics justifiably give her greater honor than they give other saints, but less than they give to God (and not just less, but a fundamentally different kind of honor), Mariolatry does not exist in Catholic piety. In fact, the Catholic Church forbids Mariolatry because it forbids us to worship anyone other than God himself: "Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God. . . . Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2113, cf. 2110–2112, 2114).

Answer 4

Veneration of Mary is one of the earliest Christian beliefs thrown out by Martin Luther and his followers.

Answer 5

Mary is important.

But unlike catholics, other churches do not worship or pray to her or any other saint. That is called Idolatry.

Doesnt it say in the bible that The Lord is the only one to be worshiped or prayed to? (in so many words)

Answer 6

They don't worship Mary like you do.

Answer 7

It is a problem that goes far beyond theological reason and debate. In some quarters there seems to be a major antipathy, almost hatred, (see C's post) directed at one of the key figures in the story of redemption. In fact a few protestant apologists write of the Mother of the Redeemer almost as if she were the enemy of God.

Perhaps it has something to do with the misogynistic tendencies that were evident in many of the Reformers, although most actually maintained Marian doctrines that would surprise their modern-day followers. There is also a great deal of ignorance among modern-day protestants as to the Scriptural and other ancient support for most of the Marian doctrines. It is the fundamentalist move away from Mary that has been the recent aberation. Yet even many Protestant Christians who are not so extreme still believe that Catholic and Orthodox doctrines on the Virgin Mary are unscriptural and are inventions of the Medieval Church, being unknown to the early Christians.

All Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and also IS God, being the 2nd Person of the Trinity, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is also the son of Mary. Now many Protestants are quite prepared to say "Mary, Mother of Jesus," but balk at saying "Mary, Mother of God." Why?



They say "CONCENTRATING ON THE VIRGIN MARY DISTRACT US FROM GOD AND FROM JESUS"  I ask, how?

Does admiring any part of God's creation distract you from God? When you walk through a forest of tall, ancient trees and you admire their beauty, does it distract you from God? When you look at a sunset or a towering mountain, does that turn you away from God? Of course not. For most people such things draw them closer to God.

Similarly when you admire people like St Francis, Mother Theresa, or other Christians who have given up their lives to serve God. Does that make you turn away from God - or is it more likely to make you think of the greatness of the God who inspired such people? So it is also with Mary.

I find it strange that Protestant Evangelicals never seem to wonder where Mary is now, or what her role might be. If they do chance to wonder, they generally keep it to themselves. Raise too many of the wrong topics, and questions may start being asked about whether you really are "one of the group". Therefore it is quite common for Protestant evangelicals who are quite certain that Uncle Fred is in heaven, wearing his kingly crown, or that they themselves are heaven bound, to question Mary's presence there.

So, let's scotch that one straight away. If the Virgin Mary isn't in heaven, then there's very little chance that anyone else will ever get there. Mary is the supreme example, or prototype, of what happens to a person who fully places trust and faith in God. Everything we hope to become in Christ, She already is. . Out of the millions of "decisions" made for Christ, Mary's was the first. Therefore, whatever promises the Holy Scriptures hold for us, Mary already possesses.

Answer 8

It may have changed since Vatican II.

I can't recall the exact details, but more personal prayer is encouraged. I don't know what that means.

I know the older generation did a lot more praying of the rosary (all the words for this prayer are from the Bible).

Hope that little bit helps.

God love you!

Answer 9

We're to honor her, but not worship her. My Aunt's name is Mary if that helps  ;)  The thing is this, the Catholic Church goes over board, or at least they did, when I use to attend the Catholic Church. They prayed to her, had us do the rosary, it was all about Mary, when in reality, sorry, it's about Jesus!  

We're to pray to Jesus and him alone, after all, and you may not like my answer, but Jesus is alive, Mary is not!

Answer 10

She is not ignored.  She is prohesied in th eold testament and we arote a grat deal aout her in the new.  she certianly was not ignored by God.  She regins as queen of the knigdom of God in both the earthly and spritual realms.  this does not mean she is divine but queen of saints and angles.

Answer 11

Mary said: ‘My soul magnifies God . . . because he has looked upon the low position of his slave girl. For, look! from now on all generations will pronounce me happy.’”—Luke 1:46, 48.

She considered herself a Slave or servant Girl- Was Mary Blessed? Yes but interestingly, the woman named Jael back in the days of Israel’s judges was considered to be “blessed among women.” as well.

Consider that devotion to Mary received a boost as recently as 1950, when Pope Pius XII defined the “Corporal Assumption of the Blessed Virgin” (that her body was not allowed to decay, but was taken to heaven) as an article of faith, that is, as an obligatory belief for Catholics.

* A Thumbs down for Qouting Mary's own words? People sometimes are truly delusional.

Answer 12

As you can see from the answers, most are not answering your question. All they can say is "Uhh we don't worship her like you do."

But Catholics don't worship her, so now what have you got?

The question still remains - why is she ignored when she is very important in God's plan of salvation?

If Jesus didn't care about her, why did He stop during His passion on the road to Calvary and tell her "Behold, Mother, I make all things new" and why did He put her lovingly in the care of His disciple Saint John?

Answer 13

Yes, it is most definitely sad that our Protestant brethren practically ignore Our Blessed Mother.

Paying Mary reverence is not making an idol out of her. Rather it is strengthening our worship of the One True God.

The irony is, is that Mary receives more reverence from Muslims than she does from Protestant Christians.

Answer 14

We already understand Mary is blessed, we don`t need to make up statues, prayers, and faux titles to know what God did for us through her.

I was Catholic and my middle name is Mary..She is not our co redemptrix or Queen of Heaven or any other nonsense like that.

Veritas, you`ve watched the Passion of the Christ too many times..Behold I make all things new was NOT said on the way to Calvary, it was spoken in Revelation and NOT to Mary.

Answer 15

Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee..blessed art thou amongst women

Holy Mary..Mother of God..pray for us sinners..

i can go on..but i think you get the point..plus catholics pray to Her several times on the rosary and during the stations of the cross...

Now and at the hour of our death..Amen

Answer 16

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers [1] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:31-35

If Jesus was going to tell us to treat His mom special, then would have been the time to do it