Post details: Any will do just fine ...

05/01/09

Permalink 08:24:43 pm, Categories: By Trent
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Any will do just fine ...

Catholics seem to have a problem with saint worship, and no saint seems to be so widely revered then Mary, the mother of Jesus. I'm not familiar with all Catholic practices, but that criticisms appears to have merit. I just wonder why the logic that Protestants use does not carry through to their own practices.

Usually the criticism addresses Mary as a fine person, but not worthy of any special regard because God just had to pick somebody, and it just happened to be her. In other words, God could have chosen any other womb, or at least others could have qualified. It wasn't that the Father was just waiting for someone as special as Mary to come along before He sent Jesus to earth. She was just blessed to be available when God needed someone like her.

I agree. But, don't use that argument against my sacred cows!

I like to think that I am special. I like the flattering gossip at the prayer meetings, when we talk about those that have fallen away, and ministries that strayed off-track. I don't have to say it directly: "I am glad that I am not as other men"- can be read between every smug declaration.

Surely, I wound up-right by my own doing, and others (if they had my fortitude, and my will-power, and my smarts) could stay free from disrepute, and scandal, right?

Am I alone with this flesh tenancy? I must admit it. I don't like it, but sometimes the evil thoughts come into mind. In fact, it would shock you how much time is spent at the Bible-studies that I go to doing exactly this.

God help us, to be free of this! We are vexed by the self-righteous self-exaltative notions that we have it together on our own and others do not. Help us be boastful only of our weakness and how the Lord Jesus has saved wretches like us! You, Lord, didn't need our strength, smarts, nor will-power to accomplish this work in us. Our intellect did not lead us to all Truth ... it is Your Spirit.

We are nothing. You are the Lord.
We give you 100% credit for whatever purity has arrived in us, for on our own we can do nothing. Whatever wisdom, whatever strength, it is You, Lord Jesus!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

amen

Comments:

Comment from: Mrs Zeke [Visitor] · http://evolislovebackwards.blogspot.com/
A spoonful of humbleness I think works wonders. I can honestly say it makes me angry and ill to hear gossip, talk with anything other then how to help the fallen and I want to cry whenever I hear of a ministry that has gone under.

But I know from experience out of balance the other way is just as bad. Also the fact that you expressed this shows more about who you really are then the issues you posted. Most who really have a problem in these area's don't admit them or even admit that they are things in the negative.

Also Mary said yes I will do it that is the thing that set her apart and all that did is make her a child of God like all the rest of us :) I would rather be a child of God then a saint anyway cause I'm not smart enough to be a saint :)

Love now tomorrow is not promised to anyone
Permalink 05/31/06 @ 13:00
Comment from: Trent [Member] · http://www.GraceHead.com
Mrs. Zeke,

I am glad you spoke up. I don't want to damn Mary with faint praise. She showed alot of spiritual maturity in agreeing to allow herself to be the Lord's birth-mother. I love her quote and think that it is a hallmark of GraceHeadedness:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

I like that picture of restful availability. It is almost like saying: "OK, but you are going to have to do it for me."
Such a heart would not take credit for the miracle that followed, because they know that they did not really do anything.

Ripening,
Trent
Permalink 05/31/06 @ 15:56
Comment from: Pam [Visitor] · http://meredevotion.com
Amen, Trent! Theology is important but when we get too focused on it rather than on Jesus, it is easy to puff ourselves up and tear others down. Let us not only acknowledge that God is 100% responsible for anything good in us but also 100% responsible for removing any evil that remains in us and in our brothers or sisters.

Pam
Permalink 05/06/09 @ 21:48

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