Recently there was a story out of California about another crying Mary statue. As usual people are showing up to see the "miracle", lighting candles, and praying. The article quoted several visitors as saying the following things:
"Just the fact that it's coming from the eyes, and it's a red color like blood, I would say that there's a miracle either way...Even if there's a natural explanation, it's a sign."
"With Christmas coming up, they say Jesus is the reason as opposed to the commercialization...So maybe this is happening for a reason. I just think she's crying for all the sins of the world and everything."
One poor lady even "traveled from Las Vegas" to see the statue "crying". Why? Because she thought Mary could help her with her cancer. The lady said, "I pray to Mary a lot...I felt like I need to be here to see this."
One person said, "I think many people have forgotten about God, and I think she's weeping about God's children who are lost and are searching, and looking for answers."
In this article I wish to examine these statements in the light of Holy Scripture and look at why people "in the church" continue to fall for this sort of event.
First allow me to establish the fact that Mary is a minor figure in the New Testament. I did not say, to clearify, that she was a minor person. Mary was a very important person in the plan of God. It was through this virgin girl that God brought the Savior of the World into the World ("He came to His own, and those who were His own did not recieve Him"). She was also the one who raised Jesus. However she does not play a major role in the New Testament beyond that. She is only, in fact, mentioned a handful of times in the New Testament. In fact I don't believe she is even mentioned outside of the Gospels and Acts. There is no New Testament example of Mary healing anyone of any disease nor is there any New Testament evidence that Mary would play some special role within the modern church. Christians are never instructed to pray to Mary, or look to Mary, for any reason. Therefore the entire reason people are being drawn to this statue is false.
So what is going on here?
Well since it is red it could be some form of rust (I don't know what the statue is made out of though). This seems possible since it is only streaming from one eye.
It could also be a fake. It could be the product of someone who, for whatever reason, keeps putting the "tears" in Mary's eyes.
It could be demonic. Since the Bible (in general) forbids praying to dead people and worshipping statues if it is supernatural it is not of God. That means, if it is supernatural, it is probably demonic in nature. Pulling people away from the Lord Jesus Christ and the one saving Gospel and pulling them to the worship of the dead and statues (idolatry).
Why are people fooled by this still? Bad, weak, or missing theology. The professing church (Catholic or not) has become very much "life principles" centered. The result of this is bad theology. We need to get a healthy balance of theology and life principles. However I think, in large part, it will be hard to get that since deep theology does not sell books nor does it usually attract large crowds. Life principles does! However we need a solid diet of both, that is we need solid Biblical teaching!
That is how we solve this problem...a return to solid Biblical teaching/preaching.
Martin.
"Just the fact that it's coming from the eyes, and it's a red color like blood, I would say that there's a miracle either way...Even if there's a natural explanation, it's a sign."
"With Christmas coming up, they say Jesus is the reason as opposed to the commercialization...So maybe this is happening for a reason. I just think she's crying for all the sins of the world and everything."
One poor lady even "traveled from Las Vegas" to see the statue "crying". Why? Because she thought Mary could help her with her cancer. The lady said, "I pray to Mary a lot...I felt like I need to be here to see this."
One person said, "I think many people have forgotten about God, and I think she's weeping about God's children who are lost and are searching, and looking for answers."
In this article I wish to examine these statements in the light of Holy Scripture and look at why people "in the church" continue to fall for this sort of event.
First allow me to establish the fact that Mary is a minor figure in the New Testament. I did not say, to clearify, that she was a minor person. Mary was a very important person in the plan of God. It was through this virgin girl that God brought the Savior of the World into the World ("He came to His own, and those who were His own did not recieve Him"). She was also the one who raised Jesus. However she does not play a major role in the New Testament beyond that. She is only, in fact, mentioned a handful of times in the New Testament. In fact I don't believe she is even mentioned outside of the Gospels and Acts. There is no New Testament example of Mary healing anyone of any disease nor is there any New Testament evidence that Mary would play some special role within the modern church. Christians are never instructed to pray to Mary, or look to Mary, for any reason. Therefore the entire reason people are being drawn to this statue is false.
So what is going on here?
Well since it is red it could be some form of rust (I don't know what the statue is made out of though). This seems possible since it is only streaming from one eye.
It could also be a fake. It could be the product of someone who, for whatever reason, keeps putting the "tears" in Mary's eyes.
It could be demonic. Since the Bible (in general) forbids praying to dead people and worshipping statues if it is supernatural it is not of God. That means, if it is supernatural, it is probably demonic in nature. Pulling people away from the Lord Jesus Christ and the one saving Gospel and pulling them to the worship of the dead and statues (idolatry).
Why are people fooled by this still? Bad, weak, or missing theology. The professing church (Catholic or not) has become very much "life principles" centered. The result of this is bad theology. We need to get a healthy balance of theology and life principles. However I think, in large part, it will be hard to get that since deep theology does not sell books nor does it usually attract large crowds. Life principles does! However we need a solid diet of both, that is we need solid Biblical teaching!
That is how we solve this problem...a return to solid Biblical teaching/preaching.
Martin.
