Ever Virgin Mary Critical to all Christianity
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottRC
Just FYI:
From the Lutheran Church MS
website:
Q. I've heard that Martin Luther believed in Mary's immaculate conception, in her perpetual virginity and in praying to her. Is this how Lutherans still view Mary today?
A. Like Luther himself, Lutherans hold Mary in high esteem for the chosen role she played in God's plan of salvation. Lutherans have never objected to denoting Mary as the "Mother of God" (theotokos, "God-bearer"), since she was the mother of Jesus and Jesus was and is indeed God. Since the Son of God was and is sinless, it is evident that some miraculous "exception" was made in the conception of Jesus through Mary that prevented original sin from tainting the Christ-child. This accounts for Luther's comments about Mary being "entirely without sin" (as far as the conception was concerned). Lutherans today are not bound to Luther's personal views regarding how this was accomplished; in any event, it is clear from Luther's other and later writings on Mary that he did not hold to the view that Mary was personally devoid of all sin (which would mean that she would have had no need of forgiveness or salvation). Luther also held to the semper virgo (the perpetual virginity) of Mary. This, again, is a personal view to which Lutherans today are not bound. Scripture is not clear on this matter, and Lutherans do not regard it as a theological issue.
In his early years Luther was still greatly influenced by his rigorous Roman Catholic and monastic training. In his later writings he clearly rejects invocation to Mary and/or the saints as having no Scriptural mandate or promise. None of this undermines the opening sentence of this e-mail, which should be underscored as the final word on this issue.
Scott:
When considering Mary it is of paramount importance that we keep in mind Christ's words, Matt 5:17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. By fulfilling the law Christ fulfills the Mosaic Covenant; without an Ever Virgin Mary this is not possible. In my opinion, this is one of the main failings of Lutherans
What do the words of Christ mean? He didn't come to destroy the Mosaic Law but to fulfill it. Christ wasn't just an ordinary Hebrew. He was both the High Priest and the sacrificial Lamb. He was both man and God. Christ's life was a living example of the Law.
Was not Christ's entire life an observance of the Jewish Feast days? Christ's crucifixion was in the spirit of Yom Kippur, atonement for our sins (which is what Yom Kippur means). When the Messiah's procession to the temple where the people waived palms and shouted “Hosanna” was living the feast of Sukkot. Couldn't we even say that Christ's birth in late December founded in the Jewish Hanukah – the lighting of the menorah? Christ even waits till the feast of Hanukah to declare that, “The Father and I are one.” No doubt we can find a corollary for each High Holyday in the Jewish calendar matching up with the recorded events in Christ's life.
Would we then expect no less an adherence to the Jewish ecclesiastic covenant of Moses? Would not the temple, the residence of God receive ritual cleaning? Would that temple then be kept in the manner of Jewish Tradition, clean and holy? Then we must consider that Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, was kept in such a way.
Given the verse, Jeremiah 31:22 How long wilt thou be dissolute in deliciousness, O wandering daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth: A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS A MAN we must conclude that Mary was Immaculate, protected from knowing the sins of Adam, protected from knowing the sins of men. How does one COMPASS Christ the man without COMPASSING the God that is Christ? At the moment God was infused, and conceived, Mary's Womb would have been spiritually clean; as clean as the ritual cleansing of the Tabernacle of Moses. Thus Mary's womb became the dwelling place of God, a Holy of Holies. This Tabernacle would have remained pure as did Mary in her of life celibacy.
Therefore, it becomes a matter of critical importance to the very existence to Christianity that Mary be immaculate and ever virgin. To hold any other view would be to deny Christ the God.
JoeT
