ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews) (09/12/85)
* If you get this twice please forgive me. I oops'd with the terminal. *
Hi,
Many Christians do believe in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since according to the Bible the sins of
the fathers fall on their children it makes sense that God would make
the Blessed Mother sinless, too, breaking the chain of her own
father's sins. If you want an example of this Biblical principle
just look at a person you know who has a short fuse and a problem with
unrighteous anger, or someone who is very impatient with others or
themselves, then look at his or her children. We all give our children
some of our bad points as well as the good. This principle would also explain
why the Holy Spirit filled Mary with the human person of Jesus,
rather than becoming pregnant by Joseph, her future husband
at the time. This also meets with scripture - a virgin would be
with child. If God wanted to do all this, He certainly could. This is
something you either choose to believe or not. Your choice.
The Immaculate Conception is neither the center, nor the focus of belief in
God, Jesus is the focus. Mary is not considered on a par with God in the
Roman Catholic Church. She is considered very special to God as
she was His first human temple, as well as being the mother of the human
person of Jesus. Because we believe Jesus to be both fully human in every
way except sin, and also fully God, Jesus has eternally been God, long
before He was made flesh through the working of the Holy Spirit in Mary.
Look at the prayer `The Hail Mary'. Some of it is direct Bible quotes,
some intended to counter the heresy that she wasn't the mother of God,
and the last part a request that she pray to God for us, no different
than if you ask anyone to pray for you. And just as many Christians have
found certain people have different gifts from God, like the ability to
pray for healing, emotional and physical, many believe Mother Mary to
be gifted by God as a special person to ask for assistance from God.
She is not God, but she is very special to Him. So are we.
God Bless,
Mike Andrews
--
God said He would never leave me nor forsake me, and that I am His temple.
A man is what he thinks.
A body led by the soul is only 2/3 of a person : the soul tries to get rid of
the spirit.
A body led by the spirit is a whole person : the spirit works to make the soul
help the body. And a spirit led by God the Holy Spirit is invincible.