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- -<5>\J Q . ' Sí Ulv Q \\A c \ ^ \ S S \ a \ \ \A\M Q \A BIOLA COLLEGE A Protestant Mary by Herbert Henry Ehrenstein T " ! . .— ■ [ T was inevitable , in our modern age of ecumenical dialogue, that brethren,” we are expected to soft- pedal our differences and say they really do not, matter. Thus, it was inevitable, I say, that someone in Protestantism should write a book about Mary and how Protestants should look with adula tion upon her. Max Thurian, a Euro pean theologian, has produced such a volume called Mary, Mother of AU Christians. He writes that Mary should not be “ a cause of division” among Christians. The tendency to discount Mary’s importance and even to speak against her role, Dr. Thu rian says, is a relatively recent atti tude. Obviously, he forgets that Jesus Himself rebuked Mary for assuming a r o le too important for herself. Besides, the early Church gave Mary no place of special importance. She was one of the members, that’s all. Dr. Thurian feels that Mary played an important part in redemption in that she transmitted the living Word of God to mankind. This is true; she was the mother of the humanity of Jesus and for this she deserves our respect. But she had nothing what ever to do with the fact that God became man besides being the vehicle of the Incarnation. The plan o f the Incarnation was of God — not God plus Mary. Mary herself — were she alive today — would be shocked to see how she has been exalted and glorified. She thought of herself only as a handmaid of the Lord—nothing more. Particularly disturbing to bibli cally-oriented Protestants is the syl logistic concept of Mary as mother of God. It runs this way: “ Mary was the mother o f Jesus. Jesus was God. Mary was the mother of God.” But this is extremely faulty logic in that it fails to take into cognizance one very important factor: Jesus was God, but He was also Man! He had a two-fold nature. Mary had nothing to do with -the birth of God — only God’s humanity. God never was born. He eternally existed. Yet, Mary is eulogized out of all proportion with rosaries, novenas, intercessions and prayers. If the present trend continues, we may fully expect shortly a book by an ecumenical Protestant on why Protestants should accept the mass . . . the confessional . . . prayers for the dead and all the other unbiblical camouflage of Rome. In the book of Revelation, Chapter 17, there is a church dominated by a politically- shrewd Catholicism with a decadent Protestantism as a mere pawn. g . a such a way as to virtually agree with the Catholic position. There are those, within Protes tantism, who are determined at all costs to merge Protestantism and Catholicism. The game is known as “ the reunion of the Church.” To do this, obviously, there will have to be some serious compromise. Either Protestants will have to relinquish some of their basic Biblical beliefs or the Roman Catholic church will have to repudiate some of its claims. I’m sure you know who will do the re linquishing — and it won’t be Rome. Besides, many o f the Protestant ecu menical enthusiasts have long since questioned or discarded many of the significant beliefs which might be a hindrance to Church union. I frankly believe it is a tragedy that much o f what the great Reform ers stood for — and it cost them dearly! — some contemporary ecu menically-minded chu rchm en a re willing to pour down the drain just so they might have the glory of a united Church with all the pomp and ceremony which go with that. One of the basic areas of division between Catholics and Protestants has always been the Catholic exalta tion of the Virgin Mary. Catholics have three types of homage or rever ence they offer to holy beings. There is Latvia — the supreme religious worship which belongs to God only, or to images of the sacred heart, the crucifix and relics connected with God or Jesus. Second, there is Dulia —the rever ence and homage given to saints and angels. And then there is the Virgin Mary. She is set apart in a special class and receives Hyper-Dulia — homage to a being holier than any angel or saint, but not as holy as God. Theoretically, these distinctions exist; actually, in the mind of the ordinary Catholic layman, they do not. Mary is worshipped as God’s mother. Indeed, some books and writ ings of Roman Catholic authors en courage this exceptional adoration of Mary. Protestants have rebelled against this creature-worship as unbiblical and it has been a serious bone of contention betw een Catholics and Protestants for centuries. Now, of course, since we’re supposed to “come home to Rome” as good “ separated • • has strong Christian and Biblical emphases. • • has thorough education and sound scholarship. • • has location on beautiful seventy-five acre campus in sunny Southern California. • • has intercollegiate athletic program plus full inter-mural sports program. • • has an active membership in the Pacific South west Collegiate Forensic Association. • • has kept education cost at a minimum. • • has scholarships available. • • has experienced steady growth and enrollment.. BIOLA COLLEGE IS READY TO SERVE YOU! f o r raiolog. irrito the Heginlrar . . . 13800 B IO L A A V E N U E LA M IR A D A • CAL IFORN IA $1600 CONTEST for WfMTZftS OF UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS. Send for contest rules and free Brochure on pub lishing your book. Dept. K g Pageant Press, 101 Fifth Avenue, New York 3 LET CHARLES H. SPURGEON GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE BIBLE the gist of the entire Bible is contained between the covers of this book . . . SPURGEON'S M O R N IN G A N D E V E N IN G D E V O T IO N S F ROM TH E B IBLE edited by Charles H. Spurgeon This outstanding new publication contains selected passages from the Word of God, with running com ments by Charles H. Spurgeon. The emphasis in this volume is on Scripture, with comments interspersed where questions are apt to arise, or where desirable application comes natural. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions from tho Bible will be a welcomed addition to the library of every Christian home. A BAKER BOOK HOUSE PUBLICATION Order From BIOLA BOOK ROOM 560 So. Hope St. o Los Angeles, Calif. 90017 34 THE KING'S BUSINESS
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