Why Protestants Should Talk About Mary

     Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been the topic of discussion among the debates between Protestants and Roman Catholics for quite some time. We have seen everything from the debate on the Marian Dogmas to the Theotokos accusations supposedly leading to "idolatry." I think that while Roman Catholics and even the Eastern Orthodox get her wrong at times, they do write a good bit on and teach some beneficial things about Mary that honestly we Protestants need to start talking about more. I will put forth the case that argues for the necessity of discussing Mary more and putting forth her importance in the church.

    The main thing to consider is her status as the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ. She was the key prophecy for the introduction of the Messiah. Even going far back into Genesis when we read the following in Genesis 3:15 (in the NRSVue) regarding God's declaration to the serpent in the garden: "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Irenaeus comments on this passage in Book V, Chapter 21 of Against Heresies where he says "from that time, He who should be born of a woman, [namely] from the Virgin, after the likeness of Adam, was preached as keeping watch for the head of the serpent." He also points to Galatians 3:19 which says "Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator." We should also note in the 4th verse of the next chapter, we read that "when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law." So we see that Jesus' prophecy of coming for salvation depends on Mary.

    With Mary's role highlighted and noted, we should also consider that somebody's view of her may also affect our Christology. For example, this is certainly the case for a heresy that seems to find it's way popping up among the protestants who do not seem to be comfortable with a certain title for Mary. This heresy is known as Nestorianism, which was known for rejecting the notion that Mary is the "Mother of God" or the Theotokos as it is known in the Greek language. This is reflected in people today refusing to call Mary the Mother of God, which seems strange since if Jesus is God, this follows with the logic of identity by saying Jesus is God, therefore Mary is the Mother of God. However, the rejection of this is because Nestorians essentially affirmed that within Jesus, there are two persons (the divine person and the human person) as opposed to the hypostatic union regarding the two natures. It was because of this, he believes Mary was only the mother of the human person and not the divine, which also lead to the fact that God or the divine part did not suffer for our sins, but rather it was only the human that suffered.

    It's very unfortunate that I have to see this among even some of the greatest bible teachers I have learned from. John MacArthur once said the following: "In fact, Roman Catholics refer to her as Theotokos, God-bearer. They say she gave birth to God and thus is to be elevated and adored. She gave birth to God. That is a terrible misconception. She gave birth to Jesus in his humanity. She did not give birth to God. God was never born." This is just blatantly false and goes contrary to proper biblical Christology regarding the Hypostatic Union where Jesus is both fully God and fully man. One of the twelve Anathemas against Nestorius at Ephesus was as follows: "If anyone will not confess that the Emmanuel is very God, and that therefore the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (Θεοτόκος), inasmuch as in the flesh she bore the Word of God made flesh [as it is written, The Word was made flesh] let him be anathema." I am hoping MacArthur clarifies and repents of the statement, lest he fall into heresy that existed before Roman Catholicism did.

    One subject I might as well get out of the way is the Hail Mary. The Hail Mary is biblical and does not need to be something people get to worried about.  At least, partly it is. What are the words exactly, to those new to this subject? It goes "Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen." The bold letters are the part that I would argue is the biblical part and is what I mostly say instead of asking Mary to pray for us. The first half of the first part of the prayer is found in Luke 1:28 while the second half is in Luke 1:41-42. The second half of the prayer that isn't in bold letters comes from a codified addition to the prayer via the Council of Trent and it's catechism. Why pray this prayer? First, I would argue that it is a meditation that is scriptural and therefore, beneficial to sanctify us. Secondly, I would say that it helps to reflect on the incarnation of our Lord, whom is blessed and divine.

    Furthermore, Martin Luther would seem to advocate for the Hail Mary pre-Trent. We read the following in Luther's Personal Prayer Book: "Our prayer should include the Mother of God... What the Hail Mary says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!" You see that these words are not concerned with prayer but purely with giving praise and honor...We can use the Hail Mary as a meditation in which we recite what grace God has given her. Second, we should add a wish that everyone may know and respect her... He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary." So if the one who helped start the Protestant Reformation and was against Roman Catholic dogmas decided to affirm praying this prayer, then it shows that it is perfectly fine to pray as a Protestant.

    We also must consider the relevance of Mary in the biblical text. In the Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, we read the following on Mary regarding the events she was involved in with the New Testament: "her betrothal to Joseph; the annunciation by the angel that she would be the mother of the Messiah; her visit to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist; the birth of Jesus; the visits of the shepherds and the wise men; the presentation of Jesus in the temple; the flight into Egypt; the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old; the wedding at Cana; an occasion when Mary and Jesus' brothers asked to speak to him while he was speaking to the people; the crucifixion when Jesus commended her to John; and the meeting with the apostles in the upper room after the Ascension." So not only was she there for the beginning of his life, but also the beginning of what came after his death and resurrection. She was there for the beginning of the Church with the event of the conversion of the three thousand.

    Furthermore, there are three major feast days of the apostolic and catholic church over the years related to Mary known as Feast of Mary, The Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ (August 15), The Annunciation (March 25), and The Visitation (May 31). With these days of honor and remembering her, we must consider the lessons noted. We pray collects on these days in reflection of these. On The Feast of Mary, we pray for God to grant "that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of thine eternal kingdom." On the Aunnunciation, we ask for him to "pour thy grace into our hearts; that we who have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought unto the glory of his resurrection." On the Visitation, we pray for him to grant "us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to thy will; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." 

    Mary was not just an average person, but was chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Our Savior was in the womb of Mary and when he was born, he fulfilled prophecies foretold in scripture. This happened to a woman who wasn't a rich princess ruling over a land or some powerful warrior, but a humble woman who eventually not only gave birth to Jesus, but also raised Him during his life on earth for the ministry that was soon to come. We should pray and meditate about Mary so that we can strive to be like her in the faith she had for God and the way of living she lead as a saint in the church of our Lord. May we strive to have her character, as well as the same grace she received by the time we are reunited in heaven with the saints. Amen.