The Ave
Maria (Latin for “Hail Mary”) is a traditional Catholic prayer asking for
the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and forms the basis of the Rosary
and the Angelus prayers. It also serves as a key exhibit of a core gripe
Evangelicals have against Catholicism: idolatry.
Evangelicals insist that the Catholic
veneration of Mary is dangerously close to worship – which the Bible clearly
speaks against.
But while this accusation is not necessarily
true (though it’d still be naïve of us to assume some have not crossed that idolatry
line), one wonders how guiltless we evangelicals ourselves are of this act of excessive-honour-turned-worship.
Our Lord says in Mat 7:3-5 “Why behold you the speck that is in your brother's eye, but consider
not the beam that is in your own eye?... first cast out the beam out of your
own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the speck out of your
brother's eye.”
The Bible says without Faith (translated from PISTIS in the Greek) it’s impossible to
please God (Heb 11:6). So it is understandable the amount of prominence faith plays
in our theology as Evangelicals and Pentecostals. But unfortunately, sometimes
we get overboard with the esteem to the point that we have sometimes even
placed God under Faith.
The key to proper theology is always balance. Let’s
stay in the middle and not push things, as Paul says, “above that which is
written” (1Co 4:6); regardless of the doctrine. Whether it be holiness, grace,
prosperity, healing… or Faith.
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN
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