The veneration of Mary is a practice very popular within Roman Catholicism. Indeed, the veneration of Mary is one of the central tenets of Catholicism worldwide and is even more strongly held by non-American Catholics. "What do you think about Mary?" was the question asked by many Lithuanians during my preaching visits to that country following the end of Soviet domination over Lithuania. Before the Communist takeover made Lithuania an officially atheistic nation, the country had been largely Roman Catholic. During the time of Soviet domination, officials of the Roman Catholic Church made compromises with the government allowing it to join the Russian Orthodox Church as the only churches free to operate in Lithuania. When the Soviet Union broke up, the Lithuanian people were free for the first time in over 50 years to openly investigate other religious teachings. Almost all of them had been taught of the Catholic traditions of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In fact, many credited the mystical blessings of Mary as the reason for their newly found freedom. This made the discussion of Mary an emotional issue for many who asked about it. A similar emotional attachment to venerating Mary exists in Catholicism world-wide.
Since our purpose is always to teach the Bible without addition or subtraction, let us simply examine what the Bible says about Mary and notice that the Bible passages stand in clear contrast to some human traditions regarding this subject. Having noted what the Bible teaches on the subject, the Bible believer will put his trust and action in line with that taught by God in the Scripture. After all, the word of God commands, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). Therefore, let us allow God's word to separate truth from tradition about Mary.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:31-33).
The Scripture records the virgin's response to this amazing news. "Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God'" (Luke 1:34-35). The virgin conception of Jesus within Mary is also affirmed in the gospel of Matthew in these words:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18).
When the betrothed husband Joseph thought that she had conceived through sin, an angel told him, "That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (v. 20). This fulfilled the prophecy that "the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son" (Isa. 7:14).
And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him (Mark 6:2-3).
Several other passages in the New Testament speak of the mother and "brethren" of Jesus. In Matthew 13:55-56, the same four brothers mentioned in Mark as well as "sisters" are associated with Mary. Matthew 12:46-47 and John 2:12 both mention Jesus' "brethren" in connection with Mary. John 7:3-5 notes that those "brethren" were not believers in Jesus at first. Acts 1:14 speaks of those gathered with "Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." Thus, one of the chief teachings of Catholicism concerning Mary is seen to be false according to God's word, but that is not all.
Regarding who is to be called our "Advocate," the Bible says, "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 Jn. 2:1). The Bible never calls Mary an "Advocate."
Regarding who is our "Mediator," the Bible says very clearly, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). That leaves no room for Mary as a mediator in any sense, for the Bible says there is only one.
Regarding the claims of Mary's sinlessness, the Bible plainly states, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Only Jesus is said to have been without sin (Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22). The belief that Mary was without sin does not come from the Bible, but from human tradition.