Evangelicals, Born Againers, and other Protestants?

Interesting. At least one answerer may have thought you have a "problem with the meaning of the word blessed"- but after reading so many of your Q&A, it's clear to me you have no such problem & are actually quite well versed. Thanks for the homily by Fr. McGuire.. Bookmarked!

I'm not a member of the denominations you specified, but will answer your question, too- if that's OK.

In Luke 11:27-28 & other verses some folks use against honoring Mary, Christ shows her no disrespect, nor would He.. ever. Violating the Commandment to honor thy father & mother is sinful!

Jesus wants everyone (including the woman) to know that the grace which binds us all together in His Body exceeds physicality. He's not ditching Mom! Basically, He's telling the woman she can receive, carry & keep God's living word- To be blessed, she doesn't have to be the very one who physically carried, birthed, suckled & raised Him.

Christ already knows, as we do, that Mary is full of grace & that all generations shall call her blessed (Luke 1:28, 42, 48). Here, Christ is offering grace to all who know, love & serve the Lord, those who hear His word & keep it.

Another misunderstanding some folks have of Luke 11:27-28 is the meaning of "rather." Like the rest of that verse, they might misinterpret it to mean Christ forbade the honoring (hyperdulia) of Mary. Some reach so far as to say she is not blessed, isn't even His mother & that He isn't God. It stems from a heresy debunked long ago. These days, it's a combination of old heresy mixed with the new.

The word "rather" used in Luke 11:28 is one translation of the Greek term "menoun." Menoun can sometimes mean (our modern day version of) "rather" but is also frequently used as an affirmative, like "Indeed!" "In addition.." & "moreover." Menoun is used quite often as an absolute to summarize previously known facts or events- i.e. "So then..."

To sum it up, I believe Jesus bestowed a great grace.. and expanded Mary's motherhood, as opposed to repudiating it.

*edit*

Just a personal thought.-

Jesus bestowed grace in Luke 11:27-28. Considering the above, perhaps the woman went on in that grace to love & serve the Lord, but also very aware that she should avoid envy- of Christ's mother, or anyone else. ;-)

Great question!

Brother,

Let John help you in your Apologetic journey, if he can. His wisdom has helped me.

http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/home.php

Go to the free audio downloads and listen to the speech by the Southern Baptist Preacher who became a Catholic. Quite revealing and motivational. God be with you.

your problem is with the meaning of the word blessed. these arguments wont matter in heaven, only Jesus will

I dont think I need to worry that I worshipped Jesus too much, but I might worry if I thought others were worthy of worship besides God. I would not want to explain that my God is the same to me as other people in Scripture. you will have a hard time supporting your reason for worshiping anything else but God himself if you use the Bible. if you use tradition and religion its easy, but if you use Gods word, it is impossible

Grace. What's to misunderstand?

Its SELF-EXPLAINITORY.......everything else is some man made interpretation ..............(yours for example)

Didnt read and Dont need your link to Know the TRUTH.........maybe YOU should READ the Real Bible and stop accepting mans traditions , customs and doctrines which as Jesus said, Makes Gods Commands of no affect !!!!

WAKE UP before its to late

My wish and prayer is that you would do as so many ex-catholics have done over the years, that is, seek the truth of God's Will for mankind that is contained soley in His Word the Bible. If you will, God will show you in His Word ( the 66 books ) that not only is the catholic church and it's teachings in direct opposition to what Jesus said for us to do, but you will find that the Good news ( Gospel of Jesus Christ ) that He brought to us is that you can be reconciled to God and have a personal one on one relationship with Him both here and now as well as all eternity through His only begotten Son Jesus the Righteous ! He also will give you His Holy Spirit to abide in you to teach you and to guide you and to empower you to live a life pleasing to Him being conformed into the image and likeness of His Son Jesus and also to Comfort you in times of sorrow. He also helps us to pray according to the Will of God, What a Gift ! When you receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior according to the Scriptures and become a partaker of His Holy Spirit, you then will realize that not only does the Bible forbid us to call on or invoke anyone to pray or intercede for us that has past on from this life to be with the Lord, but is totally unnecessary and ridiculous if you think about it. All the scriptures that the catholic church use to say that you can call on angels or Mary or Christians that are in heaven to make intercession for us, are actually referring to the saints or believers, that is followers of Jesus Christ while living here on the earth to pray for one another or intercede for one another. The Bible, God's Word would not nor does it ever contradict itself and plainely states not to ever call on or pray to anyone or thing other than God Himself through His Son Jesus and Him Only ! Seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened to You ! Seek Him while He may be found, not Mary or angels nor christians (saints) that are already with the Lord . The Good News is all about God's Desire to have a personal one on one relationship with you right now as well as for all eternity through the Only Way that is possible, that is through His Only Son Jesus the Messiah ! Call on Him Now and receive His forgiveness and Redemption to God Almighty and His Holy Spirit of Promise that only He can provide and then walk with Him the rest of your days of life here on this earth in newness of life in Him, walking as He did here on this earth fulfilling His Mission !

Johnnyde, you are right I hadn't read your profile but that doesn't change what I wrote , in fact after reading it I see that you were searching in all the wrong places , that is for a religion of some sort. It was not for a new religion that God sent His Son Jesus to establish, it was for reconciliation of mankind back to Him for both a Daily relationship/fellowship with Him as well as an eternal one, not just when you take Communion. Jesus said : As often as you assemble together, do this in rememberence of Me! The Communion service sole purpose is to reflect on Him and His Redemptive Work, not so that you can have fellowship with Him when you drink the cup and eat the bread. Read the Bible. As I said before, study your Bible alone and you will see the truth. You can have fellowship with Him each and every day all the day long ! I do have a very hard time believing that when you say I've been there done that, means that you have read the New Testament itself and by itself and then returned to the catholic church. Any and every person that has ever truly sought the truth of God's Will for them that is contained in the New Testament alone, has found it and has done one of two things with it ! That is accepted it as God's Truth or has rejected it as God's truth and makes a willfull decision to believe the Lie instead. Such as the catholic churches doctrines and practices. And just as it is written: when they reject the Truth that is written in the Scriptures alone , God sends a powerful delusion to them that they can only believe the lie ! Beware Catholics and all those who refuse the truth of the Bible alone. Seek the relationship with God that He desires to have with you and has provided the way to have that through His Son Jesus and Him Alone! IN RE. to your lastest response: I'm sorry that you have rejected what God's Word says and have made a willfull choice to believe the traditions and doctrines of men rather than His Truth that is contained in the 66 books of the Bible. I will not say anymore than I've said, as that would be argueing and the Lord says that His servants should not be argumentative!