A good day...

...for a Monday. (^_^)

A good friend of mine talked to me today about Mary. I think we had spoken before about the topic of Saints, Pope, and Catholisism. He had been given a reminder medalion of Mary from his church to carry with him. He had grabbed an extra and taken it with him for me or at least it ended up with me. I appreciated the thought as I love little reminders like my serenity coin and crosses. On the other hand I must say that it was a touchy situation for me. I understand that many things have branched off from Christs life. Many styles of the faith so-to-speak. Technically, I am a member of the Methodist church though I avoid attaching a denomination to myself while my friend is Catholic.

It was touchy because he asked what I felt about Saint Mary and consequently the Catholic Churches views on saints. (We had this conversation a while back but I don't think he remembered it.) Apparently, he has been hounded by a person who says that Catholics worship Mary if not all the "saints" and that they are not Christian because of this (among other things most likely). Whether I agree or not I an not pleased to hear that people are out there all the time spouting off and laying down judgements on others over ignorance. He of course disagrees with her and is much more willing to accept the grey between the different "styles". More so than I, I think.

Personaly, I have heard the argument this woman makes so many times but I don't think it's true. Most Catholics do not worship Mary or the Saints and in that I do get behind my friend. They are asking for help from her because they think she is an intermediary between Christ and them. Someone who is better than they or capable of helping and guiding. On the other hand I do not agree with the Catholic Churches views of Sainthood or the concept of praying to someone other than Christ regardless of the request, so on that I cannot get behind him.

Sainthood in the Catholic churches view was not ordained by God throughout scripture, not entirely anyway. Yes, saints are real. Infact they are us, those who believe and follow. By no means however are we to go to someone other than Christ. If this were so we would have it in scritpure. We are to go to Christ as the original Christians did, following Christs example and his own words...not necessarily what the leaders of the church say. To me saints are those who truly believed and consequently lived like they believed whether it was recorded for us or not. Many of whom are good examples of a life primarily focused on God, but none are better than human. None have been given authority to mediate after they passed away and none are worthy of his place to hear our needs and praise. By praying to a man or woman we are attempting to give them more authority and power than they actually have. We are also disobeying simple scriptural commands. Sure the church says its ok, but is that enough reason to do it? What does the scripture say about it and what does He really say to you when He speaks to your heart about it.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about it more (then and now) because their is Sooo much more to it, but I can't open that bag of worms without going to the rest of them. Things like Papal Infalibility and many other decisions or man made traditions the Catholic church (and many of the other churches) had created for itself. These things are the tip of the iceburg to me. So, since I didn't want to let it get ugly and I know not everyone is comfortable or able to talk about these differences in "styles" it seemed the better idea to listen and not take a side this time. Perhaps more will come of it in the future.