Jesus?
by James Issa
contrast to what the Bible teaches about her. As a former Roman Catholic, I compared the
scriptures side-by-side with what the Catholic Teachings Taught and noted that their teachings
were based on the traditions of men or half-truths from the Bible and other non-canonical books-the
Apocrypha. I like the Bereans, searched the scriptures-Acts 17:11-12.
First of all we must say that the Jewish woman Miriam, her actual name, is not the same woman
being worshipped by the Roman Catholic Church and other religions. Catholics might contend that
they do not worship her, only venerate her. The word "worship" in Hebrew is "sahah" which
includes "bowing down, kneeling, prostrating," all these are offered to Mary. So to say she's
venerated and not worshipped is not true as by these actions, they are worshipping her. The Greek
word is "proskuneo" which means to "kiss, like a dog, licking his master's hand, to fawn or crouch
to reverence to, adore, to show homage." As a former Catholic, I remember the several times that I
kissed "Mary"'s feet. In fact in most famous "Mary" statutes feet, the feet has been kissed to the
extent that it has "worn out." There's no such statute of Jesus. There's no such devotion to Jesus.
"Let God be True and Every man a Liar." Romans 3:4. Mary is highly worshipped in the Catholic
Church and in homes. There's no statue of Jesus but in countless homes throughout Chicagoland,
there are statutes of "Mary" everywhere with her hand outstretched. The last Pope had the letter
"M" as part of his coat-of-arms and his motto was "Totus Tuus" "All Yours." To "Mary." Catholics
say she intercedes for us before Jesus. Again this is contrary to scripture. 1st Timothy 2:5, says
"there's only ONE MEDIATOR between GOD AND MAN, the MAN, CHRIST JESUS." Hebrews
7:25, says JESUS "FOREVER LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US." See Romans 8:34. In
1st John 2:1, it's said that we have an "Advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The
word "advocate" is the same word used for a lawyer. The Greek word is "parakletos" which means
"one called to one's side, especially to aid. Jesus is our lawyer, why go through a third party, based
on man's doctrine. Jesus informed the Pharisees that for the sake of their traditions, they have made
void THE WORD OF GOD. This is what Catholics have done-Matthew 15:6. Again Hebrews 3:1
says Jesus is the "High Priest of our confession." That is when we pray, he presents it before God,
just as the High Priest, presented the sacrifices before God in the Temple. The Bible says in Psalm
115:17, that the dead do not praise God and that after death is judgment-Hebrews 9:27. Mary is
dead, and cannot speak. It is only Jesus who lives forever-Revelations 1:18.
