IS MARY A CO-REDEEMER?

By Evan Casey

I was shocked to find an article in the August 25th edition of Newsweek magazine entitled "Hail Mary." The subheading of this article reads, "A growing movement in the Roman Catholic Church wants the people to proclaim a new, controversial dogma: that Mary is a Co-Redeemer." Such a move would dramatically elevate Mary's status beyond what most Christians profess. In the last four years, the pope has received petitions from 157 countries with more than 4,300,000 signatures supporting this proposed dogma. This represents an average of 100,000 signatures a month. Some supporters of this movement are the late Mother Teresa, nearly 500 bishops and 42 cardinals, including John O'Conner of New York. Although Vatican officials have denied that the pope has even considered officially naming Mary Co-Redeemer, this movement illustrates a long tradition of Mary-worship within the Catholic Church.

There are many other beliefs surrounding Mary, such as the Immaculate Conception: the idea that she did not have original sin. Another Catholic tenet holds that Mary was a perpetual virgin, that Mary stayed a virgin even after Jesus was born.

Despite all of man's theories and wishes to the contrary, Mary is not a Co-Redeemer. We find in 1 Tim. 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus." This passage teaches that there is only one mediator, and that person is Jesus Christ.

We also find in 1 Peter 1:18-19, "...Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Peter says that Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus is the one who came to earth and suffered on the cross. Then he died and was resurrected, so that we might be saved. Mary did not do any of these things. Mary is not our Redeemer, nor is she a Co-Redeemer.

Why is it necessary to tamper with God's approved, stated Biblical pattern of salvation? Does it make us feel more important or self-satisfied to "improve" or modify the word of God? In Leviticus 10:1-2, Nadab and Abihu were killed because they changed God's laws and offered strange fire before the Lord. We read in Revelation 22:18-19, "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life..." From these two passages, we learn how dangerous it is to add to God's word.

In conclusion, there is not one passage in Scripture that states that Mary is a Co-Redeemer, nor does she act like one. God has shown in no uncertain terms how wrong it is to go beyond or change God's plan. (From "The Bulletin," A Monthly Publication of the Taylorsville Road church of Christ, Lousivlle, Kentucky, October, 1997).