IS IT WRONG TO WORSHIP MARY?

Why Worship Mary?

By Ken Blue

^“19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? ²⁰ But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”1 Corinthians 10:19-20.

From where my house is located, I am surrounded on all sides by a variety of trees. I love the seclusion. But, as I look at the trees, I wonder what, other than a devil, could induce a man to cut one down, carved it into the image of a man, bird, or beast? Thereafter, paint it to look lifelike, and then to bow down and worship the works of their hands. Additionally, I have witnessed people bringing fruits, animals, money, and flowers as an offering. I have even seen some shed tears of devotion when presenting their offerings.  Not even the brute beast is so ludicrous.

Idols are made of wood, some of gold, of silver, and of plaster. These cold, lifeless pieces of man’s artwork are as blind, deaf, dead and devoid of any semblance of spiritual life as those who worship them.

Paul says a devil is behind every Idol. Ignorantly, those who worship through idols, are in reality worshiping devils. The end goal of these devils is to keep people in blind ignorance, and perverseness about the one true God, and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to send their souls to hell. It matters not what the name is given to an idol. It is still a piece of blind, deaf, dead material. Also, the devil behind it doesn’t represent any saint, living or dead.

Witness the blindness and ignorance in the land of India, the Philippines, Mexico, China, and most of Asia. However, the Americas aren’t exempt.  Since all idolatry is Devil worship, even if done in ignorance, it cast a dark cloud over those countries. The more Idolatry invades a country, the less the one true God is acknowledged. The Scriptures are clear:

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]the only thing dumber than an idol, is the person who bows, and prays to them.[/pullquote]

• “³ For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. ⁵ They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. ⁶ Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.” Jeremiah 10:3-6.
• “¹³ The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. ¹⁴ He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. ¹⁵  Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. ¹⁶ He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: ¹⁷ And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. ¹⁸ They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. ¹⁹  And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? ²⁰ He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Isaiah 44:13-20.
• “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17.

Notice what Paul calls them. “Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.” 1 Corinthians 12:2. An idol is called “dumb.” Vines says, “voiceless, i.e. mute (by nature or choice); figurative unmeaning: – dumb, without signification.”

Finally, the only thing dumber than an idol, is the person who bows, and prays to them. How smart can you be, when you are told they are dumb, connected with devils, and you will go to hell, if you bow down to them, if you continue to do it?