Question: What is wrong with praying to Mary?

   Answer: While the scriptures do not teach "immaculate conception," Mary, the mother of Jesus, "found favor with God" (Lk. 1: 30). Elisabeth said of Mary: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Lk. 1: 42). There is no justification for doubting the general goodness of Mary.

    We are taught to pray to the Father. The scriptures are explicit in the matter of prayer. Jesus taught: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven..." (Matt. 6: 9-15). Jesus is the advocate for the Christian (I Jn. 2: 1). He is also said to be the mediator between God and man (I Tim. 2: 5). The Holy Spirit's role in prayer is making "intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26).

    We are not to think above what is written. Beloved, the scriptures constitute our belief system (2 Tim. 3: 16, 17). Moreover, we are warned not to think above what is written (I Cor. 4: 6, notice "of men" in the King James has been supplied). The scriptures teach prayer is addressed to the Father, nothing is taught about prayer to Mary. Furthermore, Paul emphasized there is "one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2: 5).

    Of course, there are numerous arguments for praying to Mary. "Mary can exert special influence on her Son, Jesus, who can influence the Father," we are told. Then there is the numbers argument, "The millions who pray to Mary cannot be wrong." The emotional argument is, "I just feel it is permissible to pray to Mary."

    Beloved, when we lay aside all human reasoning and argumentation and just allow the scriptures to speak, there is not a particle of authority for praying to Mary. Hence, praying to Mary is an unauthorized act (2 Jn. 9-11).