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When Elizabeth greeted Mary -
42 ...she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?..." - Luke 1:42-43 (RSVCE)
Why don't Evangelical Protestants treat Mary with at least this much reverence?
Born-again protestant Christians are not "against" Mary of Nazareth. Every one of them accepts Mary as the Mother of Jesus, and while few would use the phrase, they have no issue with the concept of Mary as the Mother of God.
That said, all but a few protestants, including nearly all who would self-identify as "born-again" reject most of the teachings about Mary that have been defined over the years, mostly by the Roman Catholic Church, as being at best, unnecessary for salvation, since for the most part, most Protestants agree that (as Article VI of the Articles of Religion of the Church of England states):
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of Faith, or be though requisite or necessary to salvation.
For protestants, principle rules out such teachings of the Roman Catholic church as the immaculate conception, the assumption, the notion of Mary as the mediatrix of all graces, and most Marian apparitions. Further, some of the teachings about Mary that are firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, like the annunciation, are not widely observed by many protestants, because they are not perceived to be of as much value in protestant theology.
Protestants regard Mary as an honored servant of God. Generally they think the Roman and Orthodox churches are somewhat excessive with doctrines which are not found in the Bible and which place Mary above the status of a righteous person who nevertheless had faults. My apologies for those who are argumentative about it.
Mary is a blessed woman who was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus' physical body during the incarnation. Jesus himself is uncreated and is fully God; clearly Mary only became His mother when He came to Earth as a child. Many Protestants suspect Catholics of thinking Mary was somehow Jesus' mother even before her own birth. Protestants generally believe Mary's body was formed in her mother's womb and her spirit given by God at that time, like all other humans.
Mary herself was subject to the effects of Adam's fall from grace. Her own faith led her to redemption, just as the faith of Abraham and other saints did. Ultimately her redemption depended on Jesus' sacrifice, just the same as all of us.
The song, Mary Did You Know expresses a typical protestant view of and appreciation for Mary.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.
Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
We don't actually hate Mother Mary nor against her. It is the adoration and veneration of Mary that we are against. We simply see Mary as a woman of faith and obedience.
So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" (Genesis 18:12, NIV)
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." (Luke 1:18, NIV)
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38, NIV)
Sarah simply laughed when God told Abram that he will have a son. Zechariah was doubtful when Gabriel told him that his old wife will bear him a son. Unlike the others, Mary did not doubt God and was obedient to God's will. Mary was ready to face all the troubles that she will face by getting pregnant without a husband. She simply submitted herself to the will of God and said "I am the Lord's servant".
There are many reasons why we are against the veneration of Mary. We see Mary as more of a human figure than a divine one, as these verses attest:
Now, if you tell me to pray to Mary, I will ridicule you. If you give me the image(showing only Mary with a halo over her head) or an idol of Mary, I will throw it away. Because, all I need is Jesus, and only Jesus.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NIV)
I hope now you understand why many Non-Catholics appear to be against Mother Mary.
In the New Testament there are two passages in particular that at least suggest that Jesus wasn't in favor of the impulse towards veneration of his mother that took place among his followers, even during his earthly existence.
Luke 8:19-21 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
Luke 11:27-28 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
"Evangelical Protestants" reject the Catholic approach to venerating Mary, because much of that approach, including defining the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, Mary's role as co-redemptrix, mediatrix of all graces, and the large number of claimed apparitions, both those officially recognized by the Church, and those not, as being at best, unnecessary for salvation, and at worst, a superstitious human invention. Most Protestants agree that (as Article VI of the Articles of Religion of the Church of England states):
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of Faith, or be though requisite or necessary to salvation.
I've never seen a Catholic reciting the Hail Mary, who 'exclaimed with a loud cry" the quotation from St. John the Baptist's mother that it contains, that is, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Does this mean that Catholics do not treat the Mother of God with the same degree of reverence that Elizabeth did?
The wording of the question (at least) implies that Evangelical protestants treat Mary with insufficient reverence. This raises some questions. First, what is this appropriate amount of reverence to show Mary? Second, what is the evidence upon which this charge is based?
When Thomas responded to Jesus' declaration to his followers that they knew the way he was going, by saying,
"Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way" [John 14:5]
When Jesus responded to Thomas, he said,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. [John 14:6]
He didn't say anything about his mother.
Further, I suspect most Protestants would consider these three passages of scripture, when considering what amount of reverence of the Mother of God is appropriate:
How is it you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? [Luke 2:49]
O woman, what have you to do with me? [John 2:4b];
and
"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." [Matthew 12:48b-50]
Now that the question has been rephrased, I think I have the answer:
42 ...she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?..." - Luke 1:42-43 (RSVCE)
Why don't Evangelical Protestants treat Mary with at least this much reverence?
Because Jesus chided a woman who used just about those exact words that Mary erroneously anticipated "All generations" would use for her (Luke 1:48 "henceforth all generations will call me blessed"), in Luke 11:27-28
27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27-28 RSV CE)
Who would dare prattle on about Mary being blessed after such a rebuke? Its pretty discouraging. Catholics often claim that nothing pleases Jesus more than to hear his mother praised and put up on a pedastool, even above himself(!), and yet here, he seems pretty angry at a woman doing exactly that.
Jesus himself did not venerate his mother:
Matthew 12:46-50
46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
God doesn't hold respect for titles or persons.
