In sacramental churches, such as the Roman Catholic and Orthodox, people pray to God the Father through Jesus (as Christ taught us), but they have other mediators whom they pray to, or through, such as Jesus’ mother Mary and certain “saints” (believers in Christ whom their church declared to have led a very holy life, and they thus now reside in heaven).
Scripture is clear that Jesus is the sole mediator between God the Father and us. It is also clear that the priesthood of all believers is in effect, so we have no need of an office of a priest.
It is idolatry to pray to or through anyone else besides Christ.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
It is improper and unbiblical to offer prayer to a mere creature. Prayer, praise, and worship should only be directed to God.
Some Catholics consecrate themselves to Mary’s “immaculate heart”. This is sheer idolatry. Mary does not possess an “immaculate heart”, she was sinful and in need of her Son to save her, same as all of God’s children.
Oftentimes Catholic churches will have prayers to Mary in the liturgy, and petitions to her asking Mary to save them. This is blasphemy!
Catholics and Orthodox offer to Mary what they call “hyper-veneration”. This is veneration on steroids. They claim they do not worship Mary, yet their theology tells the true story. Pilgrims travel from across the globe to various Marian sites, such as where alleged apparitions of her took place. They prostrate themselves before statues of Mary, and often cry hysterically. They kiss icons of Mary. This is all utter idolatry!
Mary has the power to hear millions of prayers to her simultaneously, according to Catholic and Orthodox theology. This power is divine and there is no way a mere creature, even one in heaven, could perform such a task.
I noticed that Catholics and Orthodox members online will become enraged if you challenge any of the various Marian beliefs, such as her being immaculate (without sin), or being an Ever Virgin. They don’t respond with the same degree of outrage and anger when Christ is being attacked. It is very telling.
In my learned opinion, based on over 25 years of observations, the anecdotal evidence that Mary is worshipped, by the Catholics and Orthodox, is very strong. Such a pity. They need to trust in Christ alone.
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15
Because of Christ alone, we’re able to stand before A Holy and Righteous God clothed in the righteousness of Christ. At Calvary, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness vis a vis penal substitutionary atonement. Our sins were imputed to Christ, and His righteousness was imputed to us. Through His mediation is the sole means of salvation.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Galatians 3:20
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 8:6
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