MarySmudge

Mary Appearances in Smudges and the Problem of Idolatry

This is just a very quick video so I can post a CNN clip, which ironically has no audio commentary on it, of a window smudge. That's what it is, it's a window smudge, but since it has a vague little outline on it, it's another appearance of Mary.

This kind of idolatry, and that's what it is, there is no other way to describe this. When you find Mary in tortillas and yucca plants, it's idolatry. And I've tried to explain in presentations over the years why Roman Catholics find Mary in water stains and tortillas and under bridges where water is falling down.

And if you think about the classical view of Mary, it's real easy to see how water falling downward forms things like that. But why Roman Catholics see Mary everywhere? You know, you don't find this...

Calvinist Humor and the Difference Between Mary and John Calvin

I'm a good Calvinist, as most of you know, and there are some patterns on the fairing of my motorcycle outside that, with a little bit of creativity, I think I could come up with John Calvin in there.

And next year is the 500th anniversary of his birth. Very significant. But you know what? I don't really expect any Calvinist to be standing around outside my motorcycle with cameras taking pictures of the smudges on my fairing.

Because we're not looking for John Calvin. John Calvin died and has gone to be with the Lord, and we may appreciate his theological insights, may have been very blessed by his writings, but we're not looking for him.

He is not the means by which we have access to God, despite the rather odd statements of some people about us. So why do Roman Catholics see Mary like we're about to see? I think if you consider the Roman Catholic faith, you consider the exaltation of Mary as the mediator with the mediator, that he is the king of justice while Mary is the queen of mercy, you start to see why, once again, theology matters.

False Theology Leading to Idolatry

And false theology leads to idolatry, as you're about to see.

I'll find out.