The Real Mary?
Commentary by Roger Oakland
Dr. Scot McKnight, a spokesperson for the Emerging Church Movement (conversation), has written an interesting book with the title The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus. As the titled indicates, the book suggests that the time has come for Evangelical Christians to reconsider a perspective on the mother of Jesus that for centuries has been neglected. On the back cover, a promotional statement that was used as an endorsement, further explains the contents of the book.
The silenced Mary of Protestantism who only shows up quietly at Christmas needs to be dismissed as unhistorical. It is time for a Mary upgrade in the Evangelical world. [1]
A second endorsement on the back cover by Nancy Ortberg, a former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church located in South Barrington, Illinois, states:
Scot McKnight peels back the layers of controversy to reveal this compelling woman, in whom God found such great favor.” [2]
Lynne Hybels, wife of Bill Hybels who is pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, also endorsed the book by saying:
Mary emerges from the pages of Scot McKnight’s book as a woman with spiritual depth to believe an angel’s bizarre message and the boldness to call for justice in an oppressive, unjust world. Like us, Mary didn’t have Jesus all figured out. But she grappled with reality, trusted God, and remained faithful to his call on her life. That both challenges me and gives me hope. [3]
A book could be written discussing quotes from Scot McKnight’s book on The Real Mary, however, for now a few statements will suffice. As the endorsement on the back cover by Ben Witherington points out, the “real Mary” whom McKnight is writing about, is the historical Roman Catholic Mary who is endowed with supernatural characteristics the Bible is silent about, and a “Mary” who is no longer being protested by Protestants.
The book suggests that Protestants have neglected this historical Roman Catholic Mary and would do well to reconsider their ways and become enlightened with these important insights that Roman Catholics have always embraced. In a chapter titled “Protestants, Roman Catholics and Mary: Woman of Controversy,” McKnight describes how old walls are being torn down.
There is what I call a growing “Mariaphilia”—a growing love of Mary by Protestants. No one reveals this trend more than Tim Perry, professor of theology of Providence College, a Christian College in Canada. In his book, Mary for Evangelicals, Tim presents what can only be called an evangelical “theology of Mary.” His book illustrates that for many the Cold War between Catholics and Protestants over Mary has come to an end. And agreement is beginning to extend well beyond the teachings about the virginal conception. [4]
As one final example to show how the Roman Catholic “Mary” is rapidly becoming the “Real Mary” being embraced by the Emerging Church generation, McKnight states:
What happened to Mary after Acts 1: 14? Did she disappear? According to some Bible scholars, and this view often surprises evangelical Christians, Mary does appear one more time in the New Testament… in the twelfth chapter of Revelation. Here’s the text, and I have italicized the expressions that lead some theologians to think that Mary is the woman of Revelation 12. Because I have seen the surprise on some Protestant’s faces when I have brought this to their attention, I suggest we look carefully at these verses from Revelation… [5]
As McKnight has described, the Reformation view of Mary is being reversed. Every day, she plays an ever-increasing role as the bridge to Rome is constructed as the New Reformation unfolds.
Jude on the Emerging Church
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the Bible. While there is a growing popular view among professing Christians that the Book of Revelation describes historic events that have already occurred (Preterism), I believe that the prophecies the Book of Revelation contains are soon to be fulfilled. The language that John used to describe the supernatural vision given to him by God, foretells a judgment that lies just around the corner that can be fully understood in light of the current events that are unfolding.
Further, remember the pattern of Scripture—when man chooses apostasy rather than being obedient to God, God warns and then brings judgment. It can be documented that apostasy is underway today on a global scale. Will God change His mind and ignore it? Not according to His past record.
Prophecy, like history, has a way of repeating. Events foretold by the biblical Old Testament prophets often had a twofold fulfillment—a near or partial fulfillment in the times in which they lived and then also a final fulfillment that occurred or will yet occur at another time in history.
The small book of Jude was written as a wake-up call to the early church. The apostasy Jude was addressing which was underway then, only got worse. Jude was appealing to the church to “earnestly contend for the faith.” This was the faith that was “once and for all delivered” to the saints. No additions and no deletions were allowed.
It was also evident that Jude was urgently calling for action. Sitting on the sidelines was not permitted. As Jesus said, if you were not for Him you were against Him. Standing up for the faith is not an option—it is obligatory.
As we examine the language Jude used to wake up and warn the early church, we are going to see some incredible parallels with regard to what is happening right now world wide. While Jude was writing to the New Testament early church, his words seem most appropriate at this time in church history. He wrote:
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [6]
Apparently “certain men” had “crept in unawares” and actually had become enemies of the simple gospel. Rather than being messengers of the gospel, these imposters had become stealth deceivers who needed to be exposed before more innocent followers of Jesus were led astray. What had happened was the very thing that Paul had previously warned the church about at Corinth when he had written to them and stated:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. [7]
Paul warned the church at Corinth about one of Satan’s most effective plans to deceive the brethren. Further, in the Book of Acts, chapter 20, Paul warned what would occur after he had departed the scene. He wrote:
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [8]
Paul saw Satan’s plan clearly and warned what was coming. Jude saw it happening in his day. These warnings which are included in the inspired Word of God are timeless and are for the church right now.
What would Paul and Jude write to the church if they were here today? Would their message have changed in any way? Would they be considered too critical, negative, unkind, and old fashioned?
Let the Book of Jude be a wake-up call for us today!
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[1] Scot McKnight, The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus, Paraclete Press, Brewster, MA, backcover endorsement by Ben Witherington.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid., p. 116.
[5] Ibid., p. 118.
[6] Jude 3-4
[7] 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
[8] Acts 20:9-30
