A dear (but misguided) relative of mine shared a post today about “Our Lady of Fatima,” and so I would like to share my response to him here:
This may all seem very wholesome to many at first glance, but we can know that the message at Fatima was not from God based on its fruits—it inspires honor for and devotion to Mary and reliance on her rather than Jesus. There is ONE mediator between God and man, Jesus. (1Tim. 2:5-6, Eph. 1:19-23, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:15-23) When He died, the veil in the temple that separated us from the Most Holy Place was torn so that we could approach God the Father through His Son Jesus without any other go-between, including Mary, angels or those declared by the Roman Catholic Church to be “saints.” (Heb. 10, Matt. 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45) Jesus knew that people would elevate Mary in their minds, so He clarified that her position is not actually higher than that of other believers. (Luke 11:27-28, Matt. 12:46-50)
Here is an article that may help you to understand the problems with venerating Mary or anyone other than God Himself (and since God is ONE, Jesus and the Holy Spirit). https://www.gotquestions.org/lady-fatima.html
The word “blessed” in the Bible doesn’t mean what it does in the dictionary—that is man’s definition based on tradition. It simply means “speak well of,” not ascribe honor that belongs ONLY to God. (Psa. 115:1, Isa. 42:8) You can read what the original Greek meant here: http://biblehub.com/greek/2127.htm If anyone bows down to a statue or believes something they can physically hold in their hand has powers that belong only to God, that is idolatry. So is praying to anyone other than God.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:1-14
If we would all read our Bibles for ourselves, then we would be able to recognize counterfeit teachings rather than being misled by partial truths that sound good on the surface until we dig deeper. Sadly, a lot of money is made these days (and throughout history) telling people things that they like hearing (such as other ways to God than Jesus). Other passages of interest are found in 1Tim. 4:1-3, Matt. 23:9, and Mark 7:6-9. The Bible contains ALL we need to know, and Jesus praised His Father for revealing it even to little children. (Matt. 11:25-26)
Jesus paid ALL of the debt for our sin and His “payment” is applied to our account when we believe. We don’t earn or repay it in this life or the next. The good works that we were meant to do as believers are the RESULT of already being saved. They don’t save us—they show that we ARE saved so that the world can see what God is like through His children, who are disciples of Jesus. (Matt. 5:16, John 13:34-35, John 1:12-14, 1 John 3:1, Rom. 8:15, Eph. 2:10, Eph. 5, Phil. 2:14-16, Titus 3, 1Pet. 2:11-17) Our works are actually a product (fruit) of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us who are born again. (Matt. 13:23, Rom. 6:20-23 – sanctification is being made pure, holy and set apart for God, whereas justification is being declared not guilty, Col. 1:9-10, Gal. 5:16-25, Heb. 12:11, John 3:3-8, John 14:15-21, John 15) Whoever doesn’t have His Spirit is not His and will not enter the kingdom of God. (Rom. 8:7-14)
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Colossians 2:8-19
For anyone who would like to learn more about the differences between what the Bible teaches and what the Roman Catholic church practices, I recommend going to YouTube and typing in “Fred Tarsitano.” He was Roman Catholic his whole life until he searched out the Scriptures for himself. He has made many videos explaining the truth, and unlike many others who have done so, he is not rude. His motive is LOVE, as is mine.
My relative’s response was that it was nice of me to reach out, but he felt it was important that we all “respect” one another’s religion. Sadly, that is the attitude of those who don’t really believe that everyone who rejects Jesus will perish. If we truly believe it, then we’ll want everyone to get on the NARROW path to eternal life instead of the broad path to DESTRUCTION. (Matt. 7:13-14) We’ll love them enough to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15-16) Truth is not relative. If we sincerely believe a lie, it is still a lie. If we drink a little poison in our water, it may still kill us. Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1John 2:23, 2John 1:9) He offers the water of life. (John 4:13-14)
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17