Faith

Is an NZ Billboard Showing Mary Holding a Positive Pregnancy Test Offensive?

St. Matthews-in-the-City Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, may be spreading a fair share of holiday drama this season with its controversial Christmas billboard. The church, which has a history of posting provocative signs during the holiday season, has put up a billboard that shows Mary holding a positive pregnancy test (yes, that Mary).

St. Matthews in the City Church Erects Billboard With Mary & Pregnancy Test

According to 3News, the church hopes that the billboard will “avoid the sentimental [and] trite” and that it will spark thought and lead to conversation. What’s so odd about this reasoning is the fact that Christmas is all about tradition. The holiday, regardless of how people choose to celebrate it, is a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of the Christian faith.

The new billboard is devoid of any text, and it was purposefully made that way. “We hope to do so with an image and no words. We invite you to wonder what your caption might be,” explains Glynn Cardy, a pastor (“vicar”) at the church. Cardy says that the house of worship wanted people to focus on what it’s like to be a real mother with a real child (it’s not entirely clear how a positive pregnancy test conveys this message — perhaps the look of surprise on Mary’s face?).

The church’s 2009 billboard was arguably more offensive, as it featured an image of Mary and Joseph in bed together. The caption under it read, “Poor Joseph, God was a hard act to follow.”

St. Matthews in the City Church Erects Billboard With Mary & Pregnancy Test

The most recent billboard was placed outside of the church this week and will remain there until Christmas Day.
(H/T: Fark)

Comments (264)

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  • Grace1798
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:18pm

    “He who denies the Son of God denies the Father.” 1 John

    Report Post » Grace1798  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:44pm

      Time for some higher-ups to bring St. Matthews-in-the-City Church back in line. What’s the point of spiritual authority if NO ONE excersizes it?

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • Kathleen
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:10pm

      Trust man to make ordinary that which under God is extra-ordinary.
      Trust man to make ‘cheap’ what is holy.
      I don’t know if the purpose is to lower the standards of the faith, but all it achieves is to make me look at the creators of this ad and think, cheap shot. I makes me realise those same people don’t have any real understanding in their hearts of who God or even Mary are.
      Mary didn’t willingly choose? It was an accident? Mary and the Holy Spirit’s union was the result of lust?
      Do they even know what they are trying to say?

      Report Post »  
    • tketterer
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:11pm

      “Oh my Holy Spirit!”

      Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 6:49pm

      I Find It Very Offensive And That Is Why They Do It

      If they did this to Moslems a Moslem would have the protected right to kill the person who did it and the Federal judiciary would protect them. We now live in a Third Reich style America where Christians are treated like Jews in Germany. We Christians are headed to death camps unless we do something very quickly and get our act together. Christians in other nations like Cambodia, China and Nigeria were killed off and the world applauded.

      Report Post »  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 10:35pm

      I’m not trying to offend Christians, but I think it’s very amusing. If you were a virgin and found out you were pregnant, wouldn’t you have that look on your face? It is a clever ad, although deliberately offensive.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:20am

      @TEAMARCHESON
      I don’t think you actually read the story–this was done by Christians with, and I take them at their word (in fact, my own experience leads me to believe EVERYONE thinks themselves acting towards the good–it is their beliefs about what constitutes this and how to achieve it that can become twisted and distorted), genuinely good intentions to spread what they believe to be a true message of good–not atheist commie fascist liberal progressive Marxist “Moslems.”

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:45am

      “although deliberately offensive.”
      No, no–did you read the article? These are CHRISTIANS who put up these advertisements–CHRISTIANS. Now I know what you’ll say–”well these people CLEARLY aren‘t ’REAL’ Christians because blah blah blah, No True Scotsman…”, but that’s not the point–the point is that THEY think, genuinely it would seem, they are acting in concert with their religion, and with the good. Now whether or not YOU or I think that’s the case is different question entirely. But it cannot be said, objectively, that the INTENTION of the AUTHORS of these advertisements was malevolent inflammatory–you may think that was the CONSEQUENCE of their actions, but they, apparently do not (and I am willing to believe that, as the ads aren’t unreasonably controversial, although admittedly I probably wouldn’t expect to see them coming from an orthodox or especially conservative denomination) seem to have believed the consequences would be (or were) negative, but rather just the opposite.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on December 16, 2011 at 9:42am

      .
      What’s next? Mary going into Planned Parenthood?
      Getting an abortion?
      This is sick stuff.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
  • Scott15sb
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:13pm

    I hope they do as good of a job seeking Jesus and they do attention.

    Report Post » Scott15sb  
    • stephenb.net
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 7:22pm

      Well said.

      Report Post »  
    • fbama
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 7:34pm

      very well said

      Report Post » fbama  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:33pm

      It sends the message that human life is connected with Jesus Christ. it is anti abortion and reminds us that though we don’t know the future-God Himself stands in solidarity with all human life-conceived in the womb and made in God’s image forever.

      Report Post »  
  • Jubarnes87
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:13pm

    At least we didn’t have the pro-choice zealots pushing mary to abort in that day….then we all would have been dam*ed to hell.

    Report Post »  
  • usmc1063
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:11pm

    Yes it is extremely offensive.

    Report Post » usmc1063  
    • Wolf
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:29pm

      You know it‘s going to be offensive to Christians if the atheists aren’t complaining about it.

      Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 2:25am

      Wolf

      You got that one right…. very true…. I may have to use that line….

      Report Post »  
  • TimDenchanter
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:11pm

    … easiest caption ever …
    “Oh My God !!!”

     
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:15pm

      You, sir (or ma’am) just won the internet. I am literally laughing out loud!

       
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:41pm

      This was temporary changed. OMG Obama Must Go!!

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • willbedone
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 5:46pm

      Close to what I thought

      “Jesus”

      Report Post » willbedone  
    • elihu
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 5:57pm

      @Timdenchanter:
      I guess you either are not a Christian, or you are indifferent to Exodus 20 v7.

      Report Post » elihu  
    • TimDenchanter
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 7:50pm

      Catholic … and my brother, a priest, will probably appreciate me reminding everyone who Jesus was.

      Report Post »  
    • TimDenchanter
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 8:02pm

      Anyone not familiar with a double entendre … look it up

      Report Post »  
    • Saamdude27
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 10:32pm

      this is best use of that phrase I’ve heard in a long time :)

      Report Post »  
  • Grace1798
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:10pm

    What if I said that about Mohammad’s girlfriends? Would they be offended?

    Report Post » Grace1798  
    • GODBLESSOURCOUNTRY
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:36pm

      They wouldn’t dare blaspheme Muhammad or Allah in this manner. I suppose Muslims deserve a level of sensitivity that us Christians do not.

      …hey, the folks who did this have to answer for what they did one day as we all do.

      Report Post » GODBLESSOURCOUNTRY  
    • ConservativeCanucklehead
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:03pm

      Yes, I’m sure Muslims would be offended by ANY remark or comment or insinuation not entirely deferential to their founder. But that’s just one more fact that makes Islam sooooo dangerous. It’s the same thing that has made Christians (Catholics AND Protestants) so “bloody” dangerous at times too. Of course, Christians have to twist their scriptures to justify cruelty and intolerance. Whereas Muslims can just go strictly “by the book”.

       
  • Evil_Conservative
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:10pm

    lmao. Funny but very bad.

    Report Post » Evil_Conservative  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:09pm

    My Gods have been depicted as evil monsters for hundreds of years, if I were Christian I wouldn’t give a darn what others think of my faith.

    Report Post »  
    • iahp_mom
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:18pm

      Ok I’ll bite, what is your faith?

      Report Post »  
    • LittleMissPatriot
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:27pm

      There is only ONE God, Jehovah.

      Report Post »  
    • jocko
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:40pm

      Well, since you have gods and not God, then they are satanic as there is only God. Anything that isn’t of Jesus is satanic and the only way for salvation is through Jesus.

      You may dislike those words but those words are your only way to salvation.

      Report Post » jocko  
    • macpappy
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:50pm

      @LittleMissPatriot
      Islam teaches that God, as referenced in the Qur’an, is the only God and the same God worshipped by members of other Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Judaism.

      Are you too saying that this is true?
      If it is true, then you mean to tell me that all this commotion is about a ******* contest between two prophets?

      Seems like God would step in and nip it in the bud, or he just likes to see his sons duke it out.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:10pm

      JOCKO – “Well, since you have gods and not God, then they are satanic as there is only God. Anything that isn’t of Jesus is satanic and the only way for salvation is through Jesus.
      You may dislike those words but those words are your only way to salvation.”

      Notice the militancy in this person’s words. Condemning all who are not conforming to his representation
      of a written word, penned by a man who attempted to write down the word of his God as well as a human can. Your God may be a jealous God (which is meant more as an exlusive rather than the human emotion), but is not hateful toward those of us who acknowledge other dieties. Jesus did not mean for his word to be thrown as an arrow, he did not intend for his Father‘s words to be nullified by man’s pen. True believers within your own path must realize that there are those who claim to be of your God, but are not.
      As any true God would not limit your free will like these socialists do. Find the peace in your God’s enlightenment, which would include defending the peace and free will of each and every human being.

      Report Post »  
    • deeberj
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:13pm

      MacPappy, you said, “@LittleMissPatriot Islam teaches that God, as referenced in the Qur’an, is the only God and the same God worshipped by members of other Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Judaism. Are you too saying that this is true? If it is true, then you mean to tell me that all this commotion is about a ******* contest between two prophets? Seems like God would step in and nip it in the bud, or he just likes to see his sons duke it out.”

      I don’t understand why you present this from the Islam point of view. Like the flow was first were the Jews who followed “the great I am”, then Christians followed their “prophet” Jesus, then Muslims followed the next prophet of God Muhammad. Like Muslims are the most advanced of the three.

      As a Christian I can tell you that Christians certainly do not view Jesus as a prophet. He is the Messiah that the Jewish prophets said would come. Way different than a prophet. Christians certainly do not view Muhammad as a prophet from God and they certainly do not think that Muslims worship the same God they worship.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • macpappy
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:35pm

      @
      you said: As a Christian I can tell you that Christians certainly do not view Jesus as a prophet. He is the Messiah that the Jewish prophets said would come. Way different than a prophet. Christians certainly do not view Muhammad as a prophet from God and they certainly do not think that Muslims worship the same God they worship.

      Thank you for making my point for me. The point was that each religion views it differently. You say Jesus is the Son Of God (caps out of respect), Jews say Jesus was a prophet and teacher, the muslims say Jesus was a Prophet. All three claim the same God, even if they deny the others claim to thier God. It”s very confusing I agree. And please don’t think I was taking the muslim side, just pointing out that they believe in the same deities but differently.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:13pm

      Right. A person’s beliefs are greatly affected by where they were born. They will believe the words of their community fervently. They may even give their entire life for it. Each of the three Abrahamic religions do this, yet call the other two [of the three] “satanic” [or some other type of derision].

      Report Post » DeavonReye  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:29pm

      @Macpappy

      “the muslims say Jesus was a Prophet.”

      Not simply a prophet. Muslims accept Jesus as al-Masih, the Messiah, who was born of the virgin Mary to guide the children of Israel, and was eventually raised by God to Heaven to return at the end of days to battle the Anti-Christ.

      They do not, however, believe he was the Son of God.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 1:03am

      Our world would be better if people didn’t have these silly superstitions.

      Report Post »  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:00am

      MODERATION – “Our world would be better if people didn’t have these silly superstitions.”

      Things would be better if people didn’t proslytize.

      Report Post »  
  • RabidPatriot
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:07pm

    It is intended to be offensive. People with holes in their souls only get joy by trying to make other people angry or miserable. Nothing wounds them more than other people’s happiness.

    Report Post » RabidPatriot  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:11pm

      Perfectly said. Thank You!

      Report Post » paperpushermj  
    • Vickie Dhaene
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:29pm

      Touche’

      Report Post »  
    • thecid100
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 5:50pm

      Thank you. I can’t say it any better.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 1:05am

      You are obviously ignorant to the fact that Atheists can have jobs that are fulfilling and friends and family too that they derive great happiness from.

      Please don’t speak about something that you have ZERO knowledge of.

      Report Post »  
    • dubs-a-loom
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 7:20am

      On the contrary most who believe have lived lives of faithlessness. And from there to where they are now find the fulfillment not from work nor from things but from faith we were/are created to worship Him, nothing you can do on earth will fulfill. Water for your soul. Many people have went and bla bla bla in church and say I just didn’t find anything for me. then there we all these fools believing…The majority don’t believe just like you and your desire is not to believe and you are free to fail yourself and your children and your children s children, passed down from unbelievers of the past. Truth be told very few BELIEVE. Many follow but don’t “believe”. Not because they don’t see the proof but because they would have within them a set of standards that would remove them from mainstream life in America, They would have Joy and would have all they ever needed but have no possessions. Living a life of freedom from things and making the prize not about self but helping others in earnestly seeking the truth. I am a believer I have lived the lie and been in each person I speak of here. I have the key to this belief. but I can’t give it to you, not show it to you. If you are called you will come to the same fountain I have and drink of the water that will forever quench your thirst. In the end the evidence is clear and before you out think yourself. I have never said you are going to hell nor that your works are not good, I’m saying they are for the wro

      Report Post »  
  • goengo
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:04pm

    Your headline asks if the billboard is offensive. Of course it’s offensive!! It’s amazing that a church would intentionally use a disrespectful image of Mary in order to garner attention. The supposed hope that the image will make viewers more sympathetic to unwed mothers seems to me like nonsense, and an excuse for their insensitivity.

    What is wrong with the traditional creche? Or just an image of the baby Jesus since all major religions agree that Jesus was an important person. (They only disagree on whether Jesus is the son of God, a prophet, or a philosopher.) We certainly do NOT need an image of Mary looking upset at the fact that she is pregnant with Jesus!

    Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:14pm

      “We certainly do NOT need an image of Mary looking upset at the fact that she is pregnant with Jesus!”

      I think she looks surprised, but not upset. I think different people will have different interpretations. Those who lean more toward “Mary was a normal mortal girl” will be more sympathetic than those going “Mary was the only pure soul in the entire world and thus should be granted a place of respect second only to Jesus and God.”

      I can definitely understand the idea that a 13-year old girl, engaged but not married and suddenly with child, could understandably be shocked. Even if an angel told her the score!

      Report Post »  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:59pm

    It is easy to shock. Most fools can do that. It is harder to get a lasting message across without stepping in it.

    Report Post »  
  • AOL_REFUGEE
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:56pm

    It’s offensive only by virtue of the level of its stupidity. No words? There are no words to fit something so asinine.

    Report Post » AOL_REFUGEE  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:38pm

      When things got rough -she said yes to God’s will anyway[she did not abort ]. That is the message that makes faith an encounter with our reality.No mockery-just an invitation to authentic response to faith.

      Report Post »  
  • WhiteFang
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:56pm

    We should be reverent toward our God. How He can be so patient with all the irreverent behavior in this world is amazing to me. Even our Lord Jesus has to be so enduring to put up with it all.
    In 2 Samuel 6:7-10, Uzzah was put to death for his irreverent act.
    What will occur when God’s judgment comes to this irreverent world including this ridiculous church?

    Report Post » WhiteFang  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:58pm

      I guess that‘s when we’ll get popped with that big ol’ meteor. God will say: “Humanity is a failed experiment, an evolutionary dead-end. Go the way of the dinosaurs. To h*ll with you”. Maybe the Supreme Intelligence will offer Enlightenment to a different species. The lizards didn’t work. The apes didn’t work. Next will come the accelerated evolution if the insects. And She (They?) have all eternity to play with. Humanity is just the blink of an eye in the cosmic scheme of things.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:55pm

    every minute obama has been “president” has incited and enabled this WORLDWIDE.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • godlovinmom
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:53pm

    Could the picture of mary and joseph be done in poorer taste?…could churches become even more corrupt…guess so.

    Report Post » godlovinmom  
  • DREDGE
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:53pm

    And why do Christians put up with this ****?????

    Report Post »  
    • WhiteFang
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:04pm

      The time is coming soon when our Almighty God will not put up with it any longer.

      Report Post » WhiteFang  
    • okaaay
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:58pm

      What are Christians supposed to do? Become Muslims and have them killed for being infidels?
      Real Chrisitans aren’t like that. There’s a few crazies out there who claim Christianity. But most Christians just shake their heads and with grace move on.

      Report Post »  
    • Solzhenitsin
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:21pm

      Read Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares. The servants offer to get rid of the tares (weeds) but the landowner (who represnts God) says, “No, wait until harvest.” There will always be weeds in the church and God will sort it all out on the judgement day- pulling the weeds out before then could dammage His people. Those who respect His word don’t put on gardening gloves, so to speak, and go after folks like this.

      Report Post »  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 11:08pm

      Well said, Solzhenitsin. After all, they “put up with” those sick creeps from the Westboro Baptist Church, who protest at the funerals of fallen American soldiers. That’s as low as you can go, and those obnoxious weirdos are hiding behind Christianity in an attempt to spread their poison. I’m getting mad just typing about it.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • Top_Down
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:52pm

    Talk about insulting. Here is another attack on Christmas from Comedy central. Pamela Anderson as the Virgin Mary (portrayed as a cheating whore in the video). How low will the left and atheists go: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/dec/anderson_virgin_mary.html .

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA TODAY?

     
  • Eliasim
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:48pm

    Why do I get the feeling God is getting tempted to strike Christ Church with another earthquake?

    Report Post »  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:58pm

      Not sure when the first Chist Church was struck. Enlighten me.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • Carol in Indy
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:12pm

      Al J Zira :
      This is what the OP was speaking of:
      The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 (ML) earthquake[1] that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand’s South Island at 12:51 pm on Tuesday, 22 February 2011
      Google it.

      Report Post » Carol in Indy  
    • Carol in Indy
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:44pm

      the earthquake in Nz in Feb this year is what he is speaking of.
      Google it

      Report Post » Carol in Indy  
    • deeberj
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:00pm

      And there have been more earthquakes since then.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:06pm

      Wow. Wishing the death of untold numbers of people based on an image. Sounds like Islam to me.

      Report Post » DeavonReye  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 2:06am

      So what’s his problem with Haiti? Oh yeah, that voodoo thing….

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
  • Drakkhanlord
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:45pm

    lets put the moham mad and his 9yrold bride on the same billboard…would be funny …yes?

    Report Post » Drakkhanlord  
  • lukerw
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:44pm

    Any Church… should believe that GOD is Omniscient… thereby would know… thereby make alternate arrangements!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Dudley Do-Right
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:43pm

    The relationship with God grows and deepens through a constant exchange of “yes” between creature and creator. We cannot always see it; when Mary said “yes” to God, what she received back may not have always seemed like a “yes.” Hearing Simeon’s prophecy; being exiled to Egypt — she might have thought, “Lord, where is your ‘yes’ in all of this danger and difficulty?”

    And yet, we know that God answered her “yes” with a profound “yes” of his own, even if she could not know it.

    Mary, for her part, trusted that her fiat would be answered with a yes. And that is what we have to learn to do. That is the profound lesson of Advent: be opened; learn to trust the “yes” you give to God; learn to believe utterly that God’s response to your “yes” will always be met with his “yes” in return, because he is never outdone in generosity. Trust in the directness of his “yes”, even if you cannot see it; clarity will come.

    http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2011/12/10/our-yes-to-god-brings-his-more-perfect-yes-to-us/

    Report Post »  
  • Johnny916
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:42pm

    Very nice art work. I do not find this offensive in no way. Please have a sense of humor.

    Report Post »  
  • JesusFreak490
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:40pm

    This is very offensive. I can’t believe a church would put something like that up. Quite sad. It’s also blasphemous. I do not in any way mean toward Mary or Joseph (They were ordinary people like you and me, not higher forms of humans.). I mean toward God and His Son, Jesus Christ. This is very offensive.

    Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:51pm

      I’m honestly curious: how is this offensive? It shows Mary having a pretty human reaction… but that’s kind of the point of Mary. She was human.

      Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:23pm

      Mary was human, but God kept her free from sin. She is blessed amoung all women. There is no other like Mary. Perfection itself come down from Heaven to save us because He loves us all. Could Perfection come into being through anything other than a pure soul such as Mary. I find nothing humorous about this. Those that did this should fall on their knees and beg for forgiveness.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:56pm

      @NHWinter

      “Mary was human, but God kept her free from sin. She is blessed amoung all women. There is no other like Mary.”

      Mary was a recipient of grace and blessed. Nowhere in the Bible does it call her sinless. Grace is used various times through the Bible, and none of them refer to being sinless; mostly just pious or marked by God (The Bible uses the Greek word Kecharitomene in Luke, as in the perfect passive participle of charitoo, meaning “to fill or endow with grace”). She’s blessed among all women because she gave birth to God as man, Jesus. No one else has ever done that, nor will they.

      It’s a small point, but I feel your concept of Mary comes from Catholic teachings rather than straight Scripture. If that’s so, that’s fine; just wanted to point it out. She was very much a regular girl until she was marked by God.

      Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 10:57pm

      Something tells me you don’t find all the murders committed by your god to be offensive.

      Why is that?

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on December 15, 2011 at 1:12am

      Once again Christians arguing about what their own book says, a book that is supposedly divinely inspired all of which is true.

      Nothing is more funny then to see believers of the same religion saying which one is more wrong about the truth of a God, neither of which could possibly EVER know.

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:39pm

    Not sure how much drama it is. Various denominations of Christianity play up or downplay the humanity of Mary. Some (like Catholics) make her seem almost super human. Others (like Baptists) try to emphasize that she was just a woman like any other. This is just an example of the latter. Most tweens would be surprised if they wound up pregnant, even if an angel told them about it.

    Report Post »  
    • TRUTHCRUSHESLIES
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:15pm

      1 Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

      If you don’t find slandering the earthly parents of God incarnate and bringing them into a modern context of stupidity offensive, then please realize that at the very least your conscience is seared and at worst, you still remain in your sins. There is hope for you if you will repent and confess your sins and ask God to forgive you. Accept the Lord Jesus as your substitute and you will be saved.

      Report Post »  
    • TRUTHCRUSHESLIES
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:17pm

      1 Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

      If you don’t find slandering the earthly parents of God incarnate and bringing them into a modern context of stupidity offensive, then please realize that at the very least your conscience is seared and at worst, you still remain in your sins. There is hope for you if you will repent and confess your sins and ask God to forgive you. Accept the Lord Jesus as your substitute and you will be saved

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:23pm

      “If you don’t find slandering the earthly parents of God incarnate and bringing them into a modern context of stupidity offensive…”

      I don’t see the slander. The 2009 billboard? Sure, that’s being crude. The pregnancy test? Not offensive; at least in no way that I can understand.

      Report Post »  
    • TeaPartyGoth97
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:51pm

      If you are not Christian I understand your confusion. But I have no knowledge of you faith (or lack there of) so i cannot tell if you are heartless, or just misinformed.

      Report Post » TeaPartyGoth97  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 2:57pm

      Completely Christian, goth. Too often I feel we build up real people to be superhuman. Jesus, obviously, was so. Mary, obviously, was not. If a thirteen year old girl suddenly found herself pregnant, even if told by an angel, why would she not be shocked? She’s pure, a virgin… but still just a girl.

      She’s engaged, but not married. Under Hebrew law, Joseph could demand her stoned to death. Short of that, she could still be banished from her people.

      She has no funds or way to support herself. She has no proof that she’s telling the truth besides her presumably sterling reputation. And somehow I don’t think a reputation will withstand a pregnancy.

      Looking at Mary as a human girl, I think “surprise” is a bit of an understatement when it comes to reacting to finding out about your pregnancy.

      Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:34pm

      Locked, I don’t think you grasp the wisdom, faith, and purity of Mary. When God decided to become man, would he have picked anyone who was not mature and deeply spiritual. I believe Mary’s “yes” was a knowledgeable, faithfilled yes.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 4:00pm

      @NHWinter

      “I don’t think you grasp the wisdom, faith, and purity of Mary. When God decided to become man, would he have picked anyone who was not mature and deeply spiritual.”

      Certainly she was blessed, endowed with Grace, deeply faithful, and a virgin. However, she was still a 13-year old girl engaged through an arrangement between families who suddenly found herself pregnant. It took Jesus, who is actually God, the majority of his mortal life before he began His work in earnest by spreading the Word and teaching. I don‘t think it’s unlikely that a young girl would be surprised as all heck to find out she’s pregnant with a divine child.

      Report Post »  
  • texasfarmer
    Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:38pm

    Let’s see Mohamed in a similar situation. There is something wrong with the people in New Zealand. This is not the first time they have done things like this.

    Report Post » texasfarmer  
    • 50BMG
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 1:59pm

      I agree. Let’s see Mohammed reading the results of his STD and HIV tests.

      And why would the virgin Mary even be taking a pregnancy test?

      Report Post » 50BMG  
    • ConservativeCanucklehead
      Posted on December 14, 2011 at 3:08pm

      “There is something wrong with the people in New Zealand.”
      Uhhh, clearly there is something wrong with Texas Farmers.

      Report Post »  
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