Is worshiping saints and Mary appropriate?

Understanding the Meaning of Worship

Worship, in its most essential form, signifies the adoration and reverence reserved for God alone. Scripturally, this worship entails total devotion, trust, and acknowledgment of the unique divine authority of the Most High. According to Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” This foundational commandment underscores that the sole object of our ultimate worship and adoration is the Lord himself.

In the New Testament, Jesus reminds believers to give God the rightful place in all aspects of life, saying in Matthew 4:10, “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” The consistent scriptural teaching from Genesis to Revelation is that God alone is worthy of true, divine worship.

Mary and the Saints: Honoring vs. Worshiping

When the question arises about “worshiping” Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, or any saint (believers who have departed this life in faith), the critical distinction is between respectful honor and genuine worship. Scripture does not forbid offering love, respect, or imitation of faithful believers; indeed, the Bible often calls us to honor those worthy of honor (Romans 13:7). Mary herself is honored in Scripture for her faithful submission (Luke 1:38) and is called “blessed among women” (Luke 1:42).

However, biblical precedents caution against giving men or angels worship due only to God. In Revelation 19:10, the apostle John attempts to worship an angel, and the angel rebukes him: “Worship God!” The principle is clear: no created being—whether angelic, saintly, or otherwise—is deserving of the type of worship reserved for the Creator.

Scriptural References on Worship

• Matthew 4:10: “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”

• Revelation 19:10: “So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!’”

• 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

In 1 Timothy 2:5, the Bible further clarifies that Christ alone, as both God and man, stands as mediator between humanity and the heavenly Father. This passage eliminates the notion that any human being—even a saint or the mother of Jesus—can function as an additional divine mediator or receive worship.

The Biblical Role of Mary

• Luke 1:28: Mary is addressed by the angel Gabriel: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

• Luke 1:38: Mary’s faithful response: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me according to your word.”

Mary stands as an example of humility and obedient submission. She herself worshiped God, as seen in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), declaring, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47). Nowhere in the biblical text is Mary exalted to a position of receiving worship; instead, her words and actions direct all glory to God.

Historical Context and Early Church Practices

Early Christian writings emphasize the singular devotion due to God, even as the church recognized exemplary believers. While certain devotions to Mary and the saints emerged over centuries in various traditions, the apostolic writings (i.e., the New Testament) consistently limit worship to God alone. Notably, the Council of Nicea (AD 325) and the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) robustly defended the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ but did not advocate for the worship of Mary or the saints. Over time, practices developed in various branches of the church that went beyond biblical prescriptions, often blurring the distinction between honoring esteemed believers and worshiping them.

Veneration and Prayer

Some traditions distinguish veneration (deep respect) from worship (adoration due to God alone). Even so, whenever honor verges on or becomes synonymous with divine reverence—such as offering prayers, attributing salvific power, or expecting mediatory intercession that belongs to Christ—one risks exceeding biblical boundaries.

In Scripture, prayer is a component of worship. Jesus teaches to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9) and notes that the Holy Spirit helps believers in praying (Romans 8:26). There is no instruction in the pages of the Bible to pray to departed believers. Instead, believers are urged to approach God freely and boldly through Christ (Hebrews 4:16).

Examining Key Objections and Concerns

1. Doesn’t the Bible call believers “saints”?

Yes. In the New Testament, the word “saint” (Greek: hagios, meaning “holy” or “set apart”) often applies to all believers in Christ, living and departed. However, this does not elevate them to a status worthy of worship; it underscores that they are consecrated by God’s grace.

2. Is there any example of the early believers praying to Mary or the saints?

The Book of Acts and early epistles show the first Christians praying to God in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:24–30, 1 Corinthians 1:2). There is no New Testament example of prayers directed toward Mary or any other believer.

3. But Mary is the mother of Jesus; shouldn’t we give her special devotion?

Scripture absolutely upholds Mary’s unique role as the mother of the Messiah and commends her faith. Nonetheless, referencing her as an object of worship is absent from the New Testament. Instead, Mary’s own prayers and declarations magnify and exalt God, pointing all glory to Him (Luke 1:46–49).

Final Analysis in Light of Scripture

In the Christian faith as aligned with the Bible, worship entails the highest reverence, honor, and adoration possible. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit alone occupy the divine status that allows them to receive it. Saints, whether Old or New Testament figures, possess no biblical warrant to receive worship. Mary, though blessed, equally remains a faithful servant of the Lord, pointing every believer toward God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ.

Where saints’ lives provide inspiring examples of faith, it is appropriate to remember or learn from them. Where Mary’s faithful submission to God is recounted, it is right to admire her humble relationship with the Almighty. However, Scripture reserves acts of worship—prayer, adoration, and sacrifice—to God alone.

Conclusion

The answer to "Is worshiping saints and Mary appropriate?" must consider the whole of biblical teaching. Throughout Scripture (from the commands of Exodus 20:3 to Revelation 19:10), divine worship is couched strictly in devotion to Yahweh, recognized in the New Testament as the eternal God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Saints and Mary serve as testimonies of God’s grace and faithfulness, but the Bible never establishes them as recipients of worship.

Ultimately, Christ’s redeeming work—culminating in His resurrection—remains the exclusive channel for salvation and the focal point of true worship. As Jesus Himself stated, “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). By adhering to this principle, one ensures that all honor given to godly individuals or scriptural role models remains in a posture of respect rather than idolatrous reverence, preventing any diversion of the worship owed solely to the triune God.