Church politics is an interesting thing to study; in part because the arguments are all the same throughout all of church history. Solomon is right: "There is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl 1:9). The arguments are simply recycled (Recycling is good, right?). So one can know how to respond to challenges to the faith of the church by studying how the ancient church responded to the same challenges centuries ago.

Today's Feast of St. Mary, the Mother of our Lord, causes anxiety among some Lutherans because they presume that there is a blasphemy involved in this feast day: "Why should we be making a fuss about a mere human? How would such a commemoration support the mission of the church to proclaim Christ in all the world? It not only might be a distraction, but might also be a blasphemy; taking the church's eyes from Jesus and directing them to a mere human, like Mary." I have heard an argument something like this from people who are disturbed by the long-established title given by the church to Mary: the "Mother of God."

The irony is that this is exactly the argument of Nestorius used in the fifth century A.D. So truly, these arguments are nothing new. Cyril of Alexandria responded that such arguments are beside the point. You cannot argue against something by citing what might happen if people misunderstand it. Could Mariolatry arise from the use of the title: "Mother of God?" Of course! Although I am not sure, historically speaking, if the Mariolatry which did arise in the Roman church arose from the teaching of the Theotokos (Mother of God). Other influences were probably at work when Mariolatry arose in the western church. In any case, the abuse of something does not invalidate its use (LC 4.59). Furthermore, you must face the exclamation of fruitful Elizabeth in the power of the Spirit: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42)! Because the Lord had overshadowed her, Mary was most blessed among women. In her was broken Satan's power over Eve through the conception of the Life within her. Christians honor Mary because she is the earthly vessel through whom the Lord of Life came among us.

If we speak rightly about Mary being the Mother of God, the outcome will be that we will speak rightly about the One who was born from her as God of God. The blessed apostle says it quite bluntly: "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9). If He is God who was born of her, then she truly must be called the mother of God. Those who cannot say this will not rightly teach the divinity of her Son. Mary is the mother of God, because Jesus is God.