Don’t Be Misled By ‘Either-Or’ Arguments

'THE MERRY CATHOLIC' -- Sometimes 'both-and' is the way to go.

There is an interesting concept regarding Church doctrines. Or, I should say, an interesting conflict. Many faith issues are presented as “either-or” situations. For example, some of our separated brethren in Christian denominations say that people are saved by “faith alone.” That is, if a person puts his or her faith in Jesus at any point during life, then that person is guaranteed eternal life in Heaven. There is nothing the person actually has to do. Just sincerely believe that Jesus is Who the Bible claims He is, and you’re in.

Furthermore, the folks who preach this version of the Gospel, say that other faith groups, most notably Catholics, teach that people must earn their way into Heaven by doing good works throughout their lives. People must choose either faith or works — and if they choose works, they are terribly mistaken.

Another “either-or” situation involves the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some groups accuse Catholics of being so focused on Mary, to the exclusion of Jesus, that it has become idolatry. They teach that Jesus is the only path to salvation, and therefore anyone who spends time thinking about or praying to Mary is making a huge mistake. People must choose either Jesus or Mary — and if they choose Mary, they are making a terrible mistake.

However, taking an “either-or” approach with these topics is a little too simplistic. In each case, the better way to view it is with a “both-and” approach. With faith vs. works, for every Bible verse that describes faith as crucial, there is another verse that emphasizes our actions. St. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith…it is not from works, so no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). But Jesus Himself said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, emphasis added).

So, salvation is not the result of either faith or works, it’s the result of both faith and works. Here is a helpful way to look at this issue: faith is not merely intellectual agreement with the proposition that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s a good starting point, of course, but faith is a verb. It’s an action word. True faith makes you do things (works) to embrace God’s love and share that love with others. It is correct that people cannot earn their way into Heaven by their own efforts. It takes “faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:5). Salvation requires both faith and works.

Regarding Mary, it’s not either Jesus or Mary. It’s both Jesus and Mary. Let’s be clear: Mary is not divine. The Holy Trinity is not looking for a soprano voice to make a quartet. Mary is the preeminent of all saints. The Bible says all generations will call her blessed (Luke 1:48). But one verse earlier Mary clearly declared that God is her Savior. She needed a savior. If you want to know what Mary’s role is, just look at the last of her words recorded in Scripture. At the wedding feast at Cana, referring to Jesus, Mary said, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). That’s her whole job: to point to her Son.

Scripture clearly teaches that we should ask other people to pray for us. And people of all denominations pray for their loved ones, as they should. Well, who better to ask than Jesus’ mom, who is now in Heaven close to her Son? We don’t worship Mary, but we can ask her to pray for us.

So, it’s not either Jesus or Mary. It’s both Jesus and Mary. Jesus is Lord, the divine Savior of the world. Mary is the premier saint who can petition her Son on our behalf. What a team!

Please don’t be confused by “either-or” arguments. Our faith is not that simplistic. In many instances, such as the means of salvation and the role of Mary, a “both-and” view is more accurate. All we need to do is put our faith in Jesus, do what He says, and ask His mom to pray for us.

(These “Merry Catholic” essays are featured on WJMJ, 88.9 FM, the radio station for the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT.)