Why is there a statue of Mary and the child Jesus in the sanctuary? What do Lutherans believe about Mary?
A. Depictions of Jesus and Mary make a strong proclamation of the incarnation — God fully sharing our humanity in Christ. Since the early years of the Church, Christians have referred to Mary as Theotokos, the “God-bearer.” Martin Luther had a deep regard for Mary, and called her the “Mother of God.” Though Mary was de-emphasized in the centuries following the Reformation, there has recently been a renewed interest in her role in the mystery of salvation. For some, she represents the feminine aspect of our Christian faith, and provides a balance to what some call a patriarchal Christianity. She is often considered the first Christian believer, as she opened her life to the mystery of God’s will. In addition, she is a strong proclaimer of God’s justice, for in the Magnificat she sings of God raising the lowly and filling the hungry with good things.
