Last week we had a holiday in Argentina (actually we had two). I was talking to a man who warned me about the upcoming day. We are new here and without any knowledge we will go out to the grocery store, bakery, butcher shop (where I practice my Spanish), and some or all of them will be closed for the day. We have learned that Argentina has it’s own holidays. This can be frustrating when you are trying to accomplish certain tasks (like learning a language) but it does happen. Some holidays are like the holidays we have in the States. We have Mother’s Day here in October, Labor Day here in May, and of course Christmas and Easter. But Argentina also has unique holidays. The holiday last week was to recognize the “immaculate conception”. The immaculate conception that was “celebrated” was the “immaculate conception of Mary”. Many believe that Mary was somehow conceived naturally but kept “immaculate” by God, thereby not ever having sin in her life. Where in the Bible does it say that Mary was conceived of a virgen? The answer is nowhere. This is not a Biblical belief. I don’t understand this. In fact, I first thought the day of the immaculate conception was to celebrate Jesus’ virgen birth (a common mistake according to an article I read on the subject). Mary was a wonderful woman, but not God and not equal to Jesus. As I have had the opportunity to witness to others, this is something I have heard, that Jesus and Mary are equal. Again, there is no Bible principle to back this up. To the contrary, there is Luke 11:27-28, which seems to take the focus off of Mary and on to keeping Jesus’ commandments.

In closing to this very short blog, I would like to encourage you to search the Scriptures. I can think back on many things I use to believe because “someone told me” but upon reading the Bible, I found out I was wrong. Read the Bible. Spend time in studying God’s Word. You don’t have to be a Bible College graduate, a Pastor, or a Theologian to study God’s Word. I was told some time ago, “Have Bible to back up the things that you believe.” I think that is good advice. Don’t just believe what you believe, but know why you believe it and where God teaches us it in His Word!