Catholic Doctrine
| Posted On: 12/21/07 10:30:34 AM |
Age 40, CA |
Hello,
I had a lengthy discussion with a devout Catholic that lasted about an hour. During this conversation, I clearly demonstrated (without any special interpretations and without a slight stretch of the words we read) how the Catholic doctrine goes totally against Scripture. In the end, what was my Catholic friend's response. Well, the Bible was written by man, so I can't believe it entirely. This really shocked me. A devout Catholic from birth doesn't trust Scripture -- probably because it says something he doesn't want to accept??
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thanks for replying
| Posted On: 12/15/07 11:39:32 AM |
Age 56, PHILIPPINES |
Thanks very much for taking the time to reply to my post, and your concern for my soul. I am a faithful Catholic, and what I stated is Catholic doctrine. We know that thousands of books have been written about the disagreements between Protestants and Catholics, running to millions of pages. I doubt we will improve the situation here -- although that is most unfortunate, because the disagreements rend the body of Christ, the Church. The Catechism, like the Bible, requires a lot of study to understand well, and is subject to different interpretations. Some interpretations are correct, some are erroneous, as with the Bible. One thing I do notice is that you disagree with many of the points made by brother Steve in his article above. I'm sure he is much better able to defend those than I am, since I'm not full time in apologetics. I'll pray that our Lord grants you the grace of faithfulness to His call, and ask that you do the same for me -- and all men. God bless!
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Jacob's name changed to Israel
| Posted On: 12/15/07 10:00:35 AM |
Age 61, MO |
Israel does not begin in Genesis chapter 12. The first mention of Israel is in Genesis chpater 32:28: "And He said, thy name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel..." The reason is given in verse 30: "And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." God had given Jacob preference from the beginning, but it wasn't until this "face to face" revelation that he was "preserved." I would also bring your attention to Luke 3:8: "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." George Cancilla
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George: Please read this feedback
| Posted On: 12/14/07 09:40:17 PM |
Age 69, GA |
George....Please go to your feedback on the Joel Rosenberg article, "After Annapolis: What Now for Arab-Israeli Peace?" There is a feedback posted to YOUR feedback that contains information you must read. In a roundabout way, it pertains to your feedback on the above article, "The Almost Christian."
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Which authority do you use?
| Posted On: 12/14/07 09:28:01 PM |
Age 69, GA |
I truly have no wish to offend you, but do you consider yourself to be a traditional Catholic? I ask because your explanation of what you believe is exactly opposite to that which is set forth in the official Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). If you truly believe what you set forth in your feedback, you are in opposition to the official teachings of your church. For example, the CCC states: Salvation is ONLY through the Roman Catholic Church and its sacraments (846, 1129). A person is saved by faith PLUS works (1815, 1821, 2010, 1027). Obedience to the commandments is NECESSARY for salvation (2068). Salvation is a PROCESS (not an instantaneous event), beginning with baptism into the RCC, and finished only after going through purgatory (161, 162, 1254, 1255). PURGATORY purifies sin (1030, 1031). A person sins if he presumes to be saved without merit [without works] (2090-2092). The sinner must "expiate or make satisfaction for his sins (1459). The sacrifice of Jesus is not finished, but CONTINUES in daily Mass (611, 1405). The Eucharist literally becomes "the body and blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ…[such that] the whole Christ is truly, really and substantially contained (1374). This is done so that "the same Christ who offered himself" on the cross can "be offered" on Catholic altars (1367). Each of the above official teachings of the RCC is DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED to what is taught in the Bible. The BIBLE says: Salvation is ONLY through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). We are saved by faith alone and NOT by works (Eph 2:8,9). All who rely on observing the law (commandments) for salvation are under a curse (Gal 3:10). Salvation occurs at the MOMENT a person repents and believes the gospel (Acts 20:21; Eph 1:13). Only JESUS, and nothing else, can purify sin (Heb 1:3; Col 1:22). You can KNOW that you have eternal life (John 10:27-30; 1 John 5:13). The sacrifice of Jesus was completely FINISHED on the cross (John 19:30). "By ONE offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (Heb 10:14). "There is no longer ANY offering for sin" (Heb 10:18). So there is plainly a choice set before you. Which will you believe – the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or the true message of the Lord Jesus Christ? I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart and mind on this absolutely vital matter. I recommend, with all of my heart, that you go to www.pro-gospel.org to prayerfully research this issue. May the Lord bring you to the convicting truth that salvation is only by grace alone, through aimple faith in the already-finished work of Christ ALONE.
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catholic errors
| Posted On: 12/14/07 05:17:24 PM |
Age 47, MO |
Friend: I was raised catholic, my whole family is catholic except for me and my brother after we were saved. I would like to take issue with some of your glossy statements but, for the sake of brevity, I'm not sure where to start...Mary was called blessed by Elizabeth because she was a chosen instrument of God. Mary herself said that she was unworthy of the blessing. Mary bore Jesus, the second Adam, not the son of God. The "son of God" is eternal, being God. We have ONE mediator, Christ Jesus. The Pope is not in the lineage of Peter, Peter was called to the Jews, Paul was called to the Gentiles, the catholic church is not Jewish. My concern with the catholic church, or with any religion for that matter, is that they lead their congregates away from Christ and into all sorts of error and fluff that has nothing to do with the bible. Believe me I know from where I came and my kin are deep into catholisism. If you wish to discuss these issues, plz email me at jchristco@aol.com John
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Right On Target!
| Posted On: 12/14/07 03:23:16 PM |
Age 49, IL |
Hey, Steve! You may remeber me...Perry, as in Campus Life Singers and Universal Studios with Scheff and Donny B. back in the 70's? How are you, brother? You nailed it with this. And your title is perfect. I am so weary of the "Come to Jesus and He'll make you happy" message that has hijacked the American evangelical community. The church today is filled with people who have "come to Christ" with false motives, because most preaching is man-centered rather than God-centered. When preaching is God-centered, men see their desperate condition before a Holy God, and fall at His feet and embrace the Cross of Christ for forgiveness. And in response to His wonderful sovereign mercy, they will truly be converted. Then, and only then, will they have a real desire to obey and follow Him. Instead, many come for what they can "get," are promised "happiness," and receive just enough Jesus to be innoculated against Him. They go through life deceived into beleiving they have been converted. Or, the minute trouble comes along, they bail out because they tried Jesus, and He didn't work. It's so refreshing to read your complete and biblically sound presentation of the true Gospel. Praise God that ONLY HE can perform the miracle of conversion! Only HE can give us the gift of faith to believe and to obey. I am so thankful that I do not have to place any faith in myself, but by His grace I can walk in obedience to Him!
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Pilgrams Progress
| Posted On: 12/14/07 11:50:29 AM |
Age 60, MO |
Thank you for that article. I pray that "many" will see it and "truly" be saved!
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Almost Christian
| Posted On: 12/14/07 11:10:44 AM |
Age 61, MO |
Jesus says it is the narrow Gate AND the narrow Way that leads to Life, and only a few will find it. There is a WAY that you must walk, and the WAY is a process that Jesus calls "discipleship". Discipleship is not an optional extra to people who are already born-again. I don’t believe that you can make Jesus your Savior, and later on, at your discretion and at your convenience, make Him Lord. I believe He must be Lord OF all, or He isn’t Lord AT all. Many people just want to trust in Jesus to save them from their sins and take them to heaven when they die, but they don’t want the process of discipleship. They are willing to enter into the Gate, but they are not willing to walk in the WAY. That’s what it amounts to. Many Christians have entered the Gate, but very few of them are actually walking the WAY. They are sitting just inside the Gate, rejoicing in a future hope, rejoicing in a future heaven, rejoicing in a future reward; but they don’t realize that being a disciple of Jesus does not simply mean praying a prayer or believing something or joining something. It is a process. It is a WAY, in fact, that leads us to Life. The Gate does not lead us anywhere - it is only the beginning of the journey, it is not the destination. George Cancilla
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Almost Christian
| Posted On: 12/14/07 10:53:26 AM |
Age 61, MO |
Thank you for the insight on this important discussion. "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14). This verse says there are two parts to salvation: 1)entering a gate, where we respond to Christ's call, and 2)a way, which is narrow, which indicates that there must be a continuous surrender, day by day, to Christ. As we might urge people to enter the gate, we should, at the same time, be telling them the rest of the story. George Cancilla
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Living faith
| Posted On: 12/14/07 10:32:33 AM |
Age 47, MO |
Steve: I think you nailed the salvation part to a Tee but left the "follow me" part a little ambiguous. After salvation, how do we follow Christ, do we wait for writing to appear on a wall, or do we act in faith? Do we earn our stripes and consider them joy, or do we wait on the Lord to move us like puppets? Are we apathetically confident of salvation, or do we strive to please God? Why is it that a Calvanist never gets down to where the rubber meets the road in living our faith instead of just being saved? There is quite a difference between earning salvation and living salvation, yet we seem to have a fear of hands on theology, to be truly alive in Christ. John
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Shared Burden
| Posted On: 12/14/07 09:55:07 AM |
Age 56, PA |
Thank you, brother, for the powerful statement of what all Christians are called to believe and do. I would like to point out, if I may, some misunderstandings on your part: Catholics who pray the rosary do so precisely because they put all their faith in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior, the sole mediator between God and man; they call Mary blessed, as the Bible commands, because she is His mother, the one who brought Him into the world. We don't trust the Pope for salvation. We do trust his teaching, despite his sinfulness, because he's been anointed by the Holy Spirit to teach in the order of Peter who proclaimed "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." -- Just as the high priest was anointed by the Holy Spirit to prophesy, despite his great sinfulness, when he said that it was better for one man to die for the people.
Considerations of space limit discussion here -- I just wanted to let you know that Catholics share your burden to call all men to Christian faith, and then to faithfulness, which is the works of faith (not works of the law), which, as you point out, are required of Christians although they do not save us.
This shared burden is important, because Jesus told us during the Last Supper that the world will not believe unless those who call Him Lord and trust in Him alone for salvation are one -- which explains why there is such a falling away within the Church now, and resistance to the Gospel outside it.
May our Lord bless your ministry!
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