Posted on 10/06/2009 5:52:10 AM PDT by kindred
Many dear, professing “Christians” today, who are dear and sincere in their Christian traditions and personal beliefs, believe in a DIFFERENT Christ (i.e., they have “their own” Jesus). Therefore they - either knowingly or unknowingly - have rejected the CHRIST of the Holy Scriptures.I personally know how this works. I once had “my own” Jesus.
For years I was a practicing Roman Catholic. From the womb I was taught and raised in the traditions of the Catholic faith (ideology), and in true sincerity I went to church every week, prayed every night, and practiced the Golden rule, but I lived contrary to the moral teachings given by God in His Word. It wasn’t until just before my twenty-first birthday that someone shared with me from God’s Word the True Gospel (good news) and the True Christ of the Holy Scriptures. At that time it was very hard for me to humble myself and go against all that I thought, was taught and believed for years about Jesus. At first I didn’t want to accept the truth and have to change my way of seeing and doing things. Consequently, I ran from the Lord for three years. I had always known that God’s Word was true and the only source of ultimate truth. I knew in my heart also that I had to humble myself and let God and God’s Word be my authority and guide.
At the end of this three years of wrestling with the reality (truth) and The Holy Spirit’s convicting hand (John 16:8-14), I began to read and study God’s Word for myself. As I did so, I started to see for the first time what God’s Word said about the Person of Jesus Christ and about God’s true plan of salvation. I came to the realization that what I had always believed and trusted in my whole life was absolutely wrong and bankrupt! It was a lie and a godless self-delusion that would not be able to stand before Almighty God in the Day of Judgment. My “religious Christian” sincerity would be my ruin, and my misguided good intentions would be my doom (Matt 7:21-23). In God’s Holy Word I saw for the first time the TRUE Christ of the Scriptures and God’s TRUE plan of salvation (Rom. 10:17).
I was at a crossroads. Was I going to trust in the Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures, or was I going to keep trusting in my own False Christ and system of “good works,” a vanity that I trusted in all those years which contradicted Christ’s atoning work on the cross (Rom. 3:20-22; Gal. 2:16, 21)?
My Friend, God in His grace and mercy showed me that He loved me and had a wonderful plan and future for my life. He had kept me from so many disastrous consequences of a reckless youth and immoral life. My decision at this point in my life was an easy one. I needed to put my trust in the Jesus who died, was buried and rose again for me according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4). This was the very One that loved me and gave his life for me (Gal. 2:20). I bowed my head and heart and asked the Lord Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures to come into my heart and save me and deliver me from my sin and trespasses against His righteous Person. When I did that, He did what He promised He would do: Come in! (Rev. 3:20)
My friend, it has been 18 years and I have never looked back. A dear Christian preacher named John Olsteen, who I would watch each Sunday night on TV after a weekend of partying and decadence said, “That when you finally put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ you will never be the same! My friend, how true that is! Almighty God used that man and that message to bring me to a saving knowledge of Himself through Jesus Christ. . "You see, the very One I thought I knew all of my life, I found I didn’t know Him at all."
You see, the very One I thought I knew all of my life, I found I didn’t know Him at all. God in his great love reached out to me and called me to Himself. In His tender mercy and patience He kept knocking on my heart’s door. In His grace and kindness He revealed Himself in a very personal and real way to me, and I finally let Him into my heart to deliver me and give me eternal life - just as He said He would do (Rev. 3:20). I have truly never been the same since then, and God has truly blessed me and has been teaching me so much about myself, time, the world we live in, eternity future, and His wondrous love and grace towards me.
May I ask you this personal question? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, as the Holy Scriptures teach? True Christianity is not a religious/ cultural philosophy or a practice of “Christian” values and traditions. It is a personal, living relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth in spirit and truth, as revealed in God’s Word (John 4:24). The very One who created all, died on the Cross to pay the price for your sins and mine (John 1:1-14; Philip. 2:4-13). My friend, I can’t think of anything more wonderful than that to tell anyone! May it be your real desire to know the One Who so loved you and sent his Son to die for you, so that you may be with Him forever in joy and peace (John 3:16-17; Gal. 1:4). Won't you place your trust in Him today? You will never be the same!
. The Kingdom of heaven is truly at hand!
2TIM 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2TIM 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2TIM 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2TIM 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2TIM 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2TIM 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2TIM 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2TIM 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
2TIM 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2TIM 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2TIM 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2TIM 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2TIM 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2TIM 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2TIM 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2TIM 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Why do you assume that Catholic Christians don't do this?
hooray for private interpretation....another bites the dust, unfortunately...
Around the same age (early 20's), I was brought face-to-face with the reality of Christ's sacrifice. It wasn't through some mystical transformation of grape juice, it was through the Spirit reaching into my heart with His convicting power. The Word became flesh, in me. Since then , it hasn't been without pain and suffering of my own. God has a profound way of "gently" prodding and pushing us to that "conforming" stage. Sometimes He whispers in the wind, and others, he brings down a sledge hammer. But through all, He promises "I will never leave you, nor forsake you... " Believe it or not...
He is risen!
I am sure some do, but the Roman church does teach false doctine and relies on traditions that are contrary to the truth and doctrines of Scriptures. The Lord commands his children to “search the Scriptures”.
2TIM 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[with His convicting power. The Word became flesh, in me. Since then , it hasn’t been without pain and suffering of my own. God has a profound way of “gently” prodding and pushing us to that “conforming” stage.]
Amen.
I am the direct opposite of that person. I was raised in the Baptist Church and even went to Wheaton College, the place where Billy Graham graduated from. Then I married a Roman Catholic and joined his Church. And I have never looked back or regretted my choice. Just because the Church has gone through some rough times doesn’t mean it’s rotten. It’s the human nature that gives it the rough times.
Further, all churches have their fallen humans. I remember when I went to Wheaton College, it was a fight with every guy I went out with to stay pure, and these were kids from missionary families and preacher’s kids. I’ve never told this to anyone except my sister before, but it’s true. I even remember their names!
You are so right it is the human factor in our relationship with the Lord....an older friend of mine also graduated from Wheaton, reads her bible everyday and I give her credit for my relationship with God and to my shock is a liberal......sigh.....
I sure wish “Protestant” believers in Jesus had a little more mature understanding of Christianity and How God wants His Church to be. It’s called the Catholic Church. I support my protestant brethren when they oppose abortion and Jesus Himself adviced the apostles to not stop a guy who wasn’t with you because those who are with us are not against us.
But theologically, protestantism is very shallow and this is because the protestant churches had an evil beginning where they turned away from Mary, the Mother of God and they started following their own Jesus.
That’s how I see it. The author of this article sees it another way.
Where do you stand?
You have the understanding and the depth of knowledge of the Catholic faith of a two year old. Go spew this garbage someplace else.
It is the fetishization of Mary as "coredemtrix" that is on my top five list as to why I would never chose the RCC were I to become a Christian.
Was John Olsteen of the same “prosperity gospel” cloth his son is apparently enrobed in?
Is that the same Joel Olsteen who said on the Larry King show, that he wasn't prepared to say that Jesus was the only way to Heaven?
I agree with Clemenza, although it is actually the arrogance by which Catholics condemn those that don’t follow in lockstep with their “traditions” that abhors me the most, I see that as an evil. There is only one Jesus that died for our salvation, I will follow in lockstep with Him, thank you.
It is ultimately to the praise and worship of Almighty God that He does not give up on His children but may use people who differ from a person’s upbringing and religious tradition to shake them into understanding that He is real and must be listened to. This often happens to people who for some reason or another have not found (or have rejected by way of slackness) the grace afforded them in the religious tradition they come from.
The prayers of their families do not go unheard, however, and God in His mercy brings them to an understanding of Him another way (i.e. through another Christian tradition).
It is unwise to dismiss the former religious upbringing then as false because you have experienced the risen Christ from another angle. Rather be grateful to God and those who were faithful in their prayers for you that you have encountered Him at all.
I for one am eternally grateful to God and a praying Catholic Grandmother who faithfully prayed for me everyday of my life until she passed away 5 years ago at the age of 98. What trouble I avoided and what grace I have received I owe to the forgiveness of my Lord and to her vigilance in prayer.
SO let’s try to be a bit wiser when we condemn other faiths who hold dearly to the name of Jesus Christ and rely on His Mercy to see them through.
Blessings
Mel
I agree with you. It is an assumption to think that Catholic Christians don’t know and believe the Sacred Scriptures, that they don’t know their Savior and Redeemer.
That is a prejudicial point of view—pre-judging without sure knowledge.
It’s also seeing others through one’s own personal prism of experience, which is an extremely limited outlook.
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As a convert to the Catholic Church, I fully understand all you are saying.
Thanks for this post.
I am an evangelical, born again, Christian. I came to Christ largely because of the faithful prayers of my Catholic, born again, mother-in-law. She was concerned my hubby and I didn’t get the true gospel and taught it to us just like our present pastor would.
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