From Fundamentalist Baptist to Catholic

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once wrote: “There are not over a hundred people in the United State who hate the Roman Catholic Church; there are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.”

I was one of those who hated because of what I wrongly believed about the Catholic Church. The reason I had these beliefs was due to being told what to believe about the Catholic Church from those who were told what to believe about the Catholic Church. No one was willing to find out what the bottom line was concerning the Catholic Church. Everything said about the Church was taken as truth while it seemed no one was delving into what the truth really was.

What about these Catholics? They worshipped Mary. They had a religion but not a relationship with Jesus Christ. They said they believed in God but really their belief couldn’t be the same, could it? The Bible says in James 2:19 KJV “Thou believest that there is one God; Thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble”.

So do Catholics have a belief such as the devils? When most Catholics are asked if they have been “born again” or “have accepted Christ as their Savior”, their main response is “I believe in God” or “I am a good person”, or “I’m Catholic”. Also, they have all these rituals, Saints, Statues and what about the Pope is he really standing in for God? Another big item, are they cannibals when they eat the bread and drink the wine during communion? Why do they leave Jesus on the cross, don’t they realize Jesus has risen from the dead?

On a similar note...

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

Genesis 5 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

1 This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him to the likeness of God.

²He created them male and female; and blessed them: and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

³And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begot a son to his own image and likeness, and called his name Seth.

My question is: In whose 'image' are TODAY's humans created in??

ES,

"Everything I have ever posted is solidly backed up by the scriptures that I posted."

Yes, I understand that you believe that to be the case. So did Irenaeus, Arius, Apollinaris of Laodicea, Nestorius and so many, many others.

In our previous conversations, I remember you being associated with Rood. Before that, The Way International. Both cults. If I am wrong in this memory, please take this moment to correct my memory of your associations and beliefs.

To be clear, I am referring to this Rood

If you are following this man's teachings, you are indeed involved with cultic teaching. I do not doubt that you believe it. I don't question your sincerity. I met many TWI members who were very sincere. I spoke quite a bit to one at Colorado State University that used to stand at an intersection and preach to traffic. He was quite sincere, but believed multiple heresies.

If you had no association with The Way International previously, or acceptance currently of Rood teachings, I will offer my sincere apologies for remembering wrongly and implying that you are connected or were connected or both.

Thanks in advance.

In the conversation I've had above, I reference Rood. For anyone who is interested in knowing more about this person, here is a description with many links:

...........................

MICHAEL ROOD and His "ROOD AWAKENING"

After Michael Rood and ARAM official Jamie Louis parted ways in August 2007 accusing each other of financial indiscretions, theft, false allegations, legal errors and deceit, each chose men from the Hebrew roots community to serve on an Arbitration Board to settle the conflict. Its November 2007 report included 28 items of supporting evidence all of which were posted on www.areallyroodawakening.com . We summarize the report in Arbitration Board Rules Against Michael Rood, and add additional evidence, developments and implications. Overall, the evidence forms a grim picture of Rood's rude ways.

Michael John Rood poses as a Messianic Jew who wants to teach the Hebrew roots of Christianity. Beneath the surface, he also prophesies doomsday attacks on the USA and advocates legalism which requires return to Saturday Sabbath observances and the Old Testament feasts. Rood seems to have built a small cult following and promotes some of the false teachings he learned as a clergy and Limb coordinator in The Way International.

Michael Rood, once a TWI leader, has become a "cult leader" according to his own staff at A Rood Awakening (ARA). Rood started his own organization in 2007 after ARA board member Jamie Louis accused Rood of "inappropriate behavior," financial irregularities and becoming a "cult leader." Rood counterattacked, alleging Louis (another ex-Wayer) funneled ARA money into his personal accounts. Both agree that ARA "fired" Rood and that their mission is Torah observance. Rude Awakening Rocks the Rood Crew outlines the controversy.

Michael Rood doesn't seem to miss a chance to claim that he's received yet another revelation from Heaven in which YHWH speaks to him. These bold claims, which have been made by scores of cult leaders before him, serve as a useful technique to sell his CDs and get donations to pay for his television appearances. He quotes Yahweh's words to a woman, "Listen to him," meaning Rood. When Yahweh last said those words, it was on a mountain in Israel. Yahshua was transformed into a visage as bright as the sun, and Yahweh said, "Listen to Him!" Which one will you listen to? Rood's Revelations Sell CDs may help you decide..

Michael Rood toured the USA, "correcting" the errors of the Christian Church using his "discovery" of a not-so-old copy of the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew. He ends with the command that all followers of Y'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) are absolutely commanded to obey the whole Law of Moses. : "Found a Book, But Lost the Gospel-- A Review of "A Rood Awakening' and 'Raiders of the Lost Book' " offers a detailed review of his seminars and speculation.

Some in the Hebrew roots movement passionately reject the use of names such as "Christ" and "Jesus" and any word or practice that sounds as though it has a Greek rather than Hebrew origin. To them, anyone who uses any kind of "Greek" must be wrapped up in worship of the sun god rather than of Yahweh and the Messiah. Messiah or Christ? Yeshua or Jesus? examines 19 of their bold claims

Michael Rood generated a lot of excitement and followers when he predicted thermonuclear World War would take destroy America in 2001, as we explain in From Here to Eternity, the Gospel of Michael Rood's False Prophecy . What do his followers, who say they obey Deuteronomy 18:20, think about that now?

Michael Rood has managed to persuade some people that all followers of the Messiah are absolutely commanded to obey the whole Law of Moses. Are they? What is the function of the Law? Did the apostles keep the Law? " Does Obeying the Laws and Commands of the Old Testament Please God?" answers these questions in detail.

Michael Rood picture page .

A Link to the most comprehensive collection of articles on Michael Rood.

Rood uses his prior involvement in The Way International as a sales tool, bragging about how he left "Christianity" to find his Hebrew roots. While he is different from TWI in many ways, "Rood's Cultic Roots in The Way International" details many of the very troublesome aspects of life in TWI that he practices and promotes now.

How do you spell G_d? We take a look at the practice of spelling G_d without vowels from a linguistic and Scriptural standpoint.

.
>> “I remember you being associated with Rood. Before that, The Way International. Both cults.” <<

.
False on all counts.

I’ve no association with either.

I know little about “The Way International,” except that they are inclined to imitating Phariseeism.

I have seen many of Roods teachings, and see that they are all on solid scriptural basis. I defer any participation in his organization because I feel that their solicitations for donations tend to appeal to the ego, much as do most ‘christian’ organizations.

The real cults are the Easy-Believer, and Pre-trib rapture adherents, that appeal to the ignorant fear present in the poorly read would-be believers, and lead them down the broad path to destruction.

Those two cults will be the cause of millions losing their shot at salvation.

Another sorry cult is the Iniquity cult.

They live by the false teaching that Paul called “the mystery of iniquity” that teaches that Torah is fulfilled and no longer in effect. They often call those that preach the gospel that Yeshua presented “legalistic,” disregarding the fact that the apostles also taught that same gospel, and mainly presented Torah as their primary teaching.

Matthew chapter 5, and 7 are apparently not in their Bibles, along with most of Paul’s, James, and John’s epistles.

Heaven help these people over the next few years; they’ll be utterly without hope nor understanding. They’ve been told that they cannot know the things that Yeshua has asked us to watch for; the things that he told his disciples by alluding to Hebrew tradition in the parables, while at the same time hiding them from unbelievers.

Believing in pastors, rather than the word of God will be costly, thus we are told to “come out of her,” The Whore and her protestant offspring.

People that stick to the scriptures are always a “fringe” group! Following the word is never popular; that’s why stuff like pre-trib-ism and easy-believe-ism are so popular these days. Thus Matthew chapter 7 had to be written.

Wow....just wow.

Read MT 7:13-29 in context. Pay special attention to v23. It is the key verse.

Look up the word lawlessness in the Greek along with practice. You will see these are people who want nothing to do with God or His Law.

Then read MT 11:25-30.....key focus on 28-30:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What was the yoke the people were toiling under?

The Law and the interpretation of the Law by the Pharisees with all of their rules to keep people from breaking the Law.

Imagine the burden the people were under wondering if they'd perhaps broken the Law in some way.

Jesus came to free people from that burden.

Does it require faith in Him? Yes.

Do we produce fruit as a result? Yes

What get us into Heaven? The faith....or the fruit?

Now if you say both, what if you have fruit but no faith?

There are lots of "good" people who do lots of "good" things but have no faith.

Are those people saved?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.