Prayers For, To,and Through the Dead

Reformed Apologetics Thoughts of Francis Turretin Blog ^ | April 21, 2009 | Francis Turretin Fan

[terycarl]

Man’s Work: Catholic Church = Only Interpretation God’s Word will still rule, when the Catholic Church and every other man made denomination is destroyed.

The Catholic church is the authority on interpreting God's word....every one who reads it is not necessarily able to determine exactly what it means....and that fact is shown on this thread CONSTANTLY.

The Catholic church, unlike the man made denominations will never end...Christ promised to be with her until the end of time and He has 2,015 years under His belt as we speak

Forever means Forever.

[Faith Presses On]

And the matter is hardly just actual sins. The actual sins (the ones we’re aware of) are just part of our sinfulness, and sinful attitudes. They are to remind us that we aren’t good, and never have been, and despite our “working on it” (which will produce pride, for sure), we are still that same sinner, in the flesh. We are still sinning, if only more subtly and less noticeably to ourselves and others. Any grace we have is from God. Our true prayer should always be along the humble lines of the publican who cried out, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” When we credit ourselves anything, even that we deserve credit for being sorry for our sins, then we start to see ourselves as better than others, as the Pharisee in the parable did.

[Iscool]

I really like it how each of y’all speaks for how everybody else believes. Everybody is his own chief, each speaking for the same thousand tribes.

We are united in Jesus Christ...

It ought to amaze you that we are from all over the Country but we agree on most everything Christian wise...Isn't it odd how that our teaching authority is the bible and yet with all of our own (accused) millions of interpretations, we still agree with each other???

[MamaB]

It has not been shown at all. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.

[ebb tide]

I thought you said all those denominations taught you the Bible.

Did none of them teach you:

Matthew 16:18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

[MamaB]

Jesus, not a man.

[ebb tide]

Isn't it odd how that our teaching authority is the bible and yet with all of our own (accused) millions of interpretations, we still agree with each other???

If you all agree with each other, why do you have so many tribes and why is everybody tribe-hopping?

[Iscool]

Just one correction...Adam and Eve didn’t eat an apple. It was a banana...because it had appeal. ;o)

Coulda been a potato tree...

[ebb tide]

Peter was a man. Are you rejecting Scripture?

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

“The Catholic church, unlike the man made denominations will never end...”

Just so you know, ALL religions/denominations are man-made...that especially includes the Roman Catholic church.

[ebb tide]

Just so you know, ALL religions/denominations are man-made...that especially includes the Roman Catholic church.

Nope, you've got it wrong. There in only one religion made by God, the Catholic religion.

[boatbums]

Bunk. The Septuagint was accepted by all of Christianity and remained complete until Luther had to throw Scripture in the garbage to avoid direct contradictions to his heresy.

The only "bunk" being slept in here is the one you continue to try to throw the sheet over! You've been corrected dozens of times yet never seem to learn the difference. Let's try again...

The Septuagint was an Alexandrian TRANSLATION into Greek of the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures. Along the way, other writings were added that either were NOT part of Hebrew Scriptures - but were seen as "historical" in nature and relevant to the Jewish people in Greek speaking areas - or were ALREADY written in Greek and didn't need to be translated. There were numerous versions of the Septuagint and they vary as to which books are in them and which are not a part. Nevertheless - and this is the MEAT of the issue, Rash - the Septuagint was NEVER viewed as a "canon" by ANYONE!

One important point you just never seem to address even when you are reminded over and over is that, just because a book was included in the Septuagint, was NO proof that it was Divinely-inspired Scripture. Remember I told you this before? There are FIFTEEN (15) extra-canonical books in the Septuagint, yet the Roman Catholic church only picked SEVEN (7) of them to be in the official RCC canon. So the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH threw "Scripture" in the garbage according to your logic, not Luther. Will you address these points for once or will they be conveniently ignored so that ALL non-Catholic Christians can be condemned in one fell swoop on a man who died five hundred years ago who wasn't even anyone's pope? What'll it be???

[boatbums]

Did potatoes grow on trees in the Garden of Eden? Maybe... ;o)

[Iscool]

Then why do the Prots have different beliefs on the immorality of birth control, pre-marital sex, abortion, homosexual relations, etc. Why do they have different beliefs on ordaining female or homo as ministers and bishops?

I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger if I were you...Your religion is certainly not a bastion of morality...Your church rules may say one thing but you have just as many abortions, live-in mates, contraception and queers as any other religion...Plus, your religion is known for its queer priests and child molesters...

Being a non bible believer you miss out on all the things God has to say to Israel and his church...

Amo 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amo 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Your religion didn't always forbid the marrying of its clergy...

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We are living in the last times...Has nothing to do with what denomination one lives in...

These scriptures and hundreds more just like them tell us and YOU that the REAL church is getting smaller...It's not the ecumenical behemoth that your Catholic religion is trying to build...

Sure, the numbers are growing, in China and other places but are they getting the real words of God??? Are they getting saved???

[caww]

Very interesting...informative as well...thank you.

[boatbums]

How utterly amazing that a simple thread explaining why Reformed faiths generally reject the doctrines of prayers to and for the dead, Purgatory and the intercession of dead Saints immediately fostered a backlash of accusations of "hate", "Catholic bashing", spreading of discord and ignorance of Catholic doctrine. That is the knee-jerk reaction of some here who have NO problem at all when Catholics post threads that criticize and counter non-Catholic beliefs and assert they alone have the fullness of the Christian faith, but DARE post a thread that can be seen as critical of their beliefs and the fur starts flying!

The article was in no way insulting or bashing of Catholics and should not have been taken as such. The hair-trigger "feelings" of those who DID take offense only proves that they do not have the temperament to join in OPEN Religion Forum threads. It's too bad they succeed in side tracking and diverting the actual topic. It's one that all Christians should not be afraid to address. Though it is not what could be called a "salvific" issue, it is still an area that would benefit us all to talk about. Personally, I do not see this as a detriment to having a FULL Christian faith and I'm not at all afraid to explain why.

[Iscool]

If you all agree with each other, why do you have so many tribes and why is everybody tribe-hopping?

We are different tribes just like the Holy Mary Catholic church in Tiptonville, Tennessee is a different tribe than the St. Thomas Catholic church just down the street in Tiptonville, Tennessee...

[Iscool]

Nope, you've got it wrong. There in only one religion made by God, the Catholic religion.

That would be the same God as the muzlim's, right???

[caww]

..."There in only one religion made by God, the Catholic religion"....

You might want to talk to the Jewish folks about that....and then read your Bible..not exactly in that order.

And they are still here...

[boatbums]

Thanks. Unfortunately, the truth will go in one ear (eye?) and out the other for some and they'll go right back to spewing the same bunk they always have.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (II Tim. 3:7)