Posted on 08/22/2017 5:27:13 PM PDT by ebb tide
The same side that Francis does.
“It can not be obedience to God to follow a wolf. That we know.”
And yet breaking with the pope is no small thing, even if one’s intent is to remain within the Church.
In John 9 and Mark 8, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth. The disciples asked if he was blind because of his sins, or because of his parents' sins. Jesus replied that I was to glorify God, through His healing. God can, and has done miraculous healing, be it addiction, homosexuality, curing cancer... He can do anything...
HOWEVER, He often chooses not to do these miraculous healings because He wants us to learn something, something that will mold us to be more like Jesus. The Bible talks about God 'refining' us. To refine gold, it must be passed through fire, to drive out the impurities. Homosexuality IS an impurity of the spirit and to exorcise that desire, must be incredibly hard and the person must become 100% dependent upon Jesus. Through that hard work to overcome homosexuality, like doing a 12-step program, it takes an incredible amount of hard work and learning humility and forgiveness on a scale that few ever learn, outside of such a program. The journey can be very difficult but at the end of the 12-step journey, it is so worth it, as we are refined to be so much more like Him. I speak based upon experience with a program called Freedom Session.
Many issues we have as adults, stem from our early years (including homosexuality), especially when we are 12 or under. Digging up those memories that we have 'stuffed', is core to beginning a healing journey. Yes, God can miraculously heal us, but we learn so much more, and are molded more like Jesus through that journey.
There are things that I disagree with concerning the Roman Catholic faith, but the comments by the RC Church in this article, I agree with. Homosexuality is a mental/psychological issue and they are deserving of respect (for the person, but not the actions) as they are created in God's image. The RC Church is spot on regarding this issue, in my opinion.
“The same side that Francis does.”
It’s amazing how much stuff is going on right now, all over the world.
The Catholic Church teaches NOTHING regarding the cause or causes of same-sex attraction. Martin’s crime is his weasely, gutless promotion of sodomy.
Since God tells us in His word that ANY kind of sexual activity outside of a male/female marriage is sin, we can know that, whether someone desires sex with a person of the same sex or with children or with another person's spouse or of any number of deviant sexual fetishes, they are committing moral wrongs. Did God make someone with deviant sexual tendencies? No more than He made some people born with or susceptible to certain diseases and others with immunities to diseases. It is because of sin entering into our world that there is disease, perversion and death. But God's perfect will is that there be obedience to His moral laws so that society can flourish and we can live in peace with God and each other.
I am not sure I may hope for Heaven were I to be found following or being obedient to this pope’s agenda— much of which is anathema to God.
That is what I meant by “to follow a wolf”.
I’m not sure this pope has not excommunicated himself. I hear no repentance of his derogatory slanders against the faithful, his mockery of the “beads”, the breeding like rabbits, et cetera.
Sacred Scripture speaks of our Lord, warning against “wolves among the sheep leading many to perdition”. Our Lord tells us that “my sheep know my voice”.
I know my Lord’s voice. I do not hear my Lord in the voice of this pope. I would be in cold fear and in shame to “follow” this pope in what he is doing against the Church of my Lord.
I am a Roman Catholic. I must leave this pope and his “clanging cymbals” to the mercy and judgement of God.
“...that God made them who they are...”
No, actually (says the Teacher):
“See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
Ecclesiastes 7:29
God made all of us with flaws and temptations.
Some are tempted to steal. Even if that is a flaw God gave them at or before birth, they are still called to follow God’s word over those urges that violate scripture.
Some are easily angered and even tempted to kill. Being born with a temper does not mean it’s okay to give in to that desire when someone needs killing.
Many have a natural temptation toward adultery. They have a choice: follow that urge because God made them lustful or at least tending toward lust, or resist and follow God’s word. Unsurprisingly, life turns out better when you follow His word. It’s almost a miracle how perfect the advice in scripture turns out to be.
The same goes for gays. I believe they are born with a tendency toward that temptation. Which flaw they were born with is irrelevant to whether they are called to follow scripture or to whether they are better off following God’s revealed plan for their lives.
Being tempted to homosexuality is a flaw, as are all the others I mentioned, since they are temptations to disobey God. We are all born with flaws and temptations, and what matters is how we respond to that. Where is God on our list of priorities?
Or TRY our very best to overcome.
Did he make pedophile priests who they are, too?
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone - James 1:13
“That is what I meant by “to follow a wolf”.”
Yes, I understood. That’s why I spoke of breaking with the pope.
It’s hard to believe we are almost there. But here we are!
Soon I pray, we will be with Him - our Almighty Savior!
To be “in communion with” the Rome of the last 50 years means to be in communion with something other than the Catholic Faith.
Logic and the Catholic Faith tell me that Francis can not possibly be a true pope.
Someday a future pope will confirm and declare it so.
The Catholic Church is getting over run with mentally retarded priests
God gave us free will, the rest is up to us.
I can’t contradict you. Still, a world without a pope is vertiginous.
God Bless you and all of us as we navigate the latest and greatest Crisis.
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.