Posted on 02/23/2009 11:20:21 AM PST by pulaskibush
http://www.securearkansas.com/resources/Christian-Doctrine.pdf
You can also look at the story on my blog here:
http://keeparkansaslegal.blogspot.com/2009/02/silent-majority-id-thief-at-church.html
Illegals Ping!
What happened to :Mat 22:21 They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
My husband is Catholic and I am not. I do attend mass with him and have thought about converting. I do not view religion as a buffet, to pick and choose what I want to believe and what I don’t. Immigration is one such issue that I have with the Church.
Would your church trust an illegal alien con artist to teach kids at Sunday School?
I wonder how quickly her work permit would be revoked if the District Attorney there suddenly got overwhelmed with concern of her admitting to identity theft and fraud?
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The United States enjoys the freedom it has and its prosperity due to its Christian foundation and generally Christian belief system.
The very best way to help those in 3rd world nations who want to come here is to **preach the gospel**!!!! If we do this, then they can enjoy the freedom and prosperity that we have here.
Also...If American Christians wish to keep the prosperity and freedom that we have here in the U.S., and not lose it, we must preach the gospel here!
( By the way, a Christian's *most* important and urgent mission field is that of his own children. His next most important mission field is the children of his extended family and congregation.)
In a nutshell why I do not contribute a dime to Catholic Charities any more and direct my contributions to Catholic organizations that I personally know are doing the work of the Church and not trying to subvert the law of the land in which I live. This is shameful.
I am no longer Catholic.
On the core beliefs of the Catholic Church I have no disagreement, but its fringe practices ( such as immigration, social justice, and liberation theology) drove me NUTZ! It is not reformable as well since the Church is controlled by bishops appointed by a Pope. There is no opportunity for lay input.
I simply could no longer aid and abet an organization that was working to establish a political system ( Marxism) that would ultimate wish to destroy all Christianity.
You wrote:
“Immigration is one such issue that I have with the Church.”
I don’t see how that is possible. You mean ILLEGAL immigration and certain bishops don’t you?
You wrote:
“...but its fringe practices ( such as immigration, social justice, and liberation theology) drove me NUTZ!”
ITS fringe practices? What is “its”? The Church has no practice of immigration or liberation theology. Certain Catholics are teaching the wrong things, but liberation theology, for instance, has been flatly rejected by the Church. The fact that some Catholics still support it is another matter entirely.
“It is not reformable as well since the Church is controlled by bishops appointed by a Pope.”
Ever hear of the Council of Trent - the most famous reform council in history? How is it that the Church was able to accomplish so much reform while still controlled by bishops appointed by the pope?
“There is no opportunity for lay input.”
There is, but not by means of voting. And that is EXACTLY how God made His Church. How many lay people do you see with input at the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15?
“I simply could no longer aid and abet an organization that was working to establish a political system ( Marxism) that would ultimate wish to destroy all Christianity.”
That’s nonsensical. The Catholic Church IS Christianity. She cannot wish to destroy herself nor can even Satan accomplish that goal.
I also grew weary of those who defended the indefensible.
you wrote:
“I also grew weary of those who defended the indefensible.”
That’s a perfect description for your own post.
The majority of Christians don’t believe in supporting illegal immigration, just like they don’t believe in homosexuals in church leadership. It’s a handful of leaders and leftist who want to change the church. I have sent Christian Doctrine on illegal immigration to my pastor as well as elders in my denomination which is the Christian and Missionary Alliance. I would suggest to everyone to do the same.
You are somewhat correct in stating that religion is not a buffet to pick and choose what we want to believe.
The correct way to “pick” a church (I hate that term, because it does not clearly reflect what I believe is the work of God in leading us to a particular church), is to read the Bible for yourself, study, and then find the church that most reflects the New Testament church. If a church is run in a way that teaches, preaches, and practices that tradition is as important as scripture - look out. That introduces man into the equation.
And don’t fall for any particular church’s propaganda. Some are very good at advertising and promotions (there are advertising agencies now dedicated to church promotion!). Find a church that will take you by the hand and teach and help you to mature as a Christian - all the while giving BIBLICAL proof (in context, not just pulled out of rightful context to make a point) for their beliefs and teachings.
And start the search off with PRAYER!. There is no special formula for prayer. While there is what we call the “model prayer” in Matthew (sometimes called the “Lord’s Prayer”), it is a guideline as to what we are suppose to pray for and about. The words themselves are not magical. But they provide an outline to help us focus our prayers on what we need to - glorifying God for who He is, Thanking Him for what He has done for us, and bringing before His throne our petitions for others, for our own ability to discern and to do His will, and finally for the desires of our heart, all in the context of HIS Will.
If you approach finding a church home this way, I believe the Lord will lead you to the right church.
AMEN! And as the Biblical order of sharing the Gospel begins in Jerusalem (our home/family), and progressively further out to strange lands - our neighborhood, our community, our city, state, country, etc.
The #1 mission field neglected by the VAST majority of Christians - the mission field of their home!
That being said - my views on illegal immigrants is a bit complicated. I do want every one of them who are here illegally to go home. But I sure would like to reach as many as I can with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they can take HIM home with them. Christ is the ONLY answer to the poverty, hate, unrest, and oppression in those countries. I don’t want them here, but while they are here, I will support sharing the Gospel with them. But I also will not stand in the way of them being deported, nor will I stand in the way of requiring citizenship or legal status to receive any sort of public benefits.
Any church that steps into the arena of protecting criminals is stepping outside the bounds of their protected status as a religious institution. Thus their 501(c)3 status should be on the line, their books subject to public audit, and their business subject to scrutiny.
God’s word on the “visitor” or “stranger”, depending on translation, tells us not to mistreat them. I show the respect due a human being to those I believe to be illegals because they are humans too. But I do not bestow upon them special merits or rights.
**I do attend mass with him and have thought about converting.**
We would welcome you with open arms.
Excellent post.
First pray about doing God’s will.
Study and search ( while simultaneously praying).
Listen to the Spirit.
If a person of good will do this, God will direct him to the church in which he can blossom as a Christian and do His will.
On the core beliefs of the Catholic Church I have no disagreement, but its fringe practices ( such as immigration, social justice, and liberation theology) drove me NUTZ!
If I depended upon the politics of my bishop (formerly McCarrick and now Wuerl)(or another American bishop), I would likely agree with you.
But my faith is based upon those core beliefs. And so I don't have much of a choice in where I go. (One of those core beliefs is that Christ founded ONE church)
Bottom line is that Christ promised that the gates of hell will not prevail. This is a spiritual battle we are in, a particularly strident battle at this time. And those weak bishops need prayer. And the strong ones need prayer. A lot of it.
And so if you can't bring yourself to be in communion with us, can I ask you to at least pray for us?
Is your faith truly based upon core beliefs or upon something else?
In no possible way, does God want us to enable evil. Supporting an institution that permits evil to run rampant within its ranks and tempts others to follow evil couldn’t possibly be God’s will.
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