Posted on 10/29/2011 3:31:02 PM PDT by RnMomof7
Catholics who believe a purifying fire will purge away their sins are deluded victims of a fatal fabrication. The invention of a place for purification of sins called Purgatory is one of the most seductive attractions of the Roman Catholic religion. Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church described this deceptive hoax brilliantly. He said: "Purgatory is what makes the whole system work. Take out Purgatory and it's a hard sell to be a Catholic. Purgatory is the safety net, when you die, you don't go to hell. You go [to Purgatory] and get things sorted out and finally get to heaven if you've been a good Catholic. In the Catholic system you can never know you're going to heaven. You just keep trying and trying...in a long journey toward perfection. Well, it's pretty discouraging. People in that system are guilt-ridden, fear-ridden and have no knowledge of whether or not they're going to get into the Kingdom. If there's no Purgatory, there's no safety net to catch me and give me some opportunity to get into heaven. It's a second chance, it's another chance after death" (from "The Pope and the Papacy").
The Origin of Purgatory
There was no mention of Purgatory during the first two centuries of the church. However, when Roman Emperor Theodosius (379-395) decreed that Christianity was to be the official religion of the empire, thousands of pagans flooded into the Church and brought their pagan beliefs and traditions with them. One of those ancient pagan beliefs was a place of purification where souls went to make satisfaction for their sins.
The concept became much more widespread around 600 A.D. due to the fanaticism of Pope Gregory the Great. He developed the doctrine through visions and revelations of a Purgatorial fire. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (CE), Pope Gregory said Catholics "will expiate their faults by purgatorial flames," and "the pain [is] more intolerable than any one can suffer in this life." Centuries later, at the Council of Florence (1431), it was pronounced an infallible dogma. It was later reaffirmed by the Council of Trent (1564). The dogma is based largely on Catholic tradition from extra- biblical writings and oral history. "So deep was this belief ingrained in our common humanity that it was accepted by the Jews, and in at least a shadowy way by the pagans, long before the coming of Christianity" (CE). It seems incomprehensible that Rome would admit to using a pagan tradition for the defense of one of its most esteemed "Christian" doctrines.
The Deception of Purgatory
Purgatory comes from the Latin word “purgare,” which means to make clean or to purify. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines purgatory as "a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions." They must be purified of these "venial" sins before they can be allowed into heaven. Here we see Catholicism perpetuating the seductive lie of Satan by declaring "you will not surely die" when you commit venial sins (Gen. 3:4). The Council of Trent dares to declare that "God does not always remit the whole punishment due to sin together with the guilt. God requires satisfaction and will punish sin...The sinner, failing to do penance in this life, may be punished in another world, and so not be cast off eternally from God." (Session 15, Can. XI). Those Catholic Bishops had the audacity to declare that the suffering and death of God's perfect man and man's perfect substitute was not sufficient to satisfy divine justice for sin.
The Motivation for Purgatory
Over the centuries billions of dollars have been paid to Roman Catholic priests to obtain relief from imaginary sufferings in Purgatory's fire. The Catholic clergy has always taught that the period of suffering in Purgatory can be shortened by purchasing indulgences and novenas, buying Mass cards and providing gifts of money. When a Catholic dies, money is extracted from mourning loved ones to shorten the deceased's punishment in Purgatory. When my dear old dad passed away as a devout Catholic of 79 years, I was amazed at the hundreds of Mass cards purchased for him by well-meaning friends. We have heard of other Catholics who have willed their entire estates to their religion so that perpetual masses could be offered for them after they die. It is no wonder that the Catholic religion has become the richest institution in the world. The buying and selling of God's grace has been a very lucrative business for the Vatican.
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Another motivation for Rome to fabricate the heretical doctrine of Purgatory is its powerful effect on controlling people. Ultimately, the enslavement and subjugation of people is the goal of every false religion, and Purgatory does exactly that. The concept of a terrifying prison with a purging fire, governed by religious leaders, is a most brilliant invention. It holds people captive, not only in this life but also in the next life. Catholic clergy will not say how many years people have to suffer for their sins or how many Masses must be purchased before they can be released from the flames. This dreadful fear and uncertainty is the most ruthless form of religious bondage and deception!
Biblical Support for Purgatory
There is absolutely none! In fact, neither the word nor the concept of sin-purifying fire is found in Scripture. The Vatican was confronted with this in the 16th century when the Reformers protested its practice of buying and selling of God's grace through indulgences. Backed into a corner, the Council of Trent added the apocryphal books to its canon of Scripture. Rome now declares there is scriptural support for purgatory in the apocryphal book of Second Maccabees. The council ignored the fact that the Jewish scribes never recognized the apocryphal books as inspired or part of the Hebrew Scriptures. They were never included because of their many historical, theological and geographical errors. Since God is not the author of error, He obviously did not inspire the writers of the Apocrypha. This is why the Apocrypha was never included in the original canon of 66 books. ..........."
The Biblical Rebuke of Purgatory
God's Word leaves absolutely no possibility for sin to be purged away by anything other than the blood of Jesus Christ. The beloved apostle John penned these words with irrefutable clarity. He wrote, "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" and "all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7, 9). John did not say "some" sins or "most" sins, but all sin! This soundly rebukes the need for a sin-purging fire. God's Word also declares, "All things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). When Jesus "made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). Those who desire to have their sins purged need to trust a person, not a place. The blood of Christ is the only cleansing agent for sin! Those who come to the cross of Christ must come with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but their sins.
Every blood-bought believer is instantly present with their Redeemer at the moment of death. To be "absent from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6-8). This good news was affirmed by the Lord Jesus with the promise He gave to the repentant thief at Calvary. He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). This habitual sinner did not need a fire to purge his sins.
Catholics who believe in Purgatory need to be asked: "Who is in charge of releasing souls from the purging fire?" It cannot be God because of His promise to believers. "Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more" (Heb. 10:17). After conversion, God no longer counts sins against His children (2 Cor. 5:19).
Purgatory is a travesty on the justice of God and a disgraceful fabrication that robs Christ Jesus of His glory and honor. He alone satisfied divine justice, once and for all, by the perfect and finished sacrifice of Himself. The fatal deception of Purgatory blinds Catholics from the glorious Gospel of grace. It is one of Satan's many lies which keep his captives from knowing and trusting the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. It is Christ alone that will present us "faultless before the presence of his glory" (Jude 24).
I think it speaks for itself. And the paranoia around here regarding “hate” speech and “hate” sites and “anti-Catholic bigotry”.
O gentle Heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in Your judgments, but let some drops of Your Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames. And, Merciful Savior, send Your angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.
St. Dismas was baptized by conversion and testimony from the cross and was too busy being tortured to death to sin between his "baptism" and his death. So even in the old book-keeping approach to purgatory he would qualify for a very brief purgation or even for none.
I THINK that's an accurate representation. Other Catholics may be more reliable on this question.
>>>>>I did not think you knew the answer.. the avoidance of it is well noted
“We;; noted?? What does that mean??
I think you’re right, Hoss. Just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks..;)
Actually we don't care why you shake your heads. It's when you people start telling lies that we respond.
ROFL! Sure. Catholics made it all up. You guys love us.
I guess that’s what he’s saying Mom of 7. It’s painful to see the contortions these RCs will put themselves into to hold fast to a Pope’s invention.
I still believe them brothers and sisters in Christ, but man o’ man the extrabiblical contraptions they’ve erected for themselves is Disneyworldesque.
I have no room to talk, considering my typing errors, but what is “crucification”?
How do you figure?
Don't forget, in our view, since prayer is communication with the eternal, time sequences don't figure as much for us as for you.
BTW, what is blasphemous about that prayer you quoted? I don't get it.
Perhaps you could point out a “lie” or two told by someone you refer to as “you people”. And a TRUTH to destroy the “lie”. It would be a pleasure to see a real truth come out of hiding from your side.
“the first Church of Christ”... ah no, that would be Baptists, they are founded by John himself. RC is a construct of the governing bodies of the suburbs of ancient Rome.
You can adopt St. Peter, or whomever, but it’s no more than any college adopting a tiger, a gamecock, or any other such animal as their mascot. No matter how long it’s been since you adopted the mascot the fact is, it’s not the same as the first Christian churches, they were Baptist..Fullstop.
Just as you guys love us. I’ll bet it is the same.
So then God is a respecter of persons ? Some get a purging pass and others don't? What do you think would make one worthy of a pass or 'short" stay ??
My reply was to Iscool. I know who wrote the Bible, he doesn’t.
What's contorted about my post? Could I have an example with an explanation?
And do you KNOW that it was a pope who came up with the idea/teaching on purgatory? Our studies indicate that the idea existed before our Lord's Incarnation, though not as developed as it is now. If we are right, then it is not a Pope's invention.
Smvoice, you asked for an example of a "lie". This is certainly a falsehood. I don't like to call a falsehood a lie, unless I know it is not merely a good-faith error.
And it is the kind of statement that implies a knowledge that the speaker ought to know he does not have. So that looks like "vincible ignorance", which is culpable.
So it certainly has the appearance of lying in the second or third degree, though I do see any reason to think there was an intent to deceive.
No. No evidently you do NOT know who wrote the Bible, if you think the Catholic Church did.
******
“the first Church of Christ”... ah no, that would be Baptists, they are founded by John himself. RC is a construct of the governing bodies of the suburbs of ancient Rome.
You can adopt St. Peter, or whomever, but it’s no more than any college adopting a tiger, a gamecock, or any other such animal as their mascot. No matter how long it’s been since you adopted the mascot the fact is, it’s not the same as the first Christian churches, they were Baptist..Fullstop.
*****
LOL. So did you actually pass history? Or are you still taking it in our government schools?
LOL, Wow the ignorance here is so funny. And sad at the same time.
Pity? Love? Sorrow? Concern?
I periodically feel regret for how I have posted to those who hate Catholics, and go to confession. My priest reminds me that we are to follow Christ’s commandment to love our neighbot as ourselves, so I pray that all of you anti-Catholic bigots prosper materially and grow in faith, and are blessed by Crhrist the way I want to bewith health, wealth, and hapiness in Him forever.
Then I read one of all y’all’s really stupid posts, and come to my senses.
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