Posted on 11/25/2011 6:55:10 AM PST by marshmallow
Tens of thousands wait for hours in freezing temperatures to kiss belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother
MOSCOW — Braving freezing cold temperatures and ice-covered sidewalks, tens of thousands of Russians stood in line Wednesday to see and kiss a newly arrived relic of the Virgin Mary in Russia's largest Orthodox cathedral.
The Virgin Mary's Cincture, a belt that Christians believe was worn by Jesus' mother, was brought to Russia last month from Mount Athos, a monastic community in Greece.
Kissing the relic, which is encased in an ornamental box, is believed to help barren women conceive and heal other ailments.
The line of people, mostly women, waiting to enter the golden-domed Christ the Savior Cathedral stretched for 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) along the Moscow River despite temperatures that dropped to below minus 5 Celsius (23 Fahrenheit).
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
CynicalBear wrote:
From scripture we can find that all of the leadership of the Catholic Church are not qualified to be in those positions.
CynicalBear wrote:
From scripture we can find that all of the leadership of the Catholic Church are not qualified to be in those positions.
I’m more qualified than your Pope. I’m married and have children. The Pope is a usurper who is unqualified per scripture.
There is nothing wrong with drinking alchohol in moderation, and doing other things when married. But God also is pleased when people give up such lawful things for His sake.
Whoa-ho. Prideful much?
A few small cults teach that nonsense, but for 2,000 years the VAST majority of Christendom disagrees with those heretical splinter groups.
1st ya have to PROVE that the NT church was the same church as Rome.. nadda. The NT church bore almost NO resemblance to the church of Rome
That may well be but on a personal choice level. Those who command or demand things are condemned and the qualifications to be in church leadership is strictly outlined. The Pope, Bishops and Priests in the CC don’t qualify.
YAWN!
Catholic priests choose to take the vows. Nobody forces them to.
Why would God have us entertain angels? This is in scripture.
I had several moments in my life where an an individual would come for help. Then would have only an supernatural answer for what happen.
I had a woman ask me for 5 dollars. I would pray to God if it would go to waste. Well I gave it. Right after I gave it. I would look down at my beeping scanner then look up. The car and the woman would be gone. Totally impossible in the natural. It was a second or two. Her car was 20 ft away.
I ran around to look but totally gone.
So what is Christ showing us when this happens?
I also had this happen when a friend of mine did not believe we entertained angels. Some one just happen to come to the door asking for food or money when that never happen before or since at the house. My friend was right there. He believes now more than ever.
What in the world would the Lord be showing us when this happens?
"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...Mark 16:15,16.
"And these signs SHALL follow THEM THAT BELIEVE; In my name SHALL they cast out devils; they SHALL speak with new tongues; (verse 17) they SHALL take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it SHALL NOT hurt them; they SHALL lay hands on the sick, and they SHALL recover." (verse 18).
If your "Universal Church" has been following the task of "Teaching all the Nations" as appointed by Jesus Christ for an unbroken 2,000 years, then why are there still sick people? and "demon possessed" and why isn't every man hearing those teachers speak in their own language, and why aren't you ridding the earth of serpents and drinking poison so no one has to die needlessly? Notice this says that all these signs SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE. Not just the apostles. Not just on the day of Pentecost. Not just for priests, or those in "authority". It says clearly that ALL WHO BELIEVE SHALL HAVE THESE SIGNS.
As a matter of fact,every time a believer is baptized they SHALL be able to take their signs to unbelievers and baptize them so THEY SHALL have the signs.
If there hasn't been a worldwide work of Believe and be baptized for remission of sins and these signs SHALL follow, then your religion is a lie. Jesus said these things would follow. And you claim to be the Church He gave this task to. You can't have it both ways. You can't claim to be the One Church that Christ sent to all nations, and at the same time, NOT impart to those new believers the same signs that Christ said ALL BELIEVERS WOULD POSSESS.
Most folks are
--mature enough,
--informed enough,
--aware enough,
--sharp enough,
--discerning enough,
. . .
TO REALIZE
that BODY LANGUAGE AND ACTIONS are far
MORE RELIABLE
indicators of attitudes of the heart
than are mere words.
braving such cold to kowtow to/kiss such an OBJECT is a brazenly clear form of worship.
Certainly all the Buddhists and Hindus would understand it as such.
as does God.
Which part of
Do NOT BOW DOWN TO . . . [any such objects etc]
in Scripture do you not understand?
Or is it simple rebellion to God and His Word in favor of personal/organizational/cultish preferences?
Exodus 23:24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or ...
| Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. ... //bible.cc/exodus/23-24.htm - 16k |
2 Kings 17:35 When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites ...
| When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: "Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. ... //bible.cc/2_kings/17-35.htm - 17k |
Leviticus 26:1 "'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred ...
| "'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it.... //bible.cc/leviticus/26-1.htm - 17k |
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
Seems some can’t handle that Christians, God’s own children, are taught by His Spirit - while catholics are taught by man. Well, that’s the Way, the Truth, the LIFE we chose.
Choose LIFE - your ‘sugar coated man made traditions’ lead to destruction!
Yes...they will come to unite as well..along with the New Agers and Hindus and other easten religions along with the environmentalists who are for the most part wrapped in new age mindsets...... and all those who are not abiding in the centrality of Jesus Christ and salvation thru Him alone. Though they may speak his name from their lips...their hearts are far from Him...just as He said it would be.
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