Catholics, Get Ready to Suffer

NC Register ^ | January 31, 2012 | Matthew Archbold

[NYer]

I remember coloring in the lions on the paper my Catechism teacher had handed out. The lions in the coliseum were approaching a group of huddled Catholics.

My CCD teacher asked us if we too were willing to suffer for our faith the way the martyrs of old did? I remember looking at those cartoon lions and deciding that yes, I very much had the stuff to stare down a cartoon lion. Easy.

But it’s easy to answer in the affirmative when we’re talking about cartoon lions. It’s different when we’re talking real life. Real lions have teeth.

And make no mistake, real life is what we’re talking now. We have a government that mandates what pro-life counselors must say. We have a government now that mandates that Catholic institutions pay for things it considers sinful. We have a government that now says the cost of being an American is to abandon Catholicism.

Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska in response to the Obama administration’s contraception mandate said, “We cannot and will not comply with this unjust decree. Like the martyrs of old, we must be prepared to accept suffering which could include heavy fines and imprisonment.”

This scares me but it’s true.

Now is the time when decisions must be made by Catholic college presidents and hospital administrators and the heads of all sorts of Catholic institutions. Should I do what the government tells me or what the Church tells me is right? Some whom we have great hope for will choose poorly. Some will stand up unexpectedly and refuse to comply with the government. And they will pay a price for being Catholic.

We’re no longer talking about the slippery slope here. We’ve walked off a cliff. We’re in free fall.

[marbren]

Rvelation says a multitude from every tribe and nation will be killed for refusing to take the mark...so it isn’t just Israel.

What if the USA is toast right after the rapture? No time to get the mark?

[mdmathis6]

“I knew a guy who used to sputter and fume about others not being in contact with reality. He was in contact with people from another planet, though, so everyone just let him sputter and sort of grinned at one another when he got wound up.”

So if I converted to Catholicism, would it be a sign of my growth, if I was boldly unkind and nasty to others “outside my faith”, especially hiding behind the saftey of a pseudonym so that no one would know that deep inside , the real “ME” was really a miserable little worm?

[ottbmare]

OK, I can accept that this is your view. I'm sorry if I did not represent your position fairly. (But you do understand, don't you, that there are other Protestants who really think that their denomination has it all right and the other ones don't, and everybody else is going to hell? I have some cousins like this: someone decides to go to another very conservative Southern Protestant church just down the road and they shake their heads in sorrow because they're just sure they won't see him in heaven, apostate that he is.)

The issue is, however, that the different denominations do teach different things. If they didn't have different doctrines there would not be divisions. These divisions have existed since Calvin, Zwingli, and Luther first disagreed in the sixteenth century, and it's continued since then. And they can't all be right.

Honestly, I'm just making the same point over and over. Let God sort out the sheep from the goats. We don't need to do the judging for Him. I'm begging everyone to stop hatin' on those Christians who believe differently, if they love and serve Christ as Saviour. You cannot know how God will judge others! But this bickering is madness. It's truly of Satan. You and other Protestants are devoting so very much energy to attacking Catholics who are your brothers and sisters in Christ; would it not please and honor God more to redirect that energy to peace among ourselves and strength against the Devil?

I write this as a lifelong Protestant, now a joyful Catholic. To quote the founder, Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht oder.

Good night, and may God richly bless your life.

[mdmathis6]

The US being toast after the rapture(or before the one world state and antiChrist arises but just before the rapture, depending on one’s belief) might be a good thing for end times saints....a disrupted landscape and no functioning governments other than some “one world order military “ outposts might provide “brooks of Kidron” type sanctuaries for Christian folks looking for cover until the Lord establishes his kingdom on the Earth. Folks may find themselves fed by the Ravens the way Elijah was when he fled from Jezebel’s wrath!

[marbren]

What if ET’s and 40 foot man eating giants are part of the mix?

[metmom]

I don't doubt that there are Protestants who think that everyone else is wrong.

And they can't all be right.

I don't think ANYBODY is all *right*.

I have issues with some of the teachings of Pentecostalism, and yet I have many friends who I know love Christ who hold to them.

Do I think they're *right*? No, not really.

Do I think they're saved? Absolutely.

The issue is what you do with Jesus, not speaking in tongues or being *slain in the Spirit*.

Romans 10:9-13 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Ephesians 2:4-10 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Jesus saves, not a church, which is why anyone who knows better doesn't make an issue about which denomination someone affiliates with unless that denomination teaches salvation by some other means than Jesus.

God doesn't require perfect doctrine or theology to save someone. Just a repentant heart and trusting Christ.

[Lera]

I would love to hear it. Send a PM please .

[CynicalBear]

>> if some of us could stop rejecting other Christians.<<

Nancy Palosi is a Catholic. Is she a Christian and should we unite with her? What about Camping. He said he was a Christian. Should we unite with him? How far into the bushes should one get before we don’t “unite” with them?

[Lera]

The devil and all his minions know who Jesus Christ is too.
They however do not have a personal relationship with him.

[metmom]

Catholic is not by default Christian.

I have no issues with Christians, but not all Catholics are Christian, just as not all of any denomination are Christian.

There are Christians and non-Christians in EVERY denomination and church (local assembly of believers) on this planet. Lots of non-Christians attend church every Sunday and affiliate with a local body of believers, but unless they have repented and put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, they are not saved, no matter how often they attend, no matter how hard they work, what offices they hold, and how well they know and can defend their church history.

There are some Catholics posting on FR who give evidence of having sincerely and truly trusted Christ alone for their salvation and I don’t have any problems with them. Those are not the ones I am at odds with.

[Melian]

Being Roman Catholic is a deep source of joy for me and I am nourished completely by the fullness of the Faith. Catholicism is the best road to eternal life.

[Quix]

YUCK.

Toooo true.

thx.

[Quix]

There's NO place for bitterness on the part of anyone claiming to be a Christian of any stripe. Period.

"those who are sincere but (in your view) are mistaken."

are one thing.

The virulently blood lust hostile, mean-spirited, harshly personally assaultive, etc. etc. etc. are quite something else.

Christ was quite gentle and generous with those who had any teachableness at all . . . except for Peter, once.

The Pharisees, He was quite stern with, in His rebukes.

imho, we are all called of Scripture and The Lord to rebuke a bro we see headed for the ditch or in the ditch. We are not told he has to like our rebuke.

Some folks have noted to me 10 years later what life the rebuke brought them--repeatedly--though they hated it and were fiercely hostile to it at the time. Would you have me rob such folks of such benefit? How dare I?

[Salvation]

Catholics, Get Ready to Suffer
Mood changes as pope, young people reflect on suffering in Way of CrossM
Following The Truth: Appreciating The Gift Of Suffering (Catholic or Open)
Cardinal Burke: suffering does not rid life of purpose
In historic TV Q&A, Pope Benedict speaks about suffering, comatose persons, persecution (Catholic)
Pope Addresses Suffering in Historic Television Appearance
(Why Am I Catholic?) For Peace While Suffering (A Few Words for Wednesday)
Praying in Sickness and Old Age
The Church as a Hospital
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] The Apostolate of Suffering Redux

Redemptive Suffering
Through church, Jesus ministers to all who are sick in the world
'Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer'
Pope Benedict asks sick to offer up suffering for priests (Catholic Caucus)
Why Must I Suffer?
On the Advantages of Tribulations by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Why Be Catholic? 3: Suffering [Ecumenical]
"Love Really Can Make Suffering Bearable": Woman with Spina Bifida
Experts at Euthanasia Symposium Stress Unity, Strategy, and the Triumph of Love over Suffering
Holy Father prays for peace and unity, encourages the suffering to trust in God

Joy-Filled Suffering, Laetare Sunday
Children 'Suffering >From Lack Of Two-Parent Family', Study Finds
Pope Says Euthanasia 'False Solution' to Suffering, Alludes to Comatose Woman's Fate
Excerpts from THE FRUITS OF HIS LOVE - The Value Of Suffering - Mother M. Angelica
Why Not You? (on suffering)
Vicar takes down crucifixion sculpture 'because it's a scary depiction of suffering'
The Value of Suffering in the Life of Christian Perfection
IN BRUSH WITH DEATH, PRIEST SHOWN HELL, PURGATORY, DEGREES OF SUFFERING
Prayers to Saint Agatha [For Those Suffering from Breast Cancer]
REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING(Catholic Caucus or by Invitation Only)

[Quix]

Well put.

[mdmathis6]

Elijah and Moses(or Enoch) are a part of the mix...they’ll give the AC/beast system a run for its money. The reason the two prophets will be here are to to be visible Shekinah empowered witness for the living God and to provide some sort of defense for those who haven’t taken the mark but are struggling to remain faithful. Think of everytime Pharoah upped the ante on the Isrealites, Moses upped the ante on Pharoah by the power of the living God. That’s what is going to occur with these future 2 prophets and with the 144000 set apart ones. At least that is my belief...Revelation says the 2 witnesses will have the power to shut up heaven so that there is no rain, and no one will be able to harm them without them being burned to a crisp first.

Another words, satanic super soldiers, ET’s, 40 foot giants, and spurious parlor tricks of the False Prophet, will be no match for the powers of deep heaven(CS Lewis phrase, I absolutely love) that these two witnesses will be able to muster. And when the Beast is allowed(and I mean allowed) to kill the 2 witnesses, God will raise them up(I sometimes think that’s when the rapture truly occurs...but I’m not strongly committed to that notion so please no arguements).

Praise God and as Alamo Girl would say...God’s name is I AM!

[marbren]

the age of denominations is finished.

[madison10]

If pro-life Protestants had the time and the guts we would be walking in front of Catholic hospitals with signs saying:

Protestants for the Catholic Right to Choose

[mdmathis6]

“the age of denominations is finished”

Yup, true Christians from all 4 branches, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant, and the Messianic Jewish movements are going to have put Christ first, watch each other’s backs, allow Christ to knock all of our stubborn heads together so that we are formed into HIS true church...the one He wants us to be!

[Lera]

You do know that the denominations you are singling out are the ones that to this day have the closest ties to Rome ?
In fact Rome even considers them to be real Christians .
What you are pointing out is that it is these very same churches are full of liberals much like the Roman Catholic churches .

You know what the funniest thing I have read on this board is ? It was a comment by a Roman Catholic (Salvation) posted after the big Denver football win by Tim Tebow .
I wish I could find the post but I did not book mark it (pinging Salvation too) Basically she thought he was a Roman Catholic because he did not believe in abortion.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
WAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Tim Tebow is a born again Christian who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ . He was raised in a Baptist church and he is a missionary preacher overseas (his football job comes second to his preacher job)
Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is not a ticket to living a sinful life . It means that sin will no longer reign in your life , the Holy Spirit cleans you up . You do not become sinless but right away you start sinning a whole lot less.
Oh BTW even with all that money , all the temptation that he is put under , he is also still a virgin.
Can you say that about your own children under normal circumstances ?

I laugh because I constantly hear how wrong we are and yet I also constantly hear this so and so must be catholic .

He is exactly what you want your kids to be
He is born again.
He has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ .
He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit .
He knows how to ask the Holy Spirit to constantly keep him filled to overflowing.
His eyes are not on anything but Christ .
He does not run around asking Mary to help him , he knows who his redeemer is and by that I mean HE REALLY KNOWS HIM.
He does not trust in his church to get him there by any mysteries etc .
Is he sinless ? No
Is he perfect ? No
If he was either he would just ask God to move over when he got to heaven.
He is not defeated and blind .