Pope Francis greets the faithful at the May 8 General Audience (Credit: CNA / Stephen Driscoll)
Posted on 09/07/2013 3:49:35 PM PDT by NYer
.- In his daily homily on Saturday, Pope Francis reflected on the question of authentic Christianity and rejected the practice of focusing more on devotions than on Christ himself.
Jesus is “the center” of faith, said the Pope. “A commandment is valid if it comes from Jesus: I do this because the Lord wants me to do this. But if I am a Christian without Christ, I do this and I don’t know why I have to do it,” he said to the congregation at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta on September 7.
Like the Pharisees, he said, there are some people who “make so many commandments the center of their religiosity.”
Others who have a false sense of religiosity “only seek devotions” or “things that are a little uncommon, a little special, that go back to private revelations,” noted Pope Francis.
“If your devotions bring you to Christ, that works. But if you remain there, something’s wrong,” he explained.
“If Jesus is not at the center, there will be many other things,” so that people become “Christians without Christ.”
Remembering that Jesus is the center of faith “regenerates us, grounds us.”
Pope Francis further explained the mark of a true “Christian with Christ.”
“The rule is simple: only that which brings you to Jesus is valid, and only that is valid that comes from Jesus. Jesus is the center, the Lord, as He Himself says.”
Christians can avoid false religiosity by adoring Jesus as “the Lord, the only Lord.”
“If you aren’t able to adore Jesus, you’re missing something,” warned Pope Francis.
The sign of a true “Christian with Christ” is one who does “that which comes from Jesus” and that which leads to Jesus.
Such adoration bears true fruit in the life of a Christian, encouraged the Pope.
He said that Jesus also gives “the grace of loving Him so much, of following Him, of going along the path that He has shown us.”
A “Christian with Christ” has the courage to proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Pope Francis exhorted Catholics not to focus on false piety, but rather evangelize and “take the Gospel!”
You might try re-writing your earlier post. If a desire to commit / support political violence wasn't the differentiator between yourself and your five unnamed Protestants, what was?
Ok...and as an adult what did you decide?
Many determine to test the waters to determine what truth really is...others remain fixed in what they were taught afraid to see their faith tested.. Some return to what is ‘comfortably familiar’ when they can't defend what they believe otherwise.......and still others launch out into the deep unafraid... for they know WHO they have believed in.
I think those who need strong structure and regulations in their life often reflect this in their choice of where they choose to worship. Others never choose...they simply accept this is what it is..... Some enjoy the freedom in Christ to worship Him in any place where Christians come together.
I think we both know each other well enough that there is NOOO doubt between us that this is what we both believe!
Maybe here is where we delve into semantics, but I the law is indeed what, as Christians we should strive for. And every single time we fall short we need to look back at the Cross. We don't sin against ourselves, but as the Psalmist said, we sin against God and God alone.
Hey, it looks like I will be in town a good bit over the next year. I'll give you a call.
And here I thought I was getting undue attention due to my unlaundered shirts!
Thank you for that info. I will be sure to do.
LOL I sense a generational thing happening there.
Nope, just a donkey at the keyboard.
The only Peavey I know of makes eardrums bleed!
Yeah, but at least YOU mix it up and actually say real words most of the time!
A log peavey is a pole with a point and a hook on the end that is used to turn logs. It’s also called a cant hook.
No no no a Peavey is an amplifier built for guitars and such for the purpose of splitting eardrums (or knocking trees down)This is what happens when you follow your own interpretation or your own opinion.St Nigel of the Tap told me!
lololol....good one!
I noticed my wife had the life insurance policy out! /s
My son had a licensed plumper fix his well.....ended up he had to pull the pump and do the job himself simply by getting instructions off line. Perfect repair!
As a licensed electrician was checking my fuse box he could not locate the wires and was ready to blow everything...I stopped him by pointing out the wires.
My son fractured his collar bone....A Highly qualified Physician and with degrees all over the place couldn’t see any fracture...my son at 15 went to the x-ray and pointed it out.
If I said, NO, the Pope does not deserve the same protection afforded other world leaders. All manner of expletive laden comments would be fired off condemning me for the nerve to have suggested the Pope shouldn't have any protection. As I already said, shouldn't we ALL take normal precautions when we go out into the world and shouldn't we NOT tempt or test God by being reckless? To qualify my "NO" answer, I already said why those who trust in God to protect them and work all things to their good should not fear what might happen to them, but to trust the Lord.
I might keep a loaded gun in my nightstand to ensure I have an even advantage over someone who might break in and do us harm, but I'm not going to leave my doors unlocked and leave the alarm system off because I do have a weapon.
No, it would be real nice if what are called "simple questions" weren't preloaded with a damned if you do/damned if you don't result. A true man of God, who is convinced that he is God's chosen vessel, will not need to live in fear nor insist on a Secret Service level squad to keep him from harm. There is a testimony that gets communicated by guys like Pope Francis, one that says I'm here for everyone and willing to trust God to preserve me through anything, if it is His will. If one doesn't trust God, he lives in constant fear even IF he is surrounded by an army. Now, which one do you think honors God best?
We get those wrong way pines all the time at our ranch in the sierra. We have lots of “digger” pines that grow in crazy directions, and some are even curved. Rather than using a tractor to tug them over, I just wait until the wind is blowing my way, and notch them deep, and let the wind do the work.
Haven’t lost any buildings yet, but have had the road blocked a few times.
My wife doesn’t sweat the trees so much, but goes crazy when I’m burning brush, so I usually do it when its raining.
Peavy used to make all kinds of useful tools, but I don’t know if they’re even still in business, now that everybody is using Feller-bunchers to handle the small timber.
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Was she a looker? :o)
Nailed it!
You'll not need to.
There is a way to eliminate those pesky religion posts from showing up when you log onto FR.
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