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Pope Francis rejects false religiosity
cna ^ | September 7, 2013 | Kerri Lenartowick

Posted on 09/07/2013 3:49:35 PM PDT by NYer

Pope Francis greets the faithful at the May 8 General Audience (Credit: CNA / Stephen Driscoll)

Vatican City, Sep 7, 2013 / 10:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- 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!”


TOPICS: Catholic; Prayer; Religion & Culture; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; eis; popefrancis
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To: Melian
Seems he found a big difference between the posts of the two groups. Perhaps there are a thousand silent readers who never post who feel as he did? I would assert to you that one doesn’t have to make it personal to take a stand; you just have to say that the sarcastic or hate-filled posts of “Christians” make you sad or uncomfortable or disgusted or doubtful of their brand of spirituality or, simply, embarrassed for them. That’s what I think when I read their petty posts: they’ve embarrassed themselves, whether they know it or not. I would be embarrassed to be lumped in among their number. One can speak out publicly against something in general terms. One can take a stand for civility and brotherly love without naming names. I don’t see much of even that kind of courage from Protestants on these threads. Someone who wants to take a stand can also simply shun the haters by refusing to respond to their baiting posts or when they are pinged.

I think you have said yourself that you don't frequent the Religion Forum all that much. If you had, you would see that there is quite a bit of sarcastic, hate-filled, vicious, condescension, patronization and ridicule going on from your "side" of the aisle. Most of the time, it is what STARTS the dialog going down that path. It happens again and again. So, yes, you are correct that reading some of them invokes feelings of embarrassment for them and DEFINITELY reflects badly on them. I do not judge ALL Catholics by these few - just so you know. Neither should you or anyone else judge all non-Catholic Christians by a few on this side. We are all grown ups here, we take responsibility for our own words. We will all give an account before God for every word we speak.

601 posted on 09/10/2013 11:52:06 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: vladimir998
No one can read a language that never existed.

You don't 'read' it; you 'translate' it.

Can you not detect a slight aroma of macassar oil?

602 posted on 09/11/2013 3:17:09 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
... it is an interpretation made with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and built on ancient teachings of the Church.

Protestant interpretations are simply interpretations of men.


Oh; NOW I see the difference.

603 posted on 09/11/2013 3:18:08 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
I long ago accepted the fact that heretics, schismatics, and morons would attack the faith.

Are you aware that those types of folks are also part OF your 'faith'?

604 posted on 09/11/2013 3:19:05 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
Ephesians 3:10 is in the Bible - even yours. Deny it all you want. It’s still there.

Never said it wasn't; did I.

But...
..your attempt at IGNORING so many Catholic 'beliefs' - that are NOT in the BIBLE - has been noted.

605 posted on 09/11/2013 3:21:11 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
A few bad popes more than 500 years ago aren’t going to worry me.

I know.

Good luck with your NEXT one!

606 posted on 09/11/2013 3:21:55 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
...which is an accurate translation of the Hebrew and Greek.

Oh?

Just WHICH 'hebrew' and WHICH 'greek'?

607 posted on 09/11/2013 3:22:48 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
But why let facts get in the way of anti-Catholic fantasies?

Indeed!

But why let facts get in the way of Catholic fantasies?

608 posted on 09/11/2013 3:23:21 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
You mean this Protestant Bible translation-interpretation controversy never happened?

Hey!!

Are you the guy that poo-pooed a 'few' bad popes just a few replies ago?

Is this another example of Catholic double standards shown?

609 posted on 09/11/2013 3:25:20 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Revolting cat!
Catholic Church is none of your business, just as the 7-th Day Adventist theology is none of mine, but like the theology of Jim Jones and others I mentioned is closer to yours, and you and your brethren ought to debate it, and all those other 35,000 sectrs, in my opinion. It is all internal matter of you opponents of Rome, and your arguments with those Harold Campings,

Actually you reject my points and again resort to arguments by assertion in atteting to deal with them. But even with your broadbrush, it remains the men like Jim Jone and Harold Camping acted like popes, as if they were infallible, and like Rome in history, excluded those who examined their claims and rejected them.

In contrast, while rightly seeing claims of assured infallibility, as per Rome, as being unScriptural, Westminster upholds that,

It belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same; which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to be received with reverence and submission; not only for their agreement with the Word, but also for the power whereby they are made, as being an ordinance of God appointed thereunto in His Word. — http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/wcf.htm

But the pope reigns above deposition by such, and as an individual claims assured if conditional infallibility.

The Catholic Church, which I don’t promote, despite your insinuation, doesn’t need me, and doesn’t need you.

I see, and sorry to assume, but as you example in broadbrushing based upon a non-distinctive commonality, it easy to assume that your were defending those who promote Rome .

Finally, about the Communists, who for a century and a half have defined themselves by those they hated,

"Defined themselves by those they hated?" Ever read Trent with its almost 140 anathemas? It fits your description quite well.

the church (small ‘c’) of capitalism and imperialism, using as their bible Marx’s Das Capital as the holy scripture, with its historical myths, and yes, its prophesies of imminent doomsday and judgment day.

So you are an anti-capitalist atheist/agnostic or similar non-Christian? Meanwhile, it is Roman Catholicism that is supremely guilty of imperialism, and sanctions teaching that many historical accounts are myths, but which they are not, nor will its prophesies of doomsday and judgment day fail.

610 posted on 09/11/2013 3:29:15 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: smvoice
I’ll be waiting for an answer to your question, CB. Can’t wait to see what it is.

It will; no doubt; have the appearance of tracks on the sidewalk in the early morning dew...

611 posted on 09/11/2013 3:29:58 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
Nope. Peter was chosen by Christ.


 
Is Peter the 'rock'?
 


NIV Matthew 4:18-19
 18.  As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
 19.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
 
NIV Matthew 8:14
  When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
 
NIV Matthew 10:1-2
 1.  He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil  spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
 2.  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
 
NIV Matthew 14:28-31
 28.  "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
 29.  "Come," he said.   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
 30.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
 31.  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
 
NIV Matthew 15:13-16
 13.  He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
 14.  Leave them; they are blind guides.  If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
 15.  Peter said, "Explain the parable to us."
 16.  "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.
 

As you can see, Simon was already known as 'Peter'
BEFORE the following verses came along.....


NIV Matthew 16:13-18
 13.  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
 14.  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
 15.  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
 16.  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,  the Son of the living God."
 17.  Jesus replied, "
Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
 18.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades  will not overcome it.
 19.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be  bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

NIV 1 Corinthians 10:4
   and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
 
NIV Luke 6:48
   He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
 
NIV Romans 9:33
  As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
 
 
 
NIV 1 Peter 2:4-8
 4.  As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--
 5.  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
 6.  For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
 7.  Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, "
 8.  and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.


But, since there WAS no NT at the time Christ spoke to Peter, just what DID Peter and the rest of the Disciples know about ROCKS???

 

NIV Genesis 49:24-25
 24.  But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
 25.  because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty,  who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.
 
NIV Numbers 20:8
   "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
 
NIV Deuteronomy 32:4
  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
 
NIV Deuteronomy 32:15
   Jeshurun  grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior.
 
NIV Deuteronomy 32:18
  You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
 
NIV Deuteronomy 32:30-31
 30.  How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
 31.  For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede.
 
NIV 1 Samuel 2:2
  "There is no one holy  like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
 
NIV 2 Samuel 22:2-3
 2.  He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
 3.  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn  of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me.
 
NIV 2 Samuel 22:32
  For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
 
NIV 2 Samuel 22:47
  "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!
 
NIV 2 Samuel 23:3-4
 3.  The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: `When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,
 4.  he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'
 
NIV Psalms 18:2
  The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn  of my salvation, my stronghold.
 
NIV Psalms 18:31
   For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
 
NIV Psalms 18:46
  The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
 
NIV Psalms 19:14
   May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
 
NIV Psalms 28:1
   To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
 
NIV Psalms 31:2-3
 2.  Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
 3.  Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
 
NIV Psalms 42:9
   I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
 
NIV Psalms 62:2
   He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
 
NIV Psalms 62:6
   He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
 
NIV Psalms 62:7
   My salvation and my honor depend on God ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
 
NIV Psalms 71:3
   Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
 
NIV Psalms 78:35
   They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.
 
NIV Psalms 89:26
   He will call out to me, `You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.'
 
NIV Psalms 92:14-15
 14.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
 15.  proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."
 
NIV Psalms 95:1
   Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
 
NIV Psalms 144:1
   Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
 
NIV Isaiah 17:10
   You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.
 
NIV Isaiah 26:4
   Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
 
NIV Isaiah 30:29
 And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
 
NIV Isaiah 44:8
   Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." 
 
NIV Habakkuk 1:12
   O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.

.....No other rock.............
 
And now you know the Biblical position!


612 posted on 09/11/2013 3:31:32 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
Do you even think about your posts before you post them?

HMMMmmm...

613 posted on 09/11/2013 3:32:27 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
It is from the Church that the angels learned the manifest wisdom of God.

Angels are now considered to be Rulers and Authorities?

Who knew!

614 posted on 09/11/2013 3:33:36 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: CynicalBear
No, the KJV was translated from the original manuscripts and can be checked against them.

Not quite: COPIES of 'the original manuscripts'.

615 posted on 09/11/2013 3:34:44 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: CynicalBear; vladimir998
Only to a Catholic can Translation be called interpretation.

There obviously is some interpretation involved in translating the Scriptures, but while most disagreements are not based on differences in translation, Prots are not alone in controversies regarding translation. Ask an RC which version of the Vulgate did Trent sanction, and which Bible he/she affirms as the best today.

616 posted on 09/11/2013 3:37:53 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: daniel1212

“There obviously is some interpretation involved in translating the Scriptures, but while most disagreements are not based on differences in translation, “

Anyone interested in comparing translations can go here and see that the claim of all those differences is unsubstantiated.

http://biblehub.com/

All one has to do is type in the verse being looked at in the white field at the top of the page and viola, you get a list of comparisons.

It’s not too hard for anyone interested in the truth.

Additionally, while in some cases the wording varies, the meaning is essentially the same. There is usually more than one way to articulate something that still gets the meaning across.


617 posted on 09/11/2013 3:49:58 AM PDT by metmom ( For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: vladimir998
Which is right?

Both.

618 posted on 09/11/2013 4:01:20 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
Actually Christ extends His priesthood to all the baptized, but He also has a select priesthood too.

SURE He does!

619 posted on 09/11/2013 4:02:11 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: vladimir998
“Once again, it shows the angels were amazed that God expanded the plan of salvation to the Gentiles.”


Which was carried out by the Catholic Church - which taught the angels. added all KINDS of stuff NOT found in the LETTER to the gentiles: in Acts 15!

620 posted on 09/11/2013 4:04:13 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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