Posted on 01/11/2015 12:54:31 PM PST by NYer
Freedom of speech is a great thing. Unfortunately, it comes at an unavoidable price: When citizens are free to say what they want, theyll sometimes use that freedom to say some pretty silly things. And thats the case with the 12 claims were about to cover.
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Some of them are made over and over, others are rare. Either way, while the proponents of these errors are free to promote them, we as Catholics have a duty to respond.
5. "You don't need to confess your sins to a priest. You can go straight to God."
As a former Baptist minister, I can understand the Protestant objection to confession (they have a different understanding of priesthood). But for a Catholic to say something like this...it's disappointing. I suspect that, human nature being what it is, people just don't like telling other people their sins, and so they come up with justifications for not doing so.
The Sacrament of Confession has been with us from the beginning, coming from the words of Christ Himself:
"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (John 20:21-23)
Notice that Jesus gives His apostles the power to forgive sins. Of course, they wouldn't know which sins to forgive if they weren't told what sins were involved.
The practice of confession is also evident in the Letter Of James:
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:14-16)
It's interesting that nowhere does James (or Jesus) tell us to confess our sins to God alone. Rather, they seem to think that forgiveness comes through some means of public confession.
And it's not difficult to understand why. You see, when we sin, we rupture our relationship not just with God, but with His Body, the Church (since all Catholics are interconnected as children of a common Father). So when we apologize, we need to do so to all parties involved — God and the Church.
Think of it this way. Imagine you walk into a store and steal some of their merchandise. Later, you feel remorse and regret the sinful act. Now, you can pray to God to forgive you for breaking His commandment. But there's still another party involved; you'll need to return the merchandise and make restitution for your action.
It's the same way with the Church. In the confessional, the priest represents God and the Church, since we've sinned against both. And when he pronounces the words of absolution, our forgiveness is complete.
Did I say I care? It would be fair to say that when twisted truths and falsehoods are presented as something they are not I will do as God instructs us to do...oppose them...as they oppose the God that I serve.
Did you ever think that our ‘care’...is to those who read these threads who need to know the truth rather than the mistruths Catholicism presents and teaches... that they might see the truth and not be mislead?
Catholics would do well to consider that it's not about them...it's about the teachings that Catholicism misleads people to and the affects on those who are not well grounded in God's word.
It's apparent many catholics hold to their religion based on “being born into it”...or having been “all their lives”....Did you ever consider that rather than constantly playing the victim God is attempting to get catholics back on ‘His path’ rather than continuing with a religion that robs people of the best He has for them?
Your church is not under attack from anything more than going it's own way rather than how God would have you go. My gosh man, just look at the scandals that have gone on for centuries in the Priesthood alone....and continue to this very day. God exposed your Priesthood fully and still does. This was not a “few” this was nothing less than a child sex ring operating within your church for years...and protected by the hierarchy....
Non-catholics saw this for years, reported it etc....I saw it in my local catholic church and the Priest of that church who did not hide he had a “boy toy”. Even when the church membership was approached about this they simply stuck their heads in the sand once more. By the tie the courts finally got a hold of this creep the young man was completely a basket case.
So how many others were destroyed....how many other secrets and crimes fill the church from your Priests who continue to do crimes that in the outside world would never go without punishment and jail-time.
What’ is truly amazing is you all are well informed of this , and that it continues to be an issue...yet we see children STILL attending your churches knowing this. Are you insane?
It so reminds me of the Islamists who love their teachings and Imams far more than they love or protect their children.
So don't preach to me about who is good or not...as long as the Priesthood continues it will continue to attract men who abuse children and homosexuals who know they have safe haven within it's walls....and the membership is compliant IMO. as long as they continue to send their children before these Priests.
....”so I won’t be there as long, ‘if’ I make it! But I never take my salvation for granted!”....
Your post reflects clearly your limited understanding of what salvation is....if you understood it you could not have written what you have.
....”It never occurs to them that if they can work their way there.. there was no need for Jesus”.....
They have zero understanding of what Jesus accomplished as their posts reflect....it’s as though His Work is actually the ‘add-on’ to all the misleading teachings, dogma, rituals and practices the church spoon feeds them as central to their salvation....and that is thier faith....
Like building a sunday with their Mary covering it all and Jesus as the Cherry on top.....Jesus is an afterthought or side issue. Never central to their faith.
That could also be called brainwashing and conditioning or “grooming” a child very early ....like Islamists do with thier children by teaching them habits without understanding why or about what they are doing them for.... “habits’” then become ingrained as a foundation to build all the other “stuff” on which entraps them.
....” as a Baptized Catholic you will ALWAYS be a baptized Catholic”....
That’s not true though understood catholicism teaches it’s membership this mistruth.
When one is Baptized this publically evidences they’ve given their life to God and joined the Body of believers IN CHRIST throughout the world which is His Church.
It never means you are tied to the church building, no matter what it’s affliation or church you were Baptized in....
Catholicism teaches otherwise because one again it’s similar to false religions and cults who say likewise as a means of entrapment and creating ‘false guilt’ in those who might choose to leave.
....”It’s by God’s Mercy. All the way around”....
Not exactly...It’s by Jesus Christ who God sees us through Him.
My Baptist son was told that by a Catholic family member.. he almost choked in front of them ...LOL
There is not one verse in scripture that confirms that
I believe in the Holy Trinity, One God in Three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When I said “God” I meant all Three.
I know what I believe. No one can fully comprehend God's Saving Power, least of all me. That's why I trust what my Catholic Church teaches - its wisdom in these matters far surpasses my own.
...”No one can fully comprehend God’s Saving Power”....
Sure we can...who told you you couldn’t?....
God made it clear He would send us His Spirit to guide us and lead us into His truth. I trust His Spirit..not mans..not ever... to teach and confirm to me what God would have me to know...He made me He certainly is not limited in teaching me......He says not only can I rely on Him but He wants me to do just that.
Jesus clearly said.....”the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,.. ‘will teach you all things’... and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” .....John 14
John 16:13 continues....”But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into ‘all the truth’. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
Additionally...1 John 2:27 tells us....”As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit.”
Then in 1John5 we read further....”I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that ‘you may know’ that you have eternal life.” ...(not guess or hope).....This is the ‘confidence’ which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:20 continues with....”We know also that the Son of God has come and ‘has given us understanding’, so that we may ‘know him’ who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.
Dwight D. Eisenhower said.... “An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”
What you have written comes clearly from the basis and percepectives of catholicism teachings, rituals, and practices... which I do not believe our Lord taught us.... That’s how I can argue against them....
....and Foremost because catholicism twists everything biblical to adapt to their teachings rather then let the scriptures determine so....and then attach Jesus as if to seal what they have chosen to deliver.
Everything you stated was to explain the catholic position which I do not adhere to...because it’s twisted to conform to catholicism rather than to Christ Jesus.
Just because you “say” these are based in Christ...the evidence they are not is clear from His Word. Which have been time and again exposed on these threads.
Over-emphasis on extra-biblical material is an implicit denial of the sufficiency of Scripture and a subtle, but disastrous drawing of the reader ever further afield from the inspired Word of God in search of gold which, more often than not, is fool’s gold. Catholicism does this all the time by flooding people with all these ancient catholic rituals, practices and literature that simply is not necessary nor were instructed by our Lord.
Dwight D. Eisenhower said.... “An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.”
When I left Catholicism (I refuse to call it a church and I’m sure you know why) my poor Mother would light candles and place them in front of Mary figurines she had around the house. She would go as far as trying to sprinkle me with holy water when I visited her. My kids thought she was crazy...
What is it that so gets in their mind and hearts way to grasp these things....I often think they simply don't want to know truth unless it can be twisted to suite Catholicism... and by then it's done it's damage by filling them full of such self-rightousness they cannot see their errors.......Te Pharisees were likewise.
The catholic rituals, teachings and practices etc. all seem to come out of the Old testament....then they simply attach Jesus to make it palitable to their masses....while still maintaining the old practices...and then a whole lot more they've developed over the years.
...”What a system of bondage”...
Well that is just it unfortunately...as with mormonism and Islam and others....could be why they find they have “common ground” among one another. They are all operating from a system of bondage.
The, like abused woman, they play the victim mentality as if the world is against them. That in itself should cause them to question where they are and why.
CAWW, I understand where you are coming from, but totally disagree with you on the teachings of the Church. That said, we both agree on the most fundamental tenet of God’s Salvation through His Son. If we don’t get a chance to meet in person in this life, I hope we meet at St Peter’s Rally Point.
V/R
Bill
LOL... My Father could not understand it either..
Link is Far more confusing and unnessary then required to explain heaven....Over-emphasis on extra-biblical material is an implicit denial of the sufficiency of Scripture.
In John 14 Jesus said,
“I go to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” ...Jesus has been in heaven preparing a place for us...Simple enough.
One of the problems G2G is that Rome has a different jesus, and a different gospel .. The jesus of Rome does not save anyone..he only makes it possible for someone to save themselves
>> "If we don’t get a chance to meet in person in this life, I hope we meet at St Peter’s Rally Point Yeshua's Marriage Supper, on the Sea of Glass Mingled With Fire." <<
. Peter has nothing to do with any of this.
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