Posted on 09/08/2018 9:06:50 AM PDT by Salvation
Scripture shares how Jesus ministry was among sinners; the same is true today in the Church
Question: I have a friend who says she is leaving the Catholic Church because of the new sexual abuse scandals. What can I say to convince her to stay? — Name withheld
Answer: Begin with empathizing with her anger and grief at the latest revelations of clerical misbehavior. It is the worst sort of betrayal when a priest or bishop sexually harass and abuse their own people. The faithful are right to be especially angry and hurt since they entrust to the clergy’s care the thing they most need to be saved: their faith.
Having acknowledged this, nothing would please the Evil One more than to see a Catholic walk away from the sacraments and thereby be deprived of these graces. This is especially true if the devil can sever your friend from the Sacrament of Holy Communion, which is Jesus himself.
There is an old saying: “Don’t leave Jesus because of Judas.” In his earthly ministry, Jesus was among sinners, and many of the puritanical Pharisees took scandal. Indeed, Jesus was often found in strange company.
The same is true today; Jesus is found among sinners. One image for the Church in the Scriptures is Christ crucified between two thieves. To find Jesus, we must often look past many sinners and unpleasant realities.
Jesus said, “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me” (Mt 11:6). So encourage your friend not to block her blessings on account of the scandals that Jesus said would inevitably arise (see Luke 17:1). Remind her that Satan will be delighted if she leaves and that she will become one more victim of these horrible abuses.
This is SWEET!!
Coming from one of the BIGGEST 'judges' of FR Protestants!!
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?... And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?... Do you not know that we shall judge angels?... How much more, things that pertain to this life?.. If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge ? (1 Corinthians 6:1-5).
Many commands of God require the exercise of righteous judgment.
"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thessalonians 3:14,15).
"Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself" (2 Timothy 6:2b-5).
"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:17,18).
All these commands require the careful exercise of righteousness judgment. Do not be deceived by smooth words and flattering speech. Beware of wolves who come to you with a sheep's skin.
We must be careful not to make unqualified judgments. But we must judge appropriately when commanded to do so.
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24).
Sadly, you have no idea where you are in grave error or how to leave it.
You have conflated the institutional ORG of Catholiciism with the actual church, THE TRUE BODY OF CHRIST made up of ALL those who have believed in Jesus as Savior and Lord Christ since 30 AD, many years before any institutional org was established. ... And we know what Paul warned regarding not discerning the true body, in his letter to the Corinthians regarding the REMEBRANCE.
Catholic priesthood remains clueless to the blasphemoies in that religion. Not discerning the Ture Body of Christ and instead pretending to eat the flesh and blood of Jesus, when GOD removes the body of Christ, the Ekklesia of living and dead believers, Catholiciism's priesthood will have not a clue to what just happened in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.[See 1Thess $:13-17 and 1Cor 15:51-53 for GOD's offered clues]
Harsh words? Yes, there is great need for the whip and overturning the proverbial tables/sacraments of falsehood.
Jesus Christ instructs John of Patmos to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
You guys have done really well...
What a concept!
The Catholic Eucharist is all about the power of your religion’s priesthood, to deliver something God has not given to your religion.
Scott Hahn....Scripture scholar???
I've yet to see evidence of that.
Taylor Marshall....looks like the dude has a potential alcohol problem.
From his website.....Souls can be saved by promoting a rediscovery of Catholic philosophy, theology, history, art, literature, and liturgy for the greater honor and worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. https://taylormarshall.com/about-taylor-marshall
No....souls are saved through faith in Christ...and only Christ.
That's basic Christianity 101. If he can't say that then pretty much everything else he says comes into question.
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Tagline.
I've checked out some RC seminaries for their courses also....minimum requirement for the original languages if any at all.
However, there is a strong emphasis on Latin and....yes...you guessed it....Mariology.
Nope. Rome's 'Mary' is not to be found there.
Keep shouting. Perhaps she is asleep.
Or maybe persuing...
You are correct.
John 6:63
"It is the Spirit who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing;
the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
Roman Catholics cover only 13.5% of the OT if they attend Sundays and weekdays....3.7% if attend Sunday and Major Feasts.
For the NT the results are 71.5% and 40.8% respectively.
And this is important....this is after Vatican II.
Prior to Vatican II Roman Catholics only heard 16.5% of the NT and 1.0% of the OT.
http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/Statistics.htm
That is why there are books and websites that go more into detail.
Good, if accurate.
Better if leaders know the Scriptures - as they are commanded to know.
Why hasn't the Vatican gone into more detail as to the dogmatic definition of the Scriptures????
Neither Hahn nor Marshall are Roman Catholic priests. They are just lay members. They are only offering their opinions at best.
Nothing they say is "official".
Yup; it is said; and with ZERO understanding of what the "THIS" was.
I've heard that there were...
As regards the oft-quoted Mt. 16:18, note the following Early Church Fathers promise in the profession of faith of Vatican 1:
Basil of Seleucia, Oratio 25:
'You are Christ, Son of the living God.'...Now Christ called this confession a rock, and he named the one who confessed it 'Peter,' perceiving the appellation which was suitable to the author of this confession. For this is the solemn rock of religion, this the basis of salvation, this the wall of faith and the foundation of truth: 'For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.' To whom be glory and power forever. Oratio XXV.4, M.P.G., Vol. 85, Col. 296-297.
Bede, Matthaei Evangelium Expositio, 3:
You are Peter and on this rock from which you have taken your name, that is, on myself, I will build my Church, upon that perfection of faith which you confessed I will build my Church by whose society of confession should anyone deviate although in himself he seems to do great things he does not belong to the building of my Church...Metaphorically it is said to him on this rock, that is, the Saviour which you confessed, the Church is to be built, who granted participation to the faithful confessor of his name. 80Homily 23, M.P.L., Vol. 94, Col. 260. Cited by Karlfried Froehlich, Formen, Footnote #204, p. 156 [unable to verify by me].
Cassiodorus, Psalm 45.5:
'It will not be moved' is said about the Church to which alone that promise has been given: 'You are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.' For the Church cannot be moved because it is known to have been founded on that most solid rock, namely, Christ the Lord. Expositions in the Psalms, Volume 1; Volume 51, Psalm 45.5, p. 455
Chrysostom (John) [who affirmed Peter was a rock, but here not the rock in Mt. 16:18]:
Therefore He added this, 'And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; that is, on the faith of his confession. Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Homily LIIl; Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LII.html)
Cyril of Alexandria:
When [Peter] wisely and blamelessly confessed his faith to Jesus saying, 'You are Christ, Son of the living God,' Jesus said to divine Peter: 'You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.' Now by the word 'rock', Jesus indicated, I think, the immoveable faith of the disciple.. Cyril Commentary on Isaiah 4.2.
Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XII):
For a rock is every disciple of Christ of whom those drank who drank of the spiritual rock which followed them, 1 Corinthians 10:4 and upon every such rock is built every word of the church, and the polity in accordance with it; for in each of the perfect, who have the combination of words and deeds and thoughts which fill up the blessedness, is the church built by God.'
For all bear the surname rock who are the imitators of Christ, that is, of the spiritual rock which followed those who are being saved, that they may drink from it the spiritual draught. But these bear the surname of rock just as Christ does. But also as members of Christ deriving their surname from Him they are called Christians, and from the rock, Peters. Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XII), sect. 10,11 ( http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/101612.htm)
Hilary of Potier, On the Trinity (Book II):
Thus our one immovable foundation, our one blissful rock of faith, is the confession from Peter's mouth, Thou art the Son of the living God. On it we can base an answer to every objection with which perverted ingenuity or embittered treachery may assail the truth."-- (Hilary of Potier, On the Trinity (Book II), para 23; Philip Schaff, editor, The Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers Series 2, Vol 9.
Kinda like an LDS dna expert...
Call no man father...
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