Text of Pope's Last Will and Testament

Associated Press ^ | April 7, 2005 | Associated Press

[Okies love Dubya 2]

It's also a disgrace to the Protestants who expressed sympathy for the passing of the Pope, despite our denominational differences.

[Publius6961]

Understood; I need more coffee.

[Malacoda]

Indeed. They seem to wait, with baited breath, to jump in with a "Holier Than Thou" post.

I might have a modicum of respect for it, if they could agree with ONE ANOTHER on whatever their form of truth is. From what I can see, once Luther did his thing, they all decided they liked the infighting, and kept splitting into smaller and smaller factions. I mean, really -- just look in the darn phone book. How many denominations of "Protestant" are out there?

The only thing they can all seem to agree on is they don't like Catholics.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

Although I don't hold out much hope. It seems they get almost demonic glee out of slamming their fellow Christians.

---

I agree.

[BigSkyFreeper]

But...by your own standards, shouldn't you recuse yourself from this discussion? You're a "godless atheist" who has only read the Bible "half a dozen times."

So your "standard" is different than MineralMan's. Who are you to judge someone, even if they've read the Bible "a half dozen times". Personally, I'd be satisfied even if a person has read the Bible a "couple of times", because they took the initiative to immerse themselves in The Word. Then that person can decide for themself, not everyone else.

[wolfman]

If your child is on a path to destruction, ignoring it would be the most hateful reaction.

[Petronski]

The Crucifiction was a once-for-all event

It's Crucifixion (being fixed to a cross). Why do you put the word 'fiction' in there?

...why then must Christ be sacrificed repeatedly thousands of times per day for thousands of years?

Because He said so.

...and who are we to thrust His sacrifice upon Him again and again?

We are the ones whom He asked to do so.

[Rutles4Ever]

We are never told in the Bible whether anyone else in heaven can even hear us.

That still doesn't explain why Jesus needed to talk to a couple of dead guys at the Transiguration. Ya think they were praying for Him and His mission?

[lupie]

So how could Mary be full of grace? It's there in black-and-white. There are no ifs, ands, or buts - the angel Gabriel called her "full of grace". Would he call her that if she wasn't?

It is not necessarily full of grace, if you are refering to Luke 1. Depends on the translation. In Luke, Gabriel called her "charitoo {khar-ee-to'-o}" (#5487) According to Zodhiates, it means to grace, highly honor, or greatly favor. In this word there is not only the impartation of God's grace, but also the adoption into God's familyjin imparting special favors in distinction to charizonmai (5483) which means to give grace, to remit, forgive.

The word "charitoo" is found in 2 places in the NT. The first is when Gabriel is addressing Mary. The second is found in Ephesians 1:6:

..to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

So then if Mary was special and this term was used of her, then so are also all believers. It would seem to be pretty "black and white" then that what is true of Mary, is true of all who put their trust in the Lord God. How then do you explain the difference?

[Daisy4]

"Dear, a comma does not wipe out the second half of the sentence. The fear of works was fear that people would be boastful of doing good and righteous acts.'

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I don't know what you mean here????? At any rate, once a person is saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ, good works should follow. Many do good works, but do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, and this is what Paul is talking about.

"Seems that the most boastful are the Protestants; boasting about how they don't do works so they won't boast."

---

Why should we boast? The teachings of Jesus are of a humble servant, and we are to be likewise. Many of are good works are not even noticed by man, but God knows them.

[Petronski]

Protestants worship God by prayer, singing songs, and listening to sermons; if a Catholic prays to Mary, sings songs about her, and listens to a talk about her, the Protestant concludes that's "worship" because that's what he calls what he does. That isn't what I call "worship," however, and I would not be rendering true worship to God if that were all I did concerning Him.

Excellent.

[Bella_Bru]

I would think showing people how great your faith is through righteous acts would be the best way to witness if you are into that.

[onyx]

Right, BSF is a good guy.
He posted this article and a lot of folks
post to him like he's the expert...lol...
and he's not RC, just a GOOD Prot.

[Truth666]

One of the reasons why evil is so willing to make a mockery of the agony of Jesus is because they want to make people forget the key point I mentioned. Again, that's one of the reasons why egoism (packaged as survival of the fittest) is central to evolution theory.

[Rutles4Ever]

And ironically, this Pope tried desperately to bridge these gaps... I want to celebrate the values I share with my Protestant friends, not tear down their beliefs.

[GraniteStateConservative]

50 Cent, Eminem and an Unknown I will raise from rock groups, from rap artists, I will raise from sportsmen and they will speak out the word that the musicians and the rappers already experienced in prophesying without the Spirit, but now they are going to prophesy with the Spirit and with the fire and that will raise up a generation that shall be filled with the fire of God and consumed with his seal.

Be aware of this, 50, 50, 50! Maybe you have no idea who this is. But now is the greatest voice in this nation. It shall come to pass that 50 shall be known as 50 because there are no cents. For there is one thing that shall happen. The Spirit shall come upon him. And they shall say, is he amongst the prophets as well? Then Eminem shall say, I know that I was born for this, I know that I was born for this. There is one more. He is unknown but shall become famous overnight He shall be in darkness for a short period and 50 and Eminem shall overshadow him and there shall be a three fold chord that will not be broken. Why am I saying this? Because America you have let your children go. You’ve let them go because you’ve not disciplined them. But I will bring them back swiftly. Because you know why? I have raised up a President to watch over the nation. Now I’m raising up watchmen on the wall in the music world so that your children will come out saying, ‘something happened when I said those words.’ I began to speak in other languages the mysterious God of the earth shall take your children and this generation and raise them up as Samuels, Davids, Jeremiahs and Isaiahs, Obadiahs in this generation. "

Eminem and 50 Cent will lead a Holy Spirit revival? If that happens, you can knock me over with a feather.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

You know they are going to do it (evidently we are such an attractive nuisance that they can't resist). I personally prefer to ignore them. Their minds are sealed, and they say what they say to reinforce their own viewpoints.

Therefore, you have two choices - try to outbeat them in argument, or go on walking in the ways God would have us do, by witnessing by word and by deed, much like John Paul did.

I hope I can do more like him...



O sweet Mary,
You, with your yes
as big and generous
as the heart of humankind can get,
with the help of the Father
through the workings of the Spirit
have given us
the most precious gift
human has ever given human:
Emananuel,
God with us,
Jesus,
whose very name
proclaims this truth:
God saves.

O Mary,
Mother of God,
Mother of the church,
whose advice to us
has always been
and always will be
"Do whatever he tells you,"
help us learn
why there is a reason for joy,
even in the times of sorrow,
even when we feel the sword piercing through our own hearts,
and pray for us,
that like you,
when God asks us,
we can always say Yes.

Amen.

[wolfman]

Jesus is God. He was in His Glorified body. We are not. He can talk to anyone He wants and they will hear hHim and vica versa