Posted on 04/12/2011 7:55:27 AM PDT by bkaycee
Can a born again Christian be a member of a cult and be involved in idol worship? I once thought this was an impossibility until it happened to me. Now I understand why Jesus warned us that, in the end times, there would be an appearance of great signs and miracles that would deceive even the elect, if possible. I confess I have been seduced by signs and miracles associated with apparitions of Mary, and I offer my testimony so others may be warned and delivered.
Until recently I was serving as Director of Public Relations for the Queen of Peace Center in Dallas, Texas. This non-profit organization disseminates information and messages from Marian apparitions in Medjugorje and around the world. I co-authored a full page ad that was published in the June 25, 1993, Dallas Morning News at a cost of $10,000. This add announced "Mary's" prescription for peace and listed locations of her recent appearances. It also listed phone numbers to call for up-to-day recorded messages of Mary's latest apparitions, such as the one in Dallas (214) 233-MARY. I once thought it was special to be the only non-Catholic on the Queen of Peace board . . . that is, until I met Mike Gendron and his wife, Jane.
A Divine Appointment
Neighbors and close friends of mine knew I was seriously contemplating becoming Roman Catholic. They told me that Mike had been a Roman Catholic for 37 years and was now a pastor at a non-denominational church in the Dallas area. They said he understood many of the issues involved in being Roman Catholic and could help me with my decision. I looked forward to meeting both Mike and his wife, not for my sake, but for theirs. I felt certain the information I had collected about "Our Lady's apparitions" in Medjugorje would surely lead them back home to the "true" (Roman Catholic) church. Providentially it appeared, I attended a Queen of Peace board meeting the night before we met and asked the board to pray for this lost pastor and his wife, who had fallen away. When I arrived at their door the next morning, I first introduced myself, before returning to my car for the large stack of books and newspapers I had brought to persuade them. The materials would help explain what was happening in Medjugorje and how the Virgin Mary would help change their lives.
Confronted by Contradictions
After we met, they showed me a film titled Catholicism: Crisis of Faith. This film lovingly and objectively contrasted how the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church contradicts the teachings of the Sacred Scriptures. Mike would stop the film after each segment for my questions and comments. Initially, I was argumentative and felt uneasy and rather adamant about what I was witnessing. Mike realized he had forgotten to pray before starting the film and asked if we could ask God to make His truth clear, and that all deception would be exposed. After the prayer my whole countenance changed.
Each question I asked, Mike validated his answers using Vatican II documents and an official Roman Catholic catechism. It was amazing to me how Roman Catholic teaching contradicts the very Word of God. Question after question, he would bring the Bible over to me and knell to show me verses in context. His servant's demeanor and patient, understanding heart helped in unraveling falsehood after falsehood. There wasn't a question I could have asked him that would have provoked anger. As a reflection of our Lord, this man allowed Jesus to pull the scales away from my eyes.
There were three things in the film and our discussion that were most alarming to me. First, a church in South America has Mary placed on a crucifix rather than Christ. It reminded me of my visit to Our Lady of Guadeloupe Cathedral in downtown Dallas where Mary is positioned as the focal point at the alter and the crucifix is placed in another part of the church. These two scenes made me realize idolatry is practiced within the church.
Second, the Roman Catholic Catechism by Rev. William Cogan, now in its 44th year of print, has altered the 10 commandments of God. The 2nd commandment given to Moses reads, "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4). The Roman Catholics have deleted this commandment but still came up with ten by splitting the 10th one into two separate commands. "You shall not covet your neighbor's good; and you shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (Exodus 20:17). I was reminded of the scriptural warnings for those who add to or subtract from the Bible.
Third, Mike told me the only place in the Bible in which the queen of heaven was referred to was in the Book of Jeremiah. He encouraged me to study the passage and it would expose another false doctrine concerning Mary. Anyone who is familiar with the prayers and meditations of the rosary can tell you that in one of the mysteries Christ supposedly crowned Mary the queen of heaven after she was assumed into heaven. Neither of these events have scriptural validity, but I had decided to blindly accept these doctrines because all of the other meditations on the life of Christ were verified by Scripture.
The Queen of Heaven
After returning home, I looked in the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible for the passage in Jeremiah 44. Here, the Lord was angered by the wickedness of the people choosing to serve other gods. The people refused to listen to the Lord. Instead, they would "burn sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven and pour out libations to her." The woman "made for her sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out libations to her?" (Jeremiah 44:17, 19).
In Hebrew the word for queen has reference to "the heavenly handiwork" or "the stars of heaven." The reference might be to Ishtar, the goddess of love and fertility, who is identified with the Venus Star and is actually entitled "Mistress of Heaven." (The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, p. 975)
My head was spinning and filled with questions after reading this. Doesn't Mary usually appear with stars for her crown? Who then is the woman in Revelation 12:3-6? And most importantly, why would the Roman Catholic Church give the mother of Jesus the title of a pagan goddess? Had I been promoting the ministry of a pagan goddess whose messages were inconsistent with the Bible? Indeed her messages do contradict the Bible. In fact, she speaks of another gospel, another plan of salvation that nullifies and opposes the all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. The apparition of Fatima said, "You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go, so save them, God wishes to establish in the world, devotion to my Immaculate Heart." The apostle Paul condemned anyone, even an angel from heaven, who would dare preach a different way to be saved other than through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ (Galatians 1:6-10).
As for the woman described in Revelation, she is not Mary, the mother of Jesus, but God's chosen people, the Jews. When the passage in chapter 12 is read in context with the rest of the book, and Genesis 37:9-10, this clearly refers to the nation Israel. God fulfills His promise to the Jews, by protecting them in the desert during 3 1/2 years of tribulation.
I later realized my prayers to Mary and the saints, the reciting of rosaries and chaplets of divine mercy, and the wearing of Marian medals and scapulars had taken my focus off of Jesus. I had allowed doctrines of the Roman Catholic church to do the very thing Saint Paul warned against, "But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3).
An Angel of Light
Recently, a person whom I love dearly, and who has a "Marian devotion" asked me, "Why are you bothering the people who are already good people instead of worrying about those who are lost?" The answer came to me the other evening as the Lord continues to guide me through His sacred Word. Saint Paul wrote that "Satan masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). We know the mother of Jesus would never oppose her Son, and since the apparitions do just that, they could very well be Satan masquerading as Mary. Saint Paul also wrote, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them . . . everything exposed by the light becomes visible" (Ephesians 5:11-14). Therefore, I feel called to expose these attempts by the evil one to divert people's devotion away from Jesus. The most authoritative way to do this is with the light of God's Holy Word. My new test for truthfulness is -- if it does not agree with the Scriptures then it must be rejected.
Freedom in the Truth
Now that I have torn down the altar in my bedroom, where I knelt and prayed to St. Anthony of Padua each night, and now that I have placed my rosaries, scapular and medals away, I have found a new freedom. The truth really does set people free! I have found special peace in knowing Jesus alone is my Savior, and not co-redemptrix with His mother. The Holy Spirit continues to lead me into all truth and is now the only teacher I need (1 John 2:27).
To all my precious friends who I have encouraged to seek Mary and to obey the misleading messages of her apparitions, I pray these Scriptures would minister to you -- "And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which you nursed.' But He said, 'On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it." (Luke 11:27-28)
This article was submitted by a former Director for a "Mary, Queen of Peace Center."
More perverted sects talk from metmom.
The very words of scripture of perverted as abused by your sect. Millstones will be around the necks of your sect members.
More perverted sects talk from metmom.
The very words of scripture
are perverted
When abused by your sect.
Millstones will be around the necks of your sect members.
There is no requirement to eat His flesh and drink His blood.
The consumption of blood is strictly forbidden by God in Scripture and was not done by Jesus or His apostles, according to Peter’s own words.
Besides, Catholics claim that eating His flesh and drinking His blood is required for salvation and yet not one Catholic is ever sure that they are going to make it to heaven.
By their own admission, the thing they claim is necessary isn’t guaranteed to work.
Bad form is still bad form.However the text cannot be understood without the key:
Low quality is still low quality. Low creativity is still low creativity. Embarrassingly crass & stupid is still embarrassingly crass & stupid. imho, even cheap shots should have some quality about them.
"Bad form" = the form in which Christians do stuff.
"Low quality" = The quality of Christian work.
"Embarrassingly crass & stupid" = the behavior of Christians.
"cheap shots" = shots taken by Christians.
Yes, sometimes the posts of the sons of the Prophet SEEM to have bad form, etc. But that is because you are a blind kaffir (nothing personal). The insight granted by Islam enables the perception of the all important differences. Uncouthness in defense of Islam is no vice. Emily Post on steroids in defense of Christianity DEMANDS an insulting and contemptuous response.
(I suggest: ALL my days are blessed, you disgusting infidel dog!)
Accept this, and be at peace, kaffir dog!
Metmom must eat in order to live.
If metmom eats but does nothing else, she will die.
Duh.
Prudent Godly people may wish to drink some coffee before posting such stupid remarks as yours.
You like vile sects.
“There is no requirement to eat His flesh and drink His blood.”
Right — no requirement in the Bible to observe communion. I heard that Catholics believe that the wine and bread actually beome flesh and blood when eaten at communion, when it’s actually just symbolic.
Followers of Christ must reject all sects talk from Mayflower Madam.
Your sect is perverted.
Its a schtick. Roll with it.
Again, the key is critical to the correct interpretation of this text:
Corrupting talk: Disgusting, vile, kaffir, Christian talk, for instance: witticisms like "Group sects."
"Good", "befitting", "gracious" talk: uplifting and generous Islamic language, like "white hanky", "vatican cult" etc.
Those who reason according to their own understanding might think that an insult is an insult no matter whose mouth it comes from. But the true way, the way of the prophet, the way of submission and mercy, is to understand that an insult depends for its nature on the uncleanness of the speaker.
No word from the mouth of a son of the prophet can be an insult, so they may say whatever they wish. No word from the mouth of a Christian can be clean, because their hearts are kaffir.
We kaffir should thank our masters because they have mercifully demonstrated uplifting talk to us who cannot deserve such mercy.
Mat 18:19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
A philosopher, even an incompetent one like me, LOVES the line, "... it's ACTUALLY just SYMBOLIC."
Would that be the same as "it's SYMBOLICALLY just ACTUAL'?
Actually the BIG words are "REALLY" (as in "real presence") and "SUBSTANTIALLY" (as in "Transubstantiation.")
Real and substance are now 'terms of art'. You can get an idea if you look at two gold annuli, one of which was used in my wedding, the other not, but it looks, weighs, feels, the same.
Someone might ask, which is the REAL wedding ring?
I guess Jesus didn’t know that when he uttered the last parts of John 6.....
Amen, mullah Mad Dawg!
Jihad
Jaheed
Hijab
Hajeeb
Tomayto
Tomahto
And so on
By the way, you need to quit speaking for Catholics.
You’re not very good at it.
She is good at sects talk.
But for her sects its often all talk and no action.
“The Word” said “this is my body....”
Who are you to presume to correct him?
People involved in sects
see everything through
the lens of sects.
And that is where they drink condemnation upon themselves.
And besides,
Pope Borgia told me that was my job!!!!
They are voluntarists when it comes to ethics and to their own personal behavior. And ultimately that means the good of an action is not in the action but in who does it.
And because of the Nominalist rejection of reason, the only objective element in a disagreement is power. There is nothing to which both sides can appeal.
THEY would say they appeal to God, but any argument that tests or challenges their view or opinion of God will be discounted as unspiritual or "reasoning according to one's own (kaffir) understanding."
So that's what explains the swirling of scimitars as they ride to attack. The fundamental moral truth is dualistic, for them. The only possibility of peace is secondary to our surrender. Their DUTY is to seek and to foment strife and to turn away from anything like mutuality.
I know this will sound like an instantiation of Goodwin's Law, but I now see that many many schools (sects?) of non-Catholics have the same metaphysics as Muslims, and because both Wahabist Muslims and these school of non-Catholics despise the very idea of metaphysics, they cannot see the truth of my analysis (if any.) Like Nelson, they put the glass to their blind eye and say, "I do not see the signal."
It's only taken me, what, about 4 or 5 years to understand this. Wow!
So as the poets have said, and as your scholarship makes allusion, perhaps "Let's call the whole thing off," is the correct response. The RF will always be useful as a field work site for a new syllabus of errors.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.