Apparitions Exposed!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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."

Hebrews 13:4-6 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Our inheritance as children of God through faith is secure. Even if we are faithless, He is faithful.

2 Timothy 2:12-13 ... if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Evidently you did with that post what you rant at us Proddys for doing with RC posts.

Doesn’t sound like you understood me 1%

ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

NOT WHAT I SAID.

NOT WHAT I MEANT.

NOT WHAT I THINK.

NOT WHAT I FEEL.

THAT’S THE TRUTH.

The good news of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Can you be more descriptive?

Let me give you an example of why Christians must know this. We were discussing islam on another thread. At my church we have an equipping ministry for witnessing to muslims. In class Sunday two young men (late 20's) came and spoke about a ministry they've started called movein.to. What they do is have teams move in to muslim dominated slums and they pray for them. The missionaries keep their jobs and totally integrate into the community. When someone knocks on their door they preach The Gospel.

They are having success reaching the lost.

So that's why the question what is The Gospel RC's believe. If someone knocks on your door what are you going to tell them?

Honestly, I’m a poorly catechized Catholic, who is just starting to learn more about my faith.

I’d say something like:

God humbled Himself, became man, and died for us, so that we may have eternal life.

The differences between Calvinist and non_Calvinists on God and man are so stark that I wouldn’t call it a “united faith.”

I imagine to someone looking in from outside it would seem like that. The differences are questions of discernment. Evangelicals are united in their belief of The Gospel and Scripture being the rule of the faith.

This and the issues such a baptism also illustrate that disunity and the core problem of sola scriptura to having a truly unified Body of Christ.

The problem with a hierarchy is it becomes a control freak. The desire of men to have absolute power over others to the point of even controlling what they are allowed to think is nothing new.

Honestly, I’m a poorly catechized Catholic, who is just starting to learn more about my faith.

Don't let the catechism lead you away from the Truth go to your Bible. Probably the best explanation of The Gospel is ICor. 15:1-4.

Seek the Truth. We are in a spiritual war and we need warriors.

I’d respectfully disagree. The view of God and God and man’s relationship in Calvinism is radically different from that of Jesus and Christianity. I think an objective view shows this plainly.

The point of the differences in Baptism involves authority, but my point was that learned men using the same scripture disagree - with extreme assurance - on it. This, IMHO, illustrates that the unifying force you note is not a unifying source. Even the major heretics of history argued from scripture.

Thanks for your reply.

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!!

There is something about God's Word that HIS Goodness, His Faithfulness, His Everlasting Love, His Glory - jumps out and reveals WHO He is to us. We never stop learning the depths of Our Father as we seek Him more and more. What a blessing it is for us 'in Christ' to be called His own, His friend, His child.

Thank You, Jesus, for You sacrificing Your holy blameless Self - coming down from heaven to be born of flesh - for us to enjoy the benefits of salvation and affording us a way to a personal relationship with Your Father, now Our Father. There is no greater love and there is no greater sacrifice. And no greater miracle than His death, our sin debt paid and His Resurrection in His Glorified Body. Our Messiah, Our Savior, the Son of The Most High God, Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One, The Word, The Rock of our Salvation, has Risen. Truly It Is Finished.

When I said "catechized," I meant like "taught" or "instructed."

Don't let the catechism lead you away from the Truth go to your Bible.

I think both can be helpful.

Seek the Truth.

That's what I've been doing more of lately.

We are in a spiritual war and we need warriors.

No doubt.

***
literal, physical flesh and literal, physical blood,
***

I thought you were doing okay up until this part. “Literal” appears in some poorly written articles. “Physical” appears, I'd venture, nowhere in serious discussions of the Eucharist — except in discussions of extraordinary miracles.

Why don't you confine yourself to the terms we DO use, “real” and “substantial”?

As long as you use “literally” and “physically” you are not presenting Catholic teaching. And if you do so after advice, then your ignorance is culpable and your act, being the presentation as known truth of something you do not know to be true, becomes a lie, a serious sin.

in fact, you are adding bearing of false witness to the sin of apostasy. Leave us, if you must. But don't carelessly spread lies about us. That's not fair to your hearers.

I think both can be helpful.

Let me ask do you see any "ands", "buts", or "maybe's" in ICor. 15:1-4?

The only source for Truth that you can trust is Scripture.

So, Not, are you saying roamer_1 is, like, into yoga?

No, though do like yogurt if it is made to look like ice cream and covered liberally with something tasty and fattening.

Hey, roamer, would you bust a move for us?

Sadly, no... I will have to resist the temptation. The paperwork involved in doing so is prohibitive... a permit from the state, notifications to the US Geological Survey, and to geology departments of regional universities, with precise timing, so they know when to ignore their seismic equipment... the county has to know, so they can shut off the water mains... And the USFS and MT FWP, so they can move folks out of avalanche prone areas...

And the aftermath... replacing all the glass in my neighbors windows, repairing cracks in the road out front, terrified children requiring counseling... Old folks cowering in corners...

It just isn't worth it.

1. I was blessed when I read your truth paper, that you seemed to own so many of those wonderful assertions.

2. Now, this post 2,021 of yours leaves me wondering

A) Are we writing the same language?
B) Was that truth paper all sophistry for you?
C) Did someone ghost that paper for you?
D) Did we fall into the Twilight Zone?

You evidently have no clue what I was saying in the post you’re responding to.

You evidently have no interest in applying the assertions and principles in your truth paper to that post of mine nor to this “dialogue.”

Fascinating, in a very sad sort of way.

CORRECTION:

I observe no evidence that you have any clue to what I was saying in the post you’re responding to.

I observe nothing that convinces me that you have any interest in applying the assertions and principles in your truth paper to that post of mine nor to this “dialogue.”

Fascinating, in a very sad sort of way.

Surely, you aren’t surprised.

But rest easy, you are in good company - the RC’s are taught to ignore God’s Holy Spirit Inspired Word, also, and are taught the opposite of what God said. And their Maryology/devotion to Mary is just one proof of that.

So your 1% of their understanding of what was written/said is about right.

No, Quix has already said just what I conjectured: any truth that might make for peace is to be avoided — because what really matters is enmity.

Are you SURE you're the same person who wrote that paper about truth?

I said nothing of the sort of thing you asserted just above. Not at all.

It seems to me that your glasses have become as dark as those of some others on here. Very sad, that.

Championing someone else's absurd evil that comes out of bad-faith heart motives can do that.

When you are ready to exchange posts in as much truth and mutual respect and understanding as possible, please let me know.

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