Posted on 02/20/2015 3:22:59 PM PST by NKP_Vet
1.“Catholics worship statues.” This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.
2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.” This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.
3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.” I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays: -Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” -Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.” If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.
5. “Catholics made up all their rules.” Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.
6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.” This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please. -James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.
7. “Catholicism is a cult.” Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.
8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.” The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.
9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.” This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.
10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.” We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.
Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.
“.... These include what are ‘alleged’ to be the hair and breast milk of Mary the mother of Jesus, pieces of John the Baptist’s head, and Peter’s brain and teeth. All are worshipped by the Catholic faithful.”
You are desperately misled. The Catholic faithful worship ONLY God.
“.... These include what are ‘alleged’ to be the hair and breast milk of Mary the mother of Jesus, pieces of John the Baptist’s head, and Peter’s brain and teeth. All are worshipped by the Catholic faithful.”
You are desperately misled. The Catholic faithful worship ONLY GOD.
I distort nothing. I have read the official words of the Catholic Church. Continually offering the sacrifice is denying what scripture teaches.
There's that "prove a negative" false premise again. It's actually the Catholics that have to prove that it's taught that we should pray to those departed from this life and that they can hear and respond. It's also incumbant upon them to show why they dismiss the Holy Spirit and replace Him with Mary and their so called "saints".
Sorry, but YOU are the one who NEEDS to prove your assertion.
Jesus exhorts us to obey TWO great commandments.
Since YOU claim that the command of Jesus EXPIRES at death, YOU need to prove the claim that we cannot and do not obey the second great commandment after death.
The burden of proof is ALWAYS on the guy who claims that the teaching of Jesus is either null, or that it expires.
Scripture says it's the Holy Spirit that intercedes and helps us pray. Catholics say it's Mary and their so called "saints". Scripture says to go boldly to the throne of God and not to some counterfeit priest. Scripture never once condones praying to anyone who has passed from this life other then God. I don't have to prove scripture. Catholics have to prove how what they have added is condoned in scripture. If they can't we can know that it's simply a man made up religion.
>>Jesus exhorts us to obey TWO great commandments.<<
Loving your neighbour now includes praying to them? When did that happen?
>>Since YOU claim that the command of Jesus EXPIRES at death,<<
I claim you need to stop loving someone after they die? Please show where I ever said that. The Catholic fallacy of those who have passed from this life still being active in this life is no where found in scripture. It's a pagan myth.
>>The burden of proof is ALWAYS on the guy who claims that the teaching of Jesus is either null, or that it expires.<<
And still you have not shown where Christ nullified the prohibition of eating blood. The double standards of Catholics is astounding.
I hardly see any point in replying, since you turned most of what I said inside-out.
My question is: Where does Scripture teach that THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVEN cannot and do not obey the second great commandment?
YOU claimed that those in heaven CANNOT obey the second great commandment.
But Jesus tells us to obey the two commandments. There is no conflict between the two commandments.
Since you are the one who is contradicting Jesus, you bear a considerable burden of proof.
....”No, Cardinal Bertone is not ADORING or WORSHIPING the blood of JPII.”.....
.... then what does catholic worship look like?
Kneeling, bowing, praying and kissing ‘behavior/acts’ have all been shown in photos of catholics doing so before idols, statues, pictures and many other articles.......so if that isn’t worship then show us what catholic worship is please.
There you go with that "prove a negative" again. The only record we have of anyone saying anything in heaven from scripture is those who were beheaded and they were only concerned with vengeance for their deaths.
>>YOU claimed that those in heaven CANNOT obey the second great commandment.<<
I did what? Please show the post where I said that. Otherwise please don't make things up.
>>Since you are the one who is contradicting Jesus, you bear a considerable burden of proof.<<
In not way do I contradict Jesus. Jesus said to go directly to the throne of the Father. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would help us pray and intercede for us. Catholics made up the concept of Mary and their so called "saints" interceding in place of the Holy Spirit.
Catholics follow a Jesus that sinned by eating blood. I follow a sinless Jesus who never once sinned in any way.
.....”Scripture never once condones praying to anyone who has passed from this life other then God.”......
That’s exactly right...and scripture forbids us from trying to communicate with the dead.
Dead saints remain part of the body of Christ, but there is a separation from the living saints. The same Lord who healed paralytics during his earthly ministry will one day give His people a glorified and immortal body and gather us all together.... Until then we must face the sad consequence of death: separation!
Every Catholic knows that praying to Mary or the saints is completely different than asking a fellow believer for prayer though they often use that as an excuse to pray to their dead saints.................Let’s say then a Christian brother comes and kneels before you, How would you react if he calls you his advocate, his hope and refuge?.... What if he thanks you for the many graces you conferred on him and for delivering him from hell?.... Suppose he tells you that he confines his salvation to your care and pleads with you to stay with him until you see him safe in heaven?.....Would you call that “asking a fellow Christian for prayer”?.... Of course not!
Yet this is exactly what catholics do when they pray to dead saints...., as an example to their Mary, which is not the Mary of the scriptures:
Prayer to Mary by St. Alphonsus.
“Most holy, immaculate Virgin and my Mother Mary! To you who are the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, the Advocate, the Hope, and the Refuge of sinners, I have recourse today, I who am the most miserable of all. I render you my most humble homage, O great Queen, and I thank you for all the graces you have conferred on me until now, especially for having delivered me from hell, which I have so often deserved. I love you, O most amiable Lady; and for the love which I bear you, I promise to serve you always and to do all in my power to make others love you also. I place in you all my hopes; I confide my salvation to your care. Accept me for your servant and receive me under your mantle, O Mother of Mercy. And since you are so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations; or rather, obtain to me the strength to triumph over them until death. Of you I ask a perfect love for Jesus Christ. Through you I hope to die a good death. O my Mother, by the love which you bear to God, I beseech you to help me at all times, but especially at the last moment of my life. Leave me not, I beseech you, until you see me safe in heaven, blessing you and singing your mercies for all eternity. Amen. So I hope. So may it be.”
God makes it very clear....”The person who turns to the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits to commit prostitution by going after them, I will set my face against that person and cut him off from the midst of his people....Lev. 20:6
It would then cause one to wonder who intercepts these prayers to saints....since only Jesus is our intercessor...and how do they know they're being heard? I believe it is possible their prayers are intercepted by "the dark side" who love to imitate the departed...and anything or one that would keep people from speaking directly to God.
One would think that would be a sombre message to Catholics.
....”One would think that would be a sombre message to Catholics”....
Not unless it comes down from Rome...and that’s not going to happen.
Those are all your interpretations of things you’ve seen in photographs.
The problem is that your interpretations are based on years of poisonous, demonic, anti-Catholic propaganda.
Very early Christians prayed for their dead relatives and friends. There are many inscriptions in the Roman catacombs and elsewhere to this effect.
Those inscriptions are not, of course, Scripture. They testify to what was believed by the earliest generations of Christians.
But sola scriptura is a totally un-Scriptural man-made doctrine. Even though it is self-contradictory, because it is not taught in Scripture, it is believed by millions of people because of relentless brain-washing, not because it makes any sense.
Vatican priests carry a dug up corpse on their shoulders before the church congregation... Roman Catholic priests worship of corpses, skulls and bones is throughout the church worldwide....This behavior is truly disgusting by anyone's standards.
Corpses of Papua New Guinea Tribe pays respect to the dead by curing them and hanging them above their village to look over them.....the highest honour they can bestow on their dead... .They are sometimes brought down 'for special events and celebrations', and returned soon after.
The sternum bone of Francis Seelos on display
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