I must say this, let the Pope speak for himself.. On the web, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_on_re_eu/pope_other_christians, the Pope declared that other Christians are not true churches.
I'm a former Catholic, I believe God will Judge everyone, the living and the dead! In 1 Peter 4:5, "But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." Here's another powerful verse, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10 (niv)
You cannot receive salvation and forgiveness of sins in the Catholic church, or the Baptist church, or the Episcopal church or the Assembly of God or even the churches of Christ which is the church I attend to worship. It's not the name of the church or a place that saves you. It's not the Catholic faith or a Baptist creed or the name Church of Christ that saves you. These names or doctrines also doesn't make you a "true church". Church means "the called out" as to being called away from the world and its ways into the body of Christ.
How do we identify a true church? Remember, church isn't a building, it's a person. It's a person made up into the body, the church, or Jesus. I asked this again, how do we identify a true christian (church)?
1. We identify a true Christian whom once really converted, will not return to their former way of life. Though, there are temptations to fall into and flatteries of others to do so, neither persuasion will overcome them.
2. The live and behavior of true Christians will seem very strange to the world. One will despise what the others are fond of. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (niv) Christians are zealous in the invisible, depend so much on hope, and this is what the world cannot understand.
3. There are two groups of people in the church as a whole: faithful and hypocrites. Hypocrites means actors. People whom proclaim they are believers can fool many by acting as a believer. Often, the world slanders Christians and there's no escape. The actions of the world against Christians costs him and her the most painful trials and self-denial and often ridiculed by the world. They will speak evil of true Christians. But true Christians reap the fruits of their charity, faithfulness and goodness.
As for the Pope, I ain't bowing down before him when he expect the world to do so. I ain't kissing the ring on his finger when he expect the world to do so. I ain't confessing my sins to him or any cardinal or priests when they expect the world to do so. I have God, His Son, Jesus to bow down, to kiss and to confess.
Now, he tells the world that most Christians are not true churches?? My question is, "Who is he to decide on that??"
"Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Acts 5:29 (niv)
8 comments:
Amen! Me, too! I was Catholic when I was little. I don't know nothing all about what the priest talked about the book at church. There was no interpreter for long time. Today there are many interpreters. Now, I understand about Jesus Christ teaches people who learn to hear God's Word that read, pray and trust Him forever. Patty Ann
AMEN and PRAISE THE LORD !!!!
I was following the Catholic Church all my youth life at oral deaf school in Missouri. I thought the Catholic system, like the "loyalists" who gave the respect and sweet and nice to all of us among the deaf kids there. At that time, I wasn't completely understood what exactly what God want for us to do for the Lord. I looked at many other Christian-related churches, like Baptists and all other Protestants, as I thought they are too "mean and strict" -- like too much high egos. So they would look like "better than you, or Bible catch you, etc" -- oh boy. That's how I cherished the Catholic system like loyal people show sweet and humble to us. It was like I was in Heaven already every time I go Catholic Mass etc.
After the time later on, during the young adult time, I was research and research ALL the RELIGIONS as I was so "passion" and exciting over all the beliefs, even while when i was so Wild and Crazy at that time, because I was catching up the Deaf world. That's why. So as I entered closer to late 20's and early 30's, I was beginning to make lot of sense what the Bible is all about !!!!!!!!!
How sad -- you see lot of Catholic people (like all worshippers and followers) felt so much beloved into their storied (but twisted) religion. Like Pope. I never bother to listen to Pope, but oh well. Thank God for our Dear Lord gave me the opportunity to research the religion to find the true church or closest to God as long as if the church be nice to me.
I joined the Mormon at that time for short time, thought Mormon is so different from "too many Protestants and church of Christs etc" -- hope all the sweet people there. But realizing its not.
OH WELL ---- BEST THING IS FOCUS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. Any churches cannot "carry" you as the Big Middle Man between you and God. No way.
I guess, Mark, I am still learning all the way until my last heart beat stops. That's life. IF I ever wanna to join a church, I rather be a NICE church (and yeah COOL church) and just worry about myself for our Dear Lord.
Mark, I read this your article, very very GOOD point, as I already knew all about that, how sad, the Catholic parishaniors would ever "too much worry and too much care" about the Pope's actions. Jeez. BUT, I do QUESTION one of your statement. You said, somewhere in the article, you said you keep "eye" on all other Christians to be sure they would keep up staying in their faith, if not, you felt you could "kick the fall-out people" out of church (with your authority ????) --- no way !!!!
I dont agree with this matter -- to be sure YOUR CHURCH be nice enough !!!!
Cheers and Enjoy in God's Blessing.
C......
What a bold-faced person you are! Obviously, your love for God is ENORMOUS and INFINITE!
You remind me of Aspotle Paul! He is one of my favorites.
WILD for GOD
The last message that I was sending is for Mark.
Pardonnez-vous?
ccm14er,
Thanks for your comments.
Allow me to point across your comments about remembering somewhere where it seems to say that "I had the authority to kick the "so-called Christians" out of the church." I never said that I had the "authority" but God does. If you read Matthew 18:15ff, we have the responsibility to warn a divisive brother/sister or a brother/sister who sins. If they refuse to repent from their evil ways, get a witness. If they still refuse, bring them before the whole church. Then, alas, if they refuse, treat them as a tax collector (sinner).
This is the authority of Jesus, not mine. Just wanted to clarify that. Be sure you find what I had already typed in my past blogs before you jump into any conclusions. :)
Read Mark 9:38-41 (paraphrased) below:
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he did not follow us: and we forbad him, because he did not follow us. 39 But Jesus said, Do not forbid him: Because there is no man who can do a miracle in my name, if he speaks evil of me. 40 Because he is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
It is obvious that the Catholics have not read the ENTIRE Bible. They seek “boundaries” in order to promote their own religion and to exclude everyone not within its boundaries.
Mark 9:38-41 shows that John thought that such a person is an outsider (not a member of 12 disciples) — so much so, in fact, that he and the others tried to forbid him from continuing to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus disagreed. According to Jesus, no one qualifies as an “outsider” so long as they sincerely act in his name; and if they are successful when it comes to performing miracles in His name, they you can trust both their sincerity and their connection to Jesus.
The Catholics base their decision largely on tradition (history) and political correctness – they have ‘proof’ of the lineage of Popes from present to the historical first Pope Leo I who appeared in 440 A.D. Then the Catholics decided that Peter was the First Pope (political correctness by giving the successors from Peter to Leo I the title, “Pope”).
So sad for the Catholic populace to remain blind!
Bob C
Very Respectfully Mark,
Thanks for very good point response about that "fall-out" Christian as be given the warnings before do so, in God's proper procedure what the fellow common Christian to do with that affected person. I understand that, if that person is out of church by officially kicked out (you know such as being a count on person officially as any one *entered* into church -- its like a person will become *marked or targeted* as anyone can see him-her. How would he-she could ever possibly come back as the people would open-arm welcome that person back. Its like it would take a while -- as common in all hearing and deafing people would say "take a break" for a year, then come back as cleaned or what they do. Its very interesting because I notice lot of Christians are being "blind-sided" in lot of common areas, even they still remain in church acceptance as point of view.
Very good point, Mark -- nice to share, because I look at people as be sure into common cause grounds as just people are generalists, not specialists themselves, regardless. We are not "God" specialists. That's simple.
Fun to share with you, Excellency Professor Mark (grins LOL).
C......
Smile!
A couple more verses:
"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him." Titus 3:10 (niv)
"If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." 2 Thess 3:14-15 (niv)
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