Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | "Once Saved Always Saved" | NT general Archive 1 | Martha | 24655 | ||
Hi Brian, I have been reading everyone's note regarding Catholics. I was born catholic, in a family full of 100 hundred percent catholics. When it was time for me to give my first communion, my mom sent me to a Sunday school, so she believed, but I ended up with an old man who told me that the Catholic Church did not teach Jesus Christ's teachings and instead read the bible with me. Boy did he get me in trouble, I was 9 years old and very proud of God, after I finish reading the Bible, but it created a lot of controversy in my house and in the catholic church. The church refused to let me receive my first communion and my mom had a big celebration prepared for that weekend, so guess what she did? she went from church to church until one of the churches priests said: What do you say? She only knows our father and the Bible? well that's okay. Let her have her communion, so I did. But from then on, I never again wanted to go into one of the churches, so I grew up aimless around the world without a God, until God finnally decided to call me and teach me Christianity. And again, I had to go through the very same thing I went through when I was 9 years old. This time as an adult I received my parents and my sisters, uncles, aunts, rejections, you name it, I received it all. I almost went crazy trying to understand God, the Bible and the rest of the world around me. So many different ideas, so many different religions, so many different issues, it can drive you mad, but God can guide you and take you through each one of those steps, one by one. He already is, because you are reading the Bible and asking questions, listen to him and do not let the rest of the people overwhelm you. If it is too much for you, take a break and come back. May God bless you, Martha, |
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2 | "Once Saved Always Saved" | NT general Archive 1 | There | 25442 | ||
Hello Martha, You mention several similarities with my own childhood into adulthood. My Catholic mother sent me to a one-week Methodist Bible camp for several summers where they taught Bible and only Bible. I'm not sure they still do though. We were from a small town -- about 90 percent Catholic, and the priest and Catholic townspeople turned on her with a vengeance for letting me go there. Actually threatened her in a variety of ways... but I won't get into that. I think what hit me the hardest was not even the difference in the teachings during those camp days, but the response of the Catholics who claimed to love all people during mass on Sunday, but could hate with such a vengeance when someone did not do as they said to do. I'm not saying all Catholics are like that, but it was that part of the EXPERIENCE that put the most CONFUSION in my mind as a child. The major change for me came when I began to read the Bible as an adult. I had taught CCD in the RCC for several years, and was a CCD teacher when I began reading God's Word. At that point I was so convicted that if the Catechism teachings differed from the Bible, I realized I could not teach it. I let my Religous Education Supervisor know why I could not teach the Catholic doctrine, and she understood and allowed me to teach Bible. Several of the children (different ages -different years) came to know Jesus as their Savior during those years. :) And wonderfully, their faith impacted the beliefs of their parents as they too began reading Bible. Almost like the domino effect in reverse! :) My all Catholic family and friends tolerated me when I was a Bible believing Catholic, but when I left the Church everything changed. When they realized that I was not "coming back" to the RCC, well... to put it mildly, I had to find all new friends. :) The response was very similar to the earlier situation 20 to 25 years earlier. It really saddened my heart, but during those days I found the Lord truly was sufficient for me. After much prayer and years later, the Lord has given me some members of my "family" back though. My mother and two sisters have come to know the Lord Jesus. It's amazing sometimes how the Lord works, but I especially praise Him for His saving works!!! God's WORD truly does change hearts! God bless you. |
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3 | "Once Saved Always Saved" | NT general Archive 1 | Martha | 25491 | ||
I am really sorry you had to go through the same experience I went through, but we had to go trough all of that in order to be what we are now, and in order to help others to follow Christ. God planted his seed when we were children so that when we grew up as adults and learn the truth we did not depart from it. "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Because of my experience as a child. I could never leave God or his ways. My childhood was not the best one, but God was watching over me and for that, I love him very much so and I could never leave him, not even if I had a thousand Roman soldiers after me. I'm sure you feel the same way. ------------------oooooooo---------------------- My whole family is back now. They're still catholics but they don't bother me anymore. They accept me as I am and I accept them as they are without changing each others beliefs. One of my sisters became Christian after I did; and she called me and said she was very sorry for everything that I had gone through but that I had helped her out a lot and that it had been really easy for her to change and follow Christ. I had prepared the path for her. A second one of my sisters is reading the bible, but still goes to a Catholic church. She is in between fields right now. Peple are learning from us, and there are more people out there which will come to God just from watching us and knowing what we went through. In Christ Jesus, |
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4 | "Once Saved Always Saved" | NT general Archive 1 | There | 25496 | ||
Martha, You said: I could never leave him, not even if I had a thousand Roman soldiers after me. I'm sure you feel the same way. Yes, I do. And it's a very safe and secure place to be... no matter how many Roman soldiers come at us. :) It truly did amaze me at first, that I was willing to give up anything and anyone to follow the Lord. I'd never had a conviction so strong before... it made me realize what Jesus meant in Matthew 10:34-39. In His love, |
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5 | "Once Saved Always Saved" | NT general Archive 1 | Martha | 25510 | ||
That's exactly right., and that's what kept me going throughout the entire tribulation. I have to leave now, In Christ Jesus, Martha, |
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