Subject: salvation and Cath Church |
Bible Note: Stephanie, I've been following this thread today and decided to attach this note to the previous note, which is one of the answers that I totally relate to. I also am raised Catholic. I still describe myself as 75 percent Catholic. I have so many fond memories based on Catholic culture. My family is Catholic. But eventually, your devotion to the Lord and your love of the Word of God will cause you to become ostracised (the Lord said this would happen). My family started calling me "John the Baptist" and "Bible toting fool." But no matter how much they hurt and frustrated me I had tasted of the "Living water" and nothing except the Lord could quech my thirst. I have spent the past twenty-five years in different Protestant fellowships. I also attend Mass with my mother and sisters now and then. Some of my favorite churches have been these Non-denominational groups. But sadly, I have found, that there is no "perfect church." Protestantism, with it's 30000 "schisms" certainly has as many problems as the Catholic church has. It's seems to always self destruct. I used to pray in agony trying to decide what to do. I couldn't understand how the Lord could let His church be in the condition it is in. I knew He was not the author of confusion. I believe He answered my prayers when I became resigned to the fact that it is "His" church, not mine. After all, He told the believers at the temple to do all that the scribes and pharasies asked of them and more. The lesson I've learned and relearned, is that I'm to keep my eyes on Him. After all, if God did "make your light to shine", maybe He's trying to light up the area you are in right now. Every time I take my eyes off of Him I become part of the problem and not the solution. I would caution you to question in prayer some of the most basic presumptions concerning individual responsibility. The average person, world wide, has the reading capability of a 5 th. grader. This is the first century it has been that high. It has never stoped anyone from having a "child like faith", but don't expect them to always discern the "meat of the Word" accurately. Some of these theologies are very hard to understand. I'm sure that some of what Paul was preaching would cause Peter (a fisherman by birth) to scratch his head and wonder too. Be thankful for the blessings we have now that saints of old didn't have. The councils that helped define so many early heresies. The first available bibles cost approximately 3 years wages. They were chained to pulpits. Bible study was something that took place at church only. That's where you "really got into the Word." Obviously, the traditions of the early church were meant to be "works" that expressed their "living faith." Do a NT word search on traditions and discuss it with the Lord. I'm always amazed at how quickly people jumb back to a catechism from one century but will immediately reject anything from centuries past. Can't they realize that is now their root, their tradition. It certainly is more than just the "bible and the bible alone." In agreement with the previous post, I see a parallel history between the Catholic Church and Jewish temple worship. People always seem to get the cart before the horse. The letter of the law before the Sprit. Somehow, works always gets in front of faith. Sadly, Protestantism isn't without it's own faults. The answer, as far as I'm concerned, is always found in our complete daily surrender to and worship of Jesus. I've never experienced anything more powerful than the Catholic Mass that so totally alows me to do this. But this is my tradition. This is my comfort zone. Another brother from a different tradition will find that it makes him uncomfortable. If you want to have a good laugh sometime, ask a Protestant brother to make the sign of the cross. Why not? A Pentecostal brother will get your hands raised in a New York minute at one of his fantastic praise and worship sevices. Both are expressions of worship born out of tradition. If you are daily walking and talking with Him, He will perfect you. Then all this fear of somehow being tricked by Satan into believing a false doctrine and losing your salvation or missing a rapture will disappear. Guiding you in all Truth is a small job for Him if you are willing to humble yourself. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. Maranatha. |