Subject: "Once Saved Always Saved" |
Bible Note: 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. |