Don't let my bark scare you

Lutero said:

Don't let my bark scare you - I'm against your religion, not you or other Catholics. 

My beef with Catholicism? Substituting membership in an institution for receiving Jesus Christ in the heart. I'm concerned about unsaved people going to hell trusting their Church membership instead of Jesus Christ. Are you one of them?  

#1 All saved Christians are priests and able to appoint local church leadership and replace apostate leaders. Paul allows every man to have his own opinion on issues like holy days: "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Rom. 14:5 KJV. Let likeminded Christians meet together on the days they want - stop trying to govern somebody else's group. Paul wasn't a fanatic about church management 1 Cor. 14:38 KJV - but with sound doctrines of salvation: Titus 1:9-11 KJV.  

Church authority vs "inner light" is a false dichotomy - both can be wrong. Uniformity of wrong belief is no virtue, neither are church authorities a substitute for the Holy Ghost in each believer. Christians should both hear their teachers and judge for themselves, departing from false ones: 1 Tim. 6:3-5 KJV; 1 Cor. 14:37 KJV; 1 Cor. 3:5 KJV. 

(2) Hebrews 13:17 KJV doesn't say we must look for a religious master. I obey the police, judges, boss who has the rule over me in any situation, and respect a pastor's decisions over the business of his church - but not if command me on any personal issue because that isn't his business. Peter told elders not to be "lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3 KJV; Paul said "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor. 7:23 KJV. Enslavers are false: "false brethren ...spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:" Gal. 2:4 KJV. Beware of the cult-like control in Roman Catholicism. 

(3) Trinity is an eternal truth simply acknowledged by councils. But a council of devils would also make the correct decision, James 2:19 KJV and "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ." Luke 4:41 KJV. Councils enforced their decisions by murder which sheds light on the devil's involvement. John 8:44 KJV. 

(4) "Pray to the Virgin, not Jesus, she understands" is something some Catholic women say to each other. Men too can be fanatical: "...they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Acts 19:28-29 KJV. Zeal for a goddess isn't good. Religious devotion to Mary robs honour from Jesus Christ alone.  

(5) The "Queen of Heaven" is the name of a devil that apostate Jews used to worship, Jeremiah 44:17 KJV. Doubtless the Marian apparitions and miracles are of the devil:  Deut. 13:2-3 KJV; Leviticus 19:31 KJV; Deut. 18:11 KJV; Galatians 1:8-9 KJV; Hebrews 9:27 KJV; Isaiah 8:19 KJV; Luke 16:29 KJV; 1 Chronicles 10:13 KJV.

(6) John wrote that Jesus Christ "full of grace and truth." John 1:14 KJV. But Rome says Mary is "full of grace." Who's right? Romanism has this legacy from the accommodation to get pagans in the church. But its another obstacle that prevent a person from getting saved by going directly to Jesus Christ. Mary isn't a mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). The "fruit" will be seen on the day when countless are cast into hell. Is Marian devotion worth that price?

My response:

Don't let my bark scare you - 

Hm?  What makes you think anyone here is scared?

I'm against your religion, not you or other Catholics. 

Thanks for the olive branch.  I'm also not against you.  I am however against your religion and the errors which your are here trying to spread.

My beef with Catholicism? Substituting membership in an institution for receiving Jesus Christ in the heart.

Hm?  Yours is a false dichotomy.  Those who receive Jesus Christ in the heart will seek membership in His Institution:


Acts 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I'm concerned about unsaved people going to hell trusting their Church membership instead of Jesus Christ. Are you one of them?  

No.  But you are.  It is your church which pits its membership against Jesus Christ when it attacks the Catholic Church which is the Body of Christ.

Oh and you aren't saved because you claim salvation.  God alone knows whether you are saved or not:
1 Corinthians 4:2-4
King James Version (KJV)
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.  3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

If you have saved yourself, then you have received your reward.  We will await the Judgment of All Mighty God.

#1 All saved Christians are priests and able to appoint local church leadership and replace apostate leaders.

That is not true.  In the Church, we all have our vocations:

Ephesians 4:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Paul allows every man to have his own opinion on issues like holy days: "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Rom. 14:5 KJV.

Not exactly.  St. Peter says the same thing much more succinctly:

Acts 10:34-35
King James Version (KJV)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

St. Paul also says it much more succinctly in another place:

1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Let me walk you through it.  First he says:

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Don't argue with that are weak in understanding of the faith of Christ.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

 He is using hyperbole or exaggeration here to make a point.   The one who is strong in faith eats all things, because God has made all things clean (Acts 10:13-15).   But he is pointing out that those who are weak in faith do not trust the teaching of the Church and will eat only vegetables in order to "play it safe", so to speak.

Then he says:

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

There is a subtle change here because he is referring to Jew and Christian.  St. Paul is saying that we are not to judge anyone for their religious beliefs.  He is our Judge.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

God is not a respecter of persons.  It doesn't matter if you're Protestant, Catholic, Jew or Muslim.  Only one thing matters, do you keep the Commandments?

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Do you keep the Sunday Sabbath or the Saturday Sabbath?  It doesn't matter.  What matters is, do you keep the Commandments?

James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Let likeminded Christians meet together on the days they want - stop trying to govern somebody else's group.

Uh?  What are you doing here then?

Paul wasn't a fanatic about church management 1 Cor. 14:38 KJV -

Lol!  Really?  Let's look at it.  He goes through a whole chapter, 37 verses, explaining what one's attitude should be in the Church and concerning prophecy.  Read them for yourself.  And then he says:


38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

That is not a commendation but a condemnation for a man's unbelief..  If a man chooses to be ignorant and disbelieve the instruction which St. Paul has just explained, then let him be ignorant.  Let him be a fool, if he chooses so to be. How you can turn that into a recommendation to remain a fool, is beyond me.

but with sound doctrines of salvation: Titus 1:9-11 KJV.  

An ignorant person, a  fool, does not accept the wisdom of God.  An ignoramus does not have the wisdom to accept sound doctrine:


Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Church authority vs "inner light" is a false dichotomy - both can be wrong.

Scripture says that the Church is the Pillar of Truth (1 Tim 3:15) and that the Church teaches the Wisdom of God (Eph 3:10).  Therefore, the Church can't be wrong.

I'm not sure what you mean by "inner light".  If you mean that some men who think they are inspired by the light of the Holy Spirit, may not be, I would agree.

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Uniformity of wrong belief is no virtue,

True.

neither are church authorities a substitute for the Holy Ghost in each believer.

That is a straw man argument, since no one is advocating that one should substitute church authorities for the Holy Ghost.  However, we are advocating submission and obedience to Church authorities in accordance with the command of the Holy Ghost:
Hebrews 13:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Christians should both hear their teachers and judge for themselves, departing from false ones: 1 Tim. 6:3-5 KJV; 1 Cor. 14:37 KJV; 1 Cor. 3:5 KJV. 

That is true.  We hear the Church (Matt 18:17) and reject your teachings ( Rom 16:17).

(2) Hebrews 13:17 KJV doesn't say we must look for a religious master.

That verse tells us that we already have religious masters whom we should submit to and obey.  It is an obvious reference to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to submission to Church authority.

I obey the police, judges, boss who has the rule over me in any situation, and respect a pastor's decisions over the business of his church - but not if command me on any personal issue because that isn't his business.

The condition of your soul is supposed to be his business.  Lets read the Scripture rather than gloss over it as you have done in an attempt to fool us into believing your opinion rather than the actual Word of God:

Hebrews 13:17King James Version (KJV)

Note that this is the King James version of this Scripture.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:

He says that we should obey and submit to those who have rule over us.  In other words, we should humble ourselves before these people.  At this point, he could be talking about secular authorities or about church authorities.  He has, after all, admonished us to obey secular authorities in another place, see:

Rom chapter 13.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

But that is not the case here.  We know because he says:

for they watch for your souls,

Secular authorities do not watch over our souls.  Catholic Church authorities do so.  Protestants do not and if they attempted to, Protestants like yourself would reject them and accuse them of overstepping their bounds.

 as they that must give account,

This is what makes this a reference to the Sacrament of Confession.  It is in this Sacrament that it is the Priests duty to give an account to God of the sins which we have confessed.

that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

What is this, joy or grief?  Priests are visibly grieved when their constituents are habitually confessing the same sins.  And habitually confessing the same sins is not profitable for us.  It means we are not growing in our faith.  It is not commendable but condemnable.

Peter told elders not to be "lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3 KJV;

True.  That is the still the admonition to all priests and lay people alike today.

Paul said "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor. 7:23 KJV.

And yet Christ gave us an example of servitude.
Matthew 20:28
King James Version (KJV)
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 13:
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Was St. Paul contradicting our Lord, do you think?  Or how do you read 1 Cor 7:23?  Let me give you a hint (Colossians 3:23-24).

Enslavers are false: "false brethren ...spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:" Gal. 2:4 KJV. Beware of the cult-like control in Roman Catholicism. 

There is no such thing.  The Catholic Church teaches the freedom which comes of the Truth:
John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

It is, in fact, the lies of Protestantism which bind people to the yoke  of Satan by forbidding the true understanding of the Sacraments of Christ which are the fountains of His saving grace.

(3) Trinity is an eternal truth simply acknowledged by councils. But a council of devils would also make the correct decision, James 2:19 KJV and "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ." Luke 4:41 KJV. Councils enforced their decisions by murder which sheds light on the devil's involvement. John 8:44 KJV. 

You make an art of mixing lies and truth.  The Councils of the Catholic Church arrived at the Truth by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Any murder which took place was the result of the fallen nature of the man who committed the murder.  Any such murder would have taken place IN SPITE of the Teachings of the Catholic Church and not because of Them.

Does it bother your conscience at all that you indict the innocent with the guilty with such ease?  I remind you that the Scripture says:

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(4) "Pray to the Virgin, not Jesus, she understands" is something some Catholic women say to each other.

I was born in the Catholic faith and have been around Catholics all my life.  I've never heard a Catholic say that.  Although I've heard Protestants continually claim this is so.

Men too can be fanatical: "...they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Acts 19:28-29 KJV. Zeal for a goddess isn't good.

True.  But we don't worship Mary.

Religious devotion to Mary robs honour from Jesus Christ alone.  

That isn't true.  We are devoted to Mary because Jesus Christ loves her.  We love all whom He loves:
Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

That was spoken by God to Abraham.  But it is a Biblical principal.  God approves of those who are devoted to those whom He loves.

(5) The "Queen of Heaven" is the name of a devil that apostate Jews used to worship,Jeremiah 44:17 KJV.

True.  Many people share titles and names.  Have you ever heard of Jesus Barsabbas?  Barsabbas means "son of the father".  Who is this man who shares the name of Jesus, Our Lord?

Does the fact that the Jews loved this man more than they loved Jesus somehow detract from the glory of Jesus?  Does the fact he has the same name as our Lord detract from the glory of our Lord?

In the same way, the pagan Queen of Heaven does not detract from the Virgin Mary's true Queenship in Heaven:
Revelation 12:1
King James Version (KJV)
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Doubtless the Marian apparitions and miracles are of the devil:Deut. 13:2-3 KJV; Leviticus 19:31 KJV; Deut. 18:11 KJV; Galatians 1:8-9 KJV; Hebrews 9:27 KJV; Isaiah 8:19 KJV; Luke 16:29 KJV; 1 Chronicles 10:13 KJV.  

How did St. Paul put it?  If you wish to be ignorant, then remain ignorant.  It is your decision.  However, the Queen of Heaven has appeared and it is confirmed by the Catholic Church, in order to reiterate the Teaching of the Gospel.   We do not despise the grace of God.  We test everything, holding on to the good.

(6) John wrote that Jesus Christ "full of grace and truth." John 1:14 KJV. But Rome says Mary is "full of grace." Who's right?

Scripture says that both are full of grace.  Mary is described as "kecharitomene" (Luke 1:28).  Always full of grace.

1:28  καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν

Do you deny it?

D

Romanism has this legacy from the accommodation to get pagans in the church. But its another obstacle that prevent a person from getting saved by going directly to Jesus Christ. Mary isn't a mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).

Yes, she is.  We are all mediators, in fact.  Jesus is the One Mediator between God and man BY NATURE.   We are mediators by God's grace.  Have you not read in Scripture?

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Have you not also read:

1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

But Mary is greatest of God's co-workers because she alone gave birth to our Saviour.

The "fruit" will be seen on the day when countless are cast into hell. Is Marian devotion worth that price? 

Uh?  We aren't worried.  But you should be.  Let me explain.  Scripture tells us that all those beloved of Christ are children of Mary.

First:
John 19:26-28
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Catholics are taught to read Scripture as though God was speaking to us. Now, are you a beloved disciple of Christ? To put it differently, are you a disciple whom Jesus loves?

Catholics would answer, "Yes" to that question and therefore accept Jesus command to take Mary as our mother and bring her into our home (i.e. heart).

For the second part of this explanation, you need to be aware of other verses in Scripture.
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The seed of the Woman is not just Jesus. Let me show you:
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Do you consider yourself someone who keeps the Commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus? If so, then you are seed or a child of the Woman. That Woman is Mary. And therefore, Scripture says that all who fight the good fight on behalf of God in Christ, are children of Mary.

But you reject Mary and therefore reject the love of Christ who has made you her son.

Sincerely,

De Maria