Pray!

De Maria April 11, 2013 at 11:29 AM

Hi Peter,

You said,

Peter Pereira March 28, 2013 at 11:14 AM

My Post appears to have stirred-up a hornet’s nest :-)>

Mighty small nest, Peter. You should see some of the other articles which Steve has written. They’ve inspired hundreds of heated exchanges. This is a rather small one in comparison.

God demands exclusivity as far as worship

No doubt. And religion does that. But you didn’t answer my question. Here are my words which you are apparently responding to because YOU put them right above those words:

The only organized religions to which God is opposed in Scripture, are those which worship other gods. Do you have any evidence that God opposes organized efforts to worship Him?

I asked for evidence, you responded with your opinion.

God demands exclusivity as far as worshipis concerned being the creator of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and End, the sustainer of Life and the object of faith, His Holy infallible Word that has been preserved for generations all together, and will continue to do so till all be fulfilled.

That is true. That is why Jesus Christ established His Religion. In order to worship God exclusively the way God wants to be worshipped.

It also can mean that relationship is established on the grounds according to what man “decides” to by his own deeds – self righteouness.

That describes Protestantism and especially the doctrine of faith alone. This false doctrine teaches people to judge their own righteousness and claim for themselves salvation. That’s why Protestants go around saying, “I’m saved, you’re not saved, he’s saved or he’s not saved.” Thereby glorifying and exhaling themselves as though they had the mind of God. Whereas, Scripture tells us that God is the dispenser of mercy and salvation:

Exodus 20:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 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. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Religion tries to make a person obedient by trying the tame the external personality, but is not aware it is a heart-issue. Religion makes one obey from the outside without any real change of our nature from the inside.

Again, that describes Protestantism. It is Protestants who claim that we can’t keep the Ten Commandments and that we shouldn’t try to be holy. But Scripture says otherwise:
Revelation 22:12-15
King James Version (KJV)
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

2 Peter 1:4-10
King James Version (KJV)
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

I wouldn’t walk across the street for religion, but I am willing to go around the world for the sake of the Gospel. There is a great difference between the two.

On the contrary, the Gospel is the Religion of Jesus Christ explained. What you do is practice your own form of religion which contradicts, denies and discards the Teaching of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:4-6
King James Version (KJV)
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness,but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Religion is man-made; the Gospel is God-given.

The Gospel is the Religion which God gave us.

Religion is what man does for God; the Gospel is what God did for man.

This is typical Protestant false dichotomy. The True Gospel includes both. The Gospel explains the Religious duties of man towards God in response to God’s mercy.

Religion is man’s search for God; the Gospel is Gods search for man.

That’s a strange thing to say. The Scripture says that we must seek after God:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Therefore, the Gospel is the Religion which teaches us to seek after God in faith.

Religion is man trying to climb up the ladder of his own self-righteousness, with the hope of meeting God on the topmost rung; the gospel is God coming down the ladder in the incarnation of Jesus Christ and meeting us sinners at the lowest rung.

The Gospel is the Religion which tells us that Jesus Christ became man in order to give us an example to follow:
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

People claim to live by the golden rule not knowing what it requires. They claim to keep the law. But sincerity to do right doesn’t make someone accepted before God. No one will make heaven by there own obedience to Gods laws. Cults always confuse obedience to laws and church with keeping gaining or keeping ones salvation.

Your cult has confused you. It is not we, Catholics, who go around proclaiming ourselves righteous enough to be saved. It is Protestants who do that. The proof is simple to obtain. Ask a Catholic if he is saved. What will he respond, “I don’t know. God is my Judge.” And that is the Biblical answer:

1 Corinthians 4:3-4
King James Version (KJV)
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.

But ask a Protestant if he is saved. What does he say, “Yes and Amen! I’m saved by my faith alone!” But that is adherence to false teaching. For the Scripture says:
ames 2:23-24
King James Version (KJV)
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

The law is bad news!

Romans 7:12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Long before Satan paganized the Church

That is typical Protestant lack of faith. The Catholic Church has never been paganized. Christ guaranteed that His Church would never fall:
Matthew 16:18-19
King James Version (KJV)
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We have faith in Jesus Christ and therefore, believe His promise.

he tried to Judaize it, this was done by having them be confused which covenant to live under. Law and grace are mutually exclusive they cannot be combined. When we come to the New Testament Jesus defines what true law keeping is in his sermon on the mount. The sermon on the mount in Matthew chapter 5 was not meant to be the “golden rule” for Christian ethics or for the people of the world. The Pharisees kept the letter of the law. They thought if they did not steal or kill they were not guilty. Jesus went further showing them that the true righteousness of the law is how one acts on the inside. What it really demanded was not an outward obedience but it had an inward intent of obedience.

That is more of that Protestant false dichotomy. Inward obedience results in outward obedience. As Jesus said:
Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

And St. James says something very profound:
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Inward faith which does not result in outward works, is false and dead:
James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Someone would violate the righteousness of the law long before they commit the physical act. If one hated his brother they would be guilty of murder in the heart long before they committed the act. However, the Pharisees considered themselves not guilty because they never did the physical act of murder They made the law of no effect because it did not affect the inner man. The true conformity to the Law of Moses was internal not external. The law did not make one righteous but showed how unrighteous they really were. God requires truth on the inward parts. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.”

The Law leads us to Christ:
Galatians 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Religion is operated by the fallen nature, only those who believe the Gospel receive the Spirit and operate in God. Religion puts people in spiritual and psychological bondage, the Gospel frees someone into the ultimate liberation of their soul.

The Gospel is the Religion which teaches us that we are free to do what is right Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.:

Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Religion is good views on life; the gospel is good news about eternal life.

The Gospel is the Religion which teaches you how to live in this life that you might gain eternal life.

Religion is good advice to man; the gospel is a glorious announcement to mankind.

The Gospel is the Religion which teaches man how to respond to the glorious announcement that Jesus died to save mankind.

Religion takes a man and leaves him as he is; the gospel takes a man as he is and makes him what he ought to be

The Gospel is the Religion which teaches a man to be perfect in all good works as God intended him to be.

Religion leads to an outer reformation; the gospel leads to an inner transformation. Once the inside is transformed the outward will certainly follow.

You just contradicted yourself. All I can add is that the Gospel is that Religion which teaches a man to be transformed inwardly in order that he might respond outwardly in accordance with the Will of God.

Philippians 2:11-13
King James Version (KJV)
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Religion whitewashes the truth; the Gospel washes white with the truth.

The Gospel is the Religion of Jesus Christ which proclaims the Wisdom of God to the whole world.

Religion often becomes a farce; the Gospel is always a force, it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

Religion, such as Protestantism, has become a farce. The Gospel is the Religion which pours upon mankind the power of God which is the Holy Spirit in Baptism.

There are many religions for many cultures, but there is only one Gospel for all cultures for all time.

And that one Gospel is the Religion which is passed down through the Catholic Church which Jesus Christ established to Teach all which He commands.

Sincerely,

De Maria

De Maria April 11, 2013 at 11:41 AM

Peter asks:
Peter Pereira March 28, 2013 at 11:45 PM
In his inaugural speech, pope Francis mentioned of his intentions to take the Catholic Church back to “its Roots”. What does this mean?

The Pope is urging Catholics to shun worldliness.

De Maria April 11, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Hi Peter,

Peter Pereira March 30, 2013 at 1:25 PM
More about religion and religiosity ..

As a society we are so afraid of diseases and plagues we do much to prevent their spread, but there is a more fatal disease, one that has affected everyone on this planet… that is sin, so we can add one more item to death and taxes that we all share. Although this particular one needs to be settled now not later.

Sin is something society does not want to hear about or believe in. Its become religiously incorrect to mention such a point . But all one has to do is look around us to see the activity and expression of what sin is. Murder, acts of inhumanity, even to those of their own flesh and blood. Society is filled with thieves, liars and selfish people coveting what others have. While these violate other peoples lives we still have to acknowledge that we keep company with it ourselves. Even if we don’t hurt another soul we still have sinful desires within us. What is called love today can be called sin when it practiced beyond the confines of marriage as God ordained. That’s right even when a man and woman say they love each other if they don’t enter into a lifelong commitment is it really love?

That is Catholic Teaching.

Religions can be summed up as the leaky bucket syndrome. You have one leaky bucket and look for another bucket you pour the water out into the new one only to find this too has a hole. You seek for another and pour the water out only to find it too has a hole. You continue to do this but none of them hold the water any better than the first. The modern world we live in today is filled with a multiplicity of faith’s. God comes in many shapes and sizes and choosing can be much like shopping for a popular item in a supermarket.

This is true. Look at the Protestants and the fruits of Sola Scriptura. Protestants were no satisfied with the Religion which Jesus Christ established, the Catholic Church, therefore they made another. Then another and another until they are now the epitome of the many headed hydra. The faith of Jesus Christ is lost amongst the Protestant and Sola Scriptura religions.

How is one to know what is right or what is true.

Well, reviewing a true history of the Church would be a good start. What Protestants and Sola Scripturists don’t understand is that Sacred Tradition has been written down. It is called the New Testament.

Jesus Christ did not write anything down. He established a Church and commanded that Church to pass down His Teachings. Another word for Teachings is Traditions. That Church then wrote down the Traditions and called that the New Testament. This is why valid Doctrines are found in Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. And invalid doctrines are found neither in Sacred Tradition nor in Sacred Scripture.
Take for instance, Sola Scriptura. You will find it neither in Sacred Tradition nor in Sacred Scripture.

Any Protestant doctrine which contradicts the Sacred Traditions taught by the Catholic Church also contradicts the Sacred Scriptures and will not be found therein.

There is an agreement in most all religions that their is a God and one can be accepted by him by doing certain rituals and practices.

It is God who prescribed the rituals of the Catholic Church:
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

The fallen nature of man loves religion, it caters to his well being it bolsters the ego and develops mans self esteem. The gospel is the opposite of religion, it humbles the pride of man and changes his focus from self dependent to God dependent. All religions invented by man try to please their creator without ever knowing if they are sure but only hope it is true. New Signs Wonders, Miracles does a man seek which is a sign of weakness you get it from practicing religiosity.

1. The Gospel is the Religion which Jesus Christ taught and which the Church, the Body of Christ continues to teach in obedience to His command (Matt 28:19-20).

2. It is Protestantism which builds up sinful pride and teaches men that they can save themselves by faith alone and need not await the Judgment of all mighty God:
Romans 14:10
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

3. It is ironic that Protestants and Sola Scripturists, by abandoning the Church and Sacred Tradition have cut themselves off from the Grace of God which they can only receive in the Sacraments and put themselves squarely under the Law.

It is in the Sacraments that we are justified and sanctified by Holy Spirit in the Washing of Regeneration apart from any works but by faith alone in the power of God. It is those who receive the Sacraments who walk amongst the Saints in this life because only doers of the Law are just in the eyes of God. And seeking His favor with no deceit in our heart, we are filled with grace in accordance with the abundance of our faith.

But Protestants and Sola Scripturists have cast away the grace of God and put themselves under the Law and must now await the Last Day and stand before they are saved. If they are saved.

Sincerely,

De Maria