Query III

The Query response continues:

Quote:

Answer B) is:
If you say "The God nature left Jesus" then you are essentially saying that God did NOT die, and the death of Jesus was no important sacrifice at all. A human man was tortured for a weekend and died. How is this supposed to atone for all the sins of humanity? 

Not to mention that human sacrifice is explicitly forbidden by Torah, and the manner of death runs afoul of at least a dozen laws regarding kosher sin sacrifice: The death wasn't by kosher shecht (slaughter), the offering was not made at the Temple, the offering wasn't
Made by Temple priests, the body wasn't without physical blemish, etc. This makes Christianity a religion based upon an unkosher, human sacrifice. 

If you say "The God nature left Jesus" then you are essentially saying that God did NOT die, 

LET US PRAY!

Join the US Bishops in prayer for freedom!

Query II-the Response

This is the response to my rebuttal of the unanswerable query to a Christian.  Notice that he broke down my rebuttal the same way that I normally break down other peoples messages in order to isolate the main points.  His words in red.

Must one keep the law perfectly to be saved?

Scripture says:

James 2:10

King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Does that mean that one must keep the Law perfectly? Or does God forgive sin?

Query I-A query no Christian has ever been able to provide a satisfactory answer for

This question was asked on one of those question and answer forums on the internet:

Here's a question I've been asking that no Christian has ever been able to provide a satisfactory answer for that does not clearly violate simple rules of logic, or trinitarian Christian theology. I truly believe it's the kernel of truth that has the power to crack apart trinitarian Christianity.

The question is:

"If Jesus is supposed to be fully man and fully God, and died on the cross... Then WHO resurrected him?" 

Can one who does not keep the Commandments be saved?

What does Scripture say?

Revelation 22:12-15
King James Version (KJV)¹²And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.¹³I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.¹⁴Blessed 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.¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Now, what do you think?

Sincerely,

De Maria

The wicked witch melted with a little water....

I was reading the Dustin cartoon in the funnies yesterday and I guess the little guys name is Dustin, he had just watched the Wizard of Oz for the first time and said, 

"The wicked witch melted with a little water. That explains the green skin, the cranky attitude and that her only friends were winged monkeys."

In all my years of watching that movie, I never thought of that.  But come to think of it, that's a great argument for infant baptism. ;)


Sincerely,


De Maria

Is faith alone dead? or not?

Is faith alone dead? Or not?

Scripture says,

James 2:17

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Does anyone disagree?

Sincerely,

De Maria

Against Faith Alone

How do you make your calling sure? By faith alone? Or by faith and works?

What does it mean to make one's calling and election sure? Aren't those who are called and elected already saved?

And how do you make your calling and election sure, by faith alone? or by faith and works?

If they are already saved, why does Scripture say?

Ideas at Lighthouse Catholic Media

 

The True Gospel

Someone said:

Hi Catholic friends,
I heard a disturbing comment from a priest a few days ago that I can't get out of my head. ... and said he would try to comfort her by saying to her "just look at your works".... "just look at your wonderful children and grand children".
This might be the usual Catholic response... but to me... I thought it was tragic. She was crying out for the true Gospel

She got the true Gospel. Yours is the false Gospel.

Is Scripture alone the source of God's word?

Is Scripture the only source of the Word of God? Because Scripture says:
Hebrews 13:7

King James Version (KJV)
⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Light House Catholic Media

I travel a lot.  I spend about 8 days a month in my car, just driving long distances.  You do a lot of talking to yourself in a situation like that.

Luckily, Lighthouse Catholic Media (LHCM) had long ago begun to provide our Parish with cd's by all those famous Catholics you see on the picture above.   I would stock up every Sunday after Mass and then listen to them on my way to work.

These speakers are awesome!  I'm serious.  They make you laugh, they make you cry and they teach you the Catholic Faith.

If your Parish does not yet have the program which LHCM offers to parishes, you can click on that banner above and buy them for yourself at a great low price.

Better yet though, when you click on that banner and go to their website, search through and find the Parish program and maybe you can become instrumental in bringing these cd's to your Parish.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Steve Ray's, Defenders of the Catholic Faith

Probably, my favorite Blog is Steve Ray's Defenders of the Catholic Faith.

As much as he does, I don't know how the guy has time to post on his blog everyday. But he does and very effectively. Not only does he teach the Catholic Faith, but he has humourous articles and world news. As well as chronicling his adventures around the world walking in the steps of Christ and His Saints.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Will it be multiple choice or essay?

Neither.  Someone was saying on the internet, "I don't understand doctrines and I don't have time to study.  How can I be saved?"

The answer is:
Well, God isn't going to give us an exam.  This is what is going to happen at the Judgment.

Catholic to Atheist back to Catholic

I was born into a Catholic family and fell away to atheism at around 13. I came back to faith in Christ about fourteen years later after my wife conceived our first child. It was that conception that made me realize that God existed and that I needed Him now!

Our child was coming into a savage world, during the time that so many horrible things were being done to children in child care centers and public schools. And I remember crying out in my soul, “God, if you don’t exist, I’m doomed. I need you to exist!”

Sincerely,

De Maria

Believe me, not the Catholic Church?

Its always funny to me when people with whom I debate expect me to set aside the 2000 year authority of the Catholic Church and replace it with their own wisdom.  Here's the argument I just confronted on another forum:

Here is the issue that I am seeing regarding the posts between you two.  It all revolves around one major discrepancy and that is the assumption that the Catholic Church is The Church.  Until that is nailed down I don't think we can continue to base all authority of what is and is not a law upon the ideals of this institution.

Here is what I said in reply.  I parsed the argument so that I could confront each point more effectively:

Here is the issue that I am seeing regarding the posts between you two.  It all revolves around one major discrepancy and that is the assumption that the Catholic Church is The Church.

Non sequitur.

1. It is my informed and studied conclusion that the Catholic Church is the Church.
2. No one here has proven it to be wrong. Therefore, describing my assumption as a discrepancy, in other words, as an error, is an error in itself. Since no one has proved my conclusion false.
3. The opposite assumption, that everyone else is correct in assuming that the Catholic Church is not The Church is not proven either. Therefore, concluding that they are correct and I am in error is another error of logic on your part.
4. And I believe I have provided more evidence for the truth of my assumption than anyone else for the proof of theirs.

Until that is nailed down I don't think we can continue to base all authority of what is and is not a law upon the ideals of this institution.

You may base your assumptions on whatever authority you wish. However, when you confront me, I will compare your assumptions and mine to Scripture to see which are actually in line with the Written Word of God.

1st. I use the Scriptures to explain that which I believe.
2nd. I happen to believe that the Catholic Church is right based upon the facts:

a. that I see Her Doctrines in the Scriptures and....
b. that I don't see any non-Catholic doctrine which contradicts the Catholic Church in the Scriptures.
c. In fact, I can trace those contra-Catholic doctrines to verses in Scripture which contradict them.

3rd. Those with whom I am debating want me to abandon the obvious authority of the Church and replace it with their personal authority.

a. That statement confuses many. But it is true.
b. The Catholic Church relies upon the authority of Scripture.
c. I rely upon the authority of Scripture to confirm the authority of the Church.
d. But, non-Catholics expect me to rely upon them as my authority to understand the Word of God. When I believe I am perfectly capable of understanding the Word of God and my understanding of the Word of God has led me to the Catholic Church.

4th. I'm not asking you or anyone else to believe the Teachings of the Catholic Church. I am simply explaining my beliefs. And I am explaining them, from Scripture.

So, there you go.

P.S. join me on my daily Rosary walk.

Sincerely,

De Maria

You are God and I am not, so....

...what do you want me to do? 

Last night, I was watching the Journey Home again.  This time it was Dan Burke's testimony.

Kicking kids out when they are 18, why?

Catholic Nick had some excellent articles today on his blog.  One was about bikinis, I'll let you read that yourself.

The other about kicking children out of the home when they are 18 years old.  I have definite opinions about that one.  I don't doubt anything that he said in his article.  But I always thought of this idea of kicking children out of the house at 18 years of age being an American phenomenon. I'm a first generation American and I know this idea was not prevalent in our family when I was young.  

Why do they wave their hands in front of their face?

About ten years ago, more like 12, I had just been hired with the Company I work for today.  As I got off the bus to go to my first project, I saw three fellows, one waving his hands in front of his face and making all kinds of sarcastic remarks.  I was curious to hear what he was saying, because I suspected he was making fun of Catholics and the Sign of the Cross.

I was right.  Two of my fellow employees, Catholics, had been accosted by an Evangelical and were being subjected to a tirade against "mindless" Catholic rituals.  As I approached, I innocently asked what they were talking about.  The Evangelical responded, "I was telling these guys about those @#$$ Catholics, with their mindless rituals."  I said, "I'm a Catholic, to which rituals do you refer?"

He was a bit surprised, but he gathered himself and waved his hands in front of his face again, then he said, "Why do they dip their hands in water and then wet their faces?   And why do they drop to the ground before they sit down in a pew?  And..."   I interrupted him, "Whoa, let's take things one at a time.  Those two questions are easy.  First, we dip our hands in Holy Water and make the sign of the Cross on our face and shoulders because we remember our Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We "genuflect", that means touch our knee to the ground, and we kneel to pray when we go before the Altar because we want to be humble before God.  Scripture says, "he who exalts himself will be humbled, he who humbles himself will be exalted.  Therefore, we humble ourselves before God."

"Do you have anymore questions?"  He looked surprised, but he answered, "Yeah, why do they wave their hands in front of their face like they're swatting away flies?"  "Hm?  That's got me a bit stumped.  I've never seen any Catholic do that.  Unless you're talking about the Triple Cross which we pray  before the Gospel, is this it?" And I traced a cross with my thumb on my forehead and said, "That the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ always remain on my mind";  then I traced a cross on my lips and said and continued, "and on my lips"; then I traced a cross on my heart and said, "and in my heart.  That's what we pray before we listen to the Gospel."

For some reason, he wasn't too happy that I answered his questions.  He stormed off in a huff.  I turned to the other guys and asked, "who was that guy?"  "Oh, that was your Foreman.  I guess we know who's got all the fun jobs today."  And they walked off laughing.

Thanks to God, they were wrong.  He wasn't my foreman.

See also, Sign of the Cross.

Sincerely,

De Maria