"...Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" ... Jesus: "You are right Peter, Upon this ROCK (THE TRUTH that I AM GOD'S SON), I will build my Church. And the gates of hell (extra-biblical doctrines and man-made rituals for salvation), will not prevail against it!" Matthew 16:18
If Christ is not the Son of God, Christianity is a cheat, and the church is a mere chimera; our preaching is vain, your faith is vain, and you are yet in your sins, 1 Co. 15:14–17. How did the Catholic Church and corrupt Popes manage to twist one the greatest and most beautiful statements about Jesus and His Truth into a blank check to justify the sale of salvation, the Inquisition and more recently the sexual abuse of children by Priests? This is a must see documentary. "Come out of her my people!" Rev. 14
14 comments:
http://www.salvationhistory.com/library/apologetics/Topics.cfm
Thanks for your comment, however, it just solidifies our belief that the Catholic Church believes in extra-biblical doctrines, most of the link has Church Fathers, including Popes talking about why Tradition is above the Scriptures.
I urge the blog owner to repent of his heresy before the fires of Hell engulf him.
Anonymous, the crusades are over my friend, your comment is at least 1000 years late!
I understand your anger that I choose not obey the Pope and buy my Salvation from the Catholic Church. Salvation is a free gift from God through Jesus Christ, not by works!
It's interesting that when visiting Catholic blogs and confronting Catholics with their beliefs, I've been called all kinds of names and received the raw anger of Catholics who can't reconcile what they THINK they believe with what the Popes and the hierarchy of the church promotes.
Still waiting for a cogent defense of the statements presented on this blog...
the gates of hell (extra-biblical doctrines and man-made rituals for salvation)
say's who?
Where in the bible are "the gates of hell" defined as extra-biblical doctrines and man-made rituals for salvation?
I'm not trying to be curt, but is this the totality of the gates of hell or is there more to it than that?
Is there a scriptural verse or point of reference that validates this particular interpretation of the gates of hell?
Thanks for caring for the salvation of us Catholics, but the intentions of the heart and humility will ultimately draw us all closer to a personal and intimate relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
God Bless
The gates of hell are in this passage represented by the kingdom of Lucifer, who is against God's character of love, justice and peace. Ultimately, the gates of hell are against God's FREE gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ.
The whole plan of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ is the object of attacks by the kingdom of Satan who want to substitute or replace the sacrifice of Jesus with man's own justice and works.
Jesus is here referring to his temptation in the desert, when "the gates of hell" tried to make Jesus doubt he was the Son of God and abandon his saving mission for the kingdoms of this world. In the Gethsemane, Jesus battled doubts about his mission and came out victor against the gates of hell. His submission to the cross was perceived as a final victory for hell and his angels, but was instead, their condemnation.
Therefore, any man-made rituals, doctrines and works towards salvation can be included in the plan of the 'gates of hell' to nullify the truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God and who died on the cross to consummate God's plan of salvation.
"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, he is Jesus Christ himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." Catholic National, July, 1895.
Therefore, any man-made rituals, doctrines and works towards salvation can be included, in the plan of the 'gates of hell' to nullify the truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God and who died on the cross to consummate God's plan of salvation.
I agree.
So why did your interpretation only include extra biblical doctrines and man made rituals? Why couldn't it also include straying from the fullness of the truth and the source of God's heavenly grace?
Of course, why not?
I'd like to respectfully say that this blog is completely in error.
Every single point you raise about Catholicism can be easily answered. Every single argument you raise against Catholicism can be easily disproven. EASILY. Most children can answer the questions you raise. Seriously.
Of course the Catholic Church believes in external-Biblical doctrines - the Bible wasn't written until AFTER Christ's death, and it wasn't even totally compiled until the year 400AD, and it wasn't even PRINTED until the year 1400. Can you honestly try to tell me that Christ would leave people in the DARK about their salvation for 1400 years? (ie, no salvation without the Bible - that is, Sola Scriptura?) I think not. There are many Traditions that are not in the Bible - check out Thessalonians Chapter 2: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle." There you have it - St. Paul himself is telling us that there are Traditions that are not written down in the Bible, but instead passed on by word of mouth. You can't ignore these Traditions, they are just as important as the Traditions in the Bible. None of these Traditions are in conflict with Sacred Scripture.
The Catholic Church believes not as the Protestants do - not in Sola Scriptura - but in a beautiful harmony of Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. I challenge you all to find one piece of Catholic doctrine that contradicts Sacred Scripture. You won't find any. And if you find one that you think DOES contradict Sacred Scripture, then I assure you that it can be shown to be in harmony, not conflict, with Sacred Scripture.
I myself can answer each and every point against Catholicism that you raise on this blog. I would be happy to do so.
I noticed that another person already commented that you don't know much about Catholicism - if you did, then this blog wouldn't exist. That person is right, even if you may not think so...a quick study of Catholicism will provide answers to each and every argument you make against it.
Salvation is a free gift, of course it is. No Catholic ANYWHERE will tell you that you must BUY salvation! No Catholic believes that you must buy salvation. And if you find a Catholic who does believe that, then they don't really know their Faith, and they are misinformed. Catholics believe - and with good reason, for it is backed up with Biblical references - that salvation is by Faith and works - not one or the other, but both. There are numerous references in the Bible that state this; there are so many that I'm totally at a loss to understand how Protestants can just throw those out and claim "no they don't matter".
I could go on and on, but I don't have the time, nor do I believe that a comment box is the appropriate place for such a discussion.
I make these comments in all charity, and do not mean to offend. I hope and pray that one day the beauty and truth of Catholicism will be realized by everyone the world over.
Thanks.
Why did Jesus change his charge's name from Simon Bar Jonah to Peter (petrus ."rock" in Greek) ?
Why did Jesus give him the keys to Heaven and the power to loose and bind?
Thomas, maybe you should try to answer the 25 questions we have asked.
FYI, Petrus is a masculine word in Greek and PEtra is FEMININE so you can't say that JEsus was referring to Petrus as PETRA.
The 25 questions remain unanswered...
MJ, the Bible wasn't written by the Catholic church, it wasn't written after the Death of Christ.
FYI, the Bible is a collection of books that were preserved by GOd in the Jewish community since 1520 before Christ. The New Testament was all written after the death of Christ but not by the Roman Catholic church.
The Bible as we have it today was compiled by the Apostolic church in the 2-3rd centuries AD when the Church was FREE from the heresies that crept into it from that time on, such as the Papacy. As the word of God, the process was guided and protected by God himself, it was not a human operation.
It was also preserved by pious people that had to smuggle the SCriptures because the Roman Catholic church persecuted those who wanted to have the Bible as their sole basis of Truth. Read the stories of the Waldensis.
It's interesting that you say that God would not leave his people in the dark. Of course God wouldn't, but the RCChurch would gladly. The Bible was in the list of the Pope's banned books, the INDEX. Look it up.
The traditions Paul is referring to were the practice of Christianity that was in accordance with the Scriptures of his day, not that CONTRADICTED the Scriptures.
Finally, Jesus rejected tradition that contradicted the Scriptures as they had it in his days, namely the Torah, as you can plainly read in Matthew 15. If Jesus were alive today, HE WOULD NOT BE A CATHOLIC because he did not accept MAN-MADE traditions. Roman caholicism on the other hand rejects the Scriptures and upholds traditions. It's plain to see.
That should tell catholics something...
On your last comment about being Catholic to be saved, you should now know that Benedict just came our and said that you HAVE to be Catholic to be saved.
You should stop reciting what your priests say and look for answers yourself. You will be blessed in the process.
Andre,
Of course the Old Testament wasn't written by the Catholic Church, and of course it wasn't written after the death of Christ. Whoever said it was?
The New Testament IS a part of the Bible and it WAS written by the Catholic Church AFTER the death of Christ. It was written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, etc etc etc...and they were ALL CATHOLIC. You said, "The Bible as we have it today was compiled by the Apostolic church in the 2-3rd centuries" - well guess what, my friend, the Apostolic Church in the 2-3rd centuries WAS the CATHOLIC church. Hehehe. :-) Yes, it was free from heresies that have crept in. Yes, it was guided and protected by God. Yes, it was not a human operation - the books were written, as in physically touching ink to paper, by men, but the words were God's words. God merely inspired the men to write the words down.
LOL, do you know why people had to smuggle the scriptures to others because the Church was forbidding them? It was a heretical translation! A translation full of error, one that could lead people into schism! That's why there is a version of the Bible on the Forbidden Index! Really, you should do your homework. :-)
I already said that nothing in the Sacred Scriptures is in conflict with Sacred Tradition / the Catholic Church.
Ummmm.....Jesus STARTED the Catholic Church, how can you say that He wouldn't be a Catholic if He were alive today? Yes the Church has problems, I admit that fully - but the Teachings of the Church are sound, and they are exactly what Christ taught the Apostles 2000 years ago.
You said, "Roman caholicism on the other hand rejects the Scriptures and upholds traditions. It's plain to see." Can you show me evidence of that please? How can we reject the Scriptures when we preserved them throughought the centuries? When it was Catholics who were inspiried by the Holy Ghost to pen the actual words?
Yes, one must be Catholic in order to be saved. No argument there.
I would never just recite what my priests tell me. I've done so much research on this stuff that my head should have already exploded. I would encourage you to examine these points yourself, because if we were to really get into a debate on these things, all your points would be (easily) disproven, I guarantee it. you have to just be willing and open to accepting the Truth when it's shown to you.
Mj, you said the Catholic church wrote the Bible! How absurd. Now you're trying to fix it by saying that the NT were Catholic!! How hilarious...
Mj, you are a prime example of how ignorant Catholics are of history and the Holy Scriptures.
Maybe you should consider answering the 25 questions I posted about Peter not being the foundation of anything in the NT. If you are able to answer those, then we'll be able to hold an intelligent discussion.
Where in the Bible does it bring the word Catholic?
Where does it say that Matthew and the other were Catholic? LOL
Where does it say that Jesus founded the Catholic Church? I can't imagine Jesus endorsing the Crusades and sexual abuse of children by corrupt Popes and priests. I can't imagine Jesus endorsing homossexual priests
About your claim that the Catholic church preserved the Scriptures, you should read your Popes statements rejecting Genesis and the Creation story, which is endorsed by Catholic theologians. They call the stories in the Bible, MYTHS. That's no way to endorse the SCriptures!!
Your "research" is obviously so superficial and biased that it shows how brain-washed catholics are.
And this is very simply cured, just go back to the Scriptures and find truth on your own, not in what pedophiles tell you. However, that's never going to happen because you don't accept the Scriptures, so you're on your own there.
I welcome your comments, they just validate the facts posted in this blog. Thanks for that!
Post a Comment