ALMIGHTY GOD v. GENERIC GOD

By Marsha West

January 12, 2008

NewsWithViews.Com

For a number of years a woman I know, I'll call her Amy, has wrestled with giving her life to Christ. She admits she really wants to, but how can she when she'd have to serve a God who allows murderers into heaven and sends "good people" to hell? It would be awkward to have to explain to her husband, family and friends that they're bound for hell if they reject Christ. In other words, Amy won't play by God's rules because His rules make her uncomfortable. In her way of thinking the God of the Bible is too punitive for her sensibilities. And besides, what kind of God would allow a serial murderer into heaven who professed a belief in Christ only minutes before going to the gas chamber while at the same time condemn "good people" to hell for their unbelief?

Liberals like Amy require a more palatable religion, one that's all-inclusive and, of course, fair. They desire a warm fuzzy God. The liberal's ideal God is a sort of jolly ol' St. Nick figure. The liberal's jolly ol' god has a Naughty and Nice list but his heart is so big that he often overlooks naughty children's indiscretions (even the ones who are unrepentant) and delivers the goods to them anyway. He'd be unloving if he didn't bend a little.

Amy has yet to accept Christ and the main reason is it's unthinkable that God would send "good people" to hell. Amy's major stumbling block is that she's acquainted with a number of "good people" who are not Christians -- and they're a lot nicer than some Christians she knows. She contends that a just God wouldn't send nice folks to hell for all eternity simply because they reject Jesus Christ.

But the Bible says otherwise. In John 14:6 Jesus Christ Himself tells us, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

People like Amy sincerely believe they could do a far better job of running the universe than the One who created it. Talk about chutzpah!

No human being has the wisdom to determine if a person is fundamentally good or evil for the simple reason that no one knows for certain what's in a person's heart! No one can ever truly know a person's motives.

For those who hold to a relativistic worldview, good and evil, ethics and morality are simply cultural inventions and cannot be objectively defined. Liberals perceive the Bible as a book of myths and fables, thus it mustn't be taken seriously. Those who do take the Bible seriously are considered "unenlighted" -- nothing more than addlepated dunderheads. Unbelievers carp that the Bible should not be the standard by which we judge good and bad. But if not the Bible, then what standard should we use to determine ethics and morality? Consensus opinion? Selwyn Duke makes this astute observation:

"If man is the author of what we call right and wrong, if morality is all a matter of opinion, then there is no evil in any real sense. In other words, if we are judging some things to be good and others evil, we have to ask what standard we're using as a yardstick. If the standard is simply consensus opinion, then what we call morality falls in the realm of taste."

Duke continues,

"So, for 'good' and 'evil' to truly be reckoned as such, the standard we use cannot merely be taste masquerading as 'values.' And since man is being judged (we are, after all, talking about our actions), he cannot be the standard, for a standard cannot judge itself any more than a board can be used to measure itself for a carpentry project. For a standard to judge what is good and evil, it must be both outside and above them, in which case that standard starts to sound an awful lot like God."[1]

Another one of Amy's grievances against Christianity is that many so-called Christians don't behave any differently than unbelievers do. In other words, the lives of Christians she comes in contact with are inconsistent with what they profess to believe in. They claim Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, but they don't serve Him well. Amy has a point.

Indeed, many people want a Savior because they know they need one but they're unwilling to humble themselves before the throne of Almighty God and be obedient to what He desires. They may accept Jesus Christ as their Savior but pride gets in the way of Christ taking his rightful place at the helm of the ship. As poet William Earnest Henley wrote,

"It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll: I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."

Following are a couple of composite examples of the contemporary Christian.

Michelle professes faith in Christ. She attends church every Sunday, sings in the praise band, mans the coffer bar, and attends an occasional Bible study. She rarely shares Christ with anyone, unless she's forced into it, whereby she quickly spouts the condensed version of the gospel to avoid making the person feel uncomfortable. Her excuse is that evangelism is not her spiritual gift. Michelle believes God has gifted her with the ability to sing. Her voice rivals Judy Garland's so she really belts out a song in church. But when it comes to sharing her faith she's as timid as a mouse. She feels that as long as she's in a committed relationship, having sexual relations is not sinful. Nor is aborting a child. Michelle became pregnant and had an abortion so as not to bring an unwanted child into the world. She also swears like a sailor and dresses like a Hollywood pop-tart.

Jeff accepted Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade when he was a teen. Ever since then he has tried to be a good person and lead a moral life. Unless his kids have a sports event, the family is in church most Sundays. He and his wife participate in a small group that meets in their home for Bible study and prayer. Jeff is generous with his time, talent and treasure. He tithes 10 percent of his income and is always there to lend a hand. One thing Jeff enjoys is getting together with the guys for Monday night football at a local sports bar. He limits his beer intake to 2 schooners because any more than that could impair his driving. Jeff believes he has the spiritual gift of evangelism and often brags about sharing his faith with dudes he meets at sports events or bars. When Jeff does his income tax he uses "creative accounting practices." On occasion he views pornography on the Internet and thinks it's no big deal. Unbeknownst to his wife he regularly emails a woman he met in a chat room.

Michelle and Jeff say they're Christians. They both consider themselves good people and for the most part they try to live good lives – but are quick to admit thhey're not perfect! They reject the "fundamentalist fringe" of Christianity and the "fundies" constant harping on God's holiness. God knows we all have our faults, so why does a pastor need to belabor the point? Michelle and Jeff do the best they can, and besides, God knows their hearts are in the right place. In the long run going to heaven is what really counts anyway, and since they sincerely accepted Christ as their Savior, they're there! They may get through those pearly gates by the skin of their teeth, but at least they're in! Bang the cymbals, praise God, halleluiah, Amen!

Michelle and Jeff typify a lot of church-goers. All they need is enough of God to feel comfortable. Neither one of them want the fire and brimstone God the "fundies" preach about. That God is too harsh, too judgmental – way too sscary!

Which brings me to the words penned by Wilber Reese, who sums up the attitude of a large number of contemporary Christians:

I would like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth. I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I'd like to buy 3 dollars worth of God, please.

Far too many Christians are looking for an ecstatic experience – they're not looking to be transformed. Why? Because transformation involves change and change is often painful.

Reader alert! The serious Christian has no choice but to change.

For transformation to occur believers must immerse themselves in the Bible because it's the instrument God uses to conform His people to the image of Christ. And by the way, there is no such thing as a solitary Christian. No one should try to do Christianity on their own. Christians are a part of a body -- the Body of Christ -- with Christ as the head. Members of the church body are designed to function together as a whole. Moreover, they are meant to lean on each other when the going gets tough. Every believer should have a friend they can call at a moments notice. This friend can assist with good advice and hold them accountable.

It's not uncommon for a Christian to "crawl off the alter" and slink back into the world every once in a while. That's because many believers are comfortable with their former self (what Paul calls the "flesh"). For some it's like slipping their feet into a favorite pair of shoes. But an authentic Christian won't remain in the world. With God's help the prodigal will be victorious over sin. And the victory is in Christ! "What a wretched man I am!" Paul laments. "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" His answer? "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Chriist our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25)

Now listen to what Paul has to say about transformation:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, plleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12: 1-2).

Authentic Christians must present themselves "holy and pleasing to God!"

In his article, "Making Life Decisions," Geoff Pound explains why God's people should offer themselves as a "living sacrifice":

"Picking up on the familiar worship practice of sacrificing the life of a bird or animal, the Roman believers are called to offer themselves as a 'living sacrifice'. This is an ongoing presentation rather than a one-off gift.

"The offering of our lives is not only an appropriate response to the mercies of the God who has given us all but it is a prerequisite for discernment—'so that you may diiscern what is the will of God.' Discernment cannot be divorced from discipleship. Discernment is not an artificial leg that can be strapped on and taken off when convenient. Discernment is integrally connected to the offering of all that we are to God."

Offering your life to Christ, holy and pleasing, is a prerequisite for discernment! Today discernment is sorely lacking in the Church. So-called Christians are dependent on the government for education, health care, retirement, handouts, and so on. Plus they involve themselves in mysticism and participate in all sorts of unbiblical practices. Why? Because they're deficient in spiritual wisdom and discernment! I've already covered this topic in "Got Meat?" [2] so I won't belabor the point. Instead I'll return to Amy's perception of Christianity.

The way Amy sees it, most Christians she knows pay no heed to God's commands as set forth in the Bible. Are they not aware of the rules (new converts)? Or are they fully aware of the rules and feel no obligation to follow them? In any case, their behavior is no different than the unsaved person. (I personally know Christians that think God overlooks their blatant sin.) But here's the thing. If followers of Jesus Christ fail to exhibit a life lived in deference to Him, how are they any different from the unsaved?

In Amy's view, they're hypocrites (she's right) and a religion that breeds hypocrites makes her uncomfortable. As a result, she has fashioned a user-friendly religion with hardly any rules and an open-minded god who accepts everyone. (Hereafter Amy's counterfeit god shall be dubbed Generic God.)

Generic God does not require an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I mean, please. The atonement thing is so yesterday! "Self" has replaced the Savior of mankind. In other words, "I" will go to heaven, but "I" will make it on "my" own, without anyone's help, thank you very much, because "I" deserve it. Move over Jesus, here "I" come!

Generic God is very cool. In fact, he/she is so cool that there is no penalty for sin! Man is judged solely on his good deeds….or whatevver. I suspect that Amy assumes her performance on Earth will pass muster and that Generic God will welcome her into his/her kingdom when she dies. But what if Amy's performance isn't quite up to snuff?

Because Generic God is a wishy-washy god I suspect he/she can be persuaded to change his/her mind, unlike the God of the Bible who will say this to those who reject His Son:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:23).

What did Jesus mean by, "the will of my Father?" What he "plainly" meant is that it's God's will that, first and foremost, we repent of our sins and accept God's free gift of eternal life. Performing miraculous signs and wonders, doing good deeds, and being a "good person" does not cut it with God. And here's the reason:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

One last comment about Michelle. If you recall, Michelle believes she doesn't have the gift of evangelism. Thus she's convinced herself that she's off the hook when it comes to sharing her faith. But Michelle's wrong! She's obligated to preach the gospel. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says:

"I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:14-17).

All Christians have an obligation to evangelize the lost! Why? Because it's good news! Christians are offering eternal life, even though no one deserves it. Why would any true believer be ashamed to share the good news with those they come in contact with? People could use some good news!

Sadly, not everyone will go to heaven. Only those who are saved from their sins will reside with the King of kings and Lord of lords for all eternity.

Foothotes:

1, Evil By Selwyn Duke
2, Got Meat? By Marsha West



© 2008 Marsha West - All Rights Reserved

http://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha60.htm

Each one of us is obliged to search for and abide by the Truth. Millions completely ignore dire warnings from the Bible, or simply wallow in ignorance. We are obliged to search for the true Faith which leads to salvation. The true faith is Catholic. The Catholic Church is the one and ONLY Church, established by God Himself, in which all who wish to be saved must belong. This is a fact most people will scoff at, ridicule, deride, and promptly dismiss. It is the Truth nevertheless.

Truth is the opposite of error. Truth means that which is conformable to fact, and is therefore correct. Truth in action, is when the human conscience agrees with the intellect. Truth is ONE and there can be only one truth ( John 17:17-23). Any variation in truth cannot be truth at all, but error. Hence any faith other than the catholic is erroneous. Protestantism, and all its various sects, is erroneous. 500 million protestants worldwide profess an erroneous faith. Truth is Jesus Christ because He Himself says, I am the way, the truth and the life - John 14:6. When GOD created each one of us, He wrote His law into our hearts... When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the Law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the LAW WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS. THEIR CONSCIENCE BEARS WITNESS TO THEM, EVEN WHEN CONFLICTING THOUGHTS ACCUSE OR DEFEND THEM (Rom 2:14-15, also Heb 8:10, Heb 10:16)

Our conscience examines these laws and our free will makes decisions based on what conscience and the intellect says. Therefore, Free will gives us the ability to make the right or the wrong decision in GOD's eyes. GOD made the laws, and over and over again, He has urged us to do right, and warned us against doing wrong. If we did not have free will, there would be no need for urging or warnings. GOD could simply command us to do His will and we would be helpless to resist. By using free will, we decide which course of action will be taken for each individual incident we face in life. Through free will, each one decides for himself where he will spend eternity. GOD sends no one to hell. We send ourselves through the decisions we make in this life. In addition to GOD's laws written in our hearts, GOD also built in a hunger for Him and an innate desire to seek Him out. Since GOD is TRUTH, that innate desire is to seek the TRUTH in all things. When we have sought the truth and have found it, then we have found GOD. This is good and agreeable in the sight of GOD our Savior, who wishes ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. - 1 Tim 2:4

We have an obligation to question if we are in in danger of entering the wide gate to perdition, or the narrow gate to salvation. Enter by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who enter that way. How narrow the gate and close the way that leads to life! AND FEW THERE ARE WHO FIND IT . (Matt 7:13-14). These two verses clearly point out that the majority of us are on the broad way to destruction. Therefore each one of us must fight to be on the narrow way to heaven. Each of us must fight for his/her place in eternity.

In order to insure you are on the right path we have to work at it. We are obliged to look at all the options, examine them with the intellect, and seek an agreement with the conscience. Satan is very clever at disguising himself and at deceiving us into believing what appears as truth, is in fact error. Woe to you that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isa 5:20) Satan is responsible for so many who are traveling down the broad way. He is constantly assuring them that they are on the narrow way.

Sadly, many non-Catholics propagate outright lies about the Catholic Church and take what they have heard or have been taught as truth, without bothering to investigate the veracity of the things they hear. In doing so, they calumnize the Catholic Church, and its founder, Jesus Christ. Men would rather not search for the truth because,

They have a closed mind or are set in their ways and fear change.

Their pride is greater than their desire for the truth. Human nature, stops us from admitting mistakes.

They have a habit of automatically condemning something of which they know nothing.

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, Not many men want to die to their lower selves; it costs so much. Some prefer to have a cosmic religion, which NEITHER PUTS RESTRAINT ON THEIR PRIDE NOR CURBS THEIR PASSIONS.

They would not consider learning the truth of the Catholic Church because doing so means having to give up a lifestyle of, impiety, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, luxury, pleasure seeking, drunkenness, contraception, abortion. I have read of several Protestants who would have to give up their livelihood, as ministers, or gain their livelihood from Church services. Family and peer pressure prevent men from seeking the truth, forgetting that GOD must come first in our lives. Ex 20:2-3

One ex Protestant pastor stated that he converted, to the catholic faith, after realizing five things about the Catholic Church: Its Authority, Antiquity, Unity, Liturgy, and Sacraments.

Truth has always bothered people and is never comfortable. However, he who refuses to acknowledge the truth in life will be forced to confront it in death. And let us not forget that A man may blaspheme against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but the sin against the Spirit of Truth - what can God Himself do with or for the man who will not acknowledge the truth he knows, or follow the light he sees? ... Alexander Miller, The Renewal of Man

Karl wrote:

Each one of us is obliged to search for and abide by the Truth. Millions completely ignore dire warnings from the Bible, or simply wallow in ignorance.

OH! I don't want to wallow. Tell me, which part of the Bible should I believe: the part that says because one man sinned, God holds it against all of humanity, or the part that says God is love and love keeps no records of wrongs?

Anyone who professes to follow Holy Scripture to the letter, must follow ALL of what it says. They cannot keep the parts they like and reject what they do not like. The idea that God is a loving God who does not hold anything against anyone is promoted by impious men of this day and age. God has decreed and His decrees are from eternity. So, I will repeat what every Christian worth that name already knows. Each and every person comes into this world with original sin. The only person that exempted from this decree is The Mother Of God, The Blessed Virgin Mary. She is called The Immaculate Conception, and rightly so.

Who can make him clean that is conceived of unclean seed ?... (Job xiv.4) and For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me. (Ps. l. 7). But where, one may ask, does this sin come from, and how do we know that this sin it is passed on from generation to generation? Scripture explains very clearly that the Sin of Adam (the original sin) is passed down upon ALL MEN (ALL mankind babies, women ,the old and of course men)

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon ALL MEN, in whom ALL HAVE SINNED....But death reigned from Adam unto Moses, EVEN OVER THEM ALSO WHO HAVE NOT SINNED AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM, who is a figure of him who was to come. But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died; much more the grace of God, and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one sin, so also is the gift. For judgment indeed was by one unto condemnation; but grace is of many offences, unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned through one; much more they who receive abundance of grace, and of the gift, and of justice, shall reign in life through one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one, unto ALL MEN to condemnation; so also by the justice of one, unto all men to justification of life... (Romans v.12, 14-19).

St. Paul tells us even those who themselves have not Sinned ARE still guilty of Adam's transgression EVEN OVER THEM ALSO WHO HAVE NOT SINNED AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM , so even babies who are incapable of sinning on their own receive the sin of Adam (by the offence of one, unto ALL MEN to condemnation). We see this the principal of Original Sin not just mentioned in Romans but also in 1 Cor. xv.21,22 and in Eph. ii.3 .

The basic understanding that baptism removes this sin was understood by the apostles in the early church scripture shows this "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away" Christ himself declared baptism a necessity for salvation. Acts xxii.16 "Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John iii.5). Hence this applies to both babes and adults. Only through baptism can this sin the removed. The Bible also is very explicit in the fact that NO defiled (unclean or sinful) person will enter heaven. "There shall not enter (Heaven) into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb. " (Apoc. xxi.27)

As the New Testament initiation ritual, baptism is the Christian equivalent of circumcision or "the circumcision of Christ," as Paul states: "In him you were also circumcised . . . with the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:11-12). Thus like circumcision, baptism can be given to children as well as adults. The difference is that circumcision was powerless to save (Gal. 5:6,6:15), these are basic Scriptural facts that have always been taught by the Church and even the early Christians. For your benefit, I will quote a handful of them here. You can do your own reasearch if you wanna know more.

ORIGEN - [A.D 248]

"Every soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin . . . In the Church baptism is given for the remission of sins, and, according to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants. If there were nothing in infants which required the remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous" (Homilies on Leviticus 8:3).

"... The apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine sacraments, knew there is in everyone innate strains of [original] sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit" (Commentaries on Romans 5:9).

Gregory Nazianz [A.D 388]

"Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood. From his most tender age let him be consecrated by the Spirit.Do you fear the seal [of baptism] because of the weakness of nature? Oh, what a pusillanimous mother and of how little faith!" (Oration on Holy Baptism 40:7 ).

"`Well enough,' some will say, `for those who ask for baptism, but what do you have to say about those who are still children, and aware neither of loss nor of grace? Shall we baptize them too?' Certainly, if there is any pressing danger. Better that they be sanctified unaware, than that they depart unsealed and uninitiated" (ibid., 40:2.

John Chrysostom [A.D. 388]

"You see how many are the benefits of baptism, and some think its heavenly grace consists only in the remission of sins, but we have enumerated ten honors [it bestows]! For this reason we baptize even infants, though they are not defiled by [personal] sins, so that there may be given to them holiness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood with Christ, and that they may be his [Christ's] members" (Baptismal Catecheses in Augustine, Against Julian 1:6:21).

Tatian the Syrian [A.D. 170])

"Then said Jesus unto them, I have been given all authority in heaven and earth; and as my Father has sent me, so I also send you. Go now into all the world, and preach my gospel in all the creation; and teach all the peoples, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and teach them to keep all whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the world" (The Diatesseron 55 ).


Tertullian [A.D. 211]

"After His resurrection He promises in a pledge to His disciples that He will send them the promise of His Father; and lastly, He commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the Three Persons, at each several mention of Their names" (Against Praxeas 26 [A.D. 216]).

Hippolytus [ A.D. 215]

"When the one being baptized goes down into the water, the one baptizing him shall put his hand on him and speak thus: `Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?' And he that is being baptized shall say: `I believe.' Then, having his hand imposed upon the head of the one to be baptized, he shall baptize him once. Then he shall say: `Do you believe in Christ Jesus . . . ?' And when he says: `I believe,' he is baptized again. Again shall he say: `Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy Church and the resurrection of the flesh?' The one being baptized then says: `I believe.' And so he is baptized a third time" (The Apostolic Tradition 21 ).

Karl wrote:

The idea that God is a loving God who does not hold anything against anyone is promoted by impious men of this day and age.

Then you might want to have a talk with Paul about his first letter to the Corinthians.

How about Divine Justice? You think it is any less than divine Mercy?

God is equal in all His attributes. Therefore, His Justice. is as infinite as His Mercy. And this Justice is represented by Hell, where all those who reject Him, ill be unceremoniously dumped.

Without Divine Justice, people like Hitler and Stalin would be in heaven, an idea even libertines like you would not easily come to terms with.

Karl wrote:

Without Divine Justice, people like Hitler and Stalin would be in heaven, an idea even libertines like you would not easily come to terms with.

Wow, we ran smack into Godwin's Law in just a couple of posts.

You have a very strange idea of "justice", too.

All I'm saying is that it is right there in the bible, that (a) God is love and (b)Love keeps no record of wrongs. If you want to invoke Hitler to refute the Bible, that's up to you.

Well, at least now you know and can never plead ignorance. So if the misfortune of falling into the hands of an angry God befalls you then you will come to understand all that was said to you on this blog

Ah... Feel the love!

Im confused, please show me Chapter and verse, where the Bible says that the Catholic Church is the ONLY church, and you must belong to it to be saved.

Bella,

thank you for reading my post. First of all, not everything can be found in the Bible. It is a common belief by evangelical Christians that the bible ALONE (Sola Scriptura) is the sole rule of faith . Sola Scriptura means "Scripture Alone", or "Scripture Only". In other words, "Everything I need to know, is in Holy Scripture, and everything outside of Holy Scripture, is not to be believed...unless of course it supports my Sola Scriptura beliefs". This belief is easily refuted by asking for the verse(s), in the Bible, that say Scripture alone is sufficient. Also if the bible is the sole rule of faith, then how does one answer the following:

1. How could the Bible have possibly existed before the invention of the printing press in 1450?

2. Where did Bibles come from before 1450 when the printing press was invented?
a. How much did they cost?
b. How many people had them?
c. How many people were literate enough to read one?
d. What Bibles did the masses have in order for this bible alone theory to work in 200 A.D ? 500? 700? 1000? 1200?

3. If you lived in the year 1300, to which church would you belong in order to satisfy the teaching of Jesus Christ in Matt 18:17?

1Tim 3:15 says: "The Church is the Foundation and the Pillar of Truth." It does not say 'the Bible' is the Foundation and the Pillar of Truth.

Where did Jesus say that the Christian faith should be based exclusively on a book?

Where in the Bible did Jesus Christ tell His apostles to write the Gospels?

However, in order to show where in the Bible it is says that the Catholic Church is the one true Church, we must refer to the same Bible. This is probably not gonna be the case because I exclusively use the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible. You on the other hand are probably using the King James bible or one of them many protestant bibles, which are corrupted or falsified versions of Scripture. To understand how and why protestant bibles cannot be relied upon, we need to back in history, during the times of the reformation. Now, In translating Scripture from Latin to vernacular, the so-called reformers, Martin Luther and John Calvin removed or falsified some books. Calvin removed seven books namely: Baruch, Tobias, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and the two books of Maccabees. By September 1522, Luther completed the translation of the New Testament into his version of the German Bible. Luther reaped out the Epistles of James,Jude, 2Peter, the 2nd and 3rd of Book of John, and the Epistle to the Hebrews. Please cross-check with you bible to confirm these allegations.

That the Catholic Church is the Church which Jesus Christ founded can be seen in Matt 16:18. It is the only Church that can make that claim. From the very first day of its founding, the Church has been under constant attack from within and from without, yet it has endured for over 2000 years and has grown to about one billion Catholics. The reasons for this phenomenal growth can be found in Holy Scripture. Jesus Christ said in Matt 16:18, "...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." In Matt 28:20, Jesus promised to be with His Church 'all days'. The reason that the Church has endured and prospered so long is that Jesus promised it would, "even unto the consummation of the world."

Scripture proves that the true Church began with Christ over 2000 years ago. It was not founded by men (or women) such as Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, or John Smith 15 to 19 centuries later. The Church was started when Our Lord spoke the following and other similar words:

"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" - Heb. 13, 17. Who are them that we must obey? We are neither geniuses, to easily understand cryptic pasages. We are simple-minded and humble people who need to be clearly guided as to whom we must obey.

"And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear the church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" - Matt 18-17 Here is the proof. Scripture talks of THE Church and not a church. Therefore, it can only be referring to ONE church.

"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me" - Luke 10-16.

So, who is it that we must hear? Must we hear the founders of protestantism Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli,
16 centuries later? Surely, these were mere men, that decided to revolt against the Church. And if rebellion leads to salvation Jesus Himself, the Master Teacher, would not only have taught it, but would also have demonstrated it Himself because he always taught by example.

If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex- monk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517.

If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry. Because of lust King Henry VIII broke away from the Church.

If you are a Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.

If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.

If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.

If you are a Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.

If you are a Unitarian, Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in 1774.

If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, N.Y., in 1829.

If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1605.

If you are of the Dutch Reformed church, you recognize Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.

If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.

If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was born and to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy as its founder.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as 'Church of the Nazarene," "Pentecostal Gospel." "Holiness Church," "Pilgrim Holiness Church," "Jehovah's Witnesses," your religion is one of the thousands of new sects founded by men within the past fifty years. There are 34,000+ protestant sects today. Starting from the lone protestant Luther, we have today 34,000 mutually hostile protestant sects. All founded by mere men, and not Christ.

Contrast this with Rom. 12:5, and 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13 which teach that The Church of Christ Is and must be only ONE. Which of the 34,000+ sects is the ONE true Church talked about in Romans and Corinthians? In order to teach the truth, the true Church must be guided by the Holy Spirit. In which one of the 34,000+ sects does the Holy Spirit dwell? If the Bible is easily interpreted, and if the Holy Spirit leads every Christian to interpret it infallibly, then why are there over 34,000+ non-Catholic denominations in existence today, with millions of individuals, all interpreting the Bible differently?

In conclusion, Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, Calvinist, Methodists, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Trinitarian......etc). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church. Having more than one spouse is adulterous. Furthermore, His Church must and does also teaches just ONE set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2). Everything about God is UNITY. It is reflected in everything He says. God is ONE, and so must His Church remain.

So, if you are Roman Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church. "And I will give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou (Peter) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou (Peter) shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" - Matt. 16-19

The apostles repeatedly claimed this authority as proven by: Gal. 1-8; John 1-10; Acts 15, 23 and 28. Hence the laws or precepts of the true Church are founded upon the same authority as the commandments of God. For the Church of Christ has authority to act in his Name. Furthermore this Church cannot err in teaching because it is incomprehensible that Christ who is Wisdom itself, can be the founder of an institution that misleads mankind. So how is it that the Church cannot err? The Bible teaches that, not the Bible itself, but the Holy Ghost was the teacher of the Apostles.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" - John 14-26

"How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth . .." - John 16-13

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth - Acts 1-8

The Holy Ghost, who proceeds from The Father and The Son, was sent to guide the Catholic Church, and abide in Her, right from Her infancy right up to the consummation of the world. In consequence, the true Church is infallible being as St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 5-15, "the pillar and ground of the truth."

Hope this helps you in your search for the Truth. Remember that Jesus says, knock and the door will be open, seek and ye will find. It is the duty of each one of us to seek out the truth. If we fail to do so, the consequences are dire. We only have this life in which to find it and if we fail to seek the truth now, we will not have another chance. While we are still alive in this world, Divine Mercy abounds. Now is the time of Divine Mercy. But after death, it is rigorous Divine Justice that rules because the time for merit is over. A wise man spends his time in this life prudently seeking the Truth on how to save his soul. He does not waste time chasing after vain pursuits and frivolous past times. Is it not Our Lord Himself Who says "Of what use it to gain this world and lose your soul?"

All who are not in the Church of Truth, the Church which Jesus Christ founded, are danger of losing their souls. There are over 34,000 Christian Churches out there, but there is only one that has all of the full Truth. It stands to reason that if all of them had all of the truth, there would be only one Church as Jesus Christ had commanded in John 10:16, where He says,

"And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD."

Are you safely inside the Church which Jesus Christ founded, or are you in a church founded by a mere human creature, be it a man or a woman? You certainly had better check and make sure. Are you absolutely certain that Jesus Christ founded your Church? Holy Scripture, as you well know, says He founded ONE CHURCH. In Matthew 16:18. HE DID NOT SAY CHURCHES. So, if you are not in THE Church, what possible reason could you have for your choice?

I feel like Peter Griffin's father has joined the group.

Karl wrote:

All who are not in the Church of Truth, the Church which Jesus Christ founded, are danger of losing their souls.

I AM my soul, my soul is me. Can't lose it.

My postings are not meant for people hellbent on mocking, deriding, and scoffing. They are for people seeking to know the Truth, people such as bella.

God is love, so I guess your salvation is certain. Sit back , relax, and wait for your grand entrance into paradise.

Karl wrote:

God is love, so I guess your salvation is certain. Sit back , relax, and wait for your grand entrance into paradise.

That's what I like about some Christians--they can say the nicest things, with the nastiest meanings behind them.

Karl,
WOW!!!!!!!!!
Its going to take me forever to answer this post, but answer it I shall.
Im not going to quote everything you said, and we will, I am certain take a few side bars along the way. But thats ok.
Before 1450, they were called scrolls.The greek phase Ta biblia was used by the Jews to describe their books centuries before Jesus came on the scene.Much older that your latin/rome book.
Lets look at 1 Timothy 3:15.
You can NOT take 10 words from a verse of Scripture and TRY to make them say what you want. Nice try.HAve you any ideal just what "the CHURCH" is?????
Jesus never said that the christian faith should be based on an exclusively based book, however........
Psalms 12:6-7 tells us that God WILL purify His WORD 7 times.
The KJV is that 7th WORD.
Now on to Matthew 16 :18.......