ALL CHRISTIANS: How do you answer: "It doesn't matter which religion you 'pick'"

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*In the Roman Catholic Church, a man’s lifetime could been spent experiencing and learning everything that has been passed down to us from Jesus, through His Apostles, their disciples, our Popes (an un-broken chain back to Jesus) our Bishops, Priests and Deacons, all of the Early Christian History. *

*He could learn from and experience the richness of the chorological Christian events leading up to today’s time. *

He would also experience the literary richness passed down to us (Catholics) from the Early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church through their ancient writings. All these things that put the Bible and Christianity in context and point us to Jesus!

He can also learn from the examples given to us by reading the Lives of the Saints, those Christians who show us by example what it really means to “believe” in Christ and do His will.

*The more a Catholic becomes involved in his faith the more curious he becomes and the search begins and so does the beautiful journey to everlasting life. Devout Catholics never stop in their spiritual growth towards perfection. *

*The Catholic Church is a very rich and complete expression of Christianity. Other Non-Catholic Christian Churches allow one to get a small taste of everlasting life and a limited exposure to the One we call Christ. They will never know the true meaning of Christianity. *

*Most other non-Catholic Christian religions impart to their members a small taste of the love and life of Christ. It is a good starting point but that is all it is, a start. *

*What ever is true in good in any religion is true and good, because truth and goodness, transcends and is timeless. Truth and goodness never changes. However, their religions are limited and only the Roman Catholic Church contains the fullness of Christianity. *

If one is serious about spiritual growth, he will find that it is virtually endless in Catholicism.

*The problem is, that many non-Catholic Christians or Protestant religions are taught false anti-Catholic propaganda where disinformation is falsely preached. *

*This occurs using lies, deception and false information and taking the bible out of context and by ignoring history. In many cases, their behavior is heretical and not much difference then the early heretics in the first, second and third century, Jews and Pagans, who were attempting to destroy Christianity. *

*Many false anti-Catholic nonsense that is preached today against the Catholic Church was addressed in the early heresies (1st, 2nd & 3rd centuries) and yet they persist today. *

These heresies persist today because by their nature, all non-Catholic Christians are protestant and are still protesting, instead of focusing on Jesus. They are taking there eyes of Jesus.

If you want to dedicate your life to Christ, there is no better way to do this then as a Roman Catholic.
 
Jimmy_B said:
*In the Roman Catholic Church, a man’s lifetime could been spent experiencing and learning everything that has been passed down to us from Jesus, through His Apostles, their disciples, our Popes (an un-broken chain back to Jesus) our Bishops, Priests and Deacons, all of the Early Christian History. *

*He could learn from and experience the richness of the chorological Christian events leading up to today’s time. *

He would also experience the literary richness passed down to us (Catholics) from the Early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church through their ancient writings. All these things that put the Bible and Christianity in context and point us to Jesus!

He can also learn from the examples given to us by reading the Lives of the Saints, those Christians who show us by example what it really means to “believe” in Christ and do His will.

*The more a Catholic becomes involved in his faith the more curious he becomes and the search begins and so does the beautiful journey to everlasting life. Devout Catholics never stop in their spiritual growth towards perfection. *

*The Catholic Church is a very rich and complete expression of Christianity. Other Non-Catholic Christian Churches allow one to get a small taste of everlasting life and a limited exposure to the One we call Christ. They will never know the true meaning of Christianity. *

*Most other non-Catholic Christian religions impart to their members a small taste of the love and life of Christ. It is a good starting point but that is all it is, a start. *

*What ever is true in good in any religion is true and good, because truth and goodness, transcends and is timeless. Truth and goodness never changes. However, their religions are limited and only the Roman Catholic Church contains the fullness of Christianity. *

If one is serious about spiritual growth, he will find that it is virtually endless in Catholicism.

*The problem is, that many non-Catholic Christians or Protestant religions are taught false anti-Catholic propaganda where disinformation is falsely preached. *

*This occurs using lies, deception and false information and taking the bible out of context and by ignoring history. In many cases, their behavior is heretical and not much difference then the early heretics in the first, second and third century, Jews and Pagans, who were attempting to destroy Christianity. *

*Many false anti-Catholic nonsense that is preached today against the Catholic Church was addressed in the early heresies (1st, 2nd & 3rd centuries) and yet they persist today. *

These heresies persist today because by their nature, all non-Catholic Christians are protestant and are still protesting, instead of focusing on Jesus. They are taking there eyes of Jesus.

If you want to dedicate your life to Christ, there is no better way to do this then as a Roman Catholic.
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Is this reply meant for me? I don’t see its relevance.
 
OnlineHarvest said:
Is this reply meant for me? I don’t see its relevance.
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**No OnLineHarvest, My post, was my answer to the question implied in the title of this thread; “It doesn’t matter which religion you ‘pick’”. I believe it does matter which religion one picks and my response was to that question, in general, addressing a common a theme found on these forums. **

**When I post a response to a post or thread or thread title, I am not only addressng a single poster , like many others here, I am addressing all those who might read this. I believe ****that the clear choice should be the Roman Catholic Church, especially if one wishes to follow Christ. Your Thoughts? **

Merry Christmas OnLineHarvest! Keep Posting!
 
OnlineHarvest said:
You just don’t get it. How anyone who professes to belong to Christ and believe His Gospel can accept that those who openly and fragrantly reject Him and His Gospel are somehow on the road to salvation is crazy.

**LOL!!! Yep, Quakers have always been accused of being “crazy”…that’s ok, so was Jesus…we’re in good company!🙂 **

In case you didn’t notice, not everyone is saved. And those who are not saved, is it because God lacked grace? Lacked mercy? Or is it because they did not believe and/or rejected Christ’s Gospel?

I** don’t notice a lot of things…but what I do know is I don’t have the capacity to look into someone’s heart and decide their state of spiritual development. I know however the Light Within is working in each and every heart…who knows…that 'lost" person on the street corner may be listening to the Light Within even now! What I do know is “His mercy endures forever”…what I do know is “nothing will separate us from the love of God found in Christ Jesus…”…what I do know is that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself…”…those are the things I trust…the “gospel” is about “doing”…I’ll leave the rest to God.🙂 **

Any simple read of Scripture will communicate that the Christian road is one of exclusivity and only “the few” will find salvation while “many” will not. Broad is the road, Jesus says… but you miss that.
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**I’ll cast my lot with those on the “broad road”…I won’t miss a thing! 🙂 **

As a Friend, "true religion’ is about “doing”…what one “believes” is secondary…how one responds to the Light Within…to the Slumbering Christ…to the Presence in our midst is what defines us as people of God.
 
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How do you answer: “It doesn’t matter which religion you ‘pick’”

that is easy,

Jesus did not come to establish a religion, he came to establish a relationship.

The whole message of God’s word and the bible is an illustration of people from every walk of life, their struggles just like you and I have today.

God let us know that

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23

and that

For the wages of sin is death, … Romans 6:23

He also promised us in the same verse that because He loves us

… the **gift of God is eternal life in **Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

how does one recieve His gift?

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9

God loves us so much He sacrificed His Son Jesus, let us open our arms and embrace the love of God and return our love and appreciation to him:)
 
Jesus did come to establish a religion and history makes it very evident that He did.

The term “religion” means to bind together again(many) with God.

Jesus not only was raised in religion and religious disciplines ordained by God Himself, but He continued that with His example after He rose again by giving His apostles(the first bishops) the direction to “do this in remembrance of me” referring to confecting the Eucharist(bread of thanksgiving) which became His True Flesh and True Blood. There is distinct ritual in what He did and then told them to do. The Christian faith is the perfect fulfillment of the Judaic religion, and never ceased to be “religious”.

Without the One True religion, persons callling themselves Christians are liable to believe and do whatever they want as it pertains to Christianity and their private interpretation of what they want it to be, instead of what God ordained it to be.

We as laypersons are to follow(observe) all that Jesus commanded His apostles to teach us, and that included religion.

This is both biblical and historical.
 
The problem that I have with people I know who claim to be “spiritual” is apathy. They don’t want to discuss their belief (or lack thereof) system. 🤷
 
I would say that it does matter what religion we pick because we ought to seek out the truth,and to go with the religion that has the fullness of truth.
Religion should not be just a religious experience of God or a cultural expression of spirituality through rituals and charisms and meditation.
It should be about worshipping and obeying the true God and in the proper manner. Faith ought to be supplemented by reason (Logos). To say that it doesn’t matter which religion we choose is to say that the truth doesn’t matter,or is unknowable,or that truth is a matter relative to perception.
 
For those here who get so confused about Catholic doctrine, I suggest you leave the religion of that “one guy” who told you what to believe about Catholics and come home to the real "One Guy”, Christ and His church here on earth, the Roman Catholic Church.

There exists truth in the expression “There exists nothing new under the sun". Yet every day there is somebody here who reinvents Christianity to suit his or her own needs. :

For some here the “one guy” is themselves and their own personal interpretation. They have figured out, on their own, that literally, billions and billions of Christians (Catholic) over the last two thousand years got it wrong and they got it right Wow!

Many here falsely assume that they are “infallible” in their interpretation of Scripture and yet, they will in the same breath, argue against the Infallibility of the Pope.

Christ did establish His church here on earth. Don’t take my word for it, read the Acts of the Apostles’, the book of James 1st and second Peter and Pauls Letters, it’s in there…

What about all of the early Martyrs who willingly went to their death to defend their faith (religion) were they wrong?

Don’t limit yourself to a handful of Bible verses, by doing so; you are also limiting yourself to the truth.

MATTHEW 16:18-19
18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew (NAB) 16)
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If Jesus did not leave us His church (religion) here on earth, then why was it necessary for Him to have Apostles?

I think some here believe that all they needed was for God to drop a Bible from the sky into their lap, so that they could figure everything out on there own.

If you do not belong to a “religion” then how are you part of the Christian Community? You are not. There is no such thing as a “Christian of one”.

This is good example of why context and a more complete understanding of the Bible and Christian history are so necessary.

How could one be a “Bible Alone” Christian, without the Bible, which was passed down to them from the Roman Catholic Chruch (a religion)?

Any religion were one’s entire faith is based on a handful of bible verses and the rest on what someone else tells them or based on their own personal interpretation, is going to be flawed and confusing.
 
THE FORMATION OF THE BIBLE OCCURRED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BEFORE THE EXISTENCE OF ANY OTHER NON-CATHOLIC (PROTESTANT) CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
THEREFORE, THE BIBLE IS A CATHOLIC DOCUMENT. THAT IS WHY IT IS NONSENSE TO TRY TO USE THE BIBLE, A CATHOLIC “BOOK”, WRITTEN AND PUT TOGETHER BY CATHOLICS, TO TRY AND DISPROVE CATHOLICISM.

If the Roman Catholic Church got it right when it put the Bible together (which it did) it must have been correct in all other doctrine the preceded the Bible, such as;

Confession, Communion of the Saints, Baptism and Infant Baptism, Veneration of Mary and the Saints, Intercessory Prayer, Relics, Sacraments and Sacramental’s, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, the “Real Presence” of the Eucharist, the Mass… and the list goes on…
Matthew (NAB) 16:18-19
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**
18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew (NAB) 16)

Matthew (NAB) 7:17-20
15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.20 So by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew (NAB) 7)

Ephesians (NAB) 4:2-6
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7 (Ephesians (NAB) 4)

Ephesians (NAB) 2:18-22
18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. 21 Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;22 in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians (NAB) 2)

**
 
Jesus didn’t take time out from his sermon on the mount to talk about trinitarian doctrine with his disciples. I believe many christians, including those on these boards, would agree that it is love that transforms a person. Love of God and experiencing God’s love are more important than the doctrine one uses to arrive at such a state of being, IMO.

The infinite God is greater than any concept we can comprehend. We can apprehend the mystery and wonder of reality. When humans dwell on the wonder of existence, the awe of all that there is, and the question of what our place is in creation, we come up with an answer that is phrased as religion. It is not an answer in the sense of what is 2 +2. It is an answer in the sense of a response to our apprehending that everything stands for something greater than itself. And that each of us are capable of transcending ourselves. That should be the purpose of any religion. ANd if any religion fullfills that purpose for a person, than I don’t see how you can argue that it is less true or valid than another religion.
 
Valke2 said:
Jesus didn’t take time out from his sermon on the mount to talk about trinitarian doctrine with his disciples. I believe many christians, including those on these boards, would agree that it is love that transforms a person. Love of God and experiencing God’s love are more important than the doctrine one uses to arrive at such a state of being, IMO.

The infinite God is greater than any concept we can comprehend. We can apprehend the mystery and wonder of reality. When humans dwell on the wonder of existence, the awe of all that there is, and the question of what our place is in creation, we come up with an answer that is phrased as religion. It is not an answer in the sense of what is 2 +2. It is an answer in the sense of a response to our apprehending that everything stands for something greater than itself. And that each of us are capable of transcending ourselves. That should be the purpose of any religion. ANd if any religion fullfills that purpose for a person, than I don’t see how you can argue that it is less true or valid than another religion.
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I would have to agree and disagree with what has been said here. I agree that Jesus did not dicuss Trinitarian doctrine because He was the evident Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity right in front of their eyes. He also introduced them to the Holy Spirit whom He promised. He left it up to te Church He built on cephas to teach others what He commanded them outside of scripture and even after He left this earth as He spoke through His apostles(bishops).

I think you may have reduced love down to something far less than it actually is. Love is God, God is love, without Him there is none. God also gave us doctrine and sacraments to help us get to heaven, and therefore that is a part of His love for us. You can only get so far in the process of sanctification without the fullness of Truth revealed by God through His one holy catholic and apostolic church. You do not just arrive at the point of sanctification through your initial love for Jesus and others.
 
ANd you know this because your doctrine says so. But my doctrine says something else.
 
and that would be our difference. I believe in the apostles doctrines handed down through every century. The Bible tells me to hold to the apostles doctrines.

Your doctrine is your own interpretation of scripture, of which scripture warns us against and Christ nor His apostles preached.

Simple really.
 
whatisthetruth said:
Jesus did not come to establish a religion, he came to establish a relationship.
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I don’t follow. If you quote the Scriptures you did to a non-believer that will mean nothing to them. What would your response to them be if they said, “It doesn’t matter what religion you pick” or if they respond to you with “Ok, my relationship with God is just fine and I don’t need anything else.” ???
 
MarcoPolo said:
I’m asking all of us “Christians” to address how you respond to this:

It doesn’t matter which religion you pick.
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My knee-jerk reaction to the question is, “If your relationship God is at all important to you, then yes it does matter which religion you pick, a great deal, since your religion establishes the terms upon which you relate with God.”

But if you don’t care anything about God, then I suppose you might as well pick something that’s easy to do, and socially acceptable to your family and friends.
 
MarcoPolo said:
I don’t follow.
if they respond to you with “Ok, my relationship with God is just fine and I don’t need anything else.” ?
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excellent question I am glad you asked,

Let me ask you a couple questions to see how strong your relationship is and if you are right with God.

“Have you come to a place in your life that if you were to die right now, you know for sure that you will go to heaven?”

If you are not sure, I have some good news for you,

The bible lets you know that you can be sure…

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1John 5:13

Now answer this question,

"Suppose you died today and stood before God and He asked you, "______, why should I let you into my heaven?, what would your answer be to God?

This is a tough question, most do not know the answer, I thought I did when I was asked the same question, I found out I as “dead” wrong, literally

For the wages of sin is death:( , but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.🙂 Romans 6:23

The bible lets you know that eternal life is a gift of God , It’s your choice to accept 🙂 or reject it.

For** by grace are ye saved through faith**; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9

Why do we need to accept God’s gift?

The bible states…

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23

In the bible we can see God is just and must punish sin, but God is also merciful and does not want to punish us.🙂

Illustrated by the following two verses…

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:31

and

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1Tim 2:3,4

Problem??? If God is just and must punish sin, how then can God love and save you?

The answer is…God provided a way for us to be saved through his son Jesus Christ.

The bible states…

For God so loved the world, that **he gave his only begotten Son, **that whosoever **believeth in him **should not perish, but have everlasting life. John3:16

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:6

Its the reason Jesus died on the cross…to pay the price for all the sins of mankind, including you and me.

Saving faith requires trusting in Jesus Christ alone.

The bible says…

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Saving faith also requires obedience.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46
Saving faith requires obedience in repentance.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 17:30

Saving faith requires obedience in confession.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:9

Let me show you a short video and share with you a message of who Jesus is

youtube.com/watch?v=8M4_IlbaZHA

cont
 
If all that I shared with you is making sense, I believe from the bottom of my heart that …

Jesus is saying to you …“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”
Revelation 3:20

Jesus is knocking at the door to your heart.

My question to you is,

Do you want to place your trust in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour of your life?

I pray that you will say yes. And mean it from your heart.

Here is how you can receive Jesus…
  1. Admit you are a sinner and need HIs forgiveness. Do you?
  2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent). Do you?
  3. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave. Do you?
Recite the following prayer and mean it from the bottom of your heart and invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner.
I am sorry for sins i have committed and I ask Your forgiveness.
I believe that You died on the cross and shed your blood so all my sins are forgiven.
I want to turn from my sins and open my heart to invite you to be the Lord and Saviour of my life.
I place my trust in You and will follow You according to your word from this day forward,
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Congratulations!!! May God bless you for your decision today to receive Jesus. This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen your relationship with Him you should:
  1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.
  2. Talk to God in prayer every day.
  3. Tell others about Christ.
  4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a local church where Christ is preached.
  5. As Christ’s representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.
May God bless you,

That is what I would say to him.

God bless

truth
 
whatisthetruth said:
excellent question I am glad you asked,

Let me ask you a couple questions to see how strong your relationship is and if you are right with God.

“Have you come to a place in your life that if you were to die right now, you know for sure that you will go to heaven?”
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Yes - I just got back from Confession. 😃
 
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