I understand. I explained in another post that right now im in a situation - Im in a Christian Program - Unfortunately its a Pentecostal Program - And Im actually going through some trials being a Catholic in this program. So I have to stick it out -
I think it wise to reconsider that.
St Irenaeus tells a story about St John.
For some history, Bp Irenaeus was from Smyrna, and a disciple of Bp Polycarp also of Smyrna, who was a disciple of St John the apostle. As one can see, that puts Irenaeus one man away from an apostle.
Irenaeus writes in “Against Heresies”
Bk 3 Ch 3 v4
newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm
- But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried [on earth] a very long time, and, when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true. To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time,— a man who was of much greater weight, and a more steadfast witness of truth, than Valentinus, and Marcion and the rest of the heretics. He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus caused many to turn away from the aforesaid heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles—that, namely, which is handed down by the Church. There are also those who heard from him that John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within. And Polycarp himself replied to Marcion, who met him on one occasion, and said, Do you know me? I do know you, the first-born of Satan. Such was the horror which the apostles and their disciples had against holding even verbal communication with any corrupters of the truth; as Paul also says, A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself. Titus 3:10
Catch that? Neither the apostles nor their disciples continued to hold even verbal communication with corrupters of the truth.
I think this is a fair question. When those who knew the faith well enough to defend it, after one maybe two warnings, got away from any corrupter of the truth, why would you who doesn’'t have that command of the faith yet, want to hang around the likes of these corrupters of the truth?
RMU:
And already im considered more of an outsider. I thought it seemed weird to be re-baptized. Why is it wrong? And is there scripture that backs it up? Someone asked me why I wouldn’t do it again and the only thing i could come up with was that it would go against the validity of my first baptism.
I think you’ve been given good answers so far to your question.
IMV, you’re giving these people way too much credit. Their religion was founded by William J. Seymour less than 100 years ago. Did you know, going off and starting ones own religion is absolutely condemned in scripture?
Gal 5:19…] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: … dissensions, factions… and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
That condemnation is true in apostolic times, as it’s true for Luther, Henry VIII, Calvin…and yes 2000 years later, for old Seymour etc etc etc . It’s a condemnation that has no expiration date to it. It’s condemned forever. Jesus already started His Church 2000 years ago. The Catholic Church. There won’t be any other. Outside of which, as Paul states, there is no salvation.
Baptism is a Catholic sacrament. It’s meant for the Catholic Church. When you were baptised Catholic you were properly baptised once and for all time.
