I am seriously starting to become Pro-Catholic, please help...need advice

[crucifix14]

I am in the exact same position. My mother/father are both Lutheran. I keep going back to “justification by faith”… But in the past year I all the sudden was interested in Catholicism. I think the best thing you can do is visit the Catholic church with a friend… I’ve got a lot of catholic friends and I’m going to ask them if i can go with them and visit. I’m 14 and am going to look into the classes you can take for people interested in catholicism… I too have being saying the hail mary, etc… It’s nice to know someone else is experiencing the same thing…

 

[Aramis]

Keep in mind: A lot of protestants, well meaning but in grave error, do the devils work; the try to teach the bible as a stand alone work, which it was never meant to be, and try to destroy the holy tradition by private interpretation of the bible, and by sola scriptura, and even then do not follow the biblical instructions literally.

That holy tradition is persevered only in a handful of communities, albeit some very large communities: The Catholic Church, The Eastern Orthodox Communion of Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Communion of Churches (including the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church), and the Assyrian Church of the East.

 

[PJM]

=ConflictedBoy;5097647]Ok, here is the story. I have seriously, in the past few weeks or so, becoming interested to lean more and more about the Catholic Church, to see what its all about, its history, practices etc. Its, idk, I have become drawn to Catholicism in such a away that I cannot just ignore.

Now, what (if any) approach should I take from here? Go and talk about RCIA? Keep in mind im still a kid, not a LITTLE kid lol but a teen. My parents havent taken us to church in months now, and my mom’s family is strongly protestant and my dad’s parents are moderate, maybe nominal (i shouldnt say because i dont know them that well) catholics. My dad is anti-Catholic, not to the extend to where he thinks Catholics are unsaved, but he is not going to like it if i tell him. My grandfather is a Deacon of a Baptist church and has given me a lot of money so I could go on Baptist sponsored mission trips so I KNOW he won’t take it well. My Mother tho not a catholic is a little more catholic minded, she has pictures of the Virgin Mary in our house, (you would think we were catholics if you visited us) and the last supper painting with crucifix hanging from it and such.

**Pray, pray and pray some more for God’s guidance, specifically ask two things in every prayer.

1. Dear God may you’re will, not mine be done in my life.
2. Intercede on my behalf with my family members so that you’re Divine Will can and shall be accomplished. AMEN!**

Be patient, allow God to assist you.

QUOTE] And then I don’t want to tell my girlfriend because she is going to think that im trying to convert for her because she is catholic.

Your correct not to cross this bridge until it becomes prudent and necessary.

Please give me any and all good advice you can. Plus I know a few weeks of contemplation is a very short time. Any and all advice would be helpful…thank you

Sincerely, A Catholic-At-Heart

FYI: The Anglican church is NOT a part of the Catholic Community of Churches. Despite their claims [at times] to be so joined with us. They have no historical evidence of DIRECT Apostolic Succession. All the Apostles were dead a thousand years or more before the AC was founded.

Here is evidence of Peter and Christ one TRUE Catholic Church:

Mt. 16:13"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 **Simon Peter **replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 **I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ** COLOR]

We began by pointing out that this is God speaking. God cannot lie, and God being God is fully aware who he is, where He is and exactly what He God is doing.

Why Caesarea Philippi? Because there was a large pagan temple there, and the message was to fight this evil.

Notice the use of Singular tense terms"… I… you…Peter …my…church… “you the keys”… kingdom… heaven… bind…loose…

Why? So there could be no intelligent debate of what Jesus intended, and His desire for only ONE Church, and who God choose to put in charge of that One Church.

Next we point out that one must look at who was speaking, and to whom the message was intended. Jesus speaking as Son of God, to Peter, and for the Jewish Community.

What is meant by “the Kingdom?”

Mk. 15: 2 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man** whom you call the King of the Jews?”** 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”

So Jesus is “the king” and His Kingdom is Heaven. 2 Tim 4: 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom.

So the "keys to the "kingdom clearly means access to heaven."

But how can we know that He intended Peter to be the keeper the guardian of the keys"?

In the time of Christ (and even in Jerusalem today) all major cites were walled in and fortified. They really did have a GATE, and the gate, did have a KEY.

Each city had its own King so Jesus was the “king” of the city He was speaking about.

The king, similar to kings and Presidents, don’t actually run “the kingdom” rather THEY RULE the Kingdom, and leave the details, with autonomous control and unlimited authority to His Prime Minister, who answered ONLY to the KING!

It is this role that Jesus assigned to Peter, not as a request, rather as a MANDATE!

Thus Jesus / God intended to give Peter the power to determine who gets into Heaven and who does not.

The terms “binding” and “loosing” were at the time of Jesus, common legally binding Rabbical Terms, that were enforceable at Law. Jesus Knew exactly what he was doing,
and the people to whom He spoke understood exactly what was meant and being done.

Any understanding other than this one lacks TRUTH !

Love and prayers,

 

[jlhargus]

I am in the exact same position. My mother/father are both Lutheran. I keep going back to “justification by faith”… But in the past year I all the sudden was interested in Catholicism. I think the best thing you can do is visit the Catholic church with a friend… I’ve got a lot of catholic friends and I’m going to ask them if i can go with them and visit. I’m 14 and am going to look into the classes you can take for people interested in catholicism… I too have being saying the hail mary, etc… It’s nice to know someone else is experiencing the same thing…

JL: I looked at your bio, I am impressed, I will pray for you, I’m not sure but I think, since you are under 18, you may have to have your parents permission to go thru RCIA. Keep reading good Catholic literature. I am a convert also many years ago, I have never looked back and never stopped learning about scripture and our Lord.

 

[rinnie]

Ok, here is the story. I have seriously, in the past few weeks or so, becoming interested to lean more and more about the Catholic Church, to see what its all about, its history, practices etc. Its, idk, I have become drawn to Catholicism in such a away that I cannot just ignore. The past two weeks I have been reading up about Catholic doctrine and history and its almost like some kind of addiction, I find myself more motivated to look up and examine facts about the “early church” and such, and its all so fascinating…Maybe its a phase? Maybe it’s the enlightening hand of God trying to show me what is right? I dont know. All I know is if God is trying to tell me something, I am listening

Just to start, I am Protestant, I was “raised” Protestant (thus far im still being “raised”)
That being said, I could admit that it used to be I didnt care much for Catholicism, I used to be this big supporter of Martin Luther and his “Justification by Faith”; when i first read of that in history class I looked him almost like a pseudo God (dont worry, we Protestants dont worship Luther i think most at our church dont even know who he is .little joke…very little).

Anyway. ummm I have been reading and study. a LOT all about the saints, about the Vatican II and why many catholics today are disenchanted by it, about liturgy, vestiments, and how the protestant churches (save for episcopalisn, tho they’re not exactly protestant)gave 2000 years of traditionaion up and for what? to stray from cathedrals and worship in football stadiums? Not to get political but they also support an unjust war, judge others, and they dont even like immigration, ive just, i have a lot of experience with these people, and they ALL regard guns as a birthright. And Im actually referring to more to evangelical christians rather than the mainline protestant church i go to which is not bad at all. but it still lacks when compared to more elaborate masses., having communion very sunday, etc.

The Point Is,all the reading I have done lately. all the new information I have on Catholicism, I am becoming more and more convinced that the Catholic Church is the church in which The Lord Jesus Christ established upon the rock of Peter — “You are Peter and Upon This Rock I will Build My Church, and the Gates of Hell will have no power over it.”

I have also been reading about Protestant history, and the more splits I see, about this, that and the other thing, the more I realise that we protestants worship and believe the way we do just because some man said so.

That being said, I have decided I want to be a Catholic. I am torn between Roman Catholicim and Anglicanism at the moment (thats a different story) but as of now, I no longer believe in Protestant theology or its liturgy lacking simplicity. The church that I a, currently a (baptised) member im of requires almost no preparation for being received into the church. And im guessing many of them dont evem know where their own denomination came from.

And the funny thnig is, I have been Praying the Hail Mary now, followed by the Our Father and Glory Be, each night. I make the sign of the cross before i leave home, Im not even Catholic, still dont know if i’ll ever be and yet doing that has brought more peace to me in prayer than I had known in while. I have become a Catholic-At-Heart. And I supposed that is the first step.

Now, what (if any) approach should I take from here? Go and talk about RCIA? Keep in mind im still a kid, not a LITTLE kid lol but a teen. My parents havent taken us to church in months now, and my mom’s family is strongly protestant and my dad’s parents are moderate, maybe nominal (i shouldnt say because i dont know them that well) catholics. My dad is anti-Catholic, not to the extend to where he thinks Catholics are unsaved, but he is not going to like it if i tell him. My grandfather is a Deacon of a Baptist church and has given me a lot of money so I could go on Baptist sponsored mission trips so I KNOW he won’t take it well. My Mother tho not a catholic is a little more catholic minded, she has pictures of the Virgin Mary in our house, (you would think we were catholics if you visited us) and the last supper painting with crucifix hanging from it and such.

And then I don’t want to tell my girlfriend because she is going to think that im trying to convert for her because she is catholic.

Please give me any and all good advice you can. Plus I know a few weeks of contemplation is a very short time. Any and all advice would be helpful…thank you

Sincerely

A Catholic-At-Heart

My advice is its just God’s way of getting your attention. Just study, and keep learning. You can never learn enough of the Catholic Faith. What I love about it, is it all adds up. Scripture always fits scripture once you lean it correctly. Good luck. Let us know where you road leads you too!

 

[jlhargus]

Actually, I have done my research. My husband ran for his life from the Catholic church when Jesus opened his eyes up to the truth found only in the Holy Bible.

JL: I read your bio, I notice your favorite book is, “Preparing Catholics for Eternity- Mike Gendron”, the title indicates to me it is a non-Catholic trying to convert Catholics, with all the misconceptions and distortions of Church teaching that most such books present. That would explain why you husband ran. I bet your husband had no more than a childs understanding of the Catholic faith and scripture.

I think your research was faulty. If you want to know what Catholics believe read solid Catholic authors, such as Scott Hahn, you can find alot of his books on Amozon.com

 

[jlhargus]

The Bible is the inspired word of God, you can not argue with that. The Bible is our only source for truth.

JL: Yes the Bible is the inspired word of God and without error and no one can argue with that. But sola scriptura interpretations are not and we have myriads of denominations and so called non-denominations and still splitting, as evidence of the error of sola scriptura. How many groups has sola scriptura united? none. How many has it divided? thousands and still doing so. The Holy Spirit gathers God’s people into ONE. The Holy Spirit does not scatter God’s people into myriads of contentious groups all claiming sola scriptura and being led by the Holy Spirit all teaching contradicting doctrine.

Sola scriptura is a Tower of Babel, men came together to build a tower to heaven. They ended having their faith language confused by myriads of interpretations and scattered in every direction, no longer speaking the same faith language. Sola scriptura is nothing more than a tradition of men made a doctrine of God around 1521. It is one of Satan’s greatest works.

 

[BornAgain11]

JL: Yes the Bible is the inspired word of God and without error and no one can argue with that. But sola scriptura interpretations are not and we have myriads of denominations and so called non-denominations and still splitting, as evidence of the error of sola scriptura. How many groups has sola scriptura united? none. How many has it divided? thousands and still doing so. The Holy Spirit gathers God’s people into ONE. The Holy Spirit does not scatter God’s people into myriads of contentious groups all claiming sola scriptura and being led by the Holy Spirit all teaching contradicting doctrine.

Sola scriptura is a Tower of Babel, men came together to build a tower to heaven. They ended having their faith language confused by myriads of interpretations and scattered in every direction, no longer speaking the same faith language. Sola scriptura is nothing more than a tradition of men made a doctrine of God around 1521. It is one of Satan’s greatest works.

I believe in Scripture alone Hebrews 5:12. So you mean to tell me there have never been divisions in the Catholic church? What about the sedevacantist traditionalist Roman Catholic Church? Or how can one Pope say one thing and the next one can change it? So with the point you are trying to make there is no stabliity in any church. That I agree with. Thats why we must be armed with the TRUTH…the word of Our Lord and Savior. Stand firm in the TRUTH that He has given us.

 

[BornAgain11]

JL: I read your bio, I notice your favorite book is, “Preparing Catholics for Eternity- Mike Gendron”, the title indicates to me it is a non-Catholic trying to convert Catholics, with all the misconceptions and distortions of Church teaching that most such books present. That would explain why you husband ran. I bet your husband had no more than a childs understanding of the Catholic faith and scripture.

I think your research was faulty. If you want to know what Catholics believe read solid Catholic authors, such as Scott Hahn, you can find alot of his books on Amozon.com

My husband was born and raised Catholic. Ingrained in him from day one. 24 years catholic. He had questions, I had answers found in the Bible. So yes, he ran for his life into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The only one who can make things right!
I have read other books too, I have met with priests as well…My research is all Bible backed, are you saying that the Bible is Faulty?

 

[Maui71]

My husband was born and raised Catholic. Ingrained in him from day one. 24 years catholic. He had questions, I had answers found in the Bible. So yes, he ran for his life into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The only one who can make things right!
I have read other books too, I have met with priests as well…My research is all Bible backed, are you saying that the Bible is Faulty?

Hi Born Again,

He is not saying that the Bible is faulty but that your interpretation of the bible is. Now, before you get offended answer this: Are your interpretations of the Bible infallible? If yes then everyone (absolute sense) else is wrong. If no and your interpretation is fallible then why is your interpretation better than his? The best you can come to is that your interpretation is as valid as his.

I know you are going to say but the Catholic belief of…. Is not in the bible but I bet you it is. You are interpreting a passage in light of your belief. Yet every Catholic belief has biblical support for it; YES EVEN SAINTS AND, AND Ma Ma MA MARY (She has the honored place of bookends).

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible are you found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible does the bible say what books belong in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse. The table of contents doesn’t count.

If you are bible alone please tell me where your church is found in the in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone please tell me where alter calls are found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

 

[Jenny_Z]

Where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the only source of truth?

 

[BornAgain11]

Hi Born Again,

He is not saying that the Bible is faulty but that your interpretation of the bible is. Now, before you get offended answer this: Are your interpretations of the Bible infallible? If yes then everyone (absolute sense) else is wrong. If no and your interpretation is fallible then why is your interpretation better than his? The best you can come to is that your interpretation is as valid as his.

I know you are going to say but the Catholic belief of…. Is not in the bible but I bet you it is. You are interpreting a passage in light of your belief. Yet every Catholic belief has biblical support for it; YES EVEN SAINTS AND, AND Ma Ma MA MARY (She has the honored place of bookends).

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible are you found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible does the bible say what books belong in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse. The table of contents doesn’t count.

If you are bible alone please tell me where your church is found in the in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone please tell me where alter calls are found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

I know how to read…a priest is not the only one who can understand the Bible! Why would He just have left the Bible only for a certain group (Catholic Priests) to read and understand? Thats foolish! We are suppose to ALL as Christians read the word of the Lord daily, to feast upon it like life giving nourishment- which it is! Have you read Heb 5:12?
Okay here we go: Biblical Refrences to Catholic Doctrines
-All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness 2 Tim 3:16
-Baptism with water effects rebirth as sons of God and imparts the Holy Spirit Acts 10:47 John 1:12-13 Mark 16:16
-Clergy Celibacy 1 Cor 9:5, Mat 8:14
-Apostles Sucession Acts 1:21-26
-Eucharist as a repperance of Jesus to be worshipped Heb 9:26, Acts 1:11, Matt 24:23 27
-Holy Days of Obligation Gal 4:9-11 Col 2:16
-Indulgences to remit punishment for sins Psalm 49:7-8 Heb 9:22
-Justification by faith plus works Rom 3:24-26, 28 4:5 11:6 Eph 2:8-9 Titue 3:5 Gal 2:16
-BISHOPS ARE THE ONLY QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS OF SCRIPTURE 2 Cor 4:2
-Mary exalted as mediatrix 1 Tim 2:5
-Marys immaculate conception and sinlessness Rom 5:12, 3:10, 23 (and Jesus’ half brothers…like JAMES!)
-Peter the rock on which the church is built Eph 2:20 1 Pet 2:4-8
-Papal authority and infalliablity Gal 2:11-14, Acts 17-11 Mat 16:23
-Pope as head of the church Col 1:18-20
-Prayers for the dead Heb 9:27 Dut 18:10-12
-Priests offering Jesus as sacrifice Heb 10:12, 18 John 19:30
-Purgatory purifies sins Heb 1:3 10:10 14 1 John 1:7 Luke 23:39-43
Rosary and reptitous prayers Mat 6:7
-Salvation conditional on mans faithfulness Eph 1:13-14 John 6:39 10-27-30
Rom 8:30 11:29 Jude 24 1 Pet 1:3-5
-Statues and Images Rom 1:22 23, 25 Deut 27:15 1 John 5:21
-Tradition equal with Scripture in authority Mark 7:9 13 Col 2:8
Venial sins Janems 2:10 Rom 6:23

Obviously I could not have read each of these scriptures wrong. Read them for yourself see how they line up with what you believe. The Word of the Lord is sharper than any two edged sword!
My husbands thinks what I am doing here is useless. He asked me to stop actually. I will I am a submissve wife which we are called to be in the Bible. However I leave you with this. Today I talked to a girl from your site here and she is leaving the Catholic Faith and wants a personal REAL relationship with her Lord and Savior! Amen!
Futhermore, I do not think what I write is done in vein…the Bible tells us if we plant the seed of truth thats all we have to do…and that is all I have done.

 

[Maui71]

I know how to read…a priest is not the only one who can understand the Bible! Why would He just have left the Bible only for a certain group (Catholic Priests) to read and understand? Thats foolish! We are suppose to ALL as Christians read the word of the Lord daily, to feast upon it like life giving nourishment- which it is! Have you read Heb 5:12?
Okay here we go: Biblical Refrences to Catholic Doctrines
-All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness 2 Tim 3:16
-Baptism with water effects rebirth as sons of God and imparts the Holy Spirit Acts 10:47 John 1:12-13 Mark 16:16
-Clergy Celibacy 1 Cor 9:5, Mat 8:14
-Apostles Sucession Acts 1:21-26
-Eucharist as a repperance of Jesus to be worshipped Heb 9:26, Acts 1:11, Matt 24:23 27
-Holy Days of Obligation Gal 4:9-11 Col 2:16
-Indulgences to remit punishment for sins Psalm 49:7-8 Heb 9:22
-Justification by faith plus works Rom 3:24-26, 28 4:5 11:6 Eph 2:8-9 Titue 3:5 Gal 2:16
-BISHOPS ARE THE ONLY QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS OF SCRIPTURE 2 Cor 4:2
-Mary exalted as mediatrix 1 Tim 2:5
-Marys immaculate conception and sinlessness Rom 5:12, 3:10, 23 (and Jesus’ half brothers…like JAMES!)
-Peter the rock on which the church is built Eph 2:20 1 Pet 2:4-8
-Papal authority and infalliablity Gal 2:11-14, Acts 17-11 Mat 16:23
-Pope as head of the church Col 1:18-20
-Prayers for the dead Heb 9:27 Dut 18:10-12
-Priests offering Jesus as sacrifice Heb 10:12, 18 John 19:30
-Purgatory purifies sins Heb 1:3 10:10 14 1 John 1:7 Luke 23:39-43
Rosary and reptitous prayers Mat 6:7
-Salvation conditional on mans faithfulness Eph 1:13-14 John 6:39 10-27-30
Rom 8:30 11:29 Jude 24 1 Pet 1:3-5
-Statues and Images Rom 1:22 23, 25 Deut 27:15 1 John 5:21
-Tradition equal with Scripture in authority Mark 7:9 13 Col 2:8
Venial sins Janems 2:10 Rom 6:23

Obviously I could not have read each of these scriptures wrong. Read them for yourself see how they line up with what you believe. The Word of the Lord is sharper than any two edged sword!
My husbands thinks what I am doing here is useless. He asked me to stop actually. I will I am a submissve wife which we are called to be in the Bible. However I leave you with this. Today I talked to a girl from your site here and she is leaving the Catholic Faith and wants a personal REAL relationship with her Lord and Savior! Amen!
Futhermore, I do not think what I write is done in vein…the Bible tells us if we plant the seed of truth thats all we have to do…and that is all I have done.

My Dear,

You did not answer my questions but you did prove that it IS YOUR interpertation bible. So lets be truthful here. Answer my questions please before you leave. You have not answered a single one. Are you saying that since you can’t be wrong you are infalible? Answer the questions please:

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible are you found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone then please tell me where in the bible does the bible say what books belong in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse. The table of contents doesn’t count.

If you are bible alone please tell me where your church is found in the in the bible? Book, Chapter and Verse.

If you are bible alone please tell me where alter calls are found? Book, Chapter and Verse.

 

[jlhargus]

I believe in Scripture alone Hebrews 5:12.

JL: [Hb5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of stong meat.] So this is your proof for scripture alone, I see nothing about reading and everything about teaching. Paul tells those who should be teachers by this time, yet they need to be taught again. Note he said taught not read again.

Who are the teachers of God’s word? Who did our Lord SEND to TEACH that WORD to whole world till the end of time? JN 17:18 As you have SENT me into the world I also SENT them into the world 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE CONSECRATED IN TRUTH. 20 I do not pray for these alone but for those who will BELIEVE IN ME THROUGH THEIR WORD 21 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE as you Father are in me and I in you THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE you SENT ME.] Christ is praying for one specific visible sent group the Apostles Fellowship, whom he consecrated in truth. Hearing their word and being one in fellowship, with THEM, the world may believe the Father sent him, can an invisable church do that? I don’t think Christ meant, he would only be with that fellowship and it would only be one, just while the apostles were alive, but to the end of the world. [Mt 28:16 THE ELEVEN disciples 18 Jesus spoke to THEM, ALL POWER IS GIVEN TO ME in heaven and in earth 19 GO TEACH ALL NATIONS BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 20 TEACHING to observe ALL things whatever I have COMMANDED you I AM WITH YOU always even TO THE END.] Can an invisiable church, do that? The great commission to the Church, the apostles fellowship. Christ to whom all power in heaven and earth is given, sent with his authority the apostles to TEACH ALL to observe what he taught, they were to go to all nations (universal, catholic). Only the apostles were sent to teach all nations, with the authority of Christ. Christ promised to be with them till the end of the world. Those individuals would not be around till the end, but their SENT successors in the Apostolic Fellowship would, by passing on their authority to teach, sanctify and rule by laying on of hands from bishop to bishop till the end.

[2 TIM 1:6 …stir up the GIFT OF GOD IN YOU BY THE PUTTING ON OF MY HANDS 7 GOD HAS GIVEN US the SPIRIT OF POWER. Titus 1:5 For this I left you in Crete that you should set in order …and ORDAIN ELDERS in EVERY CITY AS I APPOINTED YOU. ACTS 14:23 when they had ORDAINED elders IN EVERY CHURCH and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

So you mean to tell me there have never been divisions in the Catholic church? What about the sedevacantist traditionalist Roman Catholic Church? Or how can one Pope say one thing and the next one can change it? So with the point you are trying to make there is no stabliity in any church. That I agree with. Thats why we must be armed with the TRUTH…the word of Our Lord and Savior. Stand firm in the TRUTH that He has given us.

JL: The Church is always one no matter how many go out from her. Sedevacantist are not in union with the Church. Don’t just use cleches show me were one pope taught a doctrine of the Church that another pope changed. A discipline may be changed at anytime. There is complete stability in the Church as I know to whom to listen, and I hear the voice of my savior Jesus Christ.

Timothy tells us the Church is the pillar and ground of truth, 1Tm3:14. I agree we must be armed with the TRUTH What did people do the first time the gospel was preached by Peter? Acts2:41 Then THEY THAT gladly RECEIVED HIS WORD were BAPTIZED: and the same day there WERE ADDED UNTO THEM about three thousand souls. 42 And THEY CONTINUED steadfastly IN the **APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE **and FELLOWSHIP, and in BREAKING OF BREAD, and in PRAYERS. [Those that received his word were baptized. They were brought into the Church by baptism and CONTINUED steadfastly in the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Fellowship in DOCTRINE and breaking of bread=Mass.] 1Cor 1:9 God is faithful you were called into THE FELLOWSHIP OF his Son JESUS CHRIST 10 I appeal to you BREATHREN by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you AGREE that there be no dissensions among you that you BE UNITED in the same mind and THE SAME JUDGMENT. 1Jn 4:6 We are of God Whoever knows God LISTENS TO US and he who is not of God DOES NOT LISTEN TO US BY THIS WE KNOW the spirit of TRUTH and the spirit of ERROR] Continuing in the Apostles Fellowship is the sure way to know TRUTH from the errors of sola scriptura. Sola scriptura, that evil doctrine of Satan, that divides God’s people continuously.

 

[Silvereel]

I know how to read…a priest is not the only one who can understand the Bible! Why would He just have left the Bible only for a certain group (Catholic Priests) to read and understand? Thats foolish! We are suppose to ALL as Christians read the word of the Lord daily, to feast upon it like life giving nourishment- which it is!

The problem here is that Catholics do read the Bible! They don’t interpt it, that is for the Church to do. This makes sense to me, because after all everyone cannot be right. God wants us to know what His scriptures mean, doesn’t he? And hence he would set up someone to interpt them for everyone! But many Catholics are indeed very knowledgeable on the Bible. You might check out www.scripturecatholic.com as well. This site defends the Catholic Church in the light of Scripture alone, and not any other sources, and hence may make more sense to a Protestant.
And another thing for the Church/Magisterium deciding things… in the Book of Acts do the Apostles not gather together to make such desicsions? I.E.if Khosher must be kept?

 

[jlhargus]

My husband was born and raised Catholic. Ingrained in him from day one. 24 years catholic. He had questions, I had answers found in the Bible. So yes, he ran for his life into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The only one who can make things right!

JL: I know Catholics who have been Catholic for fifty years and yet know little about how
to defend their faith, they simply live it. Some not all are easy targets and are targeted by certain groups. Protestants converting to the Chruch know their old faith and scripture, Most Catholics who convert do not know their faith or scripture, yet many return withing 10years.

I have read other books too, I have met with priests as well…My research is all Bible backed, are you saying that the Bible is Faulty?

jJL: I’m sure you have, try reading solid Catholic authors.

 

[Filius99993]

jJL: I’m sure you have, try reading solid Catholic authors.

The Gospels are always good.

Catholic teachings are backed by two things: Scripture and tradition. That should tell you a little bit about our dogmas (dogma is not a dirty word). There’s a good teen’s version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (our rule book) by Father Alfred McBride that I recommend. amazon.com/Father-McBrides-Teen-Catechism-Catholic/dp/0879737042

Scott Hahn and G. K. Chesterton are good Catholic writers that might help you in your conversion process. GK Chesterton started out as an Anglican and succumbed to Agnosticism in his teens. After a while he became Catholic.

HE CONVERT
G.K. Chesterton

    After one moment when I bowed my head
    And the whole world turned over and came upright,
    And I came out where the old road shone white,
    I walked the ways and heard what all men said,
    Forests of tongues, like autumn leaves unshed,
    Being not unlovable but strange and light;
    Old riddles and new creeds, not in despite
    But softly, as men smile about the dead.

    The sages have a hundred maps to give
    That trace their crawling cosmos like a tree,
    They rattle reason out through many a sieve
    That stores the sand and lets the gold go free:
    And all these things are less than dust to me
    Because my name is Lazarus and I live.


                                            --G. K. Chesterton

Good stuff. Good luck on your road to Rome!

 

[jlhargus]

I know how to read…a priest is not the only one who can understand the Bible! Why would He just have left the Bible only for a certain group (Catholic Priests) to read and understand? Thats foolish! We are suppose to ALL as Christians read the word of the Lord daily, to feast upon it like life giving nourishment- which it is! Have you read Heb 5:12?
Okay here we go: Biblical Refrences to Catholic Doctrines
-All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness 2 Tim 3:16
-Baptism with water effects rebirth as sons of God and imparts the Holy Spirit Acts 10:47 John 1:12-13 Mark 16:16
-Clergy Celibacy 1 Cor 9:5, Mat 8:14
-Apostles Sucession Acts 1:21-26
-Eucharist as a repperance of Jesus to be worshipped Heb 9:26, Acts 1:11, Matt 24:23 27
-Holy Days of Obligation Gal 4:9-11 Col 2:16
-Indulgences to remit punishment for sins Psalm 49:7-8 Heb 9:22
-Justification by faith plus works Rom 3:24-26, 28 4:5 11:6 Eph 2:8-9 Titue 3:5 Gal 2:16
-BISHOPS ARE THE ONLY QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS OF SCRIPTURE 2 Cor 4:2
-Mary exalted as mediatrix 1 Tim 2:5
-Marys immaculate conception and sinlessness Rom 5:12, 3:10, 23 (and Jesus’ half brothers…like JAMES!)
-Peter the rock on which the church is built Eph 2:20 1 Pet 2:4-8
-Papal authority and infalliablity Gal 2:11-14, Acts 17-11 Mat 16:23
-Pope as head of the church Col 1:18-20
-Prayers for the dead Heb 9:27 Dut 18:10-12
-Priests offering Jesus as sacrifice Heb 10:12, 18 John 19:30
-Purgatory purifies sins Heb 1:3 10:10 14 1 John 1:7 Luke 23:39-43
Rosary and reptitous prayers Mat 6:7
-Salvation conditional on mans faithfulness Eph 1:13-14 John 6:39 10-27-30
Rom 8:30 11:29 Jude 24 1 Pet 1:3-5
-Statues and Images Rom 1:22 23, 25 Deut 27:15 1 John 5:21
-Tradition equal with Scripture in authority Mark 7:9 13 Col 2:8
Venial sins Janems 2:10 Rom 6:23

Obviously I could not have read each of these scriptures wrong. Read them for yourself see how they line up with what you believe. The Word of the Lord is sharper than any two edged sword!
My husbands thinks what I am doing here is useless. He asked me to stop actually. I will I am a submissve wife which we are called to be in the Bible. However I leave you with this. Today I talked to a girl from your site here and she is leaving the Catholic Faith and wants a personal REAL relationship with her Lord and Savior! Amen!
Futhermore, I do not think what I write is done in vein…the Bible tells us if we plant the seed of truth thats all we have to do…and that is all I have done.

JL: Stick around I would like to answer all of the above. It may take me some time, if I can get the time. I will try to post by next weekend. You can look back in a check it out, if you are interested in truth. Actually I think the Lord has brought you here to learn of his Church.

P.S. I have looked at the two sites you posted, I don’t find them very impressive. If you think something there is impressive please post it. I would be glad to answer any question. prayfully JL

 

[PJM]

Originally Posted by BornAgain11
The Bible is the inspired word of God, you can not argue with that. The Bible is our only source for truth.

Woops, not true!

Mt. 16:13"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 **Simon Peter **replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 **I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” **
:

We began by pointing out that this is God speaking. God cannot lie, and God being God is fully aware who he is, where He is and exactly what He God is doing.

Why Caesarea Philippi? Because there was a large pagan temple there, and the message was to fight this evil.

Notice the use of Singular tense terms"… I… you…Peter …my…church… “you the keys”… kingdom… heaven… bind…loose…

Why? So there could be no intelligent debate of what Jesus intended, and His desire for only ONE Church, and who God choose to put in charge of that One Church.

Next we point out that one must look at who was speaking, and to whom the message was intended. Jesus speaking as Son of God, to Peter, and for the Jewish Community.

What is meant by “the Kingdom?”

Mk. 15: 2 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man** whom you call the King of the Jews?”** 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”

So Jesus is “the king” and His Kingdom is Heaven. 2 Tim 4: 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom.

So the "keys to the "kingdom clearly means access to heaven."

But how can we know that He intended Peter to be the keeper the guardian of the keys"?

In the time of Christ (and even in Jerusalem today) all major cites were walled in and fortified. They really did have a GATE, and the gate, did have a KEY.

Each city had its own King so Jesus was the “king” of the city He was speaking about.

The king, similar to kings and Presidents, don’t actually run “the kingdom” rather THEY RULE the Kingdom, and leave the details, with autonomous control and unlimited authority to His Prime Minister, who answered ONLY to the KING!

It is this role that Jesus assigned to Peter, not as a request, rather as a MANDATE!

Thus Jesus / God intended to give Peter the power to determine who gets into Heaven and who does not.

The terms “binding” and “loosing” were at the time of Jesus, common legally binding Rabbinical Terms, that were enforceable at Law. Jesus Knew exactly what he was doing, and the people to whom He spoke understood exactly what was meant and being done.

Any understanding other than this one lacks TRUTH !

Love and prayers,

All TRUTH on ALL matters of FAITH nad or Morals resides with the Catholic Pope and the Catholic Magisterium. Amen! Jesus who is God say’s so, not me

 

[jlhargus]

-Baptism with water effects rebirth as sons of God and imparts the Holy Spirit Acts 10:47: Acts10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

JL: Here is the first installment: [Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost FELL on all them which heard the word. 45 And THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION WHICH BELIEVED WERE ASTONISHED, as many as came with Peter, BECAUSE that ON the GENTILES also WAS POURED OUT the gift of THE HOLY GHOST. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then ANSWERED PETER, 47 CAN ANY MAN FORBID WATER, that THESE SHOULD not BE BAPTIZED, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.] First the circumcision who believed (Jewish Christians) were astonished. Why were they astonished? Because God accepted Gentiles who were not first circumcized as Jews. CONTINUED:

Notice Peter did not say, they need to be circumcized and then baptized. The Gentiles received the gift of the HS, to speak in tongues, to convince the Jewish believer’s, circumcision was not required to be Christian, only water baptism. Had the HS not fell on them first, the Jews would have insisted Cornelius, along with his household, be circumcized then baptized.

JL: In Ezekiel we have an Old Testament prophecy, according to the foreknowledge of God, of something better than circumcision to come.

Ez 36:24 FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 THEN WILL I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU, and YE SHALL BE CLEAN: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I WILL CLEANSE YOU. 26 A NEW HEART also WILL I GIVE YOU, and A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: and I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART out of your flesh, and I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH. 27 And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, and I WILL BE YOUR GOD.

[1Pt 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, unto obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.] How are we sactified of the Spirit? How are we sprinkled with the blood of Jesus?

ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and FINDING certain DISCIPLES 2 HE SAID unto them HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD whether THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST 3 And HE SAID unto them UNTO WHAT then WERE YE BAPTIZED? And THEY SAID UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM 4 Then said Paul, JOHN verily BAPTIZED WITH the BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE SAYING unto the people that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH should COME AFTER HIM that is ON CHRIST JESUS 5 When they heard this THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS 6 And when PAUL had LAID his HANDS UPON THEM THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM and they spake with tongues and prophesied [Evidently more is needed than belief and faith in Christ, to be born again, because John’s baptism was of repentance, believing or having faith in the one to come, Christ. They needed the sacrament of Christian water baptism because the Holy Spirit and baptism go hand and hand else why would Paul ask about baptism when he found they had not heard of the Holy Spirit? We receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Christ’s baptism and, after baptism, a strengthening in the sacrament of confirmation, by laying on of hands, confirmation is Pentecost for the baptized. In confirmation we receive power as those in the upper room the boldly witness for Christ and carry our cross daily. In baptism we are born thru the womb of the bride of Christ the Church thru water and Spirit. In confirmation we are strengthened to mature in faith.

How are we joined to the one body of Christ and drink of one Spirit? [1Cor 12:13 BY ONE SPIRIT we were ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY Jews or Greeks slaves or free all were MADE TO DRINK OF ONE SPIRIT]

How do we die with Christ? [Rms 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH?]

How are we buried with Christ? How are we raised from the dead to new life with Christ? [Rms6:4 We were therefore BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, WE too may LIVE A NEW LIFE.]

How are we united to Christ? [Rms6:5 If we have been UNITED WITH HIM like this in his death, we will certainly also be UNITED WITH HIM in his resurrection.]

How is our old sinful self crucified with Christ, that we no longer be slaves to sin? [Rms6:6 For we know that OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should NO LONGER be SLAVES TO SIN.]

How are we complete in Christ? How are we circumcised without hands putting off the body of the sins of the flesh? [Col2:10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 IN WHOM also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with the CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST] What is the circumcision of Christ? [Col2:12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.]