Is the Church "passing judgement"?

[Joyful_1]

Is the Catholic Church “passing judgement” by saying it is a sin to miss mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation or insisting on certain fasts? This verse seems to contradict the Churches teaching.

Colossians 2:16, 20-23 (NAB)

“No one is free to pass judgement in terms of what you eat or drink or what you do on yearly or monthly feasts or on the Sabbath…If with Christ you have died to cosmic forces, why should you be bound by rules that say,‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’ as though you were still living a life bounded by this world? Such prescriptions deal with things that perish in their use. They are based on merely human preceptes and doctrines. While these make a certain show of wisdom in their affected piety, humility, and bodily austerity, their chief effect is that they indulge men’s pride.”

This verse was in today’s LOTH readings. I just wanted to get some clarity on this.

God Bless,
Joyful_1

 

[bogeydogg]

Hebrews 10:19-25 commands us to not forsake gathering ourselves together as some do after commanding us to be washed with water. Using Scripture to interpret Scripture one must consider these two verses together.

Considering Matthew 5 it seems what Paul is saying is to not judge hypocritically as the Pharisees had done supposing themselves to be righteous when they were not.

 

[jkarp]

Is the Catholic Church “passing judgement” by saying it is a sin to miss mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation or insisting on certain fasts? This verse seems to contradict the Churches teaching.

The Church states that it is objectively sinful to not attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation when it is possible to attend. The Church is simply exercising her right of binding and loosing that the Lord Jesus Christ grants (through Peter and the apostles) in Matthew 16:19.

 

[SyCarl]

It would seem to me that the Catholic Church is imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed by making some acts or omissions sins that would not otherwise be so. Not only this but they also change the burden as with the changes to Friday dietary rules.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. "They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
(Matthew 23:1-4 NASB)

They also seem to be giving the traditions of men more weight than the Scripture that the original poster quoted.

Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? "For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’ "But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
(Matthew 15:1-9 NASB)

 

[jkarp]

It would seem to me that the Catholic Church is imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed by making some acts or omissions sins that would not otherwise be so. Not only this but they also change the burden as with the changes to Friday dietary rules.

They also seem to be giving the traditions of men more weight than the Scripture that the original poster quoted.

The Mass is the celebration of the Last Supper. During the Last Supper, Jesus gives the commandment, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). To attend Mass is to follow the Lord’s command.

Through the obligation of attendance at Mass, the Church is saying that to willfully not attend Mass is to disobey the commandment of Jesus Christ - and that is objectively sinful.

 

[SyCarl]

The Mass is the celebration of the Last Supper. During the Last Supper, Jesus gives the commandment, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). To attend Mass is to follow the Lord’s command.

Through the obligation of attendance at Mass, the Church is saying that to willfully not attend Mass is to disobey the commandment of Jesus Christ - and that is objectively sinful.

Did Jesus say how often to receive the Eucharist or that failing to receive it every week could result in damnation?

 

[Mannyfit75]

Did Jesus say how often to receive the Eucharist or that failing to receive it every week could result in damnation?

The Scripture cites that breaking of the bread too place on the first day of the week. The only condemnation is when Christian received the Body and Blood of the Lord unworthily.

 

[wanner47]

Did Jesus say how often to receive the Eucharist or that failing to receive it every week could result in damnation?

Nope. Instead, he left us something better – a Church with the authority to make such decisions on His behalf.

 

[jmcrae]

Did Jesus say how often to receive the Eucharist or that failing to receive it every week could result in damnation?

No; instead he said to Peter (the first Pope of His Church) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

This means that the Pope can establish any discipline he wants for the Church, and we are required on pain of sin to obey it, since what the Pope makes law here on earth is also made law in Heaven.

PS: We are required to go to Mass every Sunday, but we are only required to receive the Eucharist once a year, at Easter time.

 

[Joyful_1]

No; instead he said to Peter (the first Pope of His Church) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

This means that the Pope can establish any discipline he wants for the Church, and we are required on pain of sin to obey it, since what the Pope makes law here on earth is also made law in Heaven.

But the verse I quoted said that “no one is free to pass judgement”. I understand what you are saying. I do believe that the Church has the right to make precepts and say what is sin. I just want to know what this verse is referring to and how it jives with Matt.16.

BTW, Thanks for your great replies so far. They do help.

God Bless
Joyful_1

 

[ricko]

He was referring to other religions including pagans and the old law which required you to abstain from certain foods, pork for example.

 

[bogeydogg]

No; instead he said to Peter (the first Pope of His Church) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

This means that the Pope can establish any discipline he wants for the Church, and we are required on pain of sin to obey it, since what the Pope makes law here on earth is also made law in Heaven.

PS: We are required to go to Mass every Sunday, but we are only required to receive the Eucharist once a year, at Easter time.

OK, I’m not a Catholic so please forgive me if this is a woefully ignorant post and by all means correct me on it.

I have heard Patrick Madrid say openly that there have been at various times in history evil men who operated under the auspices of Church authority. He named no names but rather was defending the Church from those who would criticize the Church at large for the sins of very specific men, see the priest controversy here in America.

OK, so if that is true, have there been men who ascended to the Throne of St. Peter (Medici) who might have been, shall we say, less than scrupulous in their own personal holiness and as such is it possible that some Bulls written for political or financial or other such means, gains would be void?

 

[blessedtoo]

Is the Catholic Church “passing judgement” by saying it is a sin to miss mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation or insisting on certain fasts?

They also seem to be giving the traditions of men more weight than the Scripture that the original poster quoted.

“REMEMBER THE SABBATH AND KEEP IT HOLY” is not the tradition of men but rather completely Scriptural and upheld long before the Catholic Church was born.

Do you question the validity of the other nine Commandments or just this one?

 

[TDiGaetano]

OK, I’m not a Catholic so please forgive me if this is a woefully ignorant post and by all means correct me on it.

I have heard Patrick Madrid say openly that there have been at various times in history evil men who operated under the auspices of Church authority. He named no names but rather was defending the Church from those who would criticize the Church at large for the sins of very specific men, see the priest controversy here in America.

OK, so if that is true, have there been men who ascended to the Throne of St. Peter (Medici) who might have been, shall we say, less than scrupulous in their own personal holiness and as such is it possible that some Bulls written for political or financial or other such means, gains would be void?

There have been some bad popes, bad bishops, bad priests, ect… That is because we live in an evil world and fall short of Gods grace at times. God will judge and punish those who do wrong unless they repent and change their ways. The Holy spirit prevents the Pope from using his chair to create infallible doctrine that is contridictory to the Truth that the church holds. These “Bad” popes mainly used their power and influence to control nations and aquire material wealth for themselves, but they never changed the doctrine of the Church to suit their needs.

 

[juliamajor]

It would seem to me that the Catholic Church is imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed by making some acts or omissions sins that would not otherwise be so. Not only this but they also change the burden as with the changes to Friday dietary rules.

They also seem to be giving the traditions of men more weight than the Scripture that the original poster quoted.

YAWN!

 

[juliamajor]

It would seem to me that the Catholic Church is imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed by making some acts or omissions sins that would not otherwise be so. Not only this but they also change the burden as with the changes to Friday dietary rules.

They also seem to be giving the traditions of men more weight than the Scripture that the original poster quoted.

how unoriginal and stereotypical of you- If I had A nickel every time I’ve heard this- i’d be a billionaire.

 

[savedsinner]

It would seem to me that the Catholic Church is imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed by making some acts or omissions sins that would not otherwise be so. Not only this but they also change the burden as with the changes to Friday dietary rules.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. "They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
(Matthew 23:1-4 NASB)

Notice that Jesus tells the crowds and His disciples to observe and do whatever the scribes and the Pharisees told them.

Friday fasting and dietary laws are for our mortification.
They were changed because for some cultures giving up meat is not a big thing, while for other cultures it is a big sacrifice.

Jesus told us to pray, fast and repent.
Paul talks about his sufferings being offered up to the Lord.

We are just doing what the bible tells us to do, we are just being obedient to God.

Imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed?

Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything he owned.
Now that is a burden, if you ask me.

 

[bogeydogg]

There have been some bad popes, bad bishops, bad priests, ect… That is because we live in an evil world and fall short of Gods grace at times. God will judge and punish those who do wrong unless they repent and change their ways. The Holy spirit prevents the Pope from using his chair to create infallible doctrine that is contridictory to the Truth that the church holds. These “Bad” popes mainly used their power and influence to control nations and aquire material wealth for themselves, but they never changed the doctrine of the Church to suit their needs.

OK, cool. Thanks a lot for that.

 

[jmcrae]

Imposing a burden greater than that which Jesus imposed?

Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything he owned.
Now that is a burden, if you ask me.

I wish these people who think that Jesus was some kind of “come-as-you-are” casual guy would actually sit down and read the Gospels.

It is true that Jesus forgives us, yes - because He thinks we have sinned. He expects us to improve ourselves.

 

[Joyful_1]

“REMEMBER THE SABBATH AND KEEP IT HOLY” is not the tradition of men but rather completely Scriptural and upheld long before the Catholic Church was born.

Do you question the validity of the other nine Commandments or just this one?

OK. That explains Sundays.

But what about Holy Days of Obligation and dietary rules?

What is the Church’s official interpetation of this part of the Bible?

Thanks and God Bless
Joyful_1