Roman Catholic...Christian or Cult?

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Seems like Ive seen this play before.... When Torquemada is through, just burn the body & scatter what remains to the winds.

Good night all!

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Then you've not properly identified what catholics believe. Catachism 424 And later or which is how the catholic church views Christ's role. As far as the Pope

I would also agree that the papacy doesn't want to be considered the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, the Antichrist. But it is.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

(Ecclesiastical Latin papa from Greek papas, a variant of pappas father, in classical Latin pappas — Juvenal, "Satires" 6:633).

The title pope, once used with far greater latitude (see below, section V), is at present employed solely to denote the Bishop of Rome, who, in virtue of his position as successor of St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the whole Church, the Vicar of Christ upon earth.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm


How disgusting. May the Lord quickly destroy the papacy with the brightness of His coming.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Popes persecute true Christians by the civil power like the Jews persecuted the Christians by the civil power:

The question has been raised whether it be lawful for the Church, not merely to sentence a delinquent to physical penalties, but itself to inflict these penalties. As to this, it is sufficient to note that the right of the Church to invoke the aid of the civil power to execute her sentences is expressly asserted by Boniface VIII in the Bull "Unam Sanctam". This declaration, even if it be not one of those portions of the Bull in which the pope is defining a point of faith, is so clearly connected with the parts expressly stated to possess such character that it is held by theologians to be theologically certain (Palmieri, "De Romano Pontifice", thes. 21). The question is of theoretical, rather than of practical importance, since civil Governments have long ceased to own the obligation of enforcing the decisions of any ecclesiastical authority. This indeed became inevitable when large sections of the population ceased to be Catholic. The state of things supposed could only exist when a whole nation was thoroughly Catholic in spirit, and the force of papal decisions was recognized by all as binding in conscience.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm

 

[ReformedBaptist]

The Antichrist claims universal authority over the church:

In the Constitution "Pastor Aeternus", cap. 3, the pope is declared to possess ordinary, immediate, and episcopal jurisdiction over all the faithful:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm
We teach, moreover, and declare that, by the disposition of God, the Roman Church possesses supreme ordinary authority over all Churches, and that the jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, which is true episcopal jurisdiction is immediate in its character (Enchir., n. 1827).

The pope claims to be the supreme teacher:

In virtue of his office as supreme teacher and ruler of the faithful, the chief control of every department of the Church's life belongs to the pope.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm

I defy the pope and all popes and popedom and all popery by the Word of God and by Jesus Christ. Christ ALONE is the Chief Shepherd, Supreme Ruler, only Head of the Church, and Christ Jesus Alone has chief control of every department of the CHurch's life....it BELONGS TO JESUS.

Let the usurper be anathema.

 

[Zenas]

Christ ALONE is the Chief Shepherd, Supreme Ruler, only Head of the Church, and Christ Jesus Alone has chief control of every department of the CHurch's life....it BELONGS TO JESUS.

Let the usurper be anathema.

Then let's get rid of all our pastors. Just think how much money we're going to save by not having to pay them! Oh yes, we also need to take a pen knife and neatly excise Hebrews 13:17.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Then let's get rid of all our pastors. Just think how much money we're going to save by not having to pay them! Oh yes, we also need to take a pen knife and neatly excise Hebrews 13:17.

No appealing to the Scripture for your pope.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No appealing to the Scripture for your pope.

Now that is a new one for me.......a reformed brother ever dismissing scripture for anything in life. I was trained to have it as part of my right hand, part of my heart & in my mind. Simply Shameful. Shakes head.

 

[annsni]

Its basically saying that the statue is a Picture of a saint and helps us to consentrate on their good qualities that we may incorporate such qualities into our life. Like I want to be bold like Peter or Paul with sharing the Gospel when I see a picture of their representation I try to imitate them by following their example in the gospel. Thus no problem. I just don't think you understand what it said.

But that's not what we do. First of all, we're not to bow down to these idols. Secondly people pray, plead and beseech them to help them. Thirdly, I don't know many Catholics who look at a statue and say that they need to be more like them. Instead they look TO them for guidance and answers to prayer. Big difference.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

GE:
Thinkingstuff, Your signature-line proves Carl Sagan is a fool, no genius.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinkingstuff
Its basically saying that the statue is a Picture of a saint and helps us to consentrate on their good qualities that we may incorporate such qualities into our life. Like I want to be bold like Peter or Paul with sharing the Gospel when I see a picture of their representation I try to imitate them by following their example in the gospel. Thus no problem. I just don't think you understand what it said.


GE:
Then others will stare at your picture, and imitate you, and it will be the beginning of the progeny of pictures and statues.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

GE:
Thinkingstuff, Your signature-line proves Carl Sagan is a fool, no genius.

GE: Im sure that was done to annoy you. Guess it worked.

 

[Jedi Knight]

I went to Roman Catholic Church school and was never taught how to have a personal relationship with the Lord. I was however taught to pray to Mary.....thought that was strange even as a young lost person.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

So let me get this straight.....most of the people posting on here are ex-Roman Catholics....Hmmm, This explains much.

 

[DHK]

So let me get this straight.....most of the people posting on here are ex-Roman Catholics....Hmmm, This explains much.

It usually explains that they know what they were taught.
That when they were saved, they were taught something that they never heard before in the RCC.
That when they were saved, they underwent a glorious transformation because they now had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them--a relationship instead of a religion. And what a difference that makes!
That when they were saved, and after studying their Bibles for just a little bit they realized that they had to make a decision: either leave the RCC and all of its heresies, and join a Bible-believing church, or remain disobedient to God and live in misery under the chastening hand of God all the time forcing oneself to listen what you now know to be heresy. How could a born again believer ever choose the latter?

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Now that is a new one for me.......a reformed brother ever dismissing scripture for anything in life. I was trained to have it as part of my right hand, part of my heart & in my mind. Simply Shameful. Shakes head.

I am convinced at times that reason and humor is lost to you. Appealing to Scripture for a pope is an oxymoron.

 

[Jedi Knight]

The term "cult" has gone through a process of change from one sense to another because of changed usage. Today, it is commonly used among Christians as a negative description of a false religion or church. To say something that claims to be a Christian church is a "cult" is a common way to deny it is Christian in the sense of New Testament teaching and in particular to essential New Testament doctrines. In that sense Rome is a cult (Gal. 1:8-9).

Thanks Doc for making this crystal clear! Though I do see others are up in arms nevertheless.

 

[Alive in Christ]

So let me get this straight.....most of the people posting on here are ex-Roman Catholics....Hmmm, This explains much.

Yes, it does.

It means we have been on the inside, we have seen what we have seen, we have heard what is clearly taught, and we KNOW what we were taught.

And we KNOW that Catholicism reeks of idolatry, false teaching, blasphemy and a false gospel.

 

[Matt Black]

How odd! You see, I'm ex-RC too, and yet what I was taught as a Catholic when being raised in that Church bears little or no resemblance to what you claim you were taught and what you today claim they believe. There is a finite number of possible explanations for this, which I set out below to assist:

1. I was badly catechised.

2. You were badly catechised.

3. I failed to understand what I was taught by the RCC and/or fail to understand today what they believe.

4. You failed to understand what you were taught by the RCC and/or fail to understand today what they believe.

5. The RCC in the US is a totally different denomination to the RCC in the UK.

Taking #1 and #3, a cursory (and indeed a fullsome) glance at the Catechism of the Catholic Church is sufficient to demonstrate to me that, whilst I may not have been prefectly catechised, there is enough of a striking similarity between what I was taught and what I understand Catholic doctrine and practice to be to what the Catholic Church actually teaches and practises. With regard to #5, whilst I accept that there may be a few cultural and liturgical differences, I think the Pope would have something to say were the differences to be significantly radical.

That leaves #2 and #4. Being a charitable chap, I'm willing to accept it's #2 (unless of course you want to reject that and go for #4).

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Gal. 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Rom. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom. 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

And this mass of undigested proof-texting is your answer?

Rome does not preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as Rome preaches justification by sacramental grace or grace through works rather than justification "without works." Rome preaches justification of the godly not "the ungodly."

It would be helpful if you would care to define these terms you are randomly throwing around here: 'grace', 'justification', 'works', 'gospel'.

 

[Matt Black]

I know many saved Catholics are in the church of Rome and yet are on their way to heaven because they reject the gospel of Rome.

Again, define what you mean by 'the gospel of Rome' and demonstrate how that marries up with what the Catholic Catechism actually teaches.

I also know many saved Catholics. They are saved not because thety reject their Church's teaching - they accept it - but because they are devoted to and love the Lord Jesus. Please explain how they are damned (according, I presume, to your soteriology) because of their love for Jesus...?