I think Galatians makes the problem with Roman Catholicism very clear.
Galatians 1:8-9 NLT
[8] Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. [9] I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
There are tons of things that the Roman Catholic Church requires which are not part of the Gospel that Paul taught. Among the worst are indulgences and the assumption of Mary.
The many Catholics I've met seem unsure of their salvation. For many, it is a culture that they are a part of and like the Jews of the Bible, they seem to think salvation is passed on through family and culture.
This is how I am saved.
Romans 10:8-13 NLT
[8] In fact, it says,
"The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart."
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: [9] If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. [11] As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." [12] Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. [13] For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
How are you saved? How do you know that you are going to Heaven?
I am really curious. I have many Catholic relatives I can't get a straight answer about this.
"How are you saved? How do you know that you are going to Heaven?"
"I am really curious. I have many Catholic relatives I can't get a straight answer about this."
Who says we want to go to heaven? Be satisfied with OUR FATHER NOW, don't wait till heaven. Let Jesus bring heaven here through you.
Luke 18
9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The tax collector didn't go home assured of himself of being in God's grace did he? Not knowing if your saved is not a problem there is something more valuable that is our personal relationship with God.
We take Faith in God to the next level. You might trust your parents yet you don't demand or seek a certificate of assurance or leverage over them.
Our priorities are laid out quite differently. SALVATION is NOT priority#1. Its not a commandment. and an obsession with salvation can become an idolatry of one's self.
Matthew 16
24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me,
he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
25“
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
Our faith is not a instruction vs surviving God.
1 Timothy 1
5But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
We don't wake up everyday with our hands up saying God don't shoot me!
Hell is a piece of cake our suffering is in offending God.
Imagine there is Box....and in it is the result, certificate, proof of salvation.
I would never open the box. I must TRUST GOD. There is bad taste, something wrong, if I need any sort of leverage or assurance. Something disingenuous.
In the Catholic faith God is very much part of the FAMILY and we are in a holy family.
I got bigger fish to fry then my salvation or immortality. Our hells are different. Its not about how much torture and pain you can put on me.....My first concern are the people I love and care about. We are called to love and care for everyone.
Best way to put ME in HELL......is spoil me with every good thing and let me know there is one soul being tormented.
We are taken to a shift of selfishness to SELF-LESS-NESS.
We are taught the Love of God and directly by God, hand taught (is that phrase? lol) .
God personally teaches me the love a father has for all his children, teaches me to see thru all the evil even in the worst sinner there is a treasure God treasures. And it is sincere and REAL.
Every Catholic is on a quest. The odds can be the whole world against you. With the demons AND the angels trying to bring you down. Yet we will always point to LOVE. LOVE is GOD. LOVE is the highest priority. Every faith and religion without LOVE is made trash. AGAPE. It is SINCERE its not a legalistic or contract with God.
The GOOD WORK is LOVE. God can keep the "REWARD" we do those things for FREE. There is no fear here, we answer to love alone. Tomorrow the entire universe can want you dead, As a Catholic I'm required to be the defender I defend you against the entire world if I have to, against all odds. As if you were Jesus Christ.
We don't want salvation or immortality. We want to know the love of God for 5 minutes. To know it. Just touch it once. We pray for our HOUR.