First, let's take a look at what catholics believe about this:
[URL]
[link]I have read through this, & in general, there are no Scriptural difficulties:
[b]UNTIL THIS:[/b]
[QUOTE]
All genuflect (bending both knees) when adoring the Blessed Sacrament unveiled, as at Expositions.
All genuflect (bending the right knee only) when doing reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, enclosed in the Tabernacle, or lying upon the corporal during the Mass. Mass-servers are not to genuflect, save when the Blessed Sacrament is at the altar where Mass is being said (cf. Wapelhorst, infra). The same honour is paid to a relic of the True Cross when exposed for public veneration.
The clergy in liturgical functions genuflect on one knee to the cross over the high altar, and likewise in passing before the bishop of the diocese when he presides at a ceremony. From these genuflexions, however, an officiating priest, as also all prelates, canons, etc., are dispensed, bowing of the head and shoulders being substituted for the genuflexion.
On Good Friday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, and until Holy Saturday, all, clergy and laity alike, genuflect in passing before the unveiled cross upon the high altar.[/QUOTE]
Ok, now I see SEVERAL problems here.
First this:
[QUOTE]All genuflect (bending both knees) when adoring the Blessed Sacrament unveiled, as at Expositions.[/QUOTE]
[b][u]ADORING[/u][/b] AN object?
Does ANYONE want to try telling me, that the Catholics aren't calling an the "host" something that needs to be worshipped?
Aren't they turning this into an idol?
And what does Scripture say about idol worship?
[i]Exodus 20:4 (New International Version)
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.[/i]
Now, catholics say that the ACTUAL presence of Christ resides in the "host."
I would LOVE to know what is their SCRIPTURAL basis is for this?
I also take a look at this subject here:
[URL=
[link] here![/URL]
They are turning the "host" into an object to be worshipped! Isn't this turning it into an idol?
Then we have this:
(And look at what I have underlined)
[QUOTE]All genuflect (bending the right knee only) when doing reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, enclosed in the Tabernacle, or lying upon the corporal during the Mass. Mass-servers are not to genuflect, save when the Blessed Sacrament is at the altar where Mass is being said (cf. Wapelhorst, infra). [u]The same honour is paid to a relic of the True Cross when exposed for public veneration.[/u][/QUOTE]
A RELIC?
AN OBJECT?
As pointed out above:
Since when is an object supposed to be worshipped?
Is there [b][u]ANYTHING[/u][/b] in Scripture that CONDONES idol worship?
Does ANYONE want to tell me, that this isn't EXACTLY what the ancient hebrews did with the Golden Calf?
[i]Exodus 32:8 (New International Version)
8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'[/i]
Is there ANY DOUBT that the catholic church is condoning idol worship here?
And what did God do to the ancient hebrews because of worshipping an idol?
[i]Exodus 32:25-27 (New International Version)
25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
27 Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.' "[/i]
What was the penalty for idol worship?
[b][u]DEATH![/u][/b]
And look at what happened here:
[i]1 Kings 18:40 (New International Version)
40 Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.[/i]
Over & over, what is the penalty for idol worship, [u]according to God's word? DEATH![/u]
Now, needless to say, we won't see catholics getting slaughtered like the idolatrious hebrews, or the prophets of Baal.
But what is the key word in BOTH thses passages-[b][u]DEATH![/u][/b]
Following these practices of idol worship, will only end up in spiritual destruction in the Lake of Fire, as mentioned in:
[i]Revelation 21:8 (New International Version)
8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, [u]the idolaters[/u] and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."[/i]
Notice what I have underlined, in the passage above !
Idolaters!
Just like the catholic church is turning their followers into!
And because the catholic church teaches that THEY are the ONLY "TRUE" church!
And then the catholic church says this:
[QUOTE]The clergy in liturgical functions genuflect on one knee to the cross over the high altar, and likewise in passing before the bishop of the diocese when he presides at a ceremony. From these genuflexions, however, an officiating priest, as also all prelates, canons, etc., are dispensed, bowing of the head and shoulders being substituted for the genuflexion. [/QUOTE]
Bowing of the head & genuflexion to PEOPLE? Am I reading this right?
I think that Scripture has something to say about this:
[i]Romans 3:9-11 (New International Version)
9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.[/i]
And we have this:
[i]Romans 6:23 (New International Version)
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.[/i]
I have adressed this issue in my article on the pope, which can be found here:
[URL=
[link] Here![/URL]
Again:
The "host" is regarded as an IDOL!
The clergy is regarded as more than regular men! Almost as gods, themselves!
And them we have this:
[QUOTE]On Good Friday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, and until Holy Saturday, all, clergy and laity alike, genuflect in passing before the unveiled cross upon the high altar[/QUOTE]
What am I reading here?
ADORING an object?
Kneling before an OBJECT?
How can anyone say that this ISN'T idol worship?
Do I have to say anything more?
Bill
Sta.sh
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"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring."
— Chuck Palahniuk
Ephesians 2:8-9 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.
Now, what is grace?
Grace is simply the unmerited favor of God. It is nothing that we can work for-it is simply something that God CHOOSE to give all those who trust in Him!
Now: what do WE need to do, to experience God's grace? I think that this explains it very well:
You are not saved by your good deeds. You are not saved by being a member of a church. You are not saved by being sincere. You are not saved by your intelligence.
What must you do? You must believe in Jesus alone; you must trust Him alone; you must accept Jesus' sacrifice for your sins alone and nothing that you do in any way.
Though there are no rules or steps to becoming a Christian, the following is a Biblical summarization of what you need to know and do:
You must recognize your sinfulness before God: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned". (Romans 5:12)
You must recognize that your sin has caused a separation between you and God: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
You must believe that Jesus is the only way to God: "I am the way, the truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
You must ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins because He has the authority to forgive you of your sins:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me'". (Matthew 28:18) Jesus told you to ask Him for your requests: "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it". (John 14:14) Jesus is the one who forgives sins: "'But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins -- He said to the paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home'." (Mark 2:10-11) You must receive Jesus. John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."
You must turn away from your sin
"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30); and to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8).
If you want to be saved you must accept Jesus as your Savior. Pray to Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart. He will because He loves you. Salvation is only a prayer of faith away.
If you believe these things, you can pray a prayer like the one below, to receive Jesus into your life, keeping in mind that merely saying a prayer in itself does not save you, for prayer is not like a magic charm or incantation. Only faith in Jesus Christ alone saves.
"Father in heaven, I come to you confessing that I am a sinner, completely lost and without hope. I repent of my sinful ways and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe in my heart that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, that He completely paid for all of my sins by His death on the cross, and that You raised Him from the dead. I confess that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. I trust in Him, and Him alone, for my salvation. I believe that through His shed blood I have eternal life. I will pray, study, meditate and live by Your Word the rest of my life. Father, I ask that You fill me with the Holy Spirit. Please come into my heart and save and sanctify my soul. I love you, Lord, and offer myself to You completely and without reservation. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen."
If you prayed a prayer like this and meant it with all your heart, YOU ARE SAVED! You have been "born again" spiritually as a child of God. Your sins have been washed away and you are a person with a new nature.
After receiving salvation, you should join a Christ-centered church that preaches the gospel and be baptized. You should also pray and read your Bible daily, and regularly assemble with fellow Christians at your church.
Suggestions for Christian Growth:
Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. "The righteous man shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life, and to practice the following:
Go to God in prayer daily. (John 15:7)
Read God's Word daily (Acts 17:11); begin with the Gospel of John.
Obey God moment by moment. (John 14:21)
Witness for Christ by your life and words. (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8)
Trust God for every detail of your life. (1 Peter 5:7) Holy Spirit -- allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness.
(Galatians 5:16-17; Acts 1:8)
God's Word instructs us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together." (Hebrews 10:25) Several logs burn brightly together; but put one aside on the cold hearth and the fire goes out. So it is with your relationship with other Christians.
If you do not belong to a church, do not wait to be invited. Take the initiative; call the pastor of a nearby church where Christ is honored and His Word is preached. Start this week, and make plans to attend regularly.
In the course of your new life in Jesus Christ, you will continually struggle with sin. Sometimes you will, in a moment of weakness, succumb to temptation and sin. Please do not lose hope or be discouraged. Know that you are not alone and that other Christians go through these struggles. The Apostle Paul faced the same thing in his walk with Christ. Of his life he said,
"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:18-24)
But Paul does not leave it there. He goes on to say,
"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."
While you will always struggle with sin until the day the Lord comes to take you home to heaven, do not lose heart. If you turn to the Lord in repentance and confess your sins, He will forgive you and make you clean again. 1 John 1:9 says,
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
As a new child of God you can be assured of salvation. Salvation is not a "maybe" or an "I hope to be". It is a sure thing that is based on the promises of God's Word. The Apostle John said:
"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:11-13)
Also as a new child of God you can share the same assurance that the Apostle Paul had:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
This pretty much explains it all! Nothing that we can do will earn us favor in God's eyes. It is only a COMPLETE turning everything that you are, everuthing that you believe, everything that YOU want, & letting God take control of everything in you life!
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“If we were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?”
"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car."