"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."  1 Peter 3:15

  

Fellow Christian, as I have told most every believer I have corresponded with: I just want to believe as the Apostles taught Christ's early Church, no matter where it leads me and no matter what it costs me.
Do you feel the same way? 

 

For that is what Our Lord demands of us.

Is this what you desire? As I tell many people I speak with, Catholic theology comprises the verses not yet underlined in their personal Bible.  It's a big book and one cannot take a single verse and make an entire theology/religion out of it.  One must always look at what ELSE Christ taught or what ELSE the Apostle Paul taught.  Context is the key. The Holy Scriptures must be read and interpreted in the same spirit in which they were written. I hope you agree.

I would like to talk with you about why you attend a modern Christian church.  I would like to present many verses from the Holy Scriptures not used at your church that might change your view of what the Apostles actually taught.  Below are 3 powerful Biblical reasons why you should reject the theology of your current church. Please don't take this letter as an attack on your church but instead a letter in accordance with the Holy Scriptures which state:

 

“Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, and that there be no dissension among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment.”  (1 Cor 1:10)

 

It is God's intent that Christians be "united in one mind and judgment" on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  With that verse in mind I would like to speak with you about why you currently attend the church that you do.  Many people go to church, or "a church" for many difference reasons.

 

1. Many go because it is all about them. They go to be entertained or to get a spiritual warm fuzzy or to feel good about themselves.  And if the church does not entertain them or is "boring" they shop for a more entertaining one.

2.Some go for primarily social reasons.  A chance to talk to old friends and to meet new or just to be seen as a "Christian."

3. For others it is primarily to gain business contacts and network, or because their job is somehow associate with the church.

4. Still others because of the kids programs.  And if these programs disappeared, they would "church shop" to find a parish with comparable or better programs.

5. Many go primarily because the pastor is charismatic or a good speaker, and if the pastor left so would they, to church shop again.

6. And others still, because they are new Christians and have never been anywhere else and do not know the difference.

 

Are any of these reasons the "primary" reason you attend a specific church?

 Yet none of the above reasons for going to a specific church have anything to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are self-centered reasons not Christ-centered reasons.

7. And finally there are those who attend a church or The Church because in their heart of hearts, they are convinced it, and only it is teaching the One Faith, the One Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Apostles to Christ's infant Church.  And it is in this Church that they worship God as they are commanded to do. "There is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God." (Eph 4:4) They attend Church "primarily" to worship God, not to worship themselves or their kids. Again, the primary focus is on Christ, not on themselves.

 

The Old Testament Jews went to the Temple first and foremost to worship God, not primarily to feel good about themselves.  It was not about them, it was about worshipping Almighty God.  1st century Christians gathered also to worship and praise Christ.  It was not about being entertained, or about skits or kids programs or live bands with jumbo-tron screens, or even walking out with a warm fuzzy.  It was about worshiping Christ. For 1st century Christians, the Church was not a mere inspirational social club. It was Christ centered not self-centered.    

Modern Christain churches today have become mere inspirational social clubs with a watered down Christianity that does not accurately reflect the teachings of the Apostles to Christ's early Church.  And if you examine them closely, modern Christianity does not even reflect the teachings of their own first Protestants in the 16th century, the men who were supposed to reform the Church of God.  How could the Apostles have taught your church's distinctive teachings if the first Protestants didn't even teach them 400+ years ago?  Did Christ's Gospel change?  Did Christ change?  Doesn't Scripture tell us that: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings."Hebrews 13:8-9 How did Christ's Gospel change then for your church?  For it teaches a gospel not taught before the last few hundred years?  How do you rationalize this?  Have you tested this conundrum? “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 It is on this point that I would like to speak with you.  If you attend church for any of the above 6 reasons, this letter will most likely be meaningless for your motives for attending church in the first place are not primarily focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But if your motives are sincere and you do desire to embrace the One true Gospel of Jesus Christ, no matter where it leads you and no matter what it costs you, then perhaps the following will be of interest to you. "There is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God." (Eph 4:4)  

 

 

Below are 3 reasons to reject the distinctive theology of your modern Christian Pastor.

Please test his distinctive theology as the Holy Bible commands.  Test it for Apostolicity, see if it was taught by the Apostles and test it for Biblicism.  If the Apostles didn't teach it, nor any other Christian in the first millennium, how did it get into the NT Bible if it wasn't invented yet? “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

 

1. The first reason to reject the modern Christain theologies: The "distinctive" ideas and doctrines taught at your church are not what the Apostles taught Christ's infant Church. 
This is a bold claim but it is substantiated by the fact that these same ideas and doctrines were not even taught by Protestantism's first Protestants in the 16th century.  Therefore it is a leap of logic, in fact a logical fallacy to believe they were expressed by the Apostles 1500+ years earlier.  It's like the electric light bulb.  It was invented in the 19th century by Thomas Edison.  For your pastor to claim his theology was taught by the Apostles is akin to saying the Apostles taught scripture by electric lights, which is impossible for both are modern inventions not predating the last few hundred years.  Research this yourself.  Just because someone says something is "Biblical" does not mean the Apostles taught it.  Ask your pastor how his distinctive and modern theology could be what the Apostles taught when it was not even embraced by his own reformers in the 16th century.  Ask him.  He calls his ideas “Biblical,” yet he knows his distinctive ideas are modern inventions, not taught by the Apostles and not even embraced by his own reformers.  And now you know this as well.  How did his ideas become “Biblical” if the Apostles did not teach them, much less his own reformers??  What will you do with this knowledge?
Click here: Three Questions your pastor will not answer https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/formypastor.html

 

“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

 

If by chance you attend church for any of the above 6 reasons, please reflect on your motives and what Our Lord requires of us.  Our Lord not only demands our faith, but also our obedience in that faith:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (Matt 7:21) 
And we are accountable for that faith and the knowledge Christ gives us to live our faith.

“If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.” Hebrews  10: 26 

My friend, just because you have believed something for years on end, doesn't mean it is true, or even that the Apostles taught it.  It just means someone has told you this or that is "Biblical."  Yet anyone can say anything is "Biblical." The real litmus test is:  "Did the Apostles teach it."  And if Protestantism's own reformers didn't even teach the idea 400+ years ago,,, how on earth did Christ's Apostles teach it 2000 years ago??  My friend, please do not consider this an attack on your faith but only the wishes of unity as expressed by Our Lord Jesus Christ who commanded:  “I have given them [believers] the glory that you gave me, that they may be as one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22,23) 
If we call ourselves Christians, is it not incumbent upon us to believe what Christ actually taught? Or can we believe anything and everything we want, as long as our pastor calls theses ideas "Biblical?"
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (Matt 7:21)

 

I just want to believe as the Apostles taught Christ's infant Church, no matter where it leads me and no matter what it costs me.  Do you feel the same way? And if so, why then do you embrace a gospel the first Protestants didn't even teach and is impossible for the Apostles to have taught?

God Bless you and all you do,  Daniel
I answer questions about the Catholic faith. Questions, inquiries and objections.

INRI33AD@aol.com

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."  1 Peter 3:15

 

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14 SOBERING BIBLICAL QUESTIONS
FOR THE DEVOUT CHRISTIAN
The Catholic Faith comprises the verses not underlined in your personal Bible nor taught in
Modern Christian seminaries or churches.

Read the Bible verses not underlined in your Bible.

“Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

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Suggested reading:

Catholic Answers: "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" A compendium of basic Catholic beliefs and the Biblicism behind these beliefs. http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp

FAQ on the Catholic Faith from Columbia University: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/a/faq-cc.html

1. "Bible Only" Christian or "Bible Believing" Christian?
Click Here: 40+ Modern Christian Practices and Doctrines not found in the Holy Bible...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/unbiblical.html

2. Three Questions your pastor can't answer...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/formypastor.html

3. Seven Reasons Christians go to church. Which one is yours? ...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/forchurch7reasons.html

4. THE ORIGINS & AUTHORS OF THE PROTESTANT THEOLOGIES.
Do you know who authored Modern Christianity's distinctive beliefs and in what century? You might be surprised. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/dates.html

5. "The 7 Stages of Christian Spiritual Development."
What stage are you?...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/7stages.html

6. Faith Alone (Sola Fide): It is a Catholic position.
Has your pastor taught you that Catholics must "work their way to Heaven?" Another misunderstanding of Catholic theology. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/faithalone.html

7. "Who is the Bride of Christ?
What does the Holy Bible say? ...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bride.html

8. Non-Catholics often ask: "WHAT ELSE IS THERE?"
"What else has Christ's Infallible Authority besides the Holy Scriptures?"
Read the verses not underlined in your Bible nor taught in your seminaries or present church.
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/whatelse.html

9. Is Sola Scriptura or the "Bible Only theory" even Biblical?
Where does the Bible teach the "SOLA" in Sola Scriptura?
Click here to read what the Bible says about God's Word and how it is to be taught...
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/ss.html

10. Did the Bereans "Search the Scriptures" and thereby follow the "Bible Only" theory?
Many claim they did, but not if you read the whole chapter, i.e., the verses not taught in Modern Christian churches. Read the story again and then decide. https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bereans.html

11. The 3rd Unanswered Challenge for Non-Catholic Theologies: Is the Catholic Faith Apostolic?
Name just one Catholic doctrine that isn't. Name one doctrine the early Church believed,,,, that the Catholic Faith *no longer does*. Why can't the Modern Christian theologies make the same bold claim?
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/3challenge.html

12. Biblically, did the "official teachings or doctrines" of the Catholic Church become corrupt or apostate? Are there verses in the Holy Scriptures that forbid this? What does the Holy Bible really say about: "The Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15? https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/gatesofhell.html

13. Is Praying to Saints Biblical? Is the "Hail Mary" prayer Biblical? (Read the Verses not underlined in your pastor's Bible.) https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/saints.html

14. HOW NON-CATHOLICS ARE COMPELLED TO USE AND EMBRACE AN UNBIBLICAL AND ANTI-BIBLCIAL DEFINATION AND CONCEPT OF CHRIST'S CHURCH
https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/onchurch.html

Return to Homepage "A Biblical Case for the Catholic Faith" at: https://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges"

Email: : INRI33AD@aol.com