100% Pleasant

3 Comments / July 9, 2024

The other week I wrote about the sparrow that was building a nest in one of my ferns. As I’ve grown older I’ve come to appreciate birds in a whole new way. They are such lively little creatures, bringing both music and color to our world.

I really enjoyed watching that mother bringing her babies food and doing her best to protect them. One morning I came out to find my porch full of…dirt. Yep, the baby birdies were growing and they were doing what all birds do.

That is the one thing I will say about birds. If you have them, then you will have the dirt that goes with them. At least if your porches and outdoor furniture and anything else sit near trees and other places birds like to land.

As I scrubbed off that porch I had to think about how life is like that. You can’t have the good without the bad. If you have birds around, then you also have that inevitable disadvantage. If you have kids, the joy comes with both work and frustration. If you have a spouse, you get their good side and their bad side. It’s an imperfect world and this principle is woven throughout our lives, isn’t it?

It’s true for any relationship and for any job. It’s true for our hobbies and for our past times. Life just doesn’t come as 100% pleasant.

It does seem as if we, in our culture, are searching for 100% pleasant, however.

And so we do all we can to make this happen. Can you think of things you do that make your life more pleasant or comfortable in the moment? Oftentimes these things bring unpleasantness in the future.

For example, it is unpleasant to discipline children in the moment. But to not to discipline them will most likely yield mountains of heartbreak and unpleasantness later on. It is also unpleasant to have the hard conversations with our spouse. But to let the bitterness and frustration grow will only grow the unpleasantness, until many times that marriage is destroyed. It is unpleasant to say no to unhealthy food or to get up off the couch to exercise, but that, too, yields its inevitable results.

Sometimes we just have to do the hard thing. We have to do the unpleasant thing. The unpleasant often brings the pleasant. We can’t have one without the other. It’s just how it is in this world.

It’s hard to imagine living in the Garden of Eden where this was just not the case. The utopia we long for was experienced by Adam and Eve for just a little while.

The awesome thing to remember is that we, if we are God’s own redeemed child, have that to look forward to.

I love this passage from the book of Revelation—

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1-5)

And this one—

And He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And He said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done. (Revelation 22:1-6)

What a reminder that one day we will only experience the good and the perfect! This world is not our home and it is just temporary. Satan and sin will not reign forever. God’s words are faithful and true.

“100% Pleasant” will be our portion one day. God says in the Psalms that at His right hand are “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Just think about that. We get a little taste of that here on earth when we are saved by faith in Christ and go on to live for Him. But how magnificent to think that our future in glory will be filled with pleasure, with both sin and sorrow gone forever!

In the meantime, let’s press on and work through the unpleasant and the hard. Let’s recognize that in order to fulfill our calling—whether it be parent, spouse, employee, adult child, church member, or whatever God has called us to do—will require diligence and patience and, yes, sometimes sorrow. But along with all of these usually comes a large portion of joy. And, for that, may we be grateful.

Reel Theology

1 Comment / July 3, 2024

Yesterday, a friend was disturbed by the content of a reel and asked me to watch it. So I did. After watching it, the word “disturbed” is probably too mild.

It began with a woman confidently telling me that what I always thought the Bible meant regarding the verse “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) was actually ALL wrong and that all Christians were, well, wrong in their understanding about this verse for the last two thousand years. Yes, the Church had gotten it all wrong all these years.

However, SHE knew and was going to tell me what it actually meant and went on to give some definition that included the word “oppression”. *eye roll*

This is not an isolated incident. Do you realize how many people are getting their theology from social media? Perhaps not you. But so many. Particularly the younger generation. And particularly women.

Someone once suggested to me that perhaps this is what Paul meant in 2 Timothy 3 when he says this—

For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (v. 7-8)

False teachers coming into our homes and teaching us but never leading us to the truth. Twisting, turning, botching Bible verses with confidence and charisma.

Are there a few people who are trying to use social media to speak the truths of God’s Word? Yes, there sure are. I hope I am one of them. But we aren’t popular. Because the way is narrow and the masses will not be drawn to the whole truth of God’s Word.

Let’s take a step back and really consider what is going on, shall we? Why is there this free-for-all theological atmosphere? Why are there never any cries of “heresy” or “false doctrine” anymore? What happened?

It didn’t happen instantly. And it didn’t happen without intention.

Long ago, God moved holy men to write down His words (2 Peter 1:21). In His Book, the Bible, we read of what the last days are going to look like. In fact, the verses from 2 Timothy, chapter 3 above are part of a longer description of these last days. We also read in Revelation of what is coming in earth’s final days, which includes a one world religion.

So just how do you go about getting “Christians”—by Christians I am not meaning genuine believers in Jesus Christ who truly love Him and live for Him but, rather, those who profess to love Him but live wholly for self—how do you go about getting these fake Christians to join a one world religion?

It must start by taking their eyes off the Word of God. It’s too exclusive. Its definitions too narrow. Its meaning too clear. If you can deceive the people into thinking it can be interpreted however they want and that it can mean many different things…or that the meaning they always thought was true isn’t “actually the real meaning” or that it holds no authority in their lives…well, then this changes everything, doesn’t it?

Do we even realize how different this is when compared to Christianity of yesteryear? It’s a totally different religion. I read this yesterday regarding this—

A common theme runs through much of the so-called Christian literature published over the past thirty years or so. Readers are generally addressed on the assumption that they want (a) personal, supernatural experiences, (b) evidence or demonstrations of divine power, and (c) the opportunity to fix the world in God’s name. This is the great screen onto which the various doctrines and teachings of contemporary ‘Christian’ literature are being projected.

Yet, if we went back a hundred years or so we would find that the vast majority of Christians did not think like this. They were content to live by faith, without experiences, and without supernatural proof. And their common goal was, not to fix the world, but to preach the gospel. They were not seeking to wield and demonstrate spiritual power, but to ensure that as many souls as possible heard the good news of salvation and received a solid grounding in Christian doctrine. ~Jeremy James

He’s right. If we went back a hundred years ago, we’d find that mysticism and the thirst for supernatural experiences would have been viewed as heretical; the goal to fix the world would have been viewed as unbiblical and quite liberal.

Amazing what Satan can accomplish in just a hundred years, isn’t it? But it has been way more than a hundred years. He’s been working towards the final years defined in Revelation and preparing for the antichrist for much longer than that. If we take the time to study history, we can see that he’s been feverishly working toward this final day for many millennia. And it would appear that the world is almost ready.

We must remember that the Tribulation will not happen in a vacuum. The world and the mainstream church (again, I am not talking about the genuine remnant) will have to be readied for what is going to take place.

Reel theology is helping this to happen. As are social justice causes and pastors and authors who twist scripture to appeal to our flesh. Divine encounters, “conversations” with God, trips to heaven and hell, dreams of “Isa”. All of these serve to move the eyes of the professing church from the Bible to their experiences, which is mysticism. This is not an accident.

The hearts and minds of the people must be moved from the Bible to their own vain imaginations.

It’s also important to note here that Satan is so happy to provide supernatural experiences and voices and dreams to help his cause along. Just because something is supernatural does not mean it came from God. Oh, how important to remember this in this age of rampant deception! The Bible tells us that Satan comes as an “angel of light” 2 Cor 11:14. I am quite sure he is even willing to lose a few to God in order to accomplish his greater purpose. People can be saved by false teachers and their encounters with “Jesus”. But that doesn’t mean these things are of God.

And so we must be so careful. And we must caution our children and our grandchildren to be so careful.

I feel like a broken record but, again, I just have to say: Our only protection is knowing the Bible. It is—and has been— the inerrant, inspired, and ONLY basis of the true Christian faith since its existence.

Godly men and women who have gone on before us have stayed faithful to the Word of God through many a challenge and trial and trouble. Many were persecuted and even martyred. May we follow on their footsteps in this all-out war against God’s Word.

The Sparrow, the Christian, and the Election

June 28, 2024

As I sit here on my porch a little sparrow scolds me (see photo above.) She decided to build a nest in one of my hanging ferns and it frustrates her greatly each morning as I make my way outside with a cup of coffee in my hand and two dogs as my companions.

She titters and she flies around near me, often landing quite close by. Occasionally, she will fly into her nest for a brief second before her fear overtakes her and she leaves again.

The only thing this tiny bird can do is titter and scold. The dogs and I are so much bigger and stronger than her. She is limited and she is powerless.

And so she does the only thing she can: She makes a loud fuss. She feels like her home and her babies are in danger and she does the only thing that she can do.

I think it is fair to say that most of us Americans (and many of you abroad, as well, as you are facing your own country’s political upheavals; they are certainly not limited to America) are feeling like our home is being threatened.

There was a debate last night that was surreal, quite honestly. Can it possibly be that these men are the only two options to lead this great country?!?

Something just doesn’t seem right, does it? Something seems…intentionally planned… But that’s a subject for another day.

But many are upset and are desperately trying to save our country. We fuss and we fret as we see the unwelcome changes to our “home” taking place, finding ourselves powerless to do a thing to fix it. (I am not saying you shouldn’t do what you can, but, at the end of the day, without God’s intervention, we are powerless to change the direction of where this country is headed. And should we expect God to intervene when He has laid out a very specific plan for the last days and it cannot include an strong, independent country such as America was? We have to yield our will and desires to His.)

The sparrow did not pick a wise place to build her home. If she wanted peace and a carefree time of raising her babies, she should have built it in a tree somewhere. But, instead, she built her home in a fern on my porch.

What is going on here and in so many other countries, as well, is a reminder of how many of us have done the same thing. We have “built our nest” in the wrong place. We have set our affections on our earthly, temporal homes rather than on our future, heavenly home.

The Bible says we are but pilgrims and sojourners passing through this world (I Peter 2:11). Our minds are to be set on things above, not on the things of this world (Colossians 3:2).

I know that is so much easier said than done in the midst of all this political chaos and confusion, but, as believers in God and His Word, we know that what looks like chaos is just part of God’s plan coming to fruition. What looks like confusion is not confusing to God.

We don’t have to get worked up as believers as we see the world’s system falling and failing across the world. This had to happen for the end to come as God has revealed it to us in His Word. And it’s not a bad thing. It just means we are getting closer and closer to the rapture and to our final, glorious home!

What I am not implying here is that you shouldn’t vote or hold office or try to make changes to policy or to the culture. If you believe God has called you to do these things, then, by all means, do them.

What I am saying is that these things should never overtake our first calling as believers, which is to share the Gospel and to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

What I am also saying is that we must, of all people, not titter and fret and scold as we wait to see what happens. God’s got this. He has a plan. It might not be our plan and, in fact, it probably isn’t. But He knows what He is doing and we can rest in Him.

As for God, His way is perfect:
the word of the LORD is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
(Psalms 18:30)

As I sit here listening to this sparrow (yes, she is still scolding me), I am reminded of that precious passage in Matthew 6—

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
(Matthew 6:26-27)

Not only does God have complete control of Kings and Kingdoms, Presidents, and Prime Ministers (Proverbs 21:1) but He also sees and cares for the small sparrow. How much more does He care for His own dear child? If we are His, we can rest in His abundant promises for this present time and for our future.

In the midst of whatever lies ahead, we have God’s promise that He will walk us through. We do not have the promise that it will be easy or fun. We do not have the promise that we will continue in the lifestyle we have become accustomed to. We do not have the promise that we won’t experience disease or death. But we do have the promise that God will walk us through whatever lies ahead. And we have His promise for a glorious future for all eternity.

So let’s not despair. We serve the mighty King who reigns over all. The King of Kings who never makes even one mistake. We will be just fine, no matter what happens in this crazy world of ours, because we are His.

A Steady Trickle of Poison

June 25, 2024

I was reading a book recently that told the true story of a woman named Lara. Born in Kazakhstan in the middle of last century and living most of her life in Ukraine, her life was filled with things we can’t even imagine. Lack of food, lack of clothing, lack of shelter, and, perhaps most importantly, lack of love. And, yet, in her heart, she always knew there was a God and He so lovingly led her to Himself.

Today I’d like to write about something specific that happened to her and delve a bit into the spiritual lesson that can be learned from it.

A few years after she got married, she and her husband found a small, dirty house that was said to be haunted. This made it cheap enough for them to afford and they bravely moved forward. They lived in that house for a long, long time, through the births of many children and then through the untimely death of her husband. Through all this time, Lara just didn’t feel well. She spent weeks in the hospital, trying to recuperate, only to come back home and eventually end up back in the hospital to recuperate again. It was a mysterious illness with seemingly no cause.

Until one day…

She and her son-in-law were in the attic working on something that needed fixing when they came across something they had never realized: There was mercury stored in the attic.

They started putting the pieces together and realized that she was suffering from severe mercury poisoning and that her husband’s death may have also been from that.

The house was condemned (and no home insurance!) and the whole family was taken immediately to the hospital. (If you want to read the rest of this story, I’ll put the link for the book at the bottom of this post. Definitely worth reading!)

But I want to reflect a bit on that mercury poisoning. The family was being slowly poisoned and did not even know it. It was affecting their health and yet they were in complete ignorance as to why they weren’t feeling well.

In light of this, my mind was led to the subject of entertainment. I have been thinking a great deal about its role in the lives of Christians. Time after time, I am flummoxed at the choices of those who say they love Christ. Time after time, I find myself puzzled at my own choices, specifically back in the day, as someone who claimed to love Christ.

Meanwhile, my appetite for the Word was not great. And my attitude towards prayer was apathetic. My passion for worldly movies and ungodly music and spiritually unhealthy fiction far outweighed my desire for scripture or anything holy.

I am so grateful to God for His continual conviction to my heart in this area, as one by one, He began to show me the poison I had been filling my heart with. It was a slow and arduous process and it continues to this day. But, oh so slowly, I’ve been ridding my life of the mercury that poisons my soul and so greatly affects my spiritual health.

But none of it could have begun without one specific choice: I chose to surrender my entertainment to my Lord.

Oh, that was so very hard. And I had to do it over and over again. And, in fact, I continue to do it to this day. Only recently, I was watching a series someone recommended to me. I was enjoying it and yet there was this niggling that wouldn’t go away. The series was filled with lies about God. Lies that specifically went against scripture. The Holy Spirit just kept working on my heart until I finally surrendered. It saddens me that it took me too long to get to the place of surrender.

I am not sure we can even get to a place of conviction until we take the first step and say, “Lord, I surrender my entertainment to you. I ask you to show me the truth about what I am watching, what I am listening to, and what I am reading. I ask you to take away my taste for anything that is displeasing to you.”

It isn’t instant, but I promise you that as you start removing the mercury from your spiritual life, you will be surprised at how much more spiritually healthy you feel. It’s quite amazing, really.

I think many of us are spiritually poisoned and we don’t even realize it. We grow lazy and watch movies and shows that are filled with the things God hates. Or we get caught up in a book series filled with sorcery and magic. Or we just turn on the radio to any old channel. We dismiss the idea that these things affect us in any way.

Satan knows this. He knows that Christians think entertainment is simply just that: entertainment. What he also knows is that most entertainment has some level of mercury hidden within that is specifically designed to deaden our consciences and to make us apathetic towards the things of God.

Oh, how important that we consider the consequences of our entertainment choices. I am a living, breathing example of what happens when you surrender this to the Lord.

I still find myself utterly amazed at how the Lord took away my desire for ungodly music. It’s like my own personal little miracle. I know I have mentioned this before but I am going to do so again for any new readers.

I LOVED—and by that I basically mean “was addicted to”—rock music. Of both the secular and Christian varieties. The harder the better. Eventually I became convicted that secular was definitely displeasing to the Lord. That wasn’t too painful. But, oh, the Christian music that was patterned after the world was a tough one.

Finally, I threw my hands in the air and said, “Lord, I can’t do this. I need your help. If you want me to stop listening to this, can you take away my taste for it?”

And HE DID!

It wasn’t instant and it wasn’t easy but HE DID. Today, I just don’t even desire the ungodly music I had been so addicted to for so many years.

And as I have, very intentionally, begun removing the mercurial entertainment from my life I have found that, little by little, God has reawakened my hardened conscience and given me a hunger for the Word that I never had before.

And so I heartily encourage you to also turn your entertainment over to the Lord. Trust me, I know it’s hard. And I know it’s unpleasant to even consider. But I also know how incredibly rewarding it is. And I definitely know you won’t regret it!

*Lara’s Hunger, written by Harold Troyer. You can find it here.

Who is Jesus, According to the Orthodox Church?

6 Comments / June 19, 2024

Today I had planned to take a look at the Orthodox and Anglican Churches, which I call the “cousins” of Catholicism. I say this because they have some key similarities. Both have Catholic roots that run quite deep. The Orthodox church was born from the “Great Schism” in 1054 and the Anglican church was basically the Catholic church in England, re-named due to a frustrated King who wasn’t getting his way (more about that next time).

While the Orthodox and Anglican Churches have a few similarities, they also have some really big differences. I was planning to include both on this post but it was going to get way too long. So today, we will take a look at the Orthodox Church and the next time we will turn our focus to the Anglican Church.

So let’s find out what the Orthodox Church believes about Jesus.

Before I began this study, I had no idea that there were so many different Orthodox churches These churches are broken into two specific branches– the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox, (which is also known as the Coptic Church). As most of us are more familiar with Eastern Orthodox (which includes Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox, among many others), and as the two branches of Orthodoxy believe very similar things, my focus for this particular study will be the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The first thing we find as troublesome in the Orthodox Church is their belief in continuing divine inspiration. It is worded like this on the Greek Orthodox Diocese of America’s website—

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, along with Sacred Apostolic Tradition are the divine Sources in which Almighty God revealed His Will and which the Church accepted as being the only depository for these truths.

So we can see from this that they believe that God has revealed divine truth not only through the scriptures but continues to reveal divine truth through their Church Fathers. They say that both the Bible and the words of church leaders through the years are equal, believing both to be divinely sourced.

This is foundational to the rest of the errors we will find in this church. As soon as we include (and rely on) any human’s words for divine truth, we are going to end up in a very confused and erroneous state.

I just have to add something here that is relevant for us all at some level. While this belief is quite troublesome, since we know that the Canon is closed and God says we shall not add or subtract anything from the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19), we need to ask ourselves if we actually and personally believe this to be true? I ask this because so many now believe in revelation from God outside of His Holy Word. Whereas this used to be considered the highest of heresies, now it is a commonplace belief that God is still speaking personally to people. I do not believe scripture confirms this belief and that this belief is, in fact, a product of our culture that is steeped and overflowing in mysticism. While I won’t go into this here, you can read more about what the Bible has to say about special revelation in this current age here at this post.

A second concern regarding this church is their dependence upon the sacraments for salvation–

The sacred ceremony of Baptism with that of Chrismation and the ceremony of the Holy Eucharist with that of Confession are the sacred Mysteria (sacraments) which every Christian should receive as an active communicant of divine Grace. There are three other sacraments: ordination, marriage, and unction. They are granted to man, but are not obligatory, if not so desired.

Just a note: Chrismation is the Orthodox term for what the Catholic Church would call “Confirmation”. However there are some differences. While the Catholic Church’s confirmation is based on the age of the participant (“the age of reason”), the Orthodox Chrismation is dependent upon events rather than age and generally happens after Baptism and before their first Holy Communion.

So what does the Orthodox Church think of Jesus? We can see that, just like in Catholicism, Jesus is not enough. What He did on the cross is unable to save us for all eternity. Something is needed from us. So here again, we see a religion of works. Man must DO something in order to be saved.

We know from scripture that this just isn’t true–

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Third, and also from the same website listed above, we see their belief that the communion bread and cup is turned into the very body and blood of Christ–

The most awesome ceremony in the Orthodox Church is the Mysterion (sacrament) of the Holy Eucharist. This ceremony was instituted by Jesus Christ the day before His Crucifixion, as He enriched His Church forever with the Divine Gifts, His own Body and Blood. This ceremony of the Holy Eucharist is both His sacrifice for the salvation of man and a sacred mysterion. The Holy Eucharist is the seal of the proclamation of the communion with God. It is the only Sacrament offered by the Church in which the elements of bread and wine not only carry the Grace of God, as a mysterion, but are “changed” into and “are” the very Body and the very Blood of Christ, being a propitiatory sacrifice.

So again we see that Christ is, in essence, being continually crucified. Why the continual crucifying of Jesus Christ, when He has risen victorious over death? Not to mention how disturbing this belief is when you really take a moment to reflect on it. There is no way it is from God and it’s certainly not found in the Bible anywhere. We are to hold communion in remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice (Luke 22:19; I Corinthians 11:24-25). Communion helps us to remember Christ’s sacrifice–not to relive it (or for Him to relive it) over and over again. Jesus is not on the Cross! He has risen victoriously over sin and death and reigns on high, where He sits at the right hand of God! (Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:2)

Fourth–and this is seriously heretical–the Orthodox Church does not believe in the substitutionary death of Christ. They emphasize the medicinal value of the cross (to help man rather than to appease God’s wrath). I first became familiar with this idea through an interview I watched with an Orthodox Priest. But I found this confirmation on the Orthodox Church in America website—

[Jesus] “paid the price,” not in some legalistic or juridical or economic meaning. He “paid the price” not to the devil whose rights over man were won by deceit and tyranny. He “paid the price” not to God the Father in the sense that God delights in His sufferings and received “satisfaction” from His creatures in Him. He “paid the price” rather, we might say, to Reality Itself. He “paid the price” to create the conditions in and through which man might receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life by dying and rising again in Him to newness of life (see Rom 5–8; Gal 2–4).

So they completely remove the concept that Jesus died to appease God’s wrath. He, rather, died to “pay the price to Reality”…whatever that means. Do you see the danger in this? They don’t like how God is portrayed in scripture, and so they change it. (I just have to add that much of what was written in this particular article sounded very biblical. It took me a bit of scrolling to get to this heretical understanding.)

But the Bible makes it clear that Jesus saved us from God’s wrath–

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (I Thessalonians 1:10)

Other verses regarding this concept of God’s wrath and Jesus satisfying it can be found in Romans 1:18; Romans 2:5; Romans 5:9; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; I Thess. 5:9; and Rev. 6:17, 11:18, 15:7. I am sure this could be a study all on its own. But when all taken together, we know from scripture that Jesus most certainly was sacrificed to appease God’s wrath.

And fifth, and finally, one of the biggest concerns I found regarding the Orthodox Church is a doctrine they call Theosis. I had never even heard this word before researching Orthodoxy. Here is how OrthodoxChristianity101 defines it–

Theosis, a foundational concept in Orthodox Christian theology, encapsulates the profound journey of transformation and communion with God. Rooted in the belief that humanity is called to share in the divine nature, theosis emphasizes the process by which individuals are gradually divinized or deified through their union with God. This transformative journey unfolds through a life of prayer, asceticism, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

So we can see that they believe that the end goal for man is deification–that he/she will become a god. According to a video I watched, this process is likened to a ladder where the person is continually climbing and will not reach perfection until they go to heaven. (Although, they never really are quite sure if they are worthy of heaven. And so there’s really no guarantee they are even on the ladder. There is no assurance of salvation in a works-based religion).

How did the Orthodox church end up with this doctrine? It happens by taking a verse or two out of context and, instead of comparing scripture to scripture, something “new” is taught that is inconsistent with the whole of scripture. Interestingly enough, the Mormon religion uses the same verses to promote their belief that men will become gods, so perhaps we will take a closer look at these verses when we get to Mormonism.

And so we can see that there are several errors in the Orthodox Church which would render it a false religion. Could someone be saved and still attend an Orthodox Church? Perhaps. But they could never stay there as they read and study their Bible and compare what it says to what they are learning in their church.

I never fail to be amazed at how subtle and deceptive Satan is as he presents these “almost Christian” religions to the masses. Almost but not quite. As soon as a religion requires works it becomes a false religion. We know this clearly from scripture.

Now, let me add this: Just as in biblical Christian circles, there is a wide swath of beliefs and “flavors” of any specific religion. What I wrote here may not be what every priest believes. I tried to do my research carefully, using several different sources. But what I wrote here may not represent every Orthodox Church or every priest. I do believe it represents most of them.

I hope this will help you as you seek to witness to and converse with members of the Orthodox Church.

Next time, we will take a look at what the Anglican Church believes about Jesus….

What does the Bible actually teach about Jesus? Find out at this link. You can find the rest of this series at this link.

PLEASE NOTE: Find a printable pdf of this post in its entirety HERE. You will find a bibliography and list of resources used on the last page of the pdf.

Finding Perspective

4 Comments / June 11, 2024

We were at the Outer Banks for a little anniversary getaway last week. Just my husband and me. We had planned to go away last year for our 35th wedding anniversary but life got in the way. As it often does. (Our anniversary is not until August. Last week was just when we could make the time to get away for a few days.)

While we were vacationing last week, we ran into people from all over the United States and from the rest of the world, who come there to work for the summer, some who end up staying there to live.

I will often start a conversation with waiters and store clerks just to be friendly. And so I will ask just basic questions…questions like “how do you enjoy the weather here at the Outer Banks?” I found this particular question to be quite dependent upon where the person had come from. For example, one young lady from Ohio thought it was so warm there as compared to her native state. But the young woman from Jamaica thought it was so cold! Depending upon where they were coming from was what determined their answer to this particular question.

How true is this for each of us? What looks hard or difficult to some, looks like a “cakewalk” to others. For example, a few weeks ago when I flew to Texas by myself to visit my daughter and her family I had all sorts of troubles and trials in getting there and in coming back. To someone who flies regularly, I am sure they would just consider this par for the course. But to myself, unfamiliar with airports and already a bit on edge when I fly, it was quite difficult and I found myself almost in tears a time or two (I will add that I now know that I can fly by myself even if things don’t go as planned, knowing that God will shed His mercy on me even if my plans go all to shreds. As He showed me in amazing ways even on that journey. Such small things…and yet so big…!)

A few weeks ago, we found out that one of our closest friends has stage four cancer. The wife of the couple has been one of my best friends since we were in 5th grade. We are devastated for them and for ourselves. They know the Lord and He is sustaining them, but as many of you already know…the journey they are on is not an easy one. We love them both so much and we are still reeling from shock. But we recognize that we are hurting for our friends. My friend is hurting for her husband. Her husband is hurting for his beloved family. (Please do pray for them. I won’t share their names for privacy’s sake but God knows who they are…)

It has been challenging to process any of our own trials these past few weeks as we recognize the depth of theirs. And we’ve had quite a few. Some minor, others not as minor. But still not-so-big comparatively. What had looked big doesn’t look as big anymore. And, yet, they still need to be gone through. The illnesses, the infections, the aches and pains, the surgeries and the recoveries, the ridicule and antagonism that comes when we wholeheartedly follow the Lord, the loss of those we love, the very real grief that comes with life changes, the challenges that naturally come with marriage, having kids, and growing older.

I’d like to add here that I’ve been so grateful for our friends’ trust in God during their journey. Her kindness in praying for me with some of my own little trials amidst her great one has been a source of great encouragement to me. I know God is sustaining them as they travel this road through the many prayers that are being lifted for them. They are reminding both my husband and me that God’s promises are very real.

But back to the subject at hand…how we face trials can be so much about our perspective. What may look huge to us can morph into not-so-huge, depending on what else is going on in our lives. But, no matter what trials and troubles we are facing, whether big or small, they tell us so much about ourselves, don’t they?

If you subscribe to the blog and read the personal letter I sent out a few weeks ago (not posted publicly), then you will know that I intentionally took a break from writing these past few weeks. I have been so emotionally drained. I didn’t even feel like writing. Plus I didn’t really have time to write, either. Lots has been going on and it was best to just step back for a bit.

I shared on the Growing4Life Facebook page a week or so ago that my brother mentioned in a sermon how a lake can be clear blue on a still sunny day. But when the storm comes, the mud from the bottom comes swirling up and the water becomes a muddy mess. He compared this to what happens to us in trials. We can look like “pretty good” Christians but then the trials come and sins we thought we had victory over come roaring back or perhaps new sins beckon to us.

This is one of the things that has been so difficult for me specifically this past month or two (and maybe the past year) was recognizing how much sin is still in my heart as I have faced certain trials. Particularly the sins of worry and anxiety. Do I trust God or don’t I? Surely, I’ve come further than this? But no, no, I had to face the reality that I haven’t. It has been both discouraging and disappointing.

As I have struggled through this, I found myself feeling utterly unqualified to continue writing here or anywhere. My goodness, if I still struggle so, surely I have no business writing about God and His Word.

But one of the things God has been reminding me of during this time is that it’s not about me. If it was, I would have had to quit writing years ago. Or probably never even started. For I am an undeserving sinner who has been saved by God’s grace alone through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. I will never merit God’s favor. I have nothing good to offer. Jesus Christ is my only righteousness.

And so I don’t write because I’ve reached any kind of perfection or some spiritual “level”. For I am utterly hopeless this side of glory. I write because I want to point you (and myself) to God and to His Word, where we find not only His commands but also His abundant promises, given to those that love Him and want to please Him. I will keep singing my God’s praises and declaring the truth of His Word because I believe with my whole heart that it is our perfect and only anchor for the Christian life.

And so, though life hasn’t been as carefree as usual (and could continue in this way), I do find myself grateful that God has reminded me how much I need Him over these past few weeks. I am so thankful for the many mercies He has poured upon my life, the examples of strong Christian faith that He has given to me in believers around me, and the many encouraging words and prayers on my behalf (which include many from you, my readers. Your kind emails in response to my personal letter meant more to me than you can imagine).

As we all continue on as pilgrims traveling in a foreign land–some facing tremendous trials right now and others small ones (but perhaps numerous)– may we trust the Lord who loves us and cares for us, may we live for His glory, and may we take just one hour at a time, knowing that God’s great grace and mercy will lead us all the way.

Please Note: What I have shared here today is very personal. Perhaps too personal. It makes me feel very vulnerable. If this has encouraged you, I hope you will let me know because it is extremely disconcerting when I put myself “out on a limb” (so to speak) and there is little response.

I also want to be clear that I am not complaining about this season of life. We all walk through different seasons. And I have talked to so many that are going through similar seasons. Or much worse. This is not about me nor is it to draw attention to myself. As always, I just like to share what God is teaching me in different seasons of my life. And to remind us all that God is faithful in all our seasons.

A Sad Tale Indeed

1 Comment / May 14, 2024

The other week my husband and I were on the way home when suddenly he pointed to a group of dead trees. “All ash,” he said. What a sad sight. He then went on to point to other dead trees and mentioned that almost all the ash trees in our area were gone now. There was hardly one healthy ash tree left standing in our area.

In 2002 a small beetle called the “emerald ash borer” was spotted for the first time in America. It had hitched a ride from somewhere in Asia and thus began its invasion. Within 20 years it was in 35 states and it was killing off what would become tens of millions of ash trees (according to the USDA website). Whole forests of Ash Trees would disappear.

How was this accomplished exactly?

Here’s how this USDA website explains it–

According to scientists, the adult beetle causes little damage aside from minor leaf feeding from late May through September. It is the larva that does the real damage by feeding on the inner bark of the ash trees disrupting water and nutrients from moving through the tree resulting in its death. Typically, trees die within three to five years of infestation and trees may be infested for a couple years before exhibiting any signs or symptoms.

So the tree actually looks fairly healthy for a few years even though, inside, it is dying. But, eventually, it perishes–all due to what looks like a small, harmless beetle.

This is a striking picture of what used to be biblical churches across America. Strong and solid, they stood tall among the many churches no longer preaching the Gospel. Churches that had fallen much earlier to liberal theology or bad doctrine.

But a tiny seed of false teaching started to make its way through the churches almost unnoticed. I believe it was the seed of worldliness. It came in all shapes and sizes and attractive packages. Here are just a few ways it entered the church–

Witnessing— how will anyone listen to you if you look and act so different from the world? And so we rationalized and reasoned and came up with the man-created idea that we must be “like the world to win the world”. We lost sight of who God is and of His power and began to believe that people coming to Christ was reliant upon us and our methods. Nothing could be further from the truth, as scripture says it is God who draws us to Himself (John 6:44; Ephesians 1:17-18). But this man-made philosophy convinced us that we could have Jesus and the world, too. And, in fact, that we were doing valuable work for God’s Kingdom by embracing the world. Despite scripture’s clear teaching to the contrary (James 4:4; I John 2:15).

Running a Church— Bringing in the business model to the church, it began to be run by pragmatism, which is the practice of basing what we do on “what works”. If the church wasn’t growing, then we were told that we had to make certain sacrifices to make sure it was growing. We are talking about numbers here. No one seemed to care even one bit about growing the believers in holiness or spiritual depth. This brought in a revolution of changes in music, changes in sermon style and length, changes in clothing, and a variety of other ways. But, again, we forgot that a church is not a business. It is God’s house. It is the bride of Christ. It’s not a corporation that can be manipulated to get the results that someone out there tells us we must have in order to be viewed as “successful”. The biblical purpose of the Church all but disappeared in this influx of business idealogy.

Church Focus— As our view became horizontal, rather than vertical, our focus turned from worshiping God and growing more like Christ together as a church body to meeting the needs of the world and fixing societal problems. And, while, of course, helping the poor or standing against abortion (as examples) aren’t wrong in and of themselves, they should never be the core focus of any church–or any Christian, for that matter.

Legitimizing (and Even Promoting) Worldly Entertainment–As a whole generation became obsessed with entertainment and much less enamored with the Word of God, this became a powerful way that Satan bore into the hearts of church-goers and put their eyes on the world. Much of this was done through the avenue of the church, where pastors were told that they would get more attenders if they’d think outside the box a bit.

I remember as a teen having a youth pastor that began to use Hollywood movies to entertain us. Movies I’d never watch as a more mature believer at this point in my life. Why weren’t the more mature believers protecting their teens? It’s a question I’ve always wondered. Now I can see that for what it was but back then it seemed fun and oh, so cool. And, while I doubt every youth pastor knows what he is doing when he points teens to entertainment rather than teaching them the Bible, the damage is substantial. These future church members leave youth group with little knowledge of scripture and an increased appetite for the world. Of course, some churches do try to do both. But that’s a bit like trying to put out a fire while feeding it. Again, scripture makes it clear you just can’t have both (James 4:4).

These changes within the conservative churches began decades ago. It took much longer than the two years it takes the ash borer to kill an ash tree. But the result is the same. Churches that look the same on the outside are spiritually fruitless on the inside. The worldliness has done it’s damage and, for those of us who desire a biblically sound church, the dearth of them is simply astounding.

And it just keeps growing worse and worse. A few weeks ago, I was absolutely shocked to see someone viewed as a “biblical pastor” post something that would encourage people that listening to Taylor Swift falls under that catch-all banner of Christian liberty. One has to wonder if this pastor had taken any time to read the lyrics of any of her songs or to watch any clips of her concerts? For no biblical pastor would ever point his people in her direction. Unless he’s been bitten by the “ash borer” of worldliness.

I find it quite interesting that to even talk about worldliness as a problem in the church is to submit yourself to severe censure, even among what I would consider sincere believers. Years ago, a few raised alarms about the “ash borer” that looked so small. They warned of its deadliness. But their alarms were met with scorn and ridicule. As the damage became more and more evident, those sounding the alarm grew more and more censured, until most just shut up. If they didn’t, they would be ridiculed, labeled, and often times asked to leave their churches. So most just grew silent. And, like the frog in the pot, the church at large became immersed in worldliness.

It’s hard to imagine what a biblical pastor coming from the 1800s or even the mid-1900s would say about their visit to a “biblical church” today. I even wonder what my grandfather, a pastor in the 70s and 80s, would have to say. For it’s hardly recognizable when compared to what church used to be.

What we are seeing is not unexpected if we understand the future of the world, according to the Word of God. The killing of biblical churches is no accident but, rather, a vital part of Satan’s scheme. There has to be few (maybe none?) left in order to make his final plan successful.

SO what to do? Jude, a book that talks about the church of the last days, gives us some guidance. We are to build ourselves up in the faith. We are to pray in the Spirit and keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord (for He will continue to shed His mercy on His own in the midst of all the turmoil and wickedness); And as we do these things we are to have compassion and seek to make a difference– saving some from the fires of false doctrine and worldliness, as God gives opportunity.

And then we have the blessed reminder that God is able to keep us from falling. He is able to present us faultless before His presence with exceeding joy! We are His and greater is He that is in us that He that is in the world! (I John 4:4)

So may we keep on keeping on, faithfully serving the Lord in the midst of it all. Running with endurance the race that is set before us (not quite the race we expected, is it?) and looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference:And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
(Jude 21-25)

Who Is Jesus According to Catholicism?

5 Comments / May 8, 2024

In this current age we are living, Catholicism is presented, almost without debate, as a Christian religion. But is it really what it claims to be or is it a counterfeit? It is important that we know the answer to this question, as the calls to imitate and unify with this religion are many and come from all arenas of Christian culture.

We see this unity happening in the music industry where artists are teaming up for concerts; we see it among evangelical pastors, who give credence to and partner with Catholic speakers and authors; we see it among the Christian population, who have adopted many of the mystic practices encouraged by monks of old; and, most recently, we see it in the apathy held by the church, at large, regarding their “Christian” entertainment, including books, tv shows, movies, videos and podcasts that make no delineation between Catholicism and true Christianity (most recently we see this regarding the Catholic actor who is playing Jesus in the Chosen).

As we continue our study, it is important that we remember the role of God’s Word in converting those caught up in any false system. While researching this particular religion, God led me to a book called The Truth Set Us Free (Twenty-three Former Nuns Tell Their Stories) (link in the bibliography which can be found in attached pdf) and in every single case, God used His Word to convict and to convert. It was without exception. Our only anchor and our only hope is the Word of God—not only for living our own lives but for any attempt to draw people away from deception and false doctrine. All other arguments and debates are useless. May we remember this, even as we proceed on to other religions. The only thing that matters is how do the beliefs of any religion compare to the Bible, God’s Holy Word?

I have learned so much as I have researched the religion of Catholicism, its history, and its beliefs. Much of the heresy began when Constantine made the Catholic church the state religion back in the early 300s. Combining the paganism of Rome with the tenets of Christianity led to a muddled mess. It was at this time that the church was wed to many pagan practices. This helps to explain the goddess worship of Mary that began to make its way into the church, which continued to grow and be developed even up until the late 1800s. It explains the pagan practices of worshipping and praying to dead people they called “saints” (a practice expressly forbidden by God). And it explains why there are so many ungodly practices in the church that are found absolutely nowhere in the Bible—things like purgatory, indulgences, celibacy, the supremacy of church tradition over scripture, the infallibility of the pope, salvation by sacraments, and so many others.

And, while these unbiblical practices clearly condemn this religion as false, today I want to acquaint you specifically with Catholicism’s view of Jesus Christ. I will use both their own catechism and canons from the Council of Trent (the numbered paragraphs correspond with the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, which can be easily found online. The Council of Trent Canons, found later on in this document, are also easily found. Links for both of these are found in the bibliography.)

What does the Catholic church teach about Jesus, according to their own official documentation?

1. JESUS NEEDS HELP IN REDEEMING MANKIND.

The Catholic church teaches that Mary is “Co-redemptrix” and, in fact, that she has more mercy and kindness than her Son. “Thou, Mary, art my only hope” was written by Liguori in his “Glories of Mary” (an author who was declared to be free from error). In other words, Jesus needs help from his mommy. The belief is beyond sacrilegious and is in absolute contrast to scripture.

Keep in mind that none of this is found in scripture anywhere. What we DO find in scripture are abundant references to Christ’s supremacy and power (Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 1:13-20; Hebrews 1:1-8; Revelation 1:5-8). Here are some of their beliefs, with the corresponding catechism section–

  • Mary is sinless

#493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God “the All-Holy” (Panagia), and celebrate her as “free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature.” By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.

  •  She is a perpetual virgin

#499 The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man. In fact, Christ’s birth “did not diminish his mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it.” And so the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the “Ever-virgin.”

  • She is Christ’s partner in salvation

#964 Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. “This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death”; it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

Not only can we find no verses to support the above beliefs, but we find verses that go directly against them—

The Bible teaches that ALL are sinners except Christ. This includes Mary.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12)

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (I John 3:5)

The Bible teaches that CHRIST ALONE is our Redeemer, through His blood—

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 5:1-7)

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:8-9)

The Bible teaches that Jesus alone is our only way to salvation—

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

2. CHRIST IS CRUCIFIED CONTINUALLY THROUGH THE EUCHARIST

In the mass, Catholics take communion with the belief that the bread and wine become Jesus’s actual body and blood through a process they call transubstantiation. Thus, His crucifixion continues on forever. This is why you see that Jesus is often still hanging on a Catholic cross. For they have left Him there with their false doctrine.

  • The Bread and Wine (the Eucharist) become the actual body and blood of Jesus

#1333 At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord’s command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: “He took bread. . . .” “He took the cup filled with wine. . . .” The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ…

#1365 Because it is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: “This is my body which is given for you” and “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.” In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

#1375 It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. The Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and of the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion.

#1376 The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: “Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.”

#1413 By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with his soul and his divinity (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1640; 1651).

  • Redemption and forgiveness are carried out through participating in the Eucharist

#1364 In the New Testament, the memorial takes on new meaning. When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ’s Passover, and it is made present the sacrifice Christ offered once for all on the cross remains ever present.185 “As often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which ‘Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed’ is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out.”

#1393 Holy Communion separates us from sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is “given up for us,” and the blood we drink “shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins.” For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins and preserving us from future sins:

  • The Eucharist is offered to impart grace to those who have died but were “not yet wholly purified”.

#1371 The Eucharistic sacrifice is also offered for the faithful departed who “have died in Christ but are not yet wholly purified,”193 so that they may be able to enter into the light and peace of Christ:

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

The Bible speaks directly against the Eucharist and the assertions of its purposes.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ’s work was finished on the cross–

Jesus died once and rose again victorious over sin and death. As already proven by verses above. I would also add these two important verses to refute Catholic doctrine–

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 6:10)

The Bible teaches that those who are redeemed go immediately to be with Christ–

We also know that when a redeemed child of God dies they are immediately present with the Lord. There is no purgatory, no praying for a soul that has departed this life, and no ritual that can be performed to determine their eternal destiny. What an insidious lie.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:(Philippians 1:23)

3. THE POWER OF THE CHURCH (and PRIESTS) TO FORGIVE SINS

The Catholic church asserts that the priest’s are given the divine power to forgive sins, as stated in their catechism.

#976 The Apostle’s Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the Church and in the communion of saints. It was when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles that the risen Christ conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

#983 Catechesis strives to awaken and nourish in the faithful faith in the incomparable greatness of the risen Christ’s gift to his Church: the mission and the power to forgive sins through the ministry of the apostles and their successors:

#984 The Creed links “the forgiveness of sins” with its profession of faith in the Holy Spirit, for the risen Christ entrusted to the apostles the power to forgive sins when he gave them the Holy Spirit.

#986 By Christ’s will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

The Bible teaches that Christ is the only One Who has the power forgive sins.

Nowhere in scripture do we find Him delegating this task to any human. Consider the pride and arrogance that leads to such a belief!

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (Matthew 9:6)

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:7-9)

4. THE UNBIBLICAL ROLE OF PRIESTS

Along with forgiveness of sins, priests are bestowed with other divine attributes. Attributes that are never given or assigned to any human being in scripture.

  • Priests are considered to have the power to act on Christ’s behalf

#1548 In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis:

It is the same priest, Christ Jesus, whose sacred person his minister truly represents. Now the minister, by reason of the sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is truly made like to the high priest and possesses the authority to act in the power and place of the person of Christ himself (virtute ac persona ipsius Christi).

  • Priests serves as mediators between God and man

According to the St. Aquinas Seminary Website: Catholic priests serve primarily as mediators between God and man, linking the human and divine realms through the person of Christ. They are, in the words of St. Paul, ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God, taken from among men, yet appointed for men in the things that pertain to God. Priests thus form an indispensable bond uniting Heaven and earth.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

The Bible teaches that Christ is our only High Priest and Mediator.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)

 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (I Timothy 2:5)

5. THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

The Council of Trent, held in the 15th century, upheld certain anathemas (a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction) that pronounced the biblical gospel as heresy. The Council of Trent has continued to be upheld by the Roman Catholic church and has never been rescinded. From these canons, we see that Catholic church does not believe that Christ’s work was finished on the cross and they assert that more is needed than just His sacrifice for our salvation. Please review the following canons that were confirmed at this Council—

Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone is simply not enough.

Council of Trent, Sixth Session Canon 9-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

COT, Sixth Session, Canon 12. -If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ’s sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.

Good Works contribute to and are necessary for our Salvation.

COT, Sixth Session, Canon 24 -If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.

Christ’s sacrifice is not enough to save us from punishment—either in purgatory or eternally.

COT, Sixth Session, Canon 30. If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.

Christ’s grace is conferred in Baptism.

COT, Fifth Session, Canon 5.  If any one denies, that, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is conferred in baptism, the guilt of original sin is remitted; or even asserts that the whole of that which has the true and proper nature of sin is not taken away; but says that it is only rased, or not imputed; let him be anathema.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Bible teaches that Christ’s work was finished on the cross.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (I Peter 2:24-25)

IN CONCLUSION—

We can clearly see that the Catholic Jesus is not the real Jesus, for that false Jesus did not accomplish salvation on the cross but, according to Catholicism, merely began the process; that false Jesus experiences his death over and over again through the eucharist; that false Jesus needs help from His mother (who has been declared sinless) and from human beings that go by the titles of Pope, Bishop, and Priest; that false Jesus is not powerful enough to keep us from eternal punishment; and that false Jesus demands our good works to help us merit salvation.

Praise God, we know the Bible teaches the complete opposite! Oh, praise God, no one needs to wonder if they’ve done enough good works to merit salvation, because Jesus accomplished all that was necessary for our salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. No good works necessary.

I have focused here on who Jesus is according to Catholicism. However, in my studies, I came across innumerable beliefs about many other topics that, when compared to scripture, easily identify Roman Catholicism as a false religion. But the single thing that always must be asked: What do they do with Jesus? For this is always the crux of the matter.

In conclusion, Catholicism does not teach the truth about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Attempts to unify with them are impossible, since they do not worship the Jesus of the Bible but some man-made concoction who is called by the same name. The Catholic church has had enormous success in confusing and deceiving people throughout the ages. The discerning believer who holds to the inerrant, inspired, and infallible Word of God will recognize it for what it is: A counterfeit religion that scorns biblical truth.

What does the Bible actually teach about Jesus? Find out at this link. You can find the rest of this series at this link.

PLEASE NOTE: Find a printable pdf of this post in its entirety HERE. You will find a bibliography and list of resources used on the last page of the pdf.

The Tangled Mess

Leave a Comment / May 7, 2024

I was crocheting a blanket and the time had come to use a new color. I grabbed the end from the center of the bright yellow ball of yarn. Things went fine…for awhile. But soon I found that every time I’d try to pull the yarn it would inevitably get tangled with the other end. Somehow the two ends were both coming from inside the skein (usually one is wrapped around the outside) and it was taking a lot of the joy out of my relaxing hobby.

I finally cut the yarn end from the project and decided to roll the skein into a ball. That should make it much easier to work with. But rolling it into a ball was no easy task. It was the strangest thing. While I would occasionally be able to roll up a long piece of the yellow yarn, I would soon find myself foiled by that aggravating end over and over again. The two ends were so entwined with one another that even rolling it into a ball was a difficult task that took much time. I did contemplate just buying another skein but here was this perfectly fine yarn in front of me. How silly to purchase more! At this point, it was the principle! I worked on it for several hours but finally, late last night, I groaned with frustration.

“What’s wrong?” asked my husband. I held up my yarn and told him how frustrating this task was. Never one to back down from a challenge, he told me to let him try. I most gladly handed the whole tangled mess over to him.

In a few minutes, he, too, agreed that it was an impossible task. The yarn was so snarled that it hardly seemed worth it. He did work on it for a while, making the ball of yarn a bit bigger. But, finally, he gave it to me and asked if I thought this was good enough. You can see from the photo above that there is quite a bit of yarn left but…well, life is just too short for some things!

As I sat there rolling that yarn, I did a lot of thinking. The whole situation reminded me an awful lot of life and our attempts at creating something useful and beautiful from an unorganized, sinful mess. The end that kept getting in my way and causing all of the problem was like my sin. Just always there, tripping me up, making life harder. Once in awhile, I would grab one of my needles to help me with an especially difficult knot. This reminded me of the living Word of God that pierces between joint and marrow and is a discerner of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). What my own fingers found as an impossible task, the needle not only made possible but even rather easy.

After I had given up, I realized that the tangled skein of yarn is like my life without Christ. I can work and work and work at it on my own and, perhaps, even have a time of smooth sailing and even be able to make some positive life changes. But without Christ, it is all in naught and I will eventually be beaten by my sin. If not in life, then in death. Sin will win, if Christ isn’t called upon.

The yarn also reminded me of how lost I would be without the Bible, which was given as a gift by God to us, His people. For where else do we learn of Who Christ is? Of what sin is? Where do we find true comfort? Just as my fingers couldn’t undo many of those knots in the yarn, so, too, our human vain philosophies and theories can’t provide any help in the midst of the temptations and trials we face. I needed that needle and we need the Word of God.

Lastly, I was reminded of how much sin gets in my way. Oh, how those sins we wrongly call “minor” knot up our lives. Sins like complaining; self-pity; being offended; loving the world and the things of this world; striving for popularity or wealth or health more than we are striving to grow in Christ; and so many others. They all keep us from being who we have been called to be by God. Denying self and its lusts, we must take up our cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23) All too often, we want to indulge self rather than deny it and this has its consequences in our lives.

I can walk away from that bright yellow ball of yarn. But I can’t walk away from my life. Because I am human, I will always struggle with sin, with wanting to love the world, and with a life that is messy and tangled, at some level. But intentionally confessing my sin, turning from the world, and working, through the help of the Holy Spirit, to be more Christlike and holy each and every day will yield much fruit in my spiritual life.

The other day I was talking with someone about how hard it is to follow the truth of God’s Word–all of it, not just the easy, comforting parts. The Bible tells us things our flesh doesn’t like–such as asking us to not be a friend of the world, denying self, and calling us to be holy and separated as a people. It reminds us to expect suffering for our choice to live for Christ. And while submitting and obeying God’s Word may lead to a more difficult outward life (the ridicule and persecution is real)–our ball of yarn (our inward life) unwinds so much more smoothly and easily. God really does keep His promises and those who follow His truth–all of it and no matter the cost–will find that the blessings that come from that are worth the ridicule, the suffering, and the persecution. God truly does bless those who seek Him.

Who knew unraveling a ball of yarn could be so thought-provoking?

Far Better

1 Comment / April 30, 2024

Sometimes in life, our faith is challenged beyond our expectations. Tragedies happen and our hearts and minds can’t make sense of them. We want a reason. We want to understand.

This past weekend, our community experienced a tragedy which resulted in the death of a young man. But this was not just any young man. He was a loving husband, son, father, and friend. Most important of all, he was a vibrant believer and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of his sins and he lived a life that gave evidence of this belief. My son was his good friend and the two of them spent many hours discussing the things of the Lord. He will be so greatly missed by all who knew him.

When something like this occurs, we naturally ask why? Our faith is tested. Do we believe what we have always said we believe? Or don’t we? We have to face these questions, either way, whether we choose to walk in faith or we choose to walk in doubt. Which will we choose? If we choose to walk in faith, then we turn to our Bibles for strength and for comfort.

I have just finished studying the book of Philippians and the passage at the end of chapter one has taken on deeper meaning this past weekend–

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better (Philippians 1:21-23)

Paul tells us that to be with Christ is far better. We read these verses. We may even memorize them. But when death comes, we reflect upon them in a whole new manner. We can have confidence that, if a believer passes away, what they are experiencing is far better than anything they experienced on this earth. And, while this doesn’t take away the overwhelming grief and pain of death, it does bring a measure of comfort.

What about those who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior? Those who have lived only for self, never becoming a new creation in Christ? (2 Corinthians 5:17) What they experience after death will not be far better. And, in fact, it will be far worse.

Oh, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior today, I pray you would turn to him before it’s too late. Death can come at any moment, calling our name. We dare not put off getting right with God. And the only way to do that is through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself said–

 …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

And Paul reminds us that there is nothing any of us can do to be saved–

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We can do nothing–nothing at all–to merit salvation. Our righteous works are as filthy rags in God’s eyes (Isaiah 64:6). Only through Jesus Christ can we stand right before God. Jesus is the only way.

And, if we have truly put our faith and trust in Christ alone, then we are no longer spiritually dead but we have been made alive. We have passed from death to life. Jesus says this in John 5:24–

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

And because we are spiritually alive through Christ, we can be confident that we, too, will experience something far better when God calls us home to heaven.

Do you know Jesus? Without Him, you are dead in your sins and your future is hopeless and bleak. But Jesus Christ died for you and rose again, victorious over death! With Him, forgiveness and life is offered to you! Oh, won’t you turn to Him today?

While we can be confident that this young man is with the Lord, it is accompanied by such deep grief. May I ask you to pray specifically for his family, as the Lord lays them on your heart? We feel so helpless in these situations, and yet prayer is the best thing we can do. It is such an incredible privilege that all who know Christ are able to approach God’s throne with confidence and we are invited to do so in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

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