What do you say to the person who says, Why aren't you Catholic? Here's a video by Dr. John Barnett, entitled- 7 Reasons Why I am Not Roman Catholic. Please take some notes and be ready to share something that impressed you from it. We're not looking for stones to throw, but truth to respectfully share. Only God can open hearts, but we are to know the truth so we can share it.
1.-Read Rom.5:1-11 and share something that impressed you from the passage and or the video.
2.-Write on your MP3 card, Rom.5:1- "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Our Catholic friends need to see that we believers have already been justified. We already are right in His sight. And it is through faith alone; religious works are excluded. Thus, we have a peaceful standing with God. We are no longer facing His wrath!
I've heard Christians speak with anger regarding being led astray by the Catholic church and all it's corruptions. They may have had a very bad experience. But as you know, it's best not to be angry when we seek to share with Catholics. Asking respectful questions is still a good way to proceed with them as well. Once again, you can use our 3 helpful questions-
What led you to believe that? (Many may never have given much thought to their Catholic beliefs. They just inherited it from their parents.)
Are you a person who wants the truth?
Then would you please read through the gospel of John in your Catholic Bible and follow it wherever the truth leads you?
If they don't have a Bible, you can again give them a free online gospel of John- http://www.livingwater.org/booklet/index.html
Announcements
As you know, this Sunday we will be meeting at our retreat center and war room- Jack's bunker :) 10749 Cherrywood Dr. Palos Park. Our meeting starts at 3:00. Please call me if for some reason you can't make it. Otherwise, we will see you there for an important meeting. We will also be unveiling a special new focus.
Who have you been able to enrich with our videos or things you've been learning? This Friday's blog, we'll be sharing stories of who we've been enriching and or recruiting.
Thanks for the way you are encouraging each other. Especially pray for and encourage your fellow fire team warriors. And thanks for remembering to put your scores on the board.
Please keep Eddie, Pastor Mike and the team in your prayers as they will be gone this M-F on that exploratory trip to Cuba.
1. Great video on the doctrines on the Catholic Church. Even though I know why I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven it is very important for me to know what my catholic friends friends believe and the origins of their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteSince I did not grow up in the catholic tradition I did not know most of the doctrines mentioned in the video. Extremely helpful to have these seven doctrines explained in a concise manner. This will better prepare me for the next time I get a chance to talk to my catholic friends and share the love of Christ with them.
It was a good video Roger. Glad it provided insight. Thanks for leading the way this morning. Grave and Peace.
DeleteI didn't grow up Catholic either Roger. Interestingly, Dr. John Barnett now pastors in Kalamazoo, Mi. near where I grew up.
DeleteYes, he did a good job summarizing. May the Lord continue to strengthen you with might by His Spirit in your inner man.
1. I did grew up Catholic. I practiced my 7 sacraments, prayed to the Saints, confessed to the priest. This all makes sense to me. I remember growing up having several conversations with my mom, "why do we have to confess to a priest, can't we just talk to God directly?" And I remember even asking the priest, "why don't I fully understand scripture?". I can relate to #3 tradition over scripture. For me I don't remember being encouraged at all if not rarely to read the Bible. But tradition, sign the cross, the prayers, the kneeling, the tradition was highly encouraged. It makes a lot of sense. I'm thankful that we don't receive Grace in pieces, but in full!
ReplyDeleteAlso, this verse stuck out in reading today.
Romans 5:7-8 NIV
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Who do we know that would die for us? Maybe a close loved one, but rarely would a stranger die for someone, especially people who were enemies to them.
Brothers, would appreciate your prayers this week. I'm headed to the airport now, heading to Cuba. With that, I will not have the Internet the rest of the week. So this will be the last day on the blog til I get back. I'll share some of the experiences with you all on Sunday. Until then brothers stay strong in the faith and hope we have in Christ Jesus. Grace and Peace!
Blessings brother. May the Holy Spirit pave the way for you and open doors in Cuba.
DeleteEddie thank you for your daily encouragement. It is always great to see you in the leadership of the church. Will keep you in prayer. May God greatly use you to be a blessing to the people you will come in contact in Cuba. Looking forward to hearing how God is working in the hearts of the believers there. Have a blessed trip.
DeleteThank you for your dedication to the Lord. May God continue to bless you and keep you out of harm's way. God bless you and the fellow brothers that are going with you.
DeleteThanks Eddie for sharing your experience, I have always questioned Catholicism also but thank god I found you guys. God bless you on your voyage and god bless the people you help you guys are in my prayers.
DeleteGood video! Very informative. I think if we just read the Bible and accepted Jesus into our hearts and be a doer of the Word ,would be a great way to witness To Catholic brothers. I like this portion of Scripture.
ReplyDeleteRomans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
There are certainly questions that Catholics have to answer, one would be, was Jesus sacrifice on the cross sufficient for my sins?
ReplyDeleteIf it was, then why do you need purgatory. Here is a link regarding purgatory (book of Maccabees)
http://www.compellingtruth.org/first-second-Maccabees.html
Thanx brother! That's a good question to ask. I will be checking out this link as well.
DeleteGood morning everyone, I loved the video because it's instructive. Obviously everyone has their own interpretation of the bible. I was told that I was catholic since I was a little boy but never practiced it due to my family not practicing any religion. I understand that I don't want a religion, I want a relationship in the the truth and since I started going to Newlife, I can understand my life since the beginning and that's one thing I never understood from catholic mass. I can listen to the message but it doesn't make sense to me until it's explained completely and I can relate to it.
ReplyDeleteI thank god for these messages because what I got from the video is the TRADITION OF THE PRACTICE I have realized that the only practice I need to have is with Jesus Christ only because through him I have heard all of you and God came directly to me in dreams. I have never understood all that about praying to saints but now I do along side with Mary. I dont know how to spell apocrifa or Maccabees but I will do my research, I also did not know about purgatory and what mass means to everyone else. I don't pass judgement, but I have made my own conclusions. And it all makes sense that every single entity that is talked about in the old or New Testament did one thing and one thing only and that's coming to God THROUGH JESUS CHRIST which is what saved me. I had to write a lot this morning on my MP3 card due to now understanding the differences between a practice and a relationship.
Amen to that bro! Jesus Christ is the only way.
DeleteYou nailed it Guillermo- it's all about coming to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Delete1. Video, "Why I'm not a Catholic", "It's not an attack, it's a doctrinal basis"
ReplyDelete1. Doctrine of Mass
2. Doctrine of Mary
3. Doctrine of Tradition over Scripture
4. Doctrine of Worship of Images
5. Doctrine of Sacraments
6. Doctrine of Purgatory
7. Doctrine of Sacrificing Christ Again
Amen! That sure is a lot of reasons!
DeleteAmen
DeleteThanks Robert for explaining shortly about it not being an attack, honestly it looks like to much work for me to understand that I have been saved and I have a relationship with Jesus Christ our lord
DeleteI grew up in a catholic home, but the thing i realised growing up is that we all have to make our own decisions and go out and explore what is out there. I was drawn to more of a christian based church because i realized I love learning about the bible, I love jesus, and I love God. those things are what got me through some very rough times in my life. I feel God wants us to know him and praise him through spreading his word, loving others, and just trying to be a better person. I do not believe he put us on this is to remember and follow man made traditions. I believe at the end of the day God will be my judge and I am here to please him.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Andre and i love how you said this
DeleteAmen
DeleteAmen Andre that's for simplifying it
DeleteGood testimony Andre!
DeleteVery informative video! I knew the Catholic Church was wrong on how they go about there religion but i never realized just how wrong they really are. I myself was baptized as a child Catholic and i actually made more sacraments as an adult. Just a few years ago i was confirmed by a Bishop and made my first confession to a priest and was married in a Catholic Church. I thought i was doing the right thing because that was the only way that i knew. The Catholic Church did help me find God (even tho he was never lost) But they never helped me build a relationship with Christ. I am so grateful that i have found New Life and M3!!! Thank you Jesus!
ReplyDeleteGreat testimony. So glad that you continue to seek God everyday and are part of M3. Many blessings.
DeleteI'm glad you did too bro! Keep fighting the good fight!
DeleteGlad you are continuing to seek the truth. We're with you. God bless.
DeleteWe are so glad you found the Lord, New Life, and M3 also Phil!
Delete1. Great video as it enlightened me further on Catholic traditions. I did grow up Catholic but didn't learn much because they didn't urge you to read the word. I never felt relieved of my sins as it made no sense to me that a Priest was necessary to communicate with God for me. I now fully understand the incorrect teachings of the Catholics, Saints, Mary, etc. and now understand the importance of my relationship with the Lord directly, being in the word daily and living by it.
ReplyDeleteI am applying this currently with a couple Catholics and making headway.
How did the Catholic doctrine stray so far from the truth?
2. Did it
"my people perish for lack of knowledge" with out truth lies are easy to believe. great work jack.
Delete1. I've learned from the video that catholics don't really believe in the holy spirit. That they believe in other peoples traditions to save themselves. Good informative video.
ReplyDelete2.Did it!
Thanks James. They claim to believe in the Holy Spirit, but without a saving relationship with Christ, He must seem like a distant figure.
DeleteThat video was very helpful. I have come across a few people in the past that were Catholics and I tried to explain to them the difference, besides the obvious. I will be saving and sharing this video
ReplyDeleteVery good Rich. May they receive it.
DeleteI too was brought up as a Catholic. My father and mother baptize when I was a baby. When I was older my father would drop me off at Church for Sunday school and than pick me up after. He did not lead by example by attending Church nor was he a good Catholic by going to Church on Easter and Christmas. Before I obtained a personal relationship with our Lord I attended Church about 20% of the time. When I received our Lord and Savior into my life I attend Church 99% of the time. The 1% that I miss is because I am out of town. Most likely I still find a bible believing Church to go to.
ReplyDeleteRomans 5:1 hits it on the head "Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
You're a good example of faithfulness Mike!
Delete1. This video was really informative, and it was very good to watch. I learned a lot from the video. One thing that I didn't really know at all about Catholic Doctrine was the belief that Jesus is crucified multiple times. Like the man in the video said; that is very blasphemous. After watching this video, I now would really like to try talking about spiritual things with my Catholic friends.
ReplyDeleteAlright Alex!
Delete1) I have so many friends that are catholic, they always seem so interested in my faith in God. They ask so many questions about what I believe and do I do this or that. I always make sure that I point them to scriptures and Jesus being the main point of my faith. As I read Romans 5 it make me so grateful that God loves me and us so much. Romans 5 show the great love of God. That is what I feel that catholics and all other religions need to know.
ReplyDelete2) Did it
Vince I'm glad to hear you have receptive Catholic friends. Perhaps then pass on the video if you think it would help.
Delete1
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative and very helpful to knowing of what influence that a certain Catholic has.
Everything is said in the first verse. We can only be justified by our trusting faith in the Risen Christ; and not in any other source.
As for the video:
1. Doctrine of Mass
2. Doctrine of Mary
3. Doctrine of Tradition over Scripture
4. Doctrine of Worship of Images
5. Doctrine of Sacraments
6. Doctrine of Purgatory
7. Doctrine of Sacrificing Christ Again
2
Did it
Good summary Gary and Rom.5:1 is such a crucial verse.
DeleteI grew up going to Catholic school and went through receiving some of the Sacraments. There are some inconsistencies in the religion as it relates to the Bible. Worship of idols was one of the things I noticed. People pray to the cross and other statues and pray to Saints. It is like saying that Jesus dying for our sins wasn't enough. Why would we need to seek guidance from Saints? We need Jesus!
ReplyDeleteamen
DeleteYou are so right Chuy.
DeleteSo glad you see the truth and believe the Truth Chuy!
DeleteWhat strikes throughout the video they are a few ways to apparently have your sins pardon ex: through priests, early baptism through the "grace of Mary ", through saints etc... but somewhere along time lost their way of who ultimately gave His one and only son to die and took away our sin (plural).Romans 5:8 NIV
ReplyDeleteBut God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
If I do everything "Roman Catholic" do, is basically is saying Jesus and any other saint are equal or are the same...
Did it.
Jesus plus equals false doctrine. great thoughts.
DeleteYes Ismael. And don't you think Antonio's math is excellent?!
DeleteI also grew up catholic my look of what they believe in is base on pure faith of what they
ReplyDeleteLearn form the catholic church about God. As we know faith is good but there's more to
it than just faith, we have to read and study the bible so we can learn the truth about what
the bible says for are self. I don't think telling them there Wong well change their minds.
We have to leave it to God and Jesus and Holy spirit Amen!
Well put faith in lies is no virtue, but it is a great loss, for we live in deception.
DeleteWhat strikes me about the video was the danger of allowing something, anything to rise in authority over the bible. On top of that was the effort and imagination it takes to reinterpret clear teaching in order to maintain extra biblical teaching. One of my thoughts while I was watching the video was that most Catholics don't even know the doctrines of their faith or at least the ones I've talked to.
ReplyDeleteRomans: we were God's enemies helpless and guilty. So God died for us and by trusting His testimony we receive a relationship and a pardon. But this pardon didn't come cheap, it would cost... The suffering and blood of God. We don't deserve it and we can't perform it but we must trust it. The great news That if we trust in Jesus He will change our desires and motivations and give us the craving for Him and good deeds, That if we trust in Jesus God the Father will treat us as if we lived the life of Jesus.
Excellent math you shared with Ismael and excellent quote here Antonio- "if we trust in Jesus God the Father will treat us as if we lived the life of Jesus." What amazing grace!
Delete1) Read Rom.5:1-11 and share something that impressed you from the passage and or the video.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on the video – coming from a Catholic background – there were many things that were shared in the video that I never really understood the reason for why we did them as Catholics. I'm just now understanding about it through the speaker it in the video. Good Catholics just accept what they are told without questioning. Catholics are taught that the priests, bishops, and cardinals watched and protected our souls and tell us what we needed or didn't need to know more. I'm not sure how I would have responded as a Catholic to this video.
2) Did It
Yes Dave, I'm not sure how some Catholics would respond to it either. I certainly don't want to be an offensive person, but the truth will often offend in the process of convicting a person of their sinful self-reliance. I know I hated my sister for sharing the gospel with me and reflecting Him. But that hatred for her was the very thing God used to convict me of how sinful I was and in need of a Savior. May we bear such scorn, should it come, as He bore it for us. I know these are things you know and believe as well.
DeleteWell I shared it to two catholic. Have not had a response from them, I can only wait. :)
Delete1.- I was raised Catholic and watching the video I learned a lot about Catholicism that I don’t remember hearing in 8 years of CCD while going through the sacraments. I could see how someone could be defensive if their faith was questioned so I think asking the 3 questions Dave suggest would be a good way to start a conversation.
ReplyDeleteHard for me to argue with that approach George :)
Delete1.-Read Rom.5:1-11 and share something that impressed you from the passage and or the video.
ReplyDeleteI too was raised a catholic, the video show me traditions and rituals that I experienced but never really gave any thought to it's relation or authenticity to the bible. Never read bible or ever remember being encourage by catholic church to read the bible. Enlightening video Catholics would take offense too. Pr.12:19,17 "Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed. An honest witness tells the truth; a false wetness tells lies." Personally I would like to bask in the glory of God! Rom.5:2 " through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."
Good words and excellent cross references Armando!
DeleteBut God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT). It all comes down to His love, not our works or what we might try to earn or try to shape.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Daniel. So glad to have you back with us. Best of blessings!
Delete