It's been a while since I've been on the street, but Saturday I went back out to Sinagra Park in Lakewood. A friend from church, Chris, joined up with me. I displayed my cross while Chris handed out tracts and engaged a few people in conversation as they passed by. As much as I like talking to people about Christ, I usually wait for them to come up to me- not the other way around- that is something I need to work on. I was glad to have someone alongside of me who took that initiative.
We arrived in Lakewood around 4:00 PM. Chris engaged a young man walking by who considered himself to be a good person, but Chris quickly took him through some of the commandments to show him how God viewed him.
Another young man who was 20 walked by and we engaged in conversation. He told he was on his way to his church for a youth activity. He told us his church was an Assembly of God church and there were about 30 youths in this group. Chris gave him about 30 tracts to distribute to the youth, which he said he would.
We got to talking a bit and he asked a few questions Chris and I really couldn't definitively answer. He asked about people having supernatural experiences where they were taken to heaven or hell. I told him I didn't really have an opinion on this because Scripture doesn't describe experiences like this. I told him I believed God has already revealed everything that is necessary for us in the Bible.
I offered one piece of advice when regarding revelation from God: Revelations 22:18-19: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
I made sure to ask the young man about repentance and his response concerned me a bit. Chris also asked this young man to go on YouTube and find Paul Washer's Shocking Message (to 5,000 youth). If you have never watched or listened to this message, please do. I also asked him to listen to Hell's Best Kept Secret. Chris wrote down this information on a tract and gave it to him.
Chris also engaged a man named Brendan in conversation while he was waiting for the bus. Brendan told us he attends mass regularly at a Catholic Church. Chris started off taking Brendan through the law and I remember at one point Brendan said, "But I haven't murdered anyone...' Chris asked him if he had ever hated anyone, and it was difficult to get him to admit to it. I'm sure Chris told him God views hate as murder in the heart. The conversation started going off on a tangent a little bit and Brendan had to leave to catch the bus.
Before Branden had come up, a group of youths passing by inquired about the cross and asked "ready for what?" I told them that it was appointed for man once to die and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and asked if they were ready to face God for judgment. One of them had some choice words for God that I will not repeat.
One analogy I made sure to always use in our conversations was the parachute analogy: if you were on a crashing plane and there was a parachute that could save you, just "believing" in the parachute doesn't save you. You have to strap on the parachute, trust the parachute with your life, and jump from the plane. In the same sense, you have to put on the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:14), trust Him with your life, and repent of your sins (turn away from them).
I'm not sure how often I will be able to go out on the streets- I'm hoping at least once a weekend now that it is getting warmer. I'm also thankful for some new faces in church who also have a heart for evangelism who will now join me.
Showing posts with label Catholicism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholicism. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
What I Used to Believe
I wanted to post the difference between what I used to believe and what I now know to be true. I believe a lot of people hold the same beliefs that I used to.
As many who read this blog know, I grew up Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic. Up until my teen years, this is what I believed. I'm not sure if this is the perception most people in the Catholic Church have, but I believed that as long as I went to confession before I died, I was going to heaven. It didn't matter what sins I committed or my attitude- as long as I made it to confession before I died, I would be going to heaven.
I was also taught that I didn't have to go to confession for venial sins- only mortal sins. The Eucharist also had the ability to abolish venial sins. I thought I could live anyway I wanted and as long as I made it to confession, I was given a clean slate.
Here is what the Bible teaches: While we are called to confess our sins (1 John 1:9), you must be born again (John 3:3) to inherit the kingdom of God. It isn't about living your life as you want to and then "checking in" to get a clean slate. God requires repentance (Luke 13:3) and complete surrender of your life to Him (Matthew 16:25-26, John 12:25-26).
Playing this confession game, I also was never sure of my salvation. The Bible tells us the exact opposite- that we can be sure of our salvation (1 John 5:13, Romans 8:16).
I fear I also believed in "easy believism"- that by only believing I would be saved. I know there are many out there who also fall into this camp. I want to leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul:
"We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20b).
2 Corinthians 5:21 describes the greatest thing that has ever happened for us: "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Repent and trust Jesus today for your salvation!
As many who read this blog know, I grew up Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic. Up until my teen years, this is what I believed. I'm not sure if this is the perception most people in the Catholic Church have, but I believed that as long as I went to confession before I died, I was going to heaven. It didn't matter what sins I committed or my attitude- as long as I made it to confession before I died, I would be going to heaven.
I was also taught that I didn't have to go to confession for venial sins- only mortal sins. The Eucharist also had the ability to abolish venial sins. I thought I could live anyway I wanted and as long as I made it to confession, I was given a clean slate.
Here is what the Bible teaches: While we are called to confess our sins (1 John 1:9), you must be born again (John 3:3) to inherit the kingdom of God. It isn't about living your life as you want to and then "checking in" to get a clean slate. God requires repentance (Luke 13:3) and complete surrender of your life to Him (Matthew 16:25-26, John 12:25-26).
Playing this confession game, I also was never sure of my salvation. The Bible tells us the exact opposite- that we can be sure of our salvation (1 John 5:13, Romans 8:16).
I fear I also believed in "easy believism"- that by only believing I would be saved. I know there are many out there who also fall into this camp. I want to leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul:
"We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20b).
2 Corinthians 5:21 describes the greatest thing that has ever happened for us: "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Repent and trust Jesus today for your salvation!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Pharisees and the Catholic Church
If the law was enough for people in the Old Testament and Jesus had to sternly correct the Pharisaical additions to it, why isn't the Bible (the doctrine of Sola Scriptura) enough for us today?
The Catholic Church amounts to the same as the Pharisees of Jesus' day. It is they who Jesus spoke of in Matthews 23:15: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves."
The Catholic Church amounts to the same as the Pharisees of Jesus' day. It is they who Jesus spoke of in Matthews 23:15: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves."
Sunday, October 18, 2009
"Jesus Judy"
My wife and I had dinner with my parents today and my mother asked me if I remembered one of her friends named Judy. I didn't go into this with the intent one way or the other to talk about religion (I knew if I did, it would only be a dead end), but it came up. She said she called her "Jesus Judy" because all she talked about was Jesus. She was making a reference to how I always talk about Jesus. I do not think Jesus is the only thing I talk about (to say that literally is a stretch for anyone- for "no seeks after God" [Romans 3:11]) , but it must come off that way.
If anyone else were to tell me that, I wouldn't have much of a problem with it, but when it comes from family, it rings a little differently for some reason. What is even more troubling is that it comes from someone who claims to be a born again Christian.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." It should be natural for a born again Christian to want to talk about Jesus. Consider all he has done for us.
We (myself included) have all sinned and deserve death for our sin (Romans 6:23). That is not harsh- that is the truth. I think more people need to be told this. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and died as a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25). He took on death so you wouldn't have to go to Hell if you repent and trust in Him. He paid the ultimate price for nothing of his own doing, but something we did, and you want to scold someone for "only" talking about Him?
I can't talk about religion to my father. He is Catholic and when I try to bring up Scripture, he always blows me off. I tried explaining that I don't watch Dancing With the Stars because they dance around practically naked on that TV show and I don't want to fall into lust by watching it. He compared me to a legalist and he didn't see the problem with occasionally having a thought like that.
He told me the way I am acting (in his mind, legalism) is how it used to be and how the Catholic church has gotten more "liberal" recently. He described how it used to be prohibited to eat anything from 12:00 on the night before service down to just one hour before if taking communion. The ironic twist is that this is legalism and he doesn't see it, yet calling sin for what it is in one's life is prohibited because Jesus said not to judge. This is so frustrating because so many people use this as a defense! Read the rest of the paragraph and don't take it out of context!
Matthew 7:1-5: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
It would be wrong for me to call out sin in your life that I am participating in myself, but once I have dealt with it in my life, I see clearly to help you.
He also acted like every "translation" of the Bible had different meaning. I mentioned they had the same meanings, except the New World Translation (used by Jehovah's Witnesses) and he asked me how I couldn't be sure about it, also. This is about where I cut my losses.
He also scoffed at me when I mentioned repentance and said he had just repented- through confession. I tried to explain the difference between the two but he wouldn't let me.
It is very frustrating to have two parents, one who says they are a born again Christian and then my father, a Catholic, who won't talk about religion- even his own. My mother thinks MacArthur is too harsh on the Catholic church. My father is the product of a religion where he is taught he can earn his way to Heaven by going to confession and not having any mortal sins on his soul when he dies. This is self-righteousness at the core and I will continue to condone Catholic doctrine.
What in the world is going on here?
If anyone else were to tell me that, I wouldn't have much of a problem with it, but when it comes from family, it rings a little differently for some reason. What is even more troubling is that it comes from someone who claims to be a born again Christian.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." It should be natural for a born again Christian to want to talk about Jesus. Consider all he has done for us.
We (myself included) have all sinned and deserve death for our sin (Romans 6:23). That is not harsh- that is the truth. I think more people need to be told this. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and died as a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25). He took on death so you wouldn't have to go to Hell if you repent and trust in Him. He paid the ultimate price for nothing of his own doing, but something we did, and you want to scold someone for "only" talking about Him?
I can't talk about religion to my father. He is Catholic and when I try to bring up Scripture, he always blows me off. I tried explaining that I don't watch Dancing With the Stars because they dance around practically naked on that TV show and I don't want to fall into lust by watching it. He compared me to a legalist and he didn't see the problem with occasionally having a thought like that.
He told me the way I am acting (in his mind, legalism) is how it used to be and how the Catholic church has gotten more "liberal" recently. He described how it used to be prohibited to eat anything from 12:00 on the night before service down to just one hour before if taking communion. The ironic twist is that this is legalism and he doesn't see it, yet calling sin for what it is in one's life is prohibited because Jesus said not to judge. This is so frustrating because so many people use this as a defense! Read the rest of the paragraph and don't take it out of context!
Matthew 7:1-5: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
It would be wrong for me to call out sin in your life that I am participating in myself, but once I have dealt with it in my life, I see clearly to help you.
He also acted like every "translation" of the Bible had different meaning. I mentioned they had the same meanings, except the New World Translation (used by Jehovah's Witnesses) and he asked me how I couldn't be sure about it, also. This is about where I cut my losses.
He also scoffed at me when I mentioned repentance and said he had just repented- through confession. I tried to explain the difference between the two but he wouldn't let me.
It is very frustrating to have two parents, one who says they are a born again Christian and then my father, a Catholic, who won't talk about religion- even his own. My mother thinks MacArthur is too harsh on the Catholic church. My father is the product of a religion where he is taught he can earn his way to Heaven by going to confession and not having any mortal sins on his soul when he dies. This is self-righteousness at the core and I will continue to condone Catholic doctrine.
What in the world is going on here?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Holiness
I know a lot of us know the question, "Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" from Way of the Master. I have a question to ask all of us, though: "Would you consider yourself to be a holy person?" You may think this is a pretty arrogant question to ask or to assume a quality to have upon yourself. If you do, I ask- why? The Bible calls us to be holy. Why shouldn't we be doing things to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world to be holy? Isn't that what the Bible calls us to be?
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
Ephesians 4:24 calls us "to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
1 Thessalonians 3:13 says may the Lord "establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification (or your holiness): that you abstain from sexual immorality."
Hebrews 12:14 says, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."
These are just a few of the verses calling us to be holy. A search for "sanctify" or "sanctification" also returns several verses.
Is there something wrong with me because I stand at street corners holding a cross- or is there something right about me? We are always told to conform to the world and if we are a "religious zealot" we are the ones considered to be odd. This is the way Jesus calls us to be- so why are you still conforming to the world? I don't care what the thousands of people who see me with my cross think about me- I only care what my Savior thinks.
Why is it OK to display a cross in a church or outside a church on their property- but as soon as someone holds one on the street corner, they are the nutcase? 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Are you willing to be associated with the cross? Aren't you trusting Jesus' atoning death on it for your salvation?
I generally don't watch TV, aside from possibly the news, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (although these aren't even always safe) with my wife. I also may watch some sports occasionally (typically they do not interest me, but sometimes something will catch my interest as my wife has it on) or other things on the weekend with my wife, but that is becoming less and less, also.
I have a "blasphemy rule" for TV and radio. If I was watching a TV show and I heard a blasphemy, I would either change the channel or turn the TV off. I cut the cable a while ago because of the garbage on it, but even the networks are full of sex and violence. I started to watch TV shows with my wife, but I soon figured out that nothing was safe- not even PBS. So, I just stopped watching TV (aside from the two shows I mentioned). I haven't forced this on my wife- although she knows I will not watch TV with her.
This frees up my nights for Bible study and prayer. 8:00 to 10:00 is usually my dedicated time with the Lord during the week. I do pray, go out with my cross, and sometimes read during the day, but I try to dedicate these two hours every week night to the Lord.
I wish I could fully explain how liberating it is to not have TV polluting my mind. How often do you find yourself talking about what you watched on TV the night before? I don't have that. That space in my mind is reserved for Scripture and prayer. I'm hoping to be able to start memorizing more and more Scripture- and it is a lot easier when I don't have TV shows competing for the space in my brain. I am not trying to boast, but encourage you to be holy.
I was talking to my father yesterday and he gets pretty heated pretty quickly over religion. My father is Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic and culture and religion with him go together, even if he is what is often coined as a "Sunday Catholic." He asked me yesterday who I was to judge what he believes and tell him what he believes is wrong. In this age of "tolerance," I can understand why this isn't accepted. Remember, it's not what you "believe" or think is true- it's what is true.
He freely admits he is not well verse in the Bible, but he is quick to point out the verse about "judging not" like so many are. I didn't even mention to him that the Bible says you will also know a tree by its fruit. Everything I know about the Bible is just my "interpretation." I tried explaining that the Bible was written to a specific set of people in a specific time in history and it had to be interpreted that way, but I wasn't getting anywhere.
Catholicism is idolatry and the Bible says no idolaters will inherit the kingdom of God. You may say I need to respect my parents. Remember, though, if someone were headed toward a cliff, I wouldn't not warn them because they like the scenery along the way.
What are you relying on for your salvation? If you say anything except Jesus' atoning work on the cross- baptism, confession, communion, good works, tithing, fasting, etc., you are trusting in yourself and not Jesus. These are things we ought to do, but they, in and of them self, will not save us. They are done in obedience and a willful, submissive heart- not coercion. I do not understand why someone would get mad or offended by talking about the most loving thing Jesus could do for us and call themselves saved.
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
Ephesians 4:24 calls us "to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
1 Thessalonians 3:13 says may the Lord "establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification (or your holiness): that you abstain from sexual immorality."
Hebrews 12:14 says, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."
These are just a few of the verses calling us to be holy. A search for "sanctify" or "sanctification" also returns several verses.
Is there something wrong with me because I stand at street corners holding a cross- or is there something right about me? We are always told to conform to the world and if we are a "religious zealot" we are the ones considered to be odd. This is the way Jesus calls us to be- so why are you still conforming to the world? I don't care what the thousands of people who see me with my cross think about me- I only care what my Savior thinks.
Why is it OK to display a cross in a church or outside a church on their property- but as soon as someone holds one on the street corner, they are the nutcase? 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Are you willing to be associated with the cross? Aren't you trusting Jesus' atoning death on it for your salvation?
I generally don't watch TV, aside from possibly the news, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (although these aren't even always safe) with my wife. I also may watch some sports occasionally (typically they do not interest me, but sometimes something will catch my interest as my wife has it on) or other things on the weekend with my wife, but that is becoming less and less, also.
I have a "blasphemy rule" for TV and radio. If I was watching a TV show and I heard a blasphemy, I would either change the channel or turn the TV off. I cut the cable a while ago because of the garbage on it, but even the networks are full of sex and violence. I started to watch TV shows with my wife, but I soon figured out that nothing was safe- not even PBS. So, I just stopped watching TV (aside from the two shows I mentioned). I haven't forced this on my wife- although she knows I will not watch TV with her.
This frees up my nights for Bible study and prayer. 8:00 to 10:00 is usually my dedicated time with the Lord during the week. I do pray, go out with my cross, and sometimes read during the day, but I try to dedicate these two hours every week night to the Lord.
I wish I could fully explain how liberating it is to not have TV polluting my mind. How often do you find yourself talking about what you watched on TV the night before? I don't have that. That space in my mind is reserved for Scripture and prayer. I'm hoping to be able to start memorizing more and more Scripture- and it is a lot easier when I don't have TV shows competing for the space in my brain. I am not trying to boast, but encourage you to be holy.
I was talking to my father yesterday and he gets pretty heated pretty quickly over religion. My father is Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic and culture and religion with him go together, even if he is what is often coined as a "Sunday Catholic." He asked me yesterday who I was to judge what he believes and tell him what he believes is wrong. In this age of "tolerance," I can understand why this isn't accepted. Remember, it's not what you "believe" or think is true- it's what is true.
He freely admits he is not well verse in the Bible, but he is quick to point out the verse about "judging not" like so many are. I didn't even mention to him that the Bible says you will also know a tree by its fruit. Everything I know about the Bible is just my "interpretation." I tried explaining that the Bible was written to a specific set of people in a specific time in history and it had to be interpreted that way, but I wasn't getting anywhere.
Catholicism is idolatry and the Bible says no idolaters will inherit the kingdom of God. You may say I need to respect my parents. Remember, though, if someone were headed toward a cliff, I wouldn't not warn them because they like the scenery along the way.
What are you relying on for your salvation? If you say anything except Jesus' atoning work on the cross- baptism, confession, communion, good works, tithing, fasting, etc., you are trusting in yourself and not Jesus. These are things we ought to do, but they, in and of them self, will not save us. They are done in obedience and a willful, submissive heart- not coercion. I do not understand why someone would get mad or offended by talking about the most loving thing Jesus could do for us and call themselves saved.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Life in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church teaches that if you die with a mortal sin without going to confession and confessing it, they are going to Hell. This is directly quoted from Catholic.com:
Question: Does the Catholic church teach that someone dying with mortal sin always goes to hell? With so many unexpected deaths, accidents, there must be a second chance to say "I'm sorry."
Answer: At the last moment it may be possible to repent. But some people die so quickly that they may not have that moment. If a person dies as God’s enemy—which is what we are in mortal sin—then he goes to hell by his own choice. Most of us have had a lifetime to choose him.
Does this sound like someone who is "Dead to Sin, Alive to God" (Romans 6)?
I have noticed recently that I have become quite a legalist and I feel like I am constantly sinning. Then I feel like if I don't confess my sin right away, that I will be going to Hell. The remnants of Catholicism are still there.
This is not someone who is free to serve God, but someone who is living in constant fear of going to Hell and walking around on egg shells all day. This has actually prevented me from going out with my cross- which is exactly what the enemy wants. How could I display a cross asking, "Are You Ready?" when I don't feel ready myself?
Someone once told me this about confession: "Say what you want, but the fact that I have to confess my sins to a priest makes me think twice before committing them." If that is the only motivation to not sin, there is a serious problem.
We are called to confess our sins (1 John 1:9), but this act of confession is merely another "work." Imagine a criminal who stands in front of a judge who confesses to a crime. Will his confession nullify the need for his punishment? Of course not!
For me, life in the Catholic Church was about keeping the Law. When you break it, if you don't confess before you die, they say you go to Hell (see above- their words, not mine). It was about what you did not do- not about the things I did for God.
Romans 3:21: "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law."
Galatians 2:19: "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God."
Galatians 3:19: "Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions."
Romans 3 tells us that "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Galatians 3:10-11: "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
Galatians 3:21-22: "Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."
There is no salvation in keeping the Law, because none of us have kept it!
Romans 5:21: "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."
The idea that I am justified by going to confession with a Catholic priest is repulsive to me. I am justified through Christ's blood- not the act of going to confession in a Catholic church. Christ dying for my sins was not enough?
Galatians 2:21: "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."
Question: Does the Catholic church teach that someone dying with mortal sin always goes to hell? With so many unexpected deaths, accidents, there must be a second chance to say "I'm sorry."
Answer: At the last moment it may be possible to repent. But some people die so quickly that they may not have that moment. If a person dies as God’s enemy—which is what we are in mortal sin—then he goes to hell by his own choice. Most of us have had a lifetime to choose him.
Does this sound like someone who is "Dead to Sin, Alive to God" (Romans 6)?
I have noticed recently that I have become quite a legalist and I feel like I am constantly sinning. Then I feel like if I don't confess my sin right away, that I will be going to Hell. The remnants of Catholicism are still there.
This is not someone who is free to serve God, but someone who is living in constant fear of going to Hell and walking around on egg shells all day. This has actually prevented me from going out with my cross- which is exactly what the enemy wants. How could I display a cross asking, "Are You Ready?" when I don't feel ready myself?
Someone once told me this about confession: "Say what you want, but the fact that I have to confess my sins to a priest makes me think twice before committing them." If that is the only motivation to not sin, there is a serious problem.
We are called to confess our sins (1 John 1:9), but this act of confession is merely another "work." Imagine a criminal who stands in front of a judge who confesses to a crime. Will his confession nullify the need for his punishment? Of course not!
For me, life in the Catholic Church was about keeping the Law. When you break it, if you don't confess before you die, they say you go to Hell (see above- their words, not mine). It was about what you did not do- not about the things I did for God.
In his book “Go and Sin No More: A Call to Holiness,” Dr. Michael L. Brown talks about the difference between holiness and legalism. “Holiness,” Brown explains, “is being like Jesus in thought, word and deed. As Samuel Lucas noted, ‘The essence of true holiness consists in conformity to the nature and will of God.’” He also describes legalism. “It has several different forms, but all of them flow from the same source, namely, religion without relationship, emphasizing standards more than the Savior. To an unsaved person the legalist preaches justification by works, saying, ‘You’re a wicked sinner and you need to get rid of all your filthy habits if you want the Lord to accept you.’ There is no in grace in this message, no exalting of the life-changing, sin-cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, no clear proclamation of mercy. The declaration of God’s love express through the Cross is muffled- if it is even heard at all. Consequently, the proof of the new birth is seen almost entirely in what someone no longer does.”
To give a good analogy of holiness and legalism (like Catholicism), Brown continues,
“Let me illustrate this with the amusing story or two farmers who had a talk about Christianity. One of them said to his friend, ‘I hear that you’re a Christian.’
‘That’s right,’ the other replied.
‘Well, what does it mean to be a Christian?’ the curious farmer asked.
‘Well, I don’t drink, smoke, or run around with women.’
‘In the case,’ the friend responded, ‘my mule must be a Christian too, because my mule doesn’t drink, smoke, or run around with women!’”
Do you see the difference? When I ask someone what it means to be a Christian, they should tell me they have sinned against a holy God and their just reward is hell, but God loved us so much that He sent His One and only Son to die for our sins. If we will repent of our sins and place our trust in Jesus alone, we can have eternal life. This is a different message than just telling someone what not to do.
Here is what the Bible says about the Law:Romans 3:21: "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law."
Galatians 2:19: "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God."
Galatians 3:19: "Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions."
Romans 3 tells us that "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Galatians 3:10-11: "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
Galatians 3:21-22: "Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."
There is no salvation in keeping the Law, because none of us have kept it!
Romans 5:21: "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."
The idea that I am justified by going to confession with a Catholic priest is repulsive to me. I am justified through Christ's blood- not the act of going to confession in a Catholic church. Christ dying for my sins was not enough?
Galatians 2:21: "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."
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