BIB501-2 wk 2 DQ#8 Theologies That Thumb Their Noses at Revelation 22:18-19

Where to start; To name a few, Mormonism, Islam, Christian Science, New Age or the Roman Catholic Church? The Bible is the Word of God and here I am not referring to watered down Bibles such as “The Message.” In the Book of Mormon Jesus is the brother of Lucifer and man can achieve the godhood. The Jesus of the Quran more correctly could be labeled the False Prophet of Revelation. Christian Scientists believe the trinity is life, truth and love. The New Agers for the most part are gentle loving people with an “Anything goes” theology, been there, done that and I thank Jesus for not giving up on me.
I was raised in a rather conservative Protestant church in a very small town in Michigan. One of our few claims to fame was that the bestselling author, James Harrison, lived there during his formative years. The other and greater in my opinion is that our town was “The Home of the Living Author,” Reverence George Bennard. Reverence Bennard, the author of the well-known hymn “The Old Rugged Cross,” spent his retirement years in my home town and gave the town land to erect the “Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum.” Life was simpler then and our church celebrated the Lord’s Table several times a year. We did this in remembrance of Jesus’ completed work on that “Old Rugged Cross.” I still remember a friend telling me that it was a shame that I was going to hell as I was not a Catholic. I didn’t take her comment seriously those many years ago. Growing up I read about the evils committed in the name of Christ by the Roman Catholic Church, however, these crimes were in the past and forgotten weren’t they?

I likely would have lived the rest of my live comfortably ignoring the Catholic Church as just a bit misguided faith except for the conversion to or return to Catholicism by friends and family. Last summer one of my best friends told me she was back in the Catholic Church and yes, purgatory is still part of the Catholic theology, how else is one purified enough to enter into the presence of God. Also she told me that the elements really do become the body and blood of Christ during Holy Communion. Back in my adopted state of Arizona I surrounded myself with mostly with likeminded Bible believing Christians. Now that I’m living in California for the foreseeable future, I often joke that I’m surrounded by Atheists, Agnostic, New Agers and Catholics.

Once again I'm up against the 500 word limit so to be Continued.

Acts 4:11-12: "This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." And that includes the Pope!

Continued:

Hi Jeanine and thanks for the information, Evangelical Christians are now "crossing the Tiber” and joining the Catholic Church. I had not heard this expression before, however, the catholic Church is busy evangelizing and I understand are having success.

In the above Discussion Question I closed with, Acts 4:11-12: "This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." And added the comment that “no other name” includes the Pope! I know from Catholic friends that the question of Peter as the “rock” is a touchy subject. In John 21:17 Jesus asked Peter, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” Some think Jesus asked three times as Peter had denied Jesus three times, however, it sounds like the Catholic Church may be using “Feed my sheep” to promote Peter as the “rock” rather Jesus who is our cornerstone. I found this on the Internet:
First Things Evangelicals in the Church of Mary by Daniel P. Moloney
“Likewise, I think evangelicals ought to accept the authoritative voice of the successors of Peter and the apostles not as an oppressive imposition but as Christ’s gift and as an aid in evangelization. After all, Jesus asked Peter to take responsibility for feeding Christ’s sheep. If at times Peter’s successors have seemed less interested in feeding the sheep than in fleecing them, it should still be acknowledged that Jesus wanted the sheep to be fed by Peter, and he wanted the sheep to want Peter to feed them. Since both the pastor and his flock are guided by the Good Shepherd who is Jesus, the leading and the being led are both in obedience to Christ.” Link to complete article: http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft0012/opinion/moloney.html

There was something called The Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration Justification signed Oct. 31, 1999 in Germany. It seems “Catholic/Lutheran differences had been put behind them”. Wonder how all those who were martyred for proclaiming the Gospel as the Word of God would look on this marginalization of the Reformation. Dave Hunt writes of this in his book, “A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days.” Dave Hunt’s book is very informative and is heavily documented.