Re: Ask a True Christian™ Pastor -
12-05-2011, 11:02 PM
On 12/1/2011 7:43 PM, xxxx wrote: Rev. Jones,
I came across an interesting post on your forums about the supposed evils of Minecraft.
(I realize that this was over a month and a half ago, but I just saw it today).
While I disagree with this, it's not what I'm emailing you to discuss.
Specifically, I'm curious about post #125 on that page, posted by yourself.
Before I go further, I would like to say that I myself am a 16 year old man with a Christian upbringing, and I have gone to a private Christian school for the past 11 and 1/2 years of my life. As for my specific denomination, I'll tell you that momentarily. I would also like to say that I'm (unfortunately) not incredibly well trained in the Bible, and cannot quote specific passages straight from memory, as I have no doubt that you can. Which is why I do not wish to get into an argument, I merely wish for an answer, and perhaps we can have a healthy debate.
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I would first like to address this:
"The funny thing is that we and the Catholics have almost the exact same Bible."
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Thank you for saying this, as it seems that other members of your congregation do not realize this.
Second, this:
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The difference between us and them is that we read it and actually follow it.
The same cannot be said for them.
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Now for the main part of this email. As I promised I would tell you, I am a practicing Roman Catholic.
Not to be rude, but do you actually know any Catholics?
If you do, can you claim that any of them are 'bad' people?
The majority of the practicing Catholics that I know are good people. They try to avoid lies, pornography, etc. as much as possible. However, being human, as we all are, they are not perfect, and neither am I. (For now, 'they' will refer to myself and the practicing Catholics I just referred to). They do charitable works for other people on a regular basis, they go to Church weekly, they pray for other people, living and dead. I know several people that pray the Rosary on a daily basis. (The Rosary is a series of prayers asking the intercession of the Virgin Mary on our behalf or on the behalf of our intentions. I do not believe (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that you pray to Mary, but again, I ask that you respect me and my beliefs, and I will return that favor).
How could a person like this possibly be bad, or even doomed to Hell? Surely you know that no human has been perfect since Jesus Christ (and in my views, his earthly Mother), and do you not believe that God forgives those who ask for forgiveness?
(Again, please correct me if I'm wrong when I say what you believe.)
Third, and for now, my final point:
"Homosexuals, adulterers, rebellious children, witches and etc. should be executed."
Why? If you believe that God offers forgiveness to sinners, as I do, why should we kill them?
In my beliefs, a person can repent for their sins only during their life on earth. Why should we shorten that time and give them less of a chance to repent?
This concludes my opening, and I still would ask for your respect and openness in this discussion.
Thank you very much for your time this evening.
Your brother in Christ,
xxxxx xxxxx
21:42:22 EST, 12/01/2011
Dear xxxxx,
Thank you for your questions. I am sorry that it took me so long to get back to you. The reason I say that Catholics don't follow the Bible is because throughout my experiences with them, they simply haven't read the Word. They tend to rely on having a priest tell them what is in it. Now, I'm not saying protestants are not guilty of this too, but the problem seems to be particularly bad with Catholics. Most of their priests don't even really know what is in the Bible. They tend to teach from Catholic tradition more often than God's
Take yourself as an example. You claim to follow biblical teachings, yet you readily admit to not having read what they are. How can you accept God if you don't even know what He wants of you?
Where in the Bible does it ever say that Mary was perfect or sinless? In fact, Jesus goes out of His way to deny His mother (while His biological brothers and sisters stood by {so much for perpetual virginity}) in favor of the apostles.
Matthew 12 46While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
You see? We are not to venerate Jesus' biological mother, when only those who follow His teachings are His brothers, sisters and mother.
All I can tell you is to read your Bible for yourself. It's the only way you will know if it is me or the priests who are telling you the truth. You have to do what we all must do with religion.
No one else can do it for you. Salvation is too personal and important of a thing to leave to someone else to explain to you. You must read the stories for yourself and reflect on what they mean to you.
YIC,
Levi Jones
Christians are superior because we possess an understanding that unbelievers lack. It is through the Power of Jesus only the converted mind is able to understand what is going on in the world; what the Communists are really up to; what Satan's intentions are. Most unbelievers do not even believe in Satan and cannot understand his tactics.
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