Unconditional Love

    God's "Unconditional  Love" is also known as Agape love. It is the highest form of love. There are four kinds of love: Agape, Phileo, Storage and Eros. Phileo love is brotherly love or love for friends. Storage love is natural affection, a sense of belonging to each other or love for a family member or spouse. Eros is sexual love or romantic love. People often confuse God's "sacrificial love" for mankind as the same type of  "Unconditional love" a parent has for a child. They are not the same even though, as parents we should strive to obtain or achieve Agape love for all mankind (including our children). How is that possible? As "born again" Christians scripture notes that we should love as Jesus did. Jesus was both the Son of God and God; therefore, his love for his fellow man was Agape love. Scripture says that we are to love our enemies, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and to love God with all of our strength, heart, mind and soul---to love Him first above all others.(Mark 12:29-31, Mark 6:27,28) We can only achieve that type of love that Jesus spoke of by submitting everything we are,all of us (body, mind and spirit) and everything we have (all of our material possessions) to God, for His will and His glory. It can only happen with Jesus "in" us by the Holy Spirit. Does this happen automatically when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior? That you automatically/instantaneously love your enemies and all mankind (Your neighbor) as God loves them or is it something we have to work out with God's help over time as He removes layer after layer of worldly thinking and peel off the old flesh since we have become " New Creatures". Phillippinians 2:12 states ".... work out your salvation with fear and trembling...." This means that we are to continually pursue obedience to God in the process of santification. We are to press on toward the goal of being more like Jesus Christ (to love as He does) by reading,studying and being obedient to His word. (Phillippinians 3:13-14) In "fear and  trembling" means a healthy fear,a reverentail fear of God and obedience to Him.
      God's "Unconditional  Love" is unconditional because He first loved us. God's love is a love that initates; it is never a response. He initiated His love for us so there is nothing we can do to gain His love, earn His love or deserve it because of our works or righteouness. Again as noted earlier God's love for us is a "sacrifical" love.( John 3:16) Before we were born and while we were yet sinners He sacrificed  His only Son for us. Do parents love their child/children? Yes,of course, but their love (even before the child is born) is not God's "Unconditional Love". Parental "Unconditional Love" is human not Godly. The two are not the same? When you tell a child that Jesus loves them and that Father God loves them it is not the same as telling them that Mom or Dad loves them. God's love is the highest form of love. First, because God is love! And also because His very nature is love and the expression of His being. Human beings (Mothers and fathers) are mortal not devine by nature or godly. They also are not perfect and make mistakes.
      A parent's love is characterized by a will to protect their child, keep him/her safe,care for him/her, and nurture him/her. A parent's love is giving,trusting and sharing. A parent's  "Unconditional Love" does not mean agreement with your child's actions. It does not mean forgoing discipline because loving your child means correcting them by directing them into positive/right behaviors. Discipline will help them improve their character and help them develop self control. (Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 19:18.)
     Don't confuse " Parental Unconditional love" with being judgmental, with parental guidance or parental correction. You are not judging their behavior,but using discipline as a teaching tool to guide them. Reaffirming your love for them through discipline or guidance is also not punishment. You are not punishing them,but giving them positive reinforcement that you care for them,want the best of them and want them to be safe and not get hurt or injured. Parental "Unconditional Love" does not condemn the child's wrong actions, but lovingly leads them back to the path that God wants them to follow.
     A parent's "Unconditional  Love" includes tough love at times because a strong dose of tough love may be the appropriate recourse to help someone get off the road of destruction they are on especially if they have been on it for sometime. (Of course, using tough love is usually in the case of older children---17,18,19, 20 yrs old or older.) Also when we shield loved ones from the consequences of their errors by omission or equivocation we often deprive them of the opportunity for the growth and maturity that could possibly eradicate their problematic behavior. Sometimes in the case of older children by allowing them to continue in their behavior without  parental interference or parental help forces them to seek repentance and forgiveness when they have no one else to turn to and come to a realization of the wrong choices they have made.If the life style they are living no longer has any incentives for them to continue living a rebellious or sinful life then there may be an opportunity for you as a parent to save them from themselves. (Hebrews 12:11) In some cases, allowing them to reach the end of their rope and discovering for themselves that wrong choices do affect their lives may be the right course of action depending on the severity of those choices.( Tough love isn't easy for parents and they must be ready to apply it without hesitation when the situation demands such action).
     The action a parent takes depends on the age of the child. When a child is  2 yrs old, 5 yrs old, or 8 or 9 years old a spanking may be the appropriate method of discipline. Along with other measures if necessary. "Time Out" should not be an option if you just send them to their room where they have TV, toys, a computer, DVD's, CD's,etc. "Time Out" should mean sitting still on a chair, on the floor ,in a corner,etc., doing nothing except thinking about what they did and why it was wrong. Of course, you have already explained why they are going to "Time Out" and  You decide when "Time out" is over NOT the child.
    When a child becomes a teenager, 13-17, spankings or corporal discipline may not be appropriate any more and other measures must be applied such as: revoking certain privileges, limiting outside(outside the home or school) involvement in certain functions or activities ( going to football games, sports events,karate lessons, dancing school, soccer practice, etc.) requiring additonal chores ( cleaning the bathroom, putting out the garbage,etc)  or temporarily eliminating specific things from their daily routine that they enjoyed doing.( eating  pizza, watching TV, using the computer,using a cell phone,etc). There  are any number of alternative methods.
   When the child is a young adult (18 to 20) and still living at home discipline may involve not allowing them access to a family car(other than necessary travel to and from a required destination i.e. school or work), not helping them financially with providing funds,( no allowance, no funds for entertainment--videos, DVD's, music CD's, going to the movies,etc.) requiring they attend church counseling or Bible based counseling for their specific behavior,etc. You could also require them to do community service by working at a shelter serving the homeless food ,working in the Church nursery, helping the elderly at a nursing home,etc.
    If they have left home, moved into an apartment on their own, moved away to another town or state,but have become involved in negative and/or unchristian behaviors you can offer to help them yourself or get them help--- especially if it involves health concerns.( STDs--- Sexually Transmitted Diseases,alcoholism, drug addiction,etc) If they don't want or need your help---just pray for them, remind them that sin has consequences and that they can always come home.Try speaking into their lives and always point them to Jesus for salvation and the Bible for answers. A parental rebuke is also important to make them understand how serious a matter their sin is and what it has done to your relationship. Of course, the rebuke should be done in a loving caring way. If they want to return home--- welcome them,but depending on their behavior (if they are continuing to live in a sinful life style and have not repented or asked God for forgiveness) then you must lay down some requirements or ground rules for them to live in your house and they have to be aware that their consent or agreement is required in order to move back in. Such requirements or ground rules may consist of : no drugs, no smoking, no alcohol. They can't bring any friends over to your house that are doing drugs, drinking, smoking or involved in criminal activity,etc. If they agree to those terms and they appear to be open to changing their life style you could also suggest that they attend Christian counseling. In addition, unless they are attending school full time : a trade school,community college,etc. they should have a full time job. They can't sit home,watch TV, have friends over to eat your food and do nothing. It is Your house and you are a Parent not their roommate or buddy.  Of course don't ever give them money to support their habit--- whatever it is: drinking, drugs. gambling, porn,etc. Don't become a co dependent by funding their addiction or sinful life style. Unless and until they have proven that they are financially responsible also do not loan them any money or co sign for anything.
     Parental "Unconditional  Love" does not mean that you lower YOUR standards for your child. It does not mean making excuses for your child's behavior or allowing them to continue in the negative/wrong behavior without discipline. Don't try to be a friend to your child they need a parent ---- not a buddy.
    Parental "Unconditional Love" does not mean that by rejecting your child's behavior that you are rejecting the child. It doesn't mean lowering your expectations, but instead expecting consideration, respect, honesty, and responsibility from them. Parental "Unconditional Love" does not mean blindly accepting excuses or lies for your child's negative patterns of behavior.
    Even though God's "Unconditional Love" and  "Parental Unconditional Love" are not the same, they do have some things in common. God's "Unconditional Love" for mankind is not a license for people to live in sin and disobedience. A parent's "Unconditional love" for a child is also not a license to sin or to be disobedient.
    Many youth (teenagers) and "adult" children(21 or older) wrongly assume that because their mother and father love them and will always love them no matter what they do---- that they can do whatever they want to do. They think God feels the same way since--- He is love.
   Just as God's "Unconditional Love" includes: discipline, judgement and punishment so too a parent's " Unconditional love" at times may also include: discipline,judgment and punishment.( Habakkuk 1:3, Luke 11:23, Proverbs 1:8, 10 Proverbs 1:23-31 Proverbs 12:1)
    Through out the Bible from Genesis to Revelation there are numerous examples of  God's discipline judgment and punishment. God's "Unconditional Love" is for everyone just as His offer of salvation; however, in order to BE loved, to feel God's love you must first accept His love. It is there waiting for you. You only have to acknowledge it to receive it.Just as His salvation is a "free" gift that you can't earn,buy or work for--- so is His love. To receive His salvation, to be saved, you only have to accept the offer and acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Belief in Him! (is the only requirement) With God's love ---first you must believe there is a God. Then believe that He alone is the God of the Bible,(there are no other gods) you can know Him through His word (the Bible) and have a relationship him.
    Everyone is familiar with the parable of the sower and the seed. (Mark chapter 4:1-20.) The parable teaches many things,but it notes that not everyone will be saved, that not everyone will be accepted by God to go to heaven or have their names written in the Lamb's Book of  Life. It teaches that not everyone will accept God's "Unconditional Love ' for themselves. Therefore, even though God's "Unconditional Love" is available for everyone doesn't mean that just because  God loves everyone that they will automatically go to heaven.
    His love for Adam and Eve didn't prevent Him from casting them out of the Garden. His love didn't protect Samson when he sinned against God or stop Him from punishing the Nation of Israel when they committed idolatry and disobedience. God's " Unconditional Love" doesn't prevent the consequences of sin from happening. Throughout the Bible: Samson, Saul, David ,Adam, suffered from the wrong choices that they made. Their disobedience and self will,selfishness,brought painful results--including death. Scripture states that  God will not be mocked. An individual can not lead a sinful life,continually sin,
 and expect blessings from God. Luke 11:23 states "He who is not with me is against me."
    In the parable of the woman caught in adultery (John Chapter 8:1-11) ,Jesus did not say she wasn't guilty of sin, He did not excuse the sin or overlook it. He said" Neither do I condemn you; go, and do NOT sin again." Her accusers were gone. Under Jewish law it took at least two witnesses to testify against the accused, no one came forward--so no one was there as a witness. Under Jewish law both the man and the woman were to be stoned to death if found guilty,but the Scribes and Pharisees didn't bring the man--- so the law was not  followed in charging just her with adultery. That's why Jesus said " Neither do I condemn you...." not because she wasn't guilty or had not sinned,but because the law had not been followed civilly she was not guilty. He didn't pardon her sin as a civil authority. But He did tell her NOT to sin any more. He didn't say, "ok, woman you got off this time just don't get caught again. And because of God's "Unconditional Love" go and sin a few more times--- then stop."
    In the parable of the Prodigal Son ( Luke 15:11-32)  the youngest son in the family decides that he wants his inheritance now instead of waiting. He takes all of his money leaves the country and spends all the money on wine ,women and riotous living. Scripture says he spent it on " parties and prostitutes". After spending all his money and coming to the end of himself, scripture notes a great famine had struck and he had nothing to eat. He finally got a job feeding pigs and was so hungry that even the pig food looked good enough for him to eat,but no one even gave him that. It was then when he had reached the depths of his despair that he "came to his senses" He repented of his sins against God and his father and asked for forgiveness. He decided to return home even if he had to work as a slave or hired servant in his father's house.
    The parable is about many things including: restoration,salvation, compassion, mercy and forgiveness. It is also about God allowing the prodigal son to use his "free will" to choose to sin and walk away from everything good and righteous his father had taught him. God's "Unconditional Love" does not force those He loves to act rightly because they have to, but because they love Him want to please Him. The wayward, rebellious son wasted his life in sinning against God and his father until things got so bad that he had come to the end of his rope. He was starving to death. God's  "Unconditional  Love" didn't protect the prodigal son from himself. He willfully chose to ignore what he had been taught. God's "Unconditional Love" doesn't stop someone from ignoring their conscience (knowing right from wrong) and rebelling against God. Scripture says that God will not contend with man forever (Genesis 6:3, Romans 1:24-32,Romans 2:5-8) that people who continually, knowingly, willfully sin will receive a seared conscience ( it no longer functions to warn them what is right from wrong) and that their hearts will be hardened against the things of God. (1 Timothy 4:2 and Romans 2:15). A seared conscience is a conscience that ceases to feel: shame,guilt, or remorse.The story ends well because the prodigal son repented of his sin, asked forgiveness and apparently after he got home didn't go out and do the same thing over again. Often times someone has to reach bottom before they can get back to the top.  Sometimes God uses harsh measures to get someone's attention because of the way they are living, but He has them where He wants them to be--on the road to repentance,renewal and forgiveness.
    Question? Why do you think the prodigal son's father gave him the money? #1 because he loved his son and just wanted him to have his inheritance even if he squandered it. Note! The money/property was the father's to give or not to give--- it belonged to him. He didn't have to give the son anything  #2 the answer is in verse 24 " For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;he was lost and is found" The father wasn't sure if he would ever see his son again-- alive; knowing what the son was going to do with the money, but wanted his son to have the opportunity "to come to his senses or come to the end of his rope" in order to grow up and "find himself" even though he was lost. The prodigal son apparently didn't know who he was as a child of the living God. The father didn't know if his son was alive or dead. The father obviously knew his son's intentions. The older brother did--- probably because his younger brother told him before he left exactly what he was going to do with the money. The father expected him to wind up broke,hungry and maybe starve to death or die as a result of his sinful behavior. He did, however; hope that his son would survive and return a different man, with a different attitude and a more mature understanding of his relationship with God and his father. His prayers were answered.
   As noted earlier, a parent's "Unconditional  love" may also sometimes require "Tough Love" by not becoming involved in the life of a wayward "adult" grown child. By allowing them to "come to their senses" on their own and to seek repentance and forgiveness so they can understand the consequences of wrong choices and then be restored to the family and the path that God has for them. "Tough Love" might mean allowing them to remain in jail if they get arrested, not to give them money to help them out of a financial jam if they are in debt, not to fix their wrecked car because of a DWI, not to buy them clothes or anything else so they are able to continue in their rebellious, sinful life style. If you continue to support them,cloth them,feed them,help every time they get in trouble,etc.--- why would they want to repent or change the way they live? You are financing their chaotic life style.
   Is it God's will that you allow the unrepentant rebellious older child to return to your home or come and go at will without any discipline, rebuke, consequences or ground rules? Remember----God is not a God of chaos or confusion and does not tolerate sin.  Is it God's will for your family that you allow the child who is continuing to sin to bring sin into your home, into your life and open the door for Satan to enter. Satan only has authority over what you allow him to do in your life. Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord" At what point in your life as a parent does your responsibility for being a parent end? At what point in your life as a parent do you stop directing, guiding or protecting your child? Does a parent ever stop being a parent? Even if you can't speak into their life and they don't want your advice, opinions, suggestions or help----- do you quit being a parent? Do you just ignore the sin, say nothing, do nothing, and continue to live as a family avoiding the subject? (like the proverbial elephant in the living room) Aren't you treating them by your omission no different than the way the world treats them by agreeing with the sin in their life. (Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world,.....") As a parent, as a "Born Again" Chrisitian, you know that the life style they are living is not spiritually healthy( and may also not be physically or mentally healthy) and their ultimate destination for all eternity is hell unless they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Of course, as a parent you love your child. You never stopped loving them,but is just loving them,being kind,being understanding enough---To help them turn their life around and show them to Jesus. Naturally, you should continue to pray for them and intercede to God for them. Remember, no matter how they act---they will expect you to love them anyway because you are their parent! They expect"Unconditional  Love".  Should a child no matter how old always honor their father and mother? (Exodus 20:12) Doesn't honoring your mother and father mean obedience and respect? (Proverbs 23:22-25,Proverbs 15:5, Matthew 15:4-6, Colossians 3:20, Hebrews 12:9-11, Ephesians 6:1-3, Leviticus 19:1) As one of the ten commandments of God if a child is not obedient or respectful isn't that sin? ( Ist John 2:4 ,2nd Timothy 3:1-17)
       Just as Faith apart from works is dead ( James 2:14-26) so to love without action is merely empty words/lip service. The phrase "I love you" means absolutely nothing without evidence of that love. What is love? According to 1st Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient,love is kind. Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; It is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongs,but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things,believes all things, hopes all things,endures all things." 1st Corinthians 13:13 "There are three things that remain--- faith,hope and love--and the greatest of these is love." Colossians 3:14 " And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
       As parents we must make our children understand that Loving them  by feeding them, clothing them, providing shelter and an education is indeed our responsibility ,but also just as important is protecting them from harm and that means their physical and spiritual safety. Their spiritual well being is paramount in their growth and maturity as an individual. They must be made to understand that our love as parents includes protecting them at times--- even from themselves. They must understand that along with all the things noted in Corinthians our love also includes:discipline, tough love, punishment, and sometimes even to allow them to come to the "end of their rope". The ability to love as a parent takes daily attention and commitment. A good parent tells his children the truth even if it isn't what they want to hear.  According to scripture, God expects parents to raise up their children to serve him. Parents will answer to God for every child He entrusts to their care. In addition, it is also a parent's responsibility to train their children to obey them and train them to show respect. Proverbs 22:6 " Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old,he will not depart from it." Ephesians 6:4 "And ye fathers,provoke not your children to wrath,but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  If your child is not a Christian, not saved, doesn't know Jesus----it is never to late to start--even if they are adults. No matter what their behavior is now , Jesus is their hope.God's word is never proclaimed in vain. If you ignore the fact that your child needs Jesus and don't point him in that direction--your holidays and family get togethers might be easier,but their eternity won't be. Don't ignore the unbelief, the sin or evil in their life and pretend with time it will go away because you love them. Remember! Your love or even the fear of God didn't stop them from committing the sin and choosing the life style they are in.
     In Luke 5:27-32,Mark 2:13-17 and Matt. 9:9-12 scripture notes that Jesus ate with tax collectors,scribes and others who were all noted to be sinners. When asked by the Pharisees why he ate with sinners. Jesus answered," I have not come to call the righteous,but sinners." He also said," Those who are well have no need of a physician,but those who are sick."
    Even though some people might erroneously try to use this scripture to justify "Born Again" Christian participation with sinners in purely social settings it is not recorded in the Bible for that purpose.This scripture can not be used as evidence of God's "Unconditional Love" for sinners to justify Christians socializing or partying with sinners solely to eat a meal,attend a social gathering or get together.
    In John 2:1-11, Jesus attended a wedding at Cana with his disciples. He performed His first miracle there to show that He was indeed God manifest in the flesh. In Luke 7:36-50, Jesus attended a dinner at Simon the Pharisee's house( a sinner) where He again showed that He was God by forgiving the woman who was a prostitute her sins. Jesus never attended a social function with sinners just to eat a meal or socialize with them.
    As Christians,followers of Christ, scripture notes that we should be "in" the world,but not "of" the world and that we should be separate and apart from the things of the world. Yes, the world is full of sinners and we are suppose to witness to them,but that doesn't have to include participating in their worldly functions, activities or way of life. Scripture says that as Christians we shouldn't even give the appearance of being involved in something that would cause believers to stumble or give unbelievers a reason to say that Christians are hypocrites and no different from the world. We are suppose to honor God in ALL we say and do.
    The following is a detailed explanation and systematic review of what happened in Luke 5:27-32. Jesus was invited by Matthew (Levi) who had recently become a follower of Jesus. Jesus was asked to attend a feast or banquet by Matthew at his house to introduce Jesus to his friends and associates.He wanted them to meet Jesus. Matthew only had sinners as friends so only sinners were there. He invited his fellow tax collectors who were considered by the Jews as enemies of the Jewish people, as crooks and as thieves. Others who were invited by Matthew were also considered by the Pharisees to be sinners.
    Jesus did not initiate the banquet or organize it. He did not go there for self edification, self gratification or for people to know him as a great rabbi (teacher) or prophet. He used the occasion as always to call men to the truth, and holiness. His statement to the Pharisees answers the question "why" he was there. He didn't attend merely to listen to the conversation of the unsaved, or just to be polite and friendly. He was there to tell them about salvation ,repentance and forgiveness. Jesus didn't isolate himself from sinners,but he didn't associate with them just to win their approval. By attending the get together, Jesus never indulged in their sinful ways or compromised his testimony. Jesus didn't go to a sports bar to have a few beers with some unsaved people to eat a meal and watch a football game or other sports event. He didn't attend a luncheon with sinners to get noticed by the community or the Pharisees as a "holy man". He didn't show up to promote a recent book he wrote or to start an eating program at his church. He was there to win men's souls. Jesus was not there to just "socialize" with sinners.He was not there merely to rub shoulders with the unsaved and just pass the time of day. Jesus' ministry was to save the lost. Jesus loved sinners,but hated sin.
    As Christians we should seek to befriend the unsaved, the ungodly or sinners in order to introduce them to to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This includes relatives, extended family and unsaved "adult" children. In befriending them we should not do anything that would compromise our witness or testimony.We should also not allow the unsaved to talk us into a fruitless argument or debate about our faith, the Bible or Jesus. You are there to influence them, not to be influenced by them. Listening to meaningless chatter is not a reason to attend a gathering of the unsaved at a social function. Scripture says that it serves no purpose to become involved in foolish arguments or debates,but we should be available as an approved student in or out of season to defend our faith.(2nd Timothy 4:2) We should take the initiative in guiding the conversation into positive channels of spiritual helpfulness.
    Yes, Jesus ate with sinners and we should follow His example when witnessing to sinners over a cup of coffee or a meal, but that doesn't involve socializing with the unsaved to just eat or visit.(As noted by Jesus' answer to the Pharisees) Also, any help you provide to befriend a sinner should always point them to Jesus.
    In legal terms a witness, is someone who testifies with personal knowledge to what they have seen, heard or had actually experienced ( had happen to them). In religious terms, a witness is someone who is a Christian that testifies or gives their testimony(personal knowledge) to what Jesus has done in their life. In addition,how their life has changed as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior and how they have received forgiveness of their sins and eternal salvation. Witnessing can include: actions,deeds and/or verbal testimony. Your witness is basically your daily life---how your life witnesses to the fact that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. As someone once said "If you were accused of being a "Christian" would there be enough evidence to prove it." External behavior(doing or not doing something) is not the answer to providing evidence. Proof doesn't involve being legalistic or adhering to a particular theological doctrine. Jesus said that the evidence that the world will recognize is the love that Christians have for one another.John 13:34-35, Ist Corinthians 13:1-3, Galatians 5:22 Loving your fellow "Born Again" Christian involves thought, word and deed. It includes your motives,your attitudes, and your inner spirit man. You also, however; need to identify those that are Christians in name only and false religions that claim to be Christian. Jesus said to be wary of such as these. Matthew 10:16, Matthew 10:16-42.
    As noted earlier the unsaved also includes family and relatives. With relatives and family if Christ is left out of Christmas then all you have is a secular holiday involving Christmas lights,gift giving and eating. If Jesus is omitted at Thanksgiving then all you have is another man made tradition,secular holiday or gathering for eating. At Easter, if Jesus is not glorified and honored, then again all you have is a secular holiday for buying Easter eggs, baskets of chocolate candy, Easter bunnies and eating. If family gatherings, barbecues,or birthday parties don't include Jesus then why are you there----if Jesus wasn't invited? If you don't bring him, who will?
    How will you be seen differently from the unsaved if your testimony is diminished because you are influenced by family? Mark 8:38 states, "For whoever is ashamed of me and my work in this adulterous and sinful generation of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in glory of His Father with the holy angels." In Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23 Jesus said." Whoever is not with me is against me and anyone who is not working with me is actually working against me." There is no neutrality in the spiritual realm. You are either serving God or serving Satan. There can be no "in between". Jesus said that he did not come to bring peace to the earth ,but fire and a sword, that he did not come to bring peace to the earth,but division. He said that even in a man's family that his own children would rebel against his authority as a father and that division within a family will happen where a son would be against his father, a daughter against her mother,etc. Luke 12:49-53.,Matthew 10:34, Matthew 10:36 states "A man's enemies will be the enemies of his own household." As a Christian you may even be hated by your own family because of the salvation message which includes calling people from darkness into the light and because the message of Jesus Christ exposes the sin and evil deeds in their life.
    As a "Born Again" Christian who is also a parent your "Unconditional Love" for your child that is not saved must include the reality that no matter how much you love him--he may not return that love(even though it is not a requirement of your love for him) because you have exposed the sin in his life and have taken a stand for God against the control that Satan has over his life. Always remember who you are "in" Christ and that all things are possible with God on your side.

Can you Compromise with Sin?

Part 1
 
What is sin?
Jas 4:17, I John 3:4, Mt 7:21, Romans 14:23

   Sin is disobedience to God's laws, disobedience to His Word, unbelief, anything--commission or omission type of behavior (including thought) that is outside of God's Spirit, it is lawlessness, all wrongdoing, not doing God's will, sin is evil, anything that doesn't come from faith.
   What are the causes of sin? Some of the causes are: greed, lust, jealousy, envy, anger, hatred, pride, selfishness, idolatry, prejudice, bigotry, self will, and rebellion to name a few.
   Where does sin come from? Romans 5:12
From man's nature (the choices he makes), from Satan (Temptation). Satan is the Father of all lies. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way that man could be tempted, but he did not sin. Matt 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-12.  In the wilderness he was tempted by Satan and He showed us by His example how to confront temptation. Heb. 2:18  Jesus used the Word.  He said, "it is written..." God in His Word has also told us that there is no temptation that we can't bear, that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond that which we can bear. 1 Co. 10:13
   What are the consequences and results of sin? Romans 6:23, Psalm 107:17 Separation from God, spiritual death, eternal damnation to hell, physical pain and suffering, emotional pain, psychological problems, physical death, generational curses, imprisonment/jail,disease, sickness, loss of material possessions, disaster, tragedy, financial destruction, misery, despair, and afflication are some of the consequences. Throughout the Bible beginning with Adam and Eve there are numerous examples of those that sinned against God, i.e.: Samson, David, the prodigal son, numberous kings and nations, Judas, Joseph's brothers, and Herod to name a few.
   What are the types of sin? Stealing, murder, adlutery, lying coveting, immorality, debauchery, jealousy, etc.  In each case of sin noted in the Bible the individual or nation made a conscious choice to sin.  It didn't just accidentally happen or some how just appear.  They chose to disobey God, His laws, commandments, statutes, His word, His Holy Spirit, or His will.  Whether an individual or a nation -- example (Israel) God always provided them with a warning and confronted their sin before punishing the sin. The Bible provides us with numerous examples of how God sent angels, prophets, messengers to warn people of their sin, to repent, turn away from the evil they had done and turn bak to God.  God is patient, long suffering, just, merciful, and He keeps His promises. He has even changed His mind when it came to punishing someone or a nation. (If they repented). Jonah 3:10 -- Nineveh, 2 Kings 20:5-7 -- Hezekiah. However, when they refused to listen, continued in their sin and accepted the lie for "The Truth" then the punishmet was inevitable and swift. There is a saying that goes, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay and it will cost you more than you want to pay." John 8:34.  God classifies liars with murders.  God calls sin exactly what it is.  He doesn't make excuses for, have exceptions for or rationalize away the sin--as if it was due to a set of circumstances, situations, or the environment. The Bible says that we are not to add or take away from His Word.  It is both a statement and a warning with consequences for those that refuse to obey.  God says what He means and means what He says.  He doesn't lie like man.
      How then can we compromise with sin? 1 Co 10:21, Psalm 52:3  If we have accepted Jesus as our personal savior and the Lord of our life, we are "Born Again" and we know "The Truth" -- The Good News.  If we are no longer in the darkness, but walk in the light; how can we exchange "The Truth" for a lie. How can we knowingly give up even a small piece of what we know to be true for a falsehood, a lie, a deception.
     Jesus said that He was the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6. What is the "good News"?  Belief/faith in Jesus. (His life, his death on the cross, his resurrection) Romans 10:3, Acts 2:21, John 3:18. that means Jesus alone. Faith In Jesus plus nothing -- not a denomination, a church, a doctrine, a sacrament, a tradition, a program, a religion -- nothing else.  If we believe God's Word, the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God--The Bible, which reveals God's mind to us, who He is, who Jesus is, as well as how we should live -- how than can we compromise what we believe to be "The Truth" with sin (a lie)?  According to Webster's Dictionary, compromise means: to concede, to agree with, to amicably involve, concession.
     Is it okay to sin a little, maybe just now and then, only if it was unintentional (we just slipped)?  In order to avoid responsibility, we say, "It's really not my fault.  I couldn't help myself.  The devil made me do it.  It was peer pressure.  I didn't mean to do it."
     God said that He has given us authority over Satan and there is no temptation we can't bear or overcome. Luke 10:19, I co. 10:13, Jas 4:7, Matt. 18:7.  One way or another we allow sin into our lives when we: 1. don't believe God's Word,  2. don't obey God's Word,  3. allow the things of this world to become more important than the things of God.  Sin is sin, a lie is a lie (not a half truth) or (a white lie).  We make excuses for our behavior and do not accept the responsibility for our actions.  We blame others, i.e. as Adam blamed the woman God gave him and Eve blamed the serpent.  In His Word, God has told us that we are to be in the world, but not of the world.  The Bible says that we are not to be stumbling blocks to others. Romas 14:7, 8, 13, 14-16, 21-23. That means: even when we are ok with doing something; whatever we eat, drink or do -- that even when we know in our relationship with Jesus we are not guilty of sin by doing what we believe to be right or even if our own conscience (the Holy Spirit) does not convict us of wrong doing and we are free to do it, if however; it will cause our brother or sister in the Lord to sin or withdraw from their relationship with Jesus -- then we are not free to do it.  No matter what "it" is.
I Corinthians 6:12, I Corinthians 10:23-33.  If we commit an act that is sin, or that causes sin or results in the sin of another--it doesn't make any difference.  We are responsible! ICorinthians 8:9-13
     Cain asked God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Who did Jesus say was my brother? If by my actions or lack of action I cause someone else to sin against God--am I responsible? What does the Bible say about innocent blood? What is the second greatest commandment? Galatians 5:13-14. How then can we compromise with sin? Not only for our sake, but for others. As fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, husbands, or wives we all effect someone else by our behavior, our attitude, our speech, our actions, our body language, or our facial expressions.  They are affected by what we do or in some cases what we don't do. Jas 4:17. I am not responsible for the sins that they commit on their own, but if I lead them astray, away from a relationship with Jesus, away from His Word, His salvation -- am I not responsible and won't I be held accountable for my actions? Psalm 101:7, Proverbs 12:17, 22; Proverbs 19:5, 9. The Bible says if I preach a false gospel, any other gospel except the gospel of Jesus Christ then I sin against God. The Bible says that if I add to or take away from God's Word I sin against Him. By compromising His gospel or His Word I exchange "The Truth" for a lie.  Is there any difference between that sin and stealing, bearing false witness against my neighbor, adultery, murder, or immorality? In God's eyes are there degrees of sin or is it the same? Are there little sins and bigger sins? Is it the number of sins that God looks at, i.e. 2 vs 20?
     If according to the Bible SIN is SIN, then--How can we compromise His Word? How do we hold our tongue or not speak about false doctrines? How do we not tell others about the Lie that they are involved with when it is "The Truth" that  will set them free? How can we partake of any other doctrine or a church service that leads people away from "The Truth", away from Jesus and His gospel? Can we participate in another faith if that belief or doctrine conflicts with "The Truth"? I John 1:6-7. Is it ok if that denomination, religion, or church claims to be a Christian organization and does good works or has vast numbers of people that are members?  Is it ok to accept some of the Lie, some of the falsehood, some of the deception, and call it Good (to call evil good)? In exchange for what? If part of a statement is true, but the whole statement is not--is it true or false? If the foundation of a structure is bad  then the whole building is unsafe, unstable and will collapse.  If you build on sand? Can you combine the Word of God with man's traditions? What does God say about the traditions of man? Matthew 15:3-9. What did Jesus have to say about the Sadducees and the Pharisees? Paul said that he would be all things to all people in order to win them to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:20-23. That didn't mean he would become a drunk to talk to drunks, or a drug addict to talk to addicts, or become involved in sin to talk to sinners in order to win them to Christ.
     Question? Are Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Naturalism, New Age Movement, Athesim, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Freemasonry, Spiritism, Scientology, Seventh Day Adventists false religions or cults and in conflit with the Gospel Of Jesus Christ? Is the Roman Catholic Church any different?
     When we say we can agree with Roman Catholicism on the basics (the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith), aren't we compromising the Word of God? Are we using the Bible as the standard by which we should be comparing questions of faith and doctrine or using the traditions of men? Can we really agree with and concede to the Roman Catholic translation of the Word of God (Their Bible), agree with establishment of the Papacy, the infallibility of the Pope and the College of Bishops, agree to the Roman Catholic Sacraments, the Sacrifice of the Mass, agree with the worship of Mary and the Saints, the baptism of babies, the establishment of the hierarchy of the Church and the veneration of Priests (Matthew 23:9), Bishops, Cardinals, etc, agree with the Roman Catholic cannon (law), Roman Catholic catechism, the use of the rosary, agree with the forgiveness of sins by a priest, agree with their acceptance of Pagan Hoidays and rituals dating back to the Greek and Roman Empire. (Praying to the dead, Mardi Gras or celebrating Saints holidays to name a few). The list goes on and on. Can we truly even agree on who they say Jesus was, His life, death, and resurrection. (In that they combine faith in Jesus plus works, the sacraments and complete obedience to the Church, the Pope and Catholic Law as conditions for salvation.) When Jesus died "once for all" what did that mean? I Peter 3:18. What did he mean when he said, "it is finished."? Catholicism through the mass sacrifices him over and over. Hebrews 10:11-18, 9:25-26.
     Is that the Gospel Paul preached? Other so called Christian religions say they believe in Jesus. (They believe he was a great prophet, one of many gods, a good man, a great man, that he was one of the sons of God, etc, etc.) If there is no difference between theRoman Catholic Church and other False religions then why should we treat it any differently?
     Because it claims to be Chrisian? (so do the cults) Because of its works? (read the history and atrocities of the Catholic Church including the present) Because the members of the Church are good people, prominent people in the community such as judges, doctors, lawyers, elected officials, businessmen, etc? Naturally in South Louisiana and especially in Southwestern Louisiana the dominant religion is Roman Catholic. The majority of our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and people we do business with are probably Roman Catholics. (There are probably a lot more Mormons in Utah than Catholics, but that doesn't change the status of the Mormon church as a cult.) What does The Word say about being a respecter of persons? Are we suppose to treat people differently because of who they are, what they do, how much money they have? Question? Are they "born again", are they saved, do they have a personal relationship with Jesus, do they know Jesus as Lord of their life? Or do they need to be told "The Truth"? Are they living a lie and headed to hell because they have been led astray?
     If a Catholic or anyone else who is a member of a false religion or cult doesn't see a difference in a "Born Again" Christian and how they live, act, speak, work, etc because they have compromised with sin, why would they want to know "The Truth"?
    Can you compromise with sin? What does it mean to compromise your beliefs, your faith, your principles, your integrity? Aren't we guilty of leading people to believe that there is no difference by not speaking, by our omission of our disagreement, by keeping silent or even more so in attending any Catholic religious function: a baptism, a wedding, a confirmaation or any false religion activity or cult function? Aren't we guilty of leading people to believe that there is no difference? When we participate in or attend such a function aren't we in essence by our presence agreeing with Roman Catholic dogma, doctrine, or cannon? By just being there, aren't we conceding our agreement? In I Corinthians 10:31  Paul reminds us "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". Paul also notes in Corinthians that we have the liberty or the freedom to do all things through Christ, but we can't use that freedom as an excuse to sin again. Romans 5:13 states that we should not use our freedom to indulge our sinful nature, but serve one another in love.
     Where do you draw the line in compromising? Is it even up to you to draw the line or has God already established the line not to cross? Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. He was accused by the Pharisees of being a sinner because they saw him with sinners, but Jesus didn't sin. Mark 2:17, Matt. 9:10. Jesus didn't go eat with them to socialize and just visit. The Bible is very specific about prohibiting certain behaviors, actions or practices, etc. For example: witchcraft, Satanism, homosexuality, contacting the dead, astrology, fortune telling, divination, mediums, psychics, palmistry, etc. Question? Even though you are not a witch -- is it okay to celebrate Halloween? Is it okay to read your horoscope, have your palm read, have your future/fortune told, play with a Ouija board, a crystal ball, buy spells or charms, purchase paraphernalia related to the occult, voodoo or have seances, play games about ghosts? You are not the palmist, the medium, the fortune teller, the maker of the games or cultic objects, but you participate in these prohibited behaviors.  Are you guilty of sin (disobeying the Word of God)? God has drawn a line regarding these practices--that you should not cross. In the same way, if you were asked by someone or you received an invitation to go: Would you attend a wedding for two homosexuals or lesbians? Would you participate in a service at a Mormon Church, a Church of Scientology, or a witches' coven? Is there any difference in attending these events and the prohibited practices noted above? Or participating in or attending practices by the Roman Catholic church?
     Are there Roman Catholics who have become "real" Christians and have a relationship with Jesus? Yes, but it is in spite of the Catholic church not because of it. Some Catholics that no longer believe the "lie" say that they stay in the Catholic church to help others know "The Truth". These reformed Catholics are no longer considered to be 100% practicing Catholics. (according to Catholic cannon and doctrine) because they no longer adhere to or accept Catholic theology, cannon or doctrine.  The majority of Catholics that become "Born Again" Christians leave the Roman Catholic church and seek "Bible based, non-denominational, spirit-filled churches."
     Non-believers, the unsaved or those that are not "Born Again" Christians do not see a discernible difference in so called Christian denominations.  Each group has a building, a church, where followers meet or gather. Each group has services, masses or fellowship on Sundays and weekdays. Each group claims to know Jesus and uses His name. Each group claims to us the Word of God -- a Bible.  Each group apparently does good works, has Sunday schools, Bible study, instructional classes, and has some type of outreach programs in the community. There appear to be many similarities on the surface yet underneath they are vastly different. Jesus warned that there would be many false prophets, many false religions, false replicas of the gospel. Often the deception or the lie is subtle. The subterfuge is cunning and artful. Satan is the master and father of all lies. He will use whatever he can to draw people away from Jesus, away from the truth and salvation. How then can we compromise with sin? With the lie? There is only "one Truth", "One Gospel", and One Jesus"!
     When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior didn't we enter into a covenant with God.  A covenant that requires us to live a specific type of life, a covenant that requires us to follow Jesus, that requires us to serve God, and to accept and follow His will for our lives. Luke 9:23. When we break that covenant with God by sinning against Him we place ourselves outside God's protection and we allow Satan to have free access to our lives. We give him permission to come into our heart, our mind, our emotions, and our feelings. When we break the covenant we not only break it with God, but also with all our brothers and sisters in the Lord that are part of the Body of Christ. (We bring sin into the camp.) The sin we cause reflects not only on us, but all "Born Again" Christians. Aren't we also suppose to be the Temple of the living God with His spirit living in us? The Bible asks the question: How can we partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons?
     Question? Can you sit in a topless bar, drink alcohol and then witness to the unsaved people in the bar? Can you go to a casino, gamble, and smoke and drink alcohol and then witness to the unsaved in that casino about Jesus? Can you listen to an off color/vulgar or racist joke--participate in the laughter or maybe just stand there and not say anything and then try to witness to those same people about Jesus? No matter what the example, can you compromise with sin and then try to witness to the unsaved? (Shouldn't we also avoid even the appearance of immorality, ungodly conduct, or impropriety?) So as not to be a stumbling block or bring a reproach on the body of Christ and the name we bear.
    Is there any difference then in compromising with the doctrines, laws, rituals and/or practices of the Roman Catholic Church or any false religion or cult? Some people might ask how much compromise does it take before it is sin? At what point does it become sin? Have you ever lied in your life about anything? Then you are aliar and a sinner. Have you ever stolen anything in your life? Taken anything that was not yours? Called in sick at work and you weren't sick? Then you are a thief and a sinner. Have you ever coveted (wanted, desired, longed for, thought about) something that belonged to someone else and wished that it was yours? Then you have sinned. Have you ever dishonored your parents, disobeyed them, argued with them? Then you violated one of the commandments and have sinned. Jesus said that you have sinned against your brother if you say you hate him. As noted earlier, "Sin Is Sin". It isn't just a physical act, but your thoughts, your attitudes or your motives. There is no difference if it is an inch or a mile, if it is one sin or twenty--it becomes sin when you do it--as soon as you do it. The moment you give into that thought, idea, action, motive, etc. It is when you don't resist, you don't immediately repent and turn away from temptation, but dwell on it, continue to think about it and go over it and over in your mind until you are no longer being tempted, but have become actively involved in it.
     (Note--just being tempted is not sin) Jesus was tempted, but didn't sin. Either you walk in the light or in the darkness. You are either serving God or Satan. Can you compromise with sin even though:

it will affect your personal relationship with God
it will affect the power of the Holy Spirit in your life
it may cause someone else to stumble
it will bring sin into the camp of believers
it will bring a reproach on the body of Christ
it will break your covenant with God
it will allow Satan to enter through an open door into your life
it will place you outside of God's protections for your life
it will affect your testimony and witness to the unsaved
it can affect your relationship with your family, (your immediate family and your local church family) as well as other born again believers.
 
Exodus 34:12 

Part 2
 
The Basics or Fundamentals of Christianity,
Evangelical Protestantism VS Roman Catholicism,
Agreement or Disagreement

The Basics:

The inerrancy of the Bible -- The Word of God
The virgin birth of Jesus -- Who is Jesus?
The doctrine of substitution atonement -- The death of Jesus
The Good News -- salvation

   Evangelical Protestants believe that Sola scriptura -- "by scripture alone" is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness.  Consequently, Sola scripture, demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid deductive reasoning from scripture. It demands that all other authorities are subordinate to, are to be corrected by, the written Word of God. Scripture is its own interpreter, clear to the rational reader and it is self-authenticating and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine.  Sola scripture sees the Bible as the only final authority in matters of faith and practice. The Bible is the only divinely inspired book and the only source of divinely revealed knowledge. Scripture alone is the formal principle of the faith, the final authority for all matters of faith and morals because of its inspiration, authority, clarity, efficacy and sufficiency. Holy scripture is the direct, immediate Word of God. It carries the full authority of God. Every single statement of the Bible calls for instant, unqualified, and unrestricted acceptance.  Every doctrine of the Bible is the teaching of God and requires full agreement. The Bible presents all doctrines and commands of Christian faith clearly. God's Word is freely accessible to every reader or hearer of ordinary intelligence without any special interpreter, special education or training. As a result no one needs to wait for any clergy, pope, scholar, or ecumenical council to explain the real meaning of any part of the Bible. Scripture is united with the power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it creates acceptance of its teaching. There are no deficiencies in Scripture that need to be filled with or by traditions, pronouncements of the Pope, new revelations, or present-day development of doctrine.  Sola scriptura rejects any original infallible authority, other than the Bible.  All secondary authority is derived from the authority of the scriptures and is therefore subject to reform when compared to the teachings of the Bible.This includes church councils, preachers, biblical commentators, private revelation or even a message from an alleged angel.  According to Sola scripture, the Church does not speak infallibly in its traditions, but only in Scripture.  The Church is to be judged by Scripture not the Scripture judged by the Church. Note! The apocryphal books that are included in and part of the Roman Catholic Bibles were not written by the prophets, by divine inspiration; they contain errors and were never included in the Palestinian Cannon that Jesus used. They are therefore not part of Holy Scripture.
     According to Roman Catholicism, it teaches that scripture is not the only infallible source of Christian doctrine. For them scripture is but one of three equal authorities; the other two being Sacred Catholic tradition and the episcopacy.  In the Catholic Church, this teaching authority is referred to as the Magisterium understood to be embodied in the episcopacy--the aggregation of the current bishops in union with the Pope.  The Roman Catholic church also believes that the Church (the Pope, the college of Bishops, councils) has the authority to establish or restrict interpretation of Scriptures.  This is seen in its selection of books included in the Catholic Bible that are considered Biblical Canon through its traditions. Biblical Canon is viewed by Roman Catholicism as part of the Church's tradition as defined by its leadership. Catholics include Apostolic Tradition as a source of original authority along side the Bible. 1 Corinthians 10:4. Roman Catholicism is motivated by their belief that authoritative doctrine can also come from tradition. When the term "Tradition" is used by the Roman Catholic Church, they often refer to the "Catholic Fathers" in defining what tradition is. According to the Catholic encyclopedia, the "Catholic Fathers" were a group of men in the early history of the church who were catholic scholars, catholic intellectuals, and catholic theologians. For example: Cyprian, Orien, Cyril, Hilary, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, Tertullian, etc. These so called "traditions" are unwritten and are a body of undefined teachings. The contents and limits of this teaching are not available for inspection or study. You can't go to a library and read them for yourself. The writings of the Catholic Church Fathers are not themselves tradition, but are called witnesses to tradition. They were mortal men who were not infallible or divine. They often could not even agree on what was "Tradition" and they often contradicted one another.  All of the doctrines and teachings that proceed from  Catholic Tradition are not found in scripture. If "Tradition" is unwritten where do you go to establish its contents if you can't use scripture. According to the Catholic Church, you must to the Magisterium, the Catholic Bishops, who claim to be the successors of the apostles and to whom the apostolic traditions were supposedly transmitted from hand to hand. The magisterial claims for example that such doctrines as: papal supremacy, the Immaculate Conception, Assumption and other Marian dogmas are found in tradition. But the problem lies in the fact that those same bishops who appeal to tradition as their divine source of their teaching are themselves that same tradition since they had supposedly received the unwritten teachings from their predecessors. The concept of Tradition is a convenient excuse for the Roman Catholic Church magisterial to teach whatever they desire as if it is the Word of God and without any accountability whatsoever. Tradition is their Carte Blanche. "Tradition" is the magician's hat, out of which the Roman magisterial can pull any new theological rabbit and call it the Word of God.
      Prima scripture used by the Catholic church in contrast to Sola scripture holds that there are other guides for what a believer should believe and how he should live his life. Examples of this include: views of experts, mystical insight, angelic visitations, revelations, and the spirit of the times. The "apocryphal" books are included in the Catholic Bible because they contain those scriptures that are considered to be canon by the hierarchy of the church and because those books foster information regarding church dogma such as praying to the dead, assumption of Mary, and the doctrine of purgatory.
     (Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics disagree as to what each considers to be distortions, misinterpretations, and mistranslations of scripture.)
     Evangelical Protestants believe Sola fide (by faith alone) is the teaching that justification (being declared just by God) is received by faith alone.  Roman Catholics believe that faith plus good works yield justification. The true distinction between the Protestant and the Catholic view of "Justification" is not an issue of being declared righteous versus being made righteous, but rather the means by which one is Justified. Protestants believe that Faith is not a human response, but the work of God through the means of grace. Also that indulgences or human prayers add nothing to one's righteousness.  In Catholic theology righteous works are considered meritorious(receiving merit) toward salvation in addition to faith. In Protestant theology righteous works are seen as the result and evidence of a truly Justified and regenerate believer who has received these by faith alone.
     In Catholic theology the means by which Justification is applied is the Sacrament of Baptism.  In Catholic theology Faith is not a prerequisite to Justification. Justification and Sanctification are infused into the soul by baptism which means that even before someone has exercised his faith or in the case of infants even before they have the ability to consciously understand the Gospel and respond with faith they are Justified.
     In Protestant theology the Faith of the individual is absolutely necessary and is it self the efficient and sufficient response of the individual that effects Justification. According to Roman Catholic history the doctrine of Justification was introduced into the church theology by Augustine and made dogma by the Council of Trent during the sixteenth century.  It was during the medieval period that baptism and penance were linked with Justification. Catholic theology states that God's righteousness was begun in Baptism and continued (perfected) through penance. The idea of confession to a priest existed in the Catholic Church in the second century, but did not become a widespread practice in the Catholic Church until the early medieval period. Pope "Leo the Great" solidified the supreme authority of the "Roman Bishop" in the church and belief in a priesthood. Baptism was developed to address the problem of original sin and confession to cleanse the effect of actual sin. The concept of merit was introduced into the Catholic church by Tertullian and then later fully developed during the medieval period. Thomas Aquinas introduced Renaissance Humanism into the Roman Catholic Church during the medieval period. Aquinas considered himself Augustinian in his theology although he preferred to express his philosophical views in Aristotelian (Aristotle) terms rather than the Platonic (Plato) language of Augustine. The Augustinianism of Aquinas dominated medieval church soteriology (beliefs about salvation)existing alongside the works orientation of the sacramental system.
     Evangelical Protestant theology rejects the Roman Catholic practices of infant baptism, a special class of priesthood, confession to a priest, the act of penance including the use of a rosary or indulgences, the papacy, the classification of venial and mortal sin, faith plus works and sacraments, and the introduction of secular humanism into the church. Its disagreement again stems from the Roman Catholic Church's use of man made traditions, as well as misinterpretations, distortions, misrepresentations of scripture and the introduction of mysticism.
     In the Summa Theologiae written by Thomas Aquinas the subject of atonement is addressed and as a result the Roman Catholic Church adopted his understanding of atonement into its current understanding. Aquinas argued that Christ's death satisfies the penalty owed by sin and that it was Christ's Passion specifically that was needed to pay the debt of man's sin. Consequently Christ's Passion merited salvation, not only for himself, but likewise for all His members. And that the atonement consisted in more than what was required to compensate God for the offense of the whole human race. Thus Aquinas articulated the formal beginning of the idea of a super abundance of merit which became the basis for the Roman Catholic concept of the Treasury Of Merit. Aquinas also articulated the ideas of salvation that are now standard within the Catholic Church: that justifying grace is provided through the sacraments; that the condign merit of our actions is matched by Christ's merit from the Treasury of Merit; that sins can be classified as mortal and venial.
     According to the doctrines accepted from Aquinas, the Roman Catholic Church believes that one is saved by drawing on the merit of Christ which is provided through the sacraments of the Church.  Righteousness is then said to be increased by participation in these sacraments.  The concept of merit was elevated to the status of infallible dogma by the Council of Trent. Roman Catholics over look the fact that Scripture teaches that grace and meritorious service are mutually exclusive. Romans 11:6.  The New Testament clearly speaks out against obtaining salvation as a reward for work done.  Romans 4:4-5.  The Council of Trent states "those who work well unto the end and who trust in God life eternal is to be proposed, both as a grace mercifully promised...And as a recompense which is to be faithfully given to their good works and merit." The Bible clearly states that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.  In direct opposition to the Roman Catholic position, the Bible guarantees eternal life is a present possession of those who believe. Nevertheless, according to the Roman Catholic view, one must wait for a final justification at death to know whether he or she has eternal life. Roman Catholicism fails to recognize the important difference between working for salvation and working from salvation. Evangelical Protestants work from salvation---not for it. For Evangelical Protestants, God works salvation in us by Justification and we work it out in Sanctification.  But neither Justification or Sanctification can be merited by works; they are given by grace. Phil. 2:12-13
   If the Roman Catholic concept of salvation is correct then the entire Gospel of John is incorrect because John laid down only one condition for obtaining eternal life -- "belief." John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 20:31.  John states explicitly that the only work necessary for salvation is to believe. John 6:29.  There is nothing else to do. Jesus did it all! John 19:31.
    In regard to the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, the Roman Catholic Church and Evangelical Protestants differ as to what it means and the purpose of Jesus' death.  Evangelical Protestants believe that Christ's death on the cross was payment for a specific penalty for the sins of individual people, that Christ suffered the punishment -- the penalty that was due us. His death is for all those that God has called to be saved and accept his free gift of salvation. It rejects the need for condign merit and penance. According to the Catholic catechism, the Roman Catholic Church believes that Christ's death, his sacrifice, was for all humanity, his sacrifice is closely tied to the concepts of merit and penance including the priesthood, confession to a priest, and the sacraments.
    As with the other fundaments or basics already noted Evangelical Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church differ/disagree on a host of other theological issues and subjects including; the virgin birth of Jesus. Protestants do agree with the Roman Catholic Church that Jesus was born of a virgin -- Period!
    The Roman Catholic Church has established an entire cult of Mary, whereby Mary has been glorified to a position equal with Jesus, that she is worshiped and prayed to as an intercessor, and that she has the power in heaven to grant blessings, heal sickness, etc. The Catholic TV network EWTN promotes the worship of Mary worldwide. The National Catholic Register is owned and operated by EWTN which is the largest religious media network in the world. The Register is a Catholic newspaper and online news source that provides and promotes information on several Catholic topics:  Catholic education, Catholic art, Catholic travel, Catholic websites and Catholic radio stations. It promotes books about the worship and divinity of Mary all over the world. The Catholic church schedules routine tours and healing retreats to the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Roman Catholics do not believe Mary had other children. They believe she remained a virgin and at her death and was ascended/lifted  bodily into heaven as Jesus was. Catholics can earn a degree in the Theology of Mary at the International Marian Research Institute.
     The Catholic Church at the Council of Epheus A.D. 431, declared Mary the Mother of God (God is the Alpha and Omega - He has no beginning and no end.) By the seventh century four Marian feasts were being held in Rome: the annunciation, the purification, the assumption, and the nativity of Mary. To these feasts were added the conception of Mary. Marian devotion blossomed between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. The rosary which is used by Catholics in penance after confession to a priest (according to the Bible there is only one intercessor between God and man -- Jesus) Acts 4:11,12   The rosary contains three groups of beads known as Hail Mary. The penitent sinner must recite a specific number of Hail Marys and Our Fathers issued by the priest as an act of contrition (which is in direct opposition/contradiction of what the Bible teaches regarding repetitious prayers). The angelus is the recitation of prayers to Mary at morning, afternoon, and evening at the sound of a bell. In 1849, in the Ubi Primum by Pope Pius IX, he stated: "For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. Luke 11:27-28. For it his will, that we obtain everything through Mary. In 1954, Pope Pius IX promulgated the dogma of the Immaculate Conception -- that Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception. (The Bible states that there was only one sinless person -- Jesus). In 1855, The "Mass of the Most Pure Heart" was instituted by the Catholic church to honor Mary and to constitute devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary -- that on her death she was raised body and soul into heaven (there is no such event or scripture noted in the Bible) and was made Queen of Heaven where she sits at the right hand of Jesus. In 1954, Pope Pius XII in his Encylical - The Queenship of Mary proclaimed that Mary reigned over the entire world and would be known by all Catholics as the Queen of Heaven. In May 19814, Pope John Paul II was shot four times. He believed the reason he wasn't killed was because of Mary -- Our Lady of Fatima. Thus Pope John Paul's personal motto was "Totus Tuus Sum Maria" which means "Mary, I am all yours." His complete devotion to Mary was the example for all Catholics. In 1984, he consecrated "the entire world" to Mary. Besides the Queen of Heaven she is also called:  Queen of the Universe, the Seat of Wisdom, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Queen of the Rosary, Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Church, Universal Mediatrix, Co-Redemptrix, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Guadalupe and nuymerous others honoring her as divine. the only mention of the phrase/title "Queen of Heaven" in the Bible is noted in Jeremiah 44:15-18; 7:18; 44:25. Also read Revelation 12:1-6, (The woman noted here is interpreted as Israel). In Genesis 37:9-11(The sun and moon represent Jacob and Leah and the eleven stars represent his brothers), I John 2:1-2.
The World Apostolate of Fatima/The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima has the authority of the Catholic Church to teach church doctrine (see--- Catholic cannon 301 #1). This means that Mariology plays an important role in establishing the doctrine of the Catholic church outside that of the Cardinal of Bishops. Our Lady of Fatima is a title given Mary as a result of the three part visitation of an apparition (also known as the three secrets) in Fatima, Portugal. In the visitation a supernatural apparition of Mary appeared to three children: Lucia Santes and her two cousins. According th the children, Mary identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary and demanded that the children do penance and acts of reparation. As a result, the children subsequently inflicted pain on themselves, including self-flagellatin and mortification of their flesh. They were told to say the rosary numerous times because the Lady told them that the saying of the rosary was the key to personal and world peace. According to Part 2 of the message from Mary, she stated..."God wishes to establish in this world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, souls will be saved and there will be peace..." Our Lady of Fatima promised that whoever followed the specific steps of reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart would be given at the hour of their death the graces necessary for salvation. Cardinal Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI (until he resigned and was replaced by Cardinal Bergoglio who was elected as Pope Francis in Mar.2013), was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (so named in 1965 -- previously known in 1542 as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition and in 1904 known as the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office). As head of that office then Cardinal Ratzinger approved of the Fatima events and voiced his approval for acceptance of the apparitions and messages as "worthy of belief" for the Catholic church. As Pope he continued his dedication and worship of Mary. Pope Francis has also continued in the footsteps of Pope Benedict in the worship of Mary. A congregation is defined as a type of dicostery (department of the Roman Curia - which is the central administrative organism of the Catholic church). The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is the oldest of all the nine congregations. It was and is among the most active of the congregations and overseas the Doctrine (what is and isn't accepted as faith) of the Catholic church. It is located in the Vatican. Extrabiblical eschatological (end of times) prophecies as well as church traditions have been added to the scriptures over the years by the Catholic church via The Congregation for the Doctrice of the Faith.
    John 2:4 "Woman what concern is that to me?" When you read the story of the wedding at Cana and see Jesus' reply to Mary when she told him "They have no more wine." it is obvious that Mary has no power or authority in heaven to act as a mediator in behalf of Jesus or have any special pwers on her own. Jesus didn't intend any disrespect to his mother, but used the statement ("Woman what have I to do with thee? or Woman what busines hast thou with me? or Woman what does that have to do with me?) as a reproof because he wanted her to know that she was not in control of or had the authority or power to direct him in performing a miracle. That He as God had a Father in heaven, whose business He came to do and in that and in His office as Mediator -- she had nothing to do with Him. That they had nothing in common nor was He to be directed by her in that work or be told by her when a miracle should be wrought by Him. Mary understood what Jesus said and responded by telling the servants "Do whatever he tells you to do". She didn't tell them -- my son will be providing more wine or tell the servants that she wanted more jars. She understood that Jesus was in charge - not her! The Bible states that everything Jesus did he did because of the will of the Father - not because Mary asked him to do something.
     Once before when Jesus was a child he had to remind Mary who he was (eventhough and angel had already told her). Luke 2:49. As a child Jesus had remained at the temple. When Mary (along with Jospeh) found him, she asked "Why have you troubled us like this? We have been searching for you anxiously." Jesus replied, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be about my Father's business" Or "in my Father's house". Again as in John 2:4, Jesus didn't mean any disrespect, but gave Mary a mild reproof, "How is it you are looking for me?" In other words, Mary, you should have not have left my company to begin with, you know that I am constantly employed in performing the will of my Father, that's why I was sent here. You should have known that as the Son of God I would be safe and that my heavenly Father would protect me. Mary had no spiritual authority to demand anything from Jesus or control Him -- then or now. Even after Jesus spoke those words in 2:49 she still didn't understand (Luke 2:50) Why not? Mary had been visited by an angel and he told her who Jesus was. Joseph had three dreams and he knew who Jesus was. At his birth three wise men came to worship him and angels sang. Simeon at the temple told Mary and Joseph who Jesus was. Mary deserves the blessings and respect noted in Luke 1:26-45, but she is not divine nor does she have any special pwers or authority to forgive sins, grant salvation or create miracles. She was a Jewish mother and a human being. (She was not born sinless.) According to scripture, Jesus honored his parents (mother and step father) and left with them. There was no disrespect in his comments.
     In Genesis 3:15, according to the Catholic (Latin) Vulgate version of scripture, it reads, "I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head and thy shall lie in wait for her heel." The Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible agrees with the Vulgate. The Hebrew Text version states, " I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall lie in wait to bruise his heel." The Greek Septuagint version is in agreement with the Hebrew Text and also differs from the Vulgate. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed; he shall watch against thy head and thee shall watch against his heel." According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Catholic interpretation of this scripture from the Vulgate: it is Mary who will inflict the mortal wound upon the serpent, Satan. The Protestant interpretation of the scripture from the Hebrew states that Jesus is the one who will destroy Satan. Jesus defeated Satan by His death on the cross. Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 2:14. Mary gave birth to Jesus, but she has no claim to His victory. Anything that takes away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ is blaspheme and heresy.  The Catholic Church disagrees with the three Protestant interpretations noted above. Their interpretations coincide with the Roman Catholic church's doctrine of faith promoting the worship and divinity of Mary. Luke 7:35
     Idolatry is prohibited in the Bible. Exodus 20:3-4, Acts 15:19-21.  The Roman Catholic church, however, promotes and approves of the veneration and worship of images, scapulars and statutes of Mary. What is an idol? It is defined as an image or other material object representing a deity to which worship is addressed or a person or a thing regarded with blind adoration or devotion. A cult image is a religious term used to define a man made object that is venerated for the "deity" it represents. The worship of statues of Mary and other images of Mary go back to the fourth century in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. It stems from the Roman Catholic Church's long history of the veneration of relics and the practice of indulgences -- including up to the present day as well as the Roman Catholic church's relationship to the pagan statues, gods and religions of the Romans and Greeks.  Throughout the Bible, God condemns idolatry as spiritual adultery and prohibits worship to him that combines idolatry with the praise and honor that belongs to Him alone. The Catholic Church denies the accusation of idolatry and states that they, the hierarchy of the Church, have explained to the worshippers that the worship they are performing goes through the statue or image to the person they are worshiping. The truth is that no matter what the Church says -- the parishioners react to the images and statues as if it, the object, is the receiver of the devotion because they believe that's what the church teaches. Even though the church says they prohibit the practice -- it continues. And, of course, they deify Mary. Romans 1:25 According to Article 1 Chapter 14 of the book entitled The Mother of Our Savior by Fr. Reginal Garrigou-Lagrange, a prominent Catholic author, the word cult is defined as honor paid in a spirit of submission and dependence to a superior individual because of his/her excellence.  In contrast, Webster's dictionary defines cult as a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious, a system of religious beliefs embodying devoted attachment to a person, a system of worship surrounding the subject of devotion. In Catholic theology, Mary receives "Hyperdulia" (meaning extra special reverence or supreme duria). According to several Catholic theologians, "The Cult of Hyperdulia leads effectively to Salvation -- for Mary can obtain grace of final perseverance for those who faithfully pray for it to her." In other words, if you pray enough to Mary you can receive salvation. The Bible says that Jesus is the only way to salvation -- NOT Mary.
    When you study and research in depth the canon, the catechism, the doctrines, the theology, the dogma and the history of the Roman Catholic Church you can only come to one conclusion -- when it comes to the things that matter there is nothing to agree with. Roman Catholicism is purely an external religion and their only fear of God is a matter of memorized creeds and rote prayers of penance. (The bible states that we should not pray as the pagans do saying the same prayers over and over again.) "They profess to honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from him." Mark 7:6-8.  Their worship is worthless because they give a higher priority to the traditions of men than to the Word of God. By their crafty and subtle twisting of words and scripture they defile the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beginning with the apostolic succession of popes they have created an entire system based on counterfeit faith and a lie that leads people away from "The Truth" and into darkness.
Matthew 16;18-19,  1 Co 3:11,  Eph. 2:20,  1 Co 10:4,  Acts 4:11,  1 Peter 2:4-8,  Luke 6:46,  Psalm 19:14,  Psalm 31:23,  Psalm 78:35
    Matthew 23:9 "And do not call anyone on earth 'father', for you have one Father and He is in heaven." or "And don't address anyone here on earth as Father for only God in heaven should be addressed like that." Evangelical Protestants believe that they should not acknowledge any man as their Spiritual Father here on earth. In this sense the word "father" denotes authority, eminence, superiority and a claim to a particular type of respect. It belongs eminently to God alone -- only God has that supreme authority. Mark 12:29. Evangelical Protestants do not recognize any man as an infallible spiritual teacher, rabbi, reverend, right reverend, very reverend or priest. The admonition by Jesus in Matthew does not apply to a biological father, a natural or civil relationship/distinction among men. The warning from Jesus to the apostles was against them assuming any type of ecclesiastical superiority or claiming titles as the Pharisees or scribes (including the title "Master"). Mat. 23:10
     The Roman Catholic church, however, in direct contradiction to Matthew 23:9 uses the title "Father" in reference to Roman Catholic priests and the Pope. See also Malachi 1:6  The Catholic church venerates the position of Catholic priest and Pope to a level that supplants God's authority as the only one that deserves such respect. The term priest is derived from the Latin: sacerdotium and sacerdos. It refers to the ministry of the Catholic priesthood as he acts "in the person of Christ" to administer the holy sacraments of the Catholic church for the sake of the Catholic faithful and as a teacher of the Catholic faith. The use of the title "Father" in this sense is not just a job title or position distinction but denotes a SPIRITUAL relationship to the Catholic faithful.
     The title Pope is derived from the Latin -- Papa which means "father". According to the Catholic encyclopedia, the term is used to denote a high spiritual leader. The title or name Pope is not in the Bible. The other titles given to the Pope besides "Holy Father" are: Summus Pontifes -- is known as The High Priest of the College of Pontiffs which was the most important Priesthood of ancient pagan Rome; Roman Pontifex Maxiums -- Chief Bishop of the Church of Rome. The highest office in the state religion of ancient pagan Rome. Julius Caesar was given the title of Pontifex Maximus in 63 BC; The Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church -- which is used to illustrate the issue of the Pope's primacy. This title was adapted from Pontifex Maximus; The Successor of the Chief of the Apostles -- the successor of Peter (who the Catholic church states was the first Pope); The Vicar of Christ -- which means the Bishop of Christ, the Priest of Christ (the Bible states that there is no mediator between God and man except Jesus). 1 Tim 2:5.  There is nothing biblical in the establishment of a religious system that requires Jesus to have a man represent Him on earth; Patriarch of the West--denotes the Pope as one of the seven patriarchs or Father of the "Holy See: (the Holy See is the central government of the Catholic church also referred to as the Vatican). The Pope is also referred to as "His Holiness" (Romans 3:23) and "Bishop of Rome". The term bishop is derived from the Greek -- Episcopol -- meaning "overseer" and the title Bishop of Rome stems from the legacy of the pagan Emperor Constantine.(There is no historical evidence that Constantine ever became a Christian.) In the Catholic church bishops are considered to possess the fullness of the priesthood, they are teachers of doctrine and the priests of sacred worship.
     According to numerous Roman Catholic sources: Catholic Cannon, Catholic catechism, Catholic encyclical letters, Catholic councils, and Catholic ecclesiastical articles, the Pope is considered by the Roman Catholic church as: God (to be God) on earth.  The Bible says that there is only one God! DT 6:4, 2 Sa 7:22, ISA. 43:10, Mk. 12:29, 1 co 8:4-6, Eph 4:6
      The example of the "Body" noted in the Bible is of one Body with many members or parts. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26
The Body of Christ, "The church," is not a physical building or structure, but consists of its members. The example we have is many parts: hands, feet, toes, fingers all working together for the good of the whole body with each part performing a different function, but all equally important. Roman Catholicism, the Catholic Church, on the other hand has one body with the "Head" as the most important part and all the lesser parts subject to the head with the physical building and all its worldly trappings necessary to the existence of the body. (Without the Pope, the Vatican, the hierarchy, the physical Church In Rome there would be no Catholic Church.) Which one then is the "True Church" that Jesus spoke of?
     There are some elements within the Protestant church of lesser importance, non-essentials, or things that are morally neutral or neither right or wrong in themselves. We as Christians can allow different viewpoints between other Evangelical Protestant Believers i.e. (music in church, kinds of instruments, raising of hands in church, speaking in tongues in church, spiritual gifts, dancing in church, type of worship, amount of time of church service, etc.), but even among "Born Again" Believers when it comes to the Fundamentals there can be no room for individual opinions, understandings or teachings that are not Biblically sound.
     When we talk about Jesus with a Roman Catholic who do they say Jesus is? Is He the same Jesus of the Bible -- the Bible that you use? Or (the one in a Catholic catechism?); Is He the Jesus who had brothers and sisters, or (the one who was an only child?); the one whose death and resurrectin provides the only way to salvation or (the one that you have to add to his atonement and you must earn your salvation through works and merit and penance?) is He the one that said..."it is finished" and the one that ,,,"died once for all" Hebrews 10:11-18 or (the one that is sacrificed over and over again in the Catholic mass?); is He the Jesus that told the thief on the cross at Calvary "...this day you will be with me in paradise..." or (the one that requires you to go to confession, say penance with a rosary, be baptized to remove original sin, go through confirmation, receive communion, to profess and give unconditional obedience to the Pope, the bishops and the Catholic Church alone, to participate in the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church in order to receive grace, and to receive the last rites and then be able to go to heaven?) Which Jesus is He?
     Who do you understand Jesus to be? Who does the Bible say He is? You have to ask the same questions about every aspect of Catholicism (or any religion, denomination, preacher or church) and then compare their answers to what the Bible says. The Bible states that there are false prophets, false religions, false preachers, the "...profess to know God, but deny him by their deeds." and that "They hold on to a form of religion, but deny the power of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ."
     1 John 4:1 states "...test every spirit to see if they are from God..." Don't accept anything on face value, or accept what someone else says because it sounds similar or might possibly be compatible with what you think or feel to be true. Know what you believe! And why you know it to be "The Truth."
     What is a cult? A cult may be defined as a religious group having Biblically unorthodox and/or heretical teachings and which fail to meet basic ethical standards of Christian doctrine, principles or practice. From the viewpoint of biblical revelation most cults and cultic religions have serious errors of belief and often incorporate dubious ethical values.  The common characteristics of such cultism often include: 1. spiritual deception (intentionally deceiving the members and making unbiblical claims), 2. unbiblical theology (often justified by supernatural revelations), 3. spiritistic and other cultic influence, and 4. authoritarianism or spiritual intimidation.
   Compare Roman Catholicism to the characteristics of a cult. Roman Catholicism claims: 1. to be the One True Church, that its interpretation of the Bible is superior to all others, it has suppressed, altered and censored historical evidence and documents that would damage its claims to be the One True Church and it has also deceived its members with false doctrines like the apostolic succession of Popes. (No different from the claims made by Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Masonry). The Roman Catholic church claims there is only One true Roman Catholic Church (unified in faith and by doctrine) when in truth there are at least 30 different Roman Catholic denominations in the world and 22 different liturgies.  Roman Catholicism 2. Restricts and rejects the Word of God and its teachings by placing the traditions of men higher than God's Word and uses supernatural revelations from the Pope to change cannon. Jeremiah 17:5 Thus the Word of God, scripture, Catholic cannon (law) according to the Catholics is always evolving and subject to change. (No different from the claims made by other false religions and cults regarding the rejection of biblical teachings or supernatural intervention in determining theological doctrines).  Roman Catholicism 3. is directly involved with the spirit world and the occult through its teachings regarding: supernatural apparitions (Our Lady of Fatima), The Immaculate Heart of Mary, the dead, prayers to the dead, worship of dead saints, All Souls Day, its pagan ties to Roman and Greek holidays (Catholic Holy Days), its connections to new Age movement teachings in the United States and cultic practices around the world especially in third world countries: Mexico, Africa, Haiti, South America, or Brazil -- to name a few -- where Catholicism is combined with pagan rituals. (No different from other false religions or cults -- even some of the columns used to build the Old Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome came from pagan temples) God prohibits praying to, worshiping or cultic contact with the dead. Or worship of angels. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, orthodox teachings accepted by the Catholic church include teachings and divine communication from oracles. (Which stems from the church's relationships with the pagan cultures of Babylon, Assyria, Greece and Rome.)
     Roman Catholicism 4. Is based on authoritarian leadership (requires complete and unswerving obedience to the Pope as well as the Catholic hierarchy: Cardinals, Bishops, Archbishops, priests including ecumenical councils, Catholic cannon (law), and Catholic catechism). Under the fear of being anathema (cursed by the Catholic Church) or excommunicated by the Catholic Church and being damned to hell its members are subject to spiritual intimidation to comply and submit. (Other wise their eternal soul will be lost forever). The suppression of independent and critical spiritual thinking as well as the lack of biblical literacy in its members is a hallmark of Catholicism.
     Without an absolute standard by which to judge other beliefs, religions, practices and actions all of us are uncertain.  If there is no absolute truth no one can say with absolutely authority that anything is right or wrong or good or evil. What is that absolute standard? That standard is God Himself and it may be known through His revealed Word -- the Bible.  The Bible alone provides the infallible standard by which ideas and practices can be judged. Because Christianity only is based on God's Word. John 14:6, John 10:1-18, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, John 17:17

Can You Compromise with Sin?

   When in doubt about whether or not you should do something or not do something -- Ask yourself -- Is there any glory for God in it? Bow your head before you participate in it and ask the Lord if He will be magnified by what you are about to do?  1 Corinthians 10:31 "...what ever you do -- do all to the glory of God ..."   "All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify" 1 Co 10:23, Romas 14:15, Galatians 5:13-14

Remember also to do all things in love!

   Even if we are sufficiently instructed in the knowledge of Christ -- "The Truth" -- we can not rest in that knowledge. The reason is that unless our knowledge is tempered with Love it does not avail, but also can do much hurt -- because "knowledge without love can become the mistress of pride". It is then not Godly knowledge because it separates us from the love of our neighbor. Puffed up knowledge is conceit. Love that edifies builds holiness. Knowledge which puffs up and makes you conceited is as dangerous as self righteous pride -- even though what you know -- is right. Please! Test everything you have read here. Research it for yourself. Read the scriptures quoted here, compare what you have read with the Word of God and also pray about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you into "The Truth". Seek the will of God and ask Him for revelation concerning His Word.

The material contained herein has been accumulated from several hundred sources.  It has been obtained from both Roman Catholic sources and Protestant sources. Much of the information gathered was from online web sites which included original documents, original statements or original articles related to the material.  Many of the conclusions were drawn from a combination of Biblical commentaries, Catholic and Protestant theologians and Bible scholars. In addition to online sources, numerous texts were used which included books, magazine articles, and encyclopedias. Research on scripture and quotes of scripture came from several different styles of Bibles and Bible translations including: NIV, NLT, NASB, NRSV, KJV, the Amplified Bible, the Living Bible as well as reference and study Bibles, a Bible concordance and online Bibles with Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic translations.