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HAVE YOU EVER ASKED WHY?
...Catholic practices are of pagan origin?
Catholic priest John F. Sullivan argues that the Catholic Church has adopted pagan practices and implemented them as part
of "Christian" doctrine because such practices are the "best from paganism":
"It is interesting to note how often our church has availed herself of practices which were common use among pagans
Thus it is true, in a certain sense, that some Catholic rites and ceremonies are a reproduction of those pagan creeds;
but they are taking of what was best from paganism, the keeping of symbolic practices which express the religious instinct
that is common to all races and times." (Rt. Rev. Msgr. John F. Sullivan, D. D. The Externals of the Catholic Church.
P. 226, emphasis ours)
But the true Christians neither subscribe to pagan ways nor go beyond the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. The Apostles
instructed:
"Here then is my word to you, and I urge it on you in the Lords name: give up living as the pagans do with their
futile notions." (Eph. 4:17, Revised English Bible, emphasis ours)
"Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning
of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another." (I Cor.
4:6, New International Version, emphasis ours)
...Catholics worship images which they keep in their homes and churches?
Catholic catechism requires that members should have for themselves idols or images to worship:
"15. Ought we to worship images?
"We should have, particularly in our church, images of Our Lord, as also of the Blessed Virgin and the saints, and
we should pay them due honor and veneration." (Catechism of Christian Doctrine. P. 87, emphasis ours)
But the Bible teaches otherwise. God prohibits His people from having other gods besides Him or from worshipping idols
or images. Those who defy this commandment will be punished:
"You shall have no other gods before me. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You
shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." (Exo. 20:3-5, New King James
Version, emphasis ours)
"those who worship idols, and all liars-the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which
is the second death." (Rev. 21:8, Todays English Version, emphasis ours)
...Catholics offer Mass and perform rituals for the dead?
Catholics are taught that they can help in relieving the suffering of the departed whose souls are in the so-called purgatory
by offering Mass and performing rituals for them:
"2. The faithful on earth, through the communion of saints, can relieve the sufferings of the souls in purgatory
by prayer, fasting, and other good works, by indulgences, and by having masses offered for them." (Louis LaRavorie Morrow,
D. D. My Catholic Faith p. 243, emphasis ours)
However, even Catholic priests admit that the Bible does not mention of a realm such as purgatory. Offering prayers and
other sacrifices for the dead is against the teachings of the Bible, for the dead have no share in anything that the living
do.
"Nowhere in the Scriptures does the word Purgatory occur" (Joseph Kenney, C.S.S.R Purgatory: A Doctrine of Comfort
and Hope. P. 2)
"For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, they have no more reward, for the memory of
them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in
anything done under the sun." (Eccl. 9:5-6, NKJV, emphasis ours)
For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If anyone shall add unto these things,
God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book: And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written
in this book.
(Revelation 22:18-19, NKJV)
Does your religion really teach the truth?
Its not too late for you to find out what our Lord God really wants you to do. Make sure that your faith will not be worthless.
Learn the true words of God in the Bible as upheld by the Church of Christ.
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Published by the Iglesia ni Cristo
Editorial office: Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office
No. 1 Central Ave., New Era
Quezon City 1107 Philippines |
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