WHY I LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: CALLING THE PRIESTS "FATHER"

Jesus did not approve of calling the leaders of the church, "Father."

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:9)

MY TESTIMONY

I was raised in a Catholic family. My parents took us to Catholic Mass on every Sunday, and religious holiday. I went to Catholic School. I both attended and taught CCD. I went on several retreats. As a teen, I was a voting member of the board at our parish. I was religious, and I was empty.

A typical teen, I wanted to run MY life, MY way. I was making some very poor decisions that ultimately lead to serious thoughts of dispare, and plans of suicide.

Someone shared with me their experience with God's wonderful Grace. It was the summer of 1986, that I cryed out to the Lord. While lying alone in bed I prayed that Jesus would forgive me for all the sins I committed. I told him that I was making a mess out of "My life." I pleaded the blood of Christ to wash me. I asked Jesus to take over my life, that I'd do whatever he wanted.

I wasn't prepared for what followed. It felt like someone had taken a pitcher of water and poured it into the top of my head, and ran down through my toes. It was an incredible feeling, and I knew right then that I was different. Something had changed.

It was so amazing, I prayed that same prayer every night for days. I started noticing things, like color, and the beauty of creation like I had never seen before. The sky, flowers, trees, would take my breath away, I would just gaze in awe. It was like I had been walking around with fish scales on my eyes, and now I saw everything more clearly. But that was not all that was different.

I wanted to know God. Everything. I had this desire, a hunger, thirst, that words just can't describe. I had a new purpose. To know and love this God who loved me enough to die for me.

GOOD NEWS: GOD'S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

1. GOD'S PLAN:
The Bible teaches us that "in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Think about all of the billions of stars, or even the amazing complexity of the human body - God created it all! Revelations 4:11 says, "for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Man was created specifically by God to honor, serve, and enjoy Him forever. This relationship with God is the only thing that brings real satisfaction in life.

2. MAN'S PROBLEM:
But there's a serious problem that has broken this relationship...you and I are sinners. The Bible says, "There is not a just [perfect] man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). All of us have sinned against God by doing, saying, or thinking things that break His Law. God, who is absolutely just, must judge our sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death." In other words, the payment that you and I have earned for our sin is separation from God forever in a very real place called hell. The same Bible that teaches us about the glories of heaven also warns us about the horrors of hell. Jesus described hell as "an everlasting fire" (Matthew 18:8) a place of agonizing physical pain (Luke 16:24), and a place of "everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46).

Many have argued, "But I am not that bad...I'm a pretty good person. Surely, good people go to heaven!" God's Word, however, demands absolute perfection, a standard that no one can reach. Consider what the Scriptures say. Galations 3:10-11: "Cursed is every on that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Have you obeyed every one of God's commands? Of course not! James 2:10 adds, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Even if you lived your entire life and only broke one of God's laws, you are still equally as guilty and deserving of God's eternal punishment as the person who has broken all of them. "But what about all of our good works" you may ask, "Don't they somehow 'outweigh' all of our sin?" Isaiah 64:6 states that even our "righteousness [goodness] is as filthy rags." Clearly, no one stands innocent and pure in the sight of a holy God in their sin, regarless of how religious or good they may appear.

3. GOD'S PROVISION:
Is there any hope? I have good news for you! Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He did for you what religion or good works could never do. Christ fully paid the penalty of our sin debt through His death and resurrection. Our sin, has to be punished by death. Christ shed His blood and died in our place, paying the price of our punishment in full on the cross so that we can be pardoned from our sin and brought back into a right relationship with god. He rose again three days later to prove that He is the one true God who has power over sin, death and hell. Because of His finshed work on our behalf, you and I do not have to face the penalty that we deserve for our sin. We can be forgiven, and receive His free gift of eternal life!

4. MANS PARDON:
The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Acts 16:31, John 3:16) What does "believing in Jesus" mean? Many people "believe in Jesus," but are still trusting in something other than Christ alone to somehow earn eternal life. True belief, or faith, is not Jesus plus baptism, church membership, good works, etc. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast." A saving faith in the Lord Jesus does not rely upon works to try to earn eternal life. Have you been relying upon your works, or something other than (or in addition to) Christ's work for you on the cross, to try to earn God's favor? If so, then your faith will not save you from your sin. You must stop depending upon your works and transfer your dependence to Christ alone in order to receive His gift of everlasting life.

Do you desire to turn from your sin and self-dependence to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If so, then you must agree with God that you are a sinner deserving eternal punishment, that Jesus died and rose again for your sin, and that Christ alone is the only way to eternal life. 2 Corinthians 6:2 warns us, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." He will save you from sin, if you will sinply turn from your self-dependence to place your faith in Christ's work for eternal life. Romans 10:9,13: "For if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." If you desire to be saved from sin, you can, right now, call upon Him in prayer. Acknowledge to Him your sinfulness, your faith in Christ's death and resurrection on your behalf, and your dependence now upon His work alone for forgiveness and everlasting life. Won't you call upon the name of the Lord, before it is eternally too late?

WHY I LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Sunday, April 20, 2008

CALLING THE PRIESTS "FATHER"

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