It leaves me befuddled that millions allow themselves to be deceived for a lifetime. Within Catholicism, historically, they have exercised very tight control over the Bible, allowing none but the clergy to possess it, and maintaining a Catholic School system that taught children at a very young age that only their church was allowed to interpret the Bible for them, and that Salvation is only through the church.
This was and is done because whenever man can read God's Word for themselves, conviction by the Holy Spirit, of our sin, will result, and we will be drawn to personal repentance, and belief in Jesus Christ.
As children, we are in the custody of our parents and attend their church of choice, whereas, as adults in a still free country, we can investigate a matter of such supreme importance as our eternal destiny for ourselves.
We are not locked into our family's church of record or belief system; Although I came to my Lord, Jesus Christ, as a young child at a public worship service altar call, on my own volition, without even informing my parents that I was about to do so, I spent years as a young adult investigating, studying and examining the historic life and beliefs of many religion's founders, their ancestry, education, stated goals and ambitions, especially their intended purpose for their followers...
In every other religion, including Roman Catholicism, man is on his own.
He must attempt to work his way to God. He must achieve his own salvation through his own merits.
He must climb the mythical ladder and ascend up the multi-rungs to Paradise.
It is only through the Christ of Christianity that "whomsoever will, may come," for "Salvation is the free gift of God."
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.…
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:15-17)
God's Word Brings Salvation.
"...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
Rose42 wrote:
I forgot about the priest facing away from the congregation during mass and speaking Latin. How crazy is that? I barely remember it but I remember thinking there was no point in going to church because no one understood anything the priest was saying.
That didn't change until the 60s! Vatican II. If they truly cared about people's souls they would never have done any of this in the first place. It sometimes angers me that they deceive millions so easily.