The trouble with religion

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The problem with religion is, religion takes the parable of the talents, and says I gave the increase. And all the recipients say Lord Lord religion doesn’t see the Lord is not a hard man. He’s describing a Goat.
Religion can be anything.
Christianity is not a part of it.
Christianity is a relationship with Christ.
That's NOT what the Bible says (James 1:27) . . .
 

Jane_Doe22

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2018
5,241
3,442
113
116
Mid-west USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
What sheep can be affiliated with it
I"m not going to go that far. While I passionately disagree with Catholic doctrine, I will readily acknowledge that I have met many good Catholic people who were earnest disciples of Christ. We are saved by Christ, not by our ability to pass a theology test.
 

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,674
6,096
113
56
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I"m not going to go that far. While I passionately disagree with Catholic doctrine, I will readily acknowledge that I have met many good Catholic people who were earnest disciples of Christ. We are saved by Christ, not by our ability to pass a theology test.
Maybe I need to get out more?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Helen

Triumph1300

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2018
4,153
4,877
113
Northern British Columbia, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
  • Like
Reactions: amadeus

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It was a hypothetical question for BoL. I assure you that I am not Catholic and after yeas of studying it (to be thorough) I assure you there are very strong reasons for me not being Catholic.
Jane - I didn't see your earlier post - so I will answer here.

Your
question was:
"BoL, if I believe 100% in Christ, with every fiber of my being, strive to follow Him with every breath, and confess that He is my Savior from the bottom of my heart, is that enough to be considered in communion and to partake in the Lord's Supper with you?"

My answer is: You can't believe in Christ with "every fiber of your being" if you reject His teachings and commands.
He commanded us to eat His flesh and drink His Blood (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24) - and said that UNLESS we do this, we have NO life within us (John 6:53).
 

Jane_Doe22

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2018
5,241
3,442
113
116
Mid-west USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Maybe I need to get out more?
Quite possibly.
Honestly, I have found the best way to get to know people and what those people believe is to simply open your eyes, gt up, and walk into a worship service with them. Listen to their love of Christ, and ask questions with the intent of listening to the answers.
 

Jane_Doe22

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2018
5,241
3,442
113
116
Mid-west USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Jane - I didn't see your earlier post - so I will answer here.

Your
question was:
"BoL, if I believe 100% in Christ, with every fiber of my being, strive to follow Him with every breath, and confess that He is my Savior from the bottom of my heart, is that enough to be considered in communion and to partake in the Lord's Supper with you?"

My answer is: You can't believe in Christ with "every fiber of your being" if you reject His teachings and commands.
He commanded us to eat His flesh and drink His Blood (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24) - and said that UNLESS we do this, we have NO life within us (John 6:53).
That doesn't answer my question.

Does RCC allow me to come and partake of Communion with you if I just follow Christ? No mention of the following RCC or the Pope, but just Christ.
 

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
True, but the Bible says "undefiled", there's a big difference.
These days it's defiled. And that's not the case with true Christianity.
The point is that "Religion" is NOT the four letter word that many Protestants believe it to be.
As epostle stated - this is a relatively NEW teaching that was started by televangelists in the 60's and 70's.
 

Waiting on him

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2018
11,674
6,096
113
56
North America
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
That doesn't answer my question.

Does RCC allow me to come and partake of Communion with you if I just follow Christ? No mention of the following RCC or the Pope, but just Christ.
The answer is obvious. Your not part of the religiously elite. Same answer Jesus got
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
That doesn't answer my question.

Does RCC allow me to come and partake of Communion with you if I just follow Christ? No mention of the following RCC or the Pope, but just Christ.
Do you believe in the tenets of the Catholic faith?
Do you believe that the consecrated host is the Body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ?

If you answer is "No" - then you cannot receive.
We take the Eucharist very seriously and believe it to BE Christ. It is not something to be taken casually by somebody who believes it to be a mere symbol.

"Communion" means sharing of beliefs - not just sharing of the Lord's Supper.
 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Religion can be anything...
Which generally tries to connect man to God, or gods, or gods and goddesses. In Roman Catholicism-- for all practical purposes -- Mary has become a false goddess. Other than Bible Christianity, all world religions are false since they exclude Christ and include pagan gods and goddesses. Even Buddhism makes Buddha into a god.

At the same time, there is such a thing as pure religion, which is founded in Christ alone: Pure religion* and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

* Strong's Concordance (2356)
thréskeia: religion
Original Word: θρησκεία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: thréskeia
Phonetic Spelling: (thrace-ki'-ah)
Definition: religion
Usage: (underlying sense: reverence or worship of the gods), worship as expressed in ritual acts, religion.

According to this verse (and James writing as a servant of God and Christ) true worship includes both good works and personal purity and integrity (along with the offering of worship to God and Christ). The Psalms teach Christians the meaning of spiritual worship.
 

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The answer is obvious. Your not part of the religiously elite. Same answer Jesus got
No - you just don't like the answer because you don't like the faith.
Nothing to do with elitism. It's about FAITH . . .
 

BreadOfLife

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2017
20,915
3,368
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Which generally tries to connect man to God, or gods, or gods and goddesses. In Roman Catholicism-- for all practical purposes -- Mary has become a false goddess. Other than Bible Christianity, all world religions are false since they exclude Christ and include pagan gods and goddesses. Even Buddhism makes Buddha into a god.

At the same time, there is such a thing as pure religion, which is founded in Christ alone: Pure religion* and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

* Strong's Concordance (2356)
thréskeia: religion
Original Word: θρησκεία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: thréskeia
Phonetic Spelling: (thrace-ki'-ah)
Definition: religion
Usage: (underlying sense: reverence or worship of the gods), worship as expressed in ritual acts, religion.

According to this verse (and James writing as a servant of God and Christ) true worship includes both good works and personal purity and integrity (along with the offering of worship to God and Christ). The Psalms teach Christians the meaning of spiritual worship.
And here you go again with your ignorant garbage.
Not sure if you knew this - but bearing false witness is an offense against God (Exod. 20:16).
 

mjrhealth

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2009
11,810
4,090
113
Australia
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
I could say. I am sorry for bringing this up, but in the end I think I proved the point, well at least one did.

God bless those who can see..
 

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
And here you go again with your ignorant garbage.
Not sure if you knew this - but bearing false witness is an offense against God (Exod. 20:16).
What I have said is neither ignorant garbage nor bearing false witness. Here is the testimony of former Roman Catholic nun -- Mary Ann Collins:

"As a faithful Catholic, and later as a nun, I practiced Mary worship for many years without realizing it... I have personally participated in American processions which honored Mary. We walked through the streets following a statue of Mary which was carried on a platform, high up where it was clearly visible. We sang songs in Mary’s honor. We prayed rosaries and other prayers to her. These were small processions. At Fatima, Portugal, crowds of over a million people gather on the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. The celebration includes a procession of a million people following a statue of Mary and singing her praises."

MARY WORSHIP by Mary Ann Collins (A Former Catholic Nun)