@theefaith
I agree that Christians...aka the 'church'... vicariously takes the place of God in a certain sense in providing spiritual leadership (as the husband for example is to be the priest of his home), and also to provide for the physical needs of others, such as repeated throughout scripture, the orphans, widows, and strangers. The downtrodden and the poor. I think we all recognize that the Catholic Church has focused a great deal on presenting these issues before the world. However, I have two main things to point out.
The Catholic Church has lost sight of it's own dependence upon God. In pride and self security she now believes that not only is she God's vicar, in providing for the needs of others doing God's work, she has grown proud and no longer recognizes she herself is dependant upon God. Time had become independent. Self sufficient. She believes herself to be God on earth. She has become Antichrist. Instead of, in the place of, Christ.
That's the first point.
The second is this. We are to provide for others from the bounty with which God has provided for us. No-one is to be independent. Independence is the enemy of God's economy. Without Him we can do nothing. The widows, the orphans, the poor, have lost their provider. The Christian is called to be provider in their case. But we are not to provide them from the bounty of others. No. We are to give from what we ourselves have. The Catholic Church may have all these wonderful charities, but all of them give from what God has given others. There is no self sacrifice in any charitable work within Catholicism. They always appeal to it's members and the public for funds and donations while she
KJV Revelation 18:7
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Retains to herself all the wealth.
KJV Revelation 18:8
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.