(goldy;65294)
Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to hear that you are former Catholic. Why did you leave? Anyway, I will try to answer your questions as eloquently as possible. Bear in mind that I don't have my Bible in front of me so I won't be quoting specific verses. Here goes:
I left because I felt like I was being lied to all my life. I left because I could see that the RCH does not follow gods word. It all started when I started to ask some questions like...where did easter come from? where did Christmas come from? Why do we pray to statutes? Why did the RCC murder millions of people in the middle ages for reading the Bible? Why are they so rich and so many are still so poor? etc...(goldy;65294)
1. With regard to Mary and statues. I have a statue of Mary in my front yard.
Do I bow or kneel in front of that statue? No. Let me ask you this: Do you have pictures of family members in your home? If so, why? Do you worship those pictures? I'm guessing that if you do have pictures of family members in your home it's because they are reminders of the love you have for them and the joy/love they bring to your life. What about statues of Abraham Lincoln or other former leaders in Washington D.C.? Do people worship them also? Of course not!! This is our view of statues, holy pictures, etc.
As far as bowing or kneeling in front of a statue, this is simply a sign of reverence. If I kneel at my bedside each night while saying prayers, does that mean that I worship my bed? Of course not!! Kneeling or bowing doesn't mean that you are necessarily worshipping something. So again, Catholics don't worship Mary, the pope, the saints, etc.
an interesting spin on things. However you seem contradict yourself. You say you do not bow in front of the statue but then go on to say it is a sign of reverence. Its really simply goldy, God said do not do it. He gets jealous when you do it so don't. If its for reverence or worship or whatever you would like to call it, please listen to God on this one do not do it.(goldy;65294)
2. With regard to the pope: Jesus very specifically told Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build MY church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Notice that Jesus said it was HIS church. My friend, if I gave you the keys to my car you can take that car and drive it or do whatever you need to do with it. BUT.....the car is still MINE. The Catholic Church is Jesus' church, not the pope's. And we obviously believe that Peter was the first leader of our church. It's very clear that if you read the Acts of the Apostles, Peter was in charge when the Church was beginning after the Ascension of Christ.That's all for now until I get my hands on my Bible for specific verses.....
Isn't it interesting that this church is never mentioned by name. Why does the Bible never mention the Roman Catholic church? But the RCC somehow feels that this verse is a reverence to them.Notice very carefully in the epistles. At the beginning of each epistle who are the apostles greeting exactly? The apostle is greeting a people not a building or a religion. That is why we have Romans (citizens of Rome), Corinthians (citizens of Corinth) etc. They are not saying greeting to all the Catholics of Rome. No he is saying greetings to all the Romans of the church. Also I could go and say that the Catholic church did not start until around the year 310. But, that is something your going to have to find yourself. Just do not believe everything they tell you.Also, if Peter was the first pope then why was he never in Rome? Paul is greeting people in Rome but never mentions Peter not once. Why? You think he would. We must realize that Peter was an apostle to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles. The headship of the church is reserved to Christ alone. “[H]e is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”(Colossians 1:18) Christ will not share his glory nor his authority nor his station with anyone, Christ has preeminence in all things. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14) The Old Testament prophecies of the coming Christ indicate that the cornerstone of the church is to be a heavenly stone that is cut out without hands, and the church will grow from this stone to become a large spiritual mountain and fill the earth. See Daniel 2:34-45. This prophesied rock is Christ. For a man to claim to be the rock of the church is to claim to be Christ, because the Bible makes clear that Christ is the rock, the head of the church. To falsely claim to be Christ, the head of the church, fulfills the prophecies that identify the antichrist.There is only one head of the church; the church is not a monster with two heads. To claim to be the rock of the church is to implicitly deny that Jesus is the rock of the church. To deny that Jesus is the rock is to deny that Jesus is Christ. Denying that Jesus is the Christ is a doctrine specifically identified in 1 John 2:22-23 as a teaching of the antichrist.Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)Christ is the head of the church, not Peter! See Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18. If Peter is now the rock of God’s church, why would Jesus call Peter Satan within moments of making Peter the foundation of the church? The following passage signifies that those who would have Peter as their rock, have someone who savourest the things of man and not of God.But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23)Peter, to whom Jesus was talking, clearly understood what Jesus was saying when he said “upon this rock I will build my church.” The rock was Jesus. In the following passages Peter repeatedly refers to Jesus as the stone rejected by the builders becoming the head of the corner. Jesus is the only name under heaven that can save one from the eternal punishment of sin, not Peter and not the pope.Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter 2:6-8)Read the following passages and determine for yourself who the TRUE rock of the church is.And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. (Ephesians 2:20)For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 3:11)My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. (Psalms 62:5-6)He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:2-3)The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalms 18:2)For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? (Psalms 18:31)And there is about 20 more verses that I left out but I think you get the point. Also please answer me this why would Peter deny Jesus three times if he is the rock? Surely he would know better.Here is another explanation of Matthew 16:18
http://www.christianityboard.com/rock-matt...808.html?t=7808