MARY WORSHIP ALIVE AND WELL IN ROMANISM...open idolatry by Benedict

One of my daily stops in the blogosphere is to my friend James White's blog. I found this jewel tonight written by Tur8infan on Mariolotry. 

Despite popular opinion beloved, Papa Ratzi is not an orthodox Christian leader/pastor. He is a lost, unregenerate false teacher (2 Peter 2:1) who preaches a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) making his converts "twice the sons of hell (the Valley of the Son of Hinnom) as he is" (Matt. 23:15). We need to pray for him. Pray earnestly that God would grant him saving faith; that by the kindness of God he would repent from his sins and from Rome's false gospel and doctrines; and that He would confess Christ Jesus as Lord and trust in Him alone by grace alone through faith alone for salvation by regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-7).

When you read below about the kind of heretical practice that Rome still engages in, it makes you want to shout SDG for the courage of Martin Luther in taking the monumental stand at Wittenberg in spite of being threatened with execution and excommunication. He fearlessly called a recalcitrant Roman Church back to the real gospel of justification by faith alone - and we need to do the same in our day. Rome's codified, semi-Pelagian, apocryphal doctrines (Matt. 15:6b-9) - and in particular here, the Fifth Marian Dogma - haven't changed really since the days of Trent.

Keep pounding on Wittenberg's Door; we need a new Reformation in our day... Amen?

Campius

2 Cor. 4:5

by Tur8infan from Alpha Omega Ministries

Benedict XVI is reported (link to report) as recently praying to Mary:

"We implore you to have pity today on the nations that have gone astray, on all Europe, on the whole world, that they might repent and return to your heart."

This is a prayer that is openly idolatrous. Mankind needs to turn, not to the heart of Mary, but to the Son of Mary, Jesus Christ the Righteous. The true and proper object of worship is God alone.

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Benedict XVI as praying to her,

"If you will not help us because we are ungrateful and unworthy children of your protection, we will not know to whom to turn."

This prayer demonstrates the underlying blindness of Catholicism. There is a place to which not only all of Europe in general, but Mr. Ratzinger in particular ought to turn for help, and whose protection should be sought: the throne of the Most High God, by the intercession of the Son of God, Jesus Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

But though Jesus is the Son of Mary, and though Mary is greatly blessed to be the Mother of our Saviour, yet Jesus himself said:

Matthew 12:48-50 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the 

will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

And again:

Mark 3:33-35 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

It's as almost as though Jesus was concerned lest some might foolishly fall into the trap of worshiping his blood relatives! Indeed, here is Jesus' own condemnation of the error of adoration and veneration of Jesus' mother. They do not hold a special place in the kingdom of God, but are like all those who do the will of God. Yet Catholicism, as can be seen from this event, continues to elevate Mary improperly to the status of, in effect, a goddess to whom prayers are offered.

Benedict XVI did not even omit to provide a sacrifice to this de facto goddess. It is reported that, "In a gesture of filial love, the Pope then offered the Madonna a golden rose." One is reminded immediately of the similar offerings presented by the Philistines to the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament, particularly given Catholicism's claim (or at least the claim of her apologists) that Mary is the "ark of the New Covenant."

Finally, we should note that Benedict XVI is reported not to have left Jesus entirely out: "...The secret of Pompeii is the rosary: "This prayer leads us through Mary to Jesus." But, in fact, the Rosary leads men away from Jesus, as can be seen in the idolatry illustrated in the prayers above. Benedict XVI is reported to have claimed, "The rosary is a spiritual weapon in the struggle against evil, against all violence, for peace in hearts, in families, in society and in the world."

But, in fact, sadly it is an extra-Scriptural innovation: unknown to the apostles and unpracticed for centuries and centuries following Christ's ascension. The Early Church Fathers didn't say the Rosary, and neither should you: it is a tradition of men, not of God.

FALLEN IDOLS...God's Word is like a hammer smashing POMPkins

HT: James White

Isaiah 46:6-7 

and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it. 

"They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. 

It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; 

It cannot deliver him from his distress.

Isaiah 41:7

So the craftsman encourages the smelter, 

And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, 

Saying of the soldering, "It is good"; 

And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter.

A Check to the Discontented Christian...your weekly dose of gospel

"Tell me, you vain professor,

when did you shed a tear for the deadness,

hardness, unbelief, or earthliness of your heart?

Do you think that such an easy religion can save you?

If so, we may invert Christ's words and say,

'Wide is the gate, and broad is the way,

that leadeth to life, and may there be that go in there.'"

-JOHN FLAVEL

"Preach the gospel to yourself everyday..."
-JERRY BRIDGES

And he said to them,
“Take care, and be on your guard
against all covetousness,
for one’s life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions.”
-Luke 12:15

by Thomas Watson
“Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward;” therefore we all need to learn the same lesson as Paul. “I have learned,” he said “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,” Philippians 4. 11. Believers, especially, wish to attain to a holy equanimity in their tribulations and under the stresses caused by our increasingly secular society.

Here is a just reproof to such as are discontented with their condition.

This disease is almost epidemical. Some not content with the calling which God hath set them in, must be a step higher, from the plough to the throne; who like the spider in the Proverbs, will “take hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” Others from the shop to the pulpit; (Nu. 12. 2) they would be in the temple of honour, before they are in the temple of virtue; who step into Moses’ chair, without Aaron’s bells and pomegranates; like apes, which do most show their deformity when they are climbing. It is not enough that God hath bestowed gifts upon men, in private to edify; that he hath enriched them with many mercies? but, “seek ye the priesthood also?” (Nu. 16. 10) What is this but discontent arising from high flown pride? These do secretly tax the wisdom of God, that he hath not screwed them up in their condition a peg higher. Every man is complaining that his estate is no better, though he seldom complains that his heart is no better. One man commends this kind of life, another commends that; one man thinks a country-life best, another a city-life; the soldier thinks it best to be a merchant, and the merchant to be a soldier. Men can be content to be anything but what God would have them. How is it that no man is contented? Very few Christians have learned St Paul’s lesson: neither poor nor rich know how to be content, they can learn anything but this.

If men are poor, they learn to be envious; they malign those that are above them.

Another’s prosperity is an eye-sore. When God’s candle shines upon their neighbor’s tabernacle, this light offends them. In the midst of wants, men can, in this sense, abound, namely, in envy and malice; an envious eye is an evil eye. They learn to be querulous, still complaining, as if God had dealt hardly with them; they are ever telling their wants, they want this and that comfort, whereas their greatest want is a contented spirit. Those that are well enough content with their sin, yet are not content with their condition.

If men are rich, they learn to be covetous; thirsting insatiably after the world, and by unjust means scraping it together; their “right hand is full of bribes,” as the Psalmist expresseth it. (Ps. 26. 10)

Put a good cause in one scale, and a piece of gold in the other, and the gold weighs heaviest. There are, saith Solomon, four things that say, “it is not enough:” (Pr. 30. 15) I may add a fifth; the heart of a covetous man. So that neither poor nor rich know how to be content. Never certainly since the creation did this sin of discontent reign or rather rage more than in our times; never was God more dishonored; you can hardly speak with any, but the passion of his tongue betrays the discontent of his heart; every one lisps out his trouble, and here even the stammering tongue speaks too freely and fluently. If we have not what we desire, God shall not have a good look from us, but presently we are sick of discontent, and ready to die out of an humor. If God will not forgive the people of Israel for their lusts, they bid him take their lives; they must have quails to their manna. Ahab, though a king, and one would think his crown-lands had been sufficient for him, yet is sullen and discontented for Naboth’s vineyard. Jonah though a good man and a prophet, yet ready to die in a pet; and because God killed his gourd, kill me too, saith he. Rachel, “give me children, or I die;” she had many blessings, if she could have seen them, but wanted this contentation.

God will supply our wants, but must he satisfy our lusts too?

Many are discontented for a very trifle; another hath a better dress, a richer jewel, a newer fashion. Nero, not content with his empire, was troubled that the musician had more skill in playing than he. How fantastic are some, that pine away in discontent for the want of those things which if they had, would but render them more ridiculous!

THEY SAID WHAT?the unbiblical, unbelievable, & unconscionable attributed to Christianity

When the veracity of Scripture is being challenged and the very gospel of Jesus Christ perverted, we cannot remain silent but MUST "instruct in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict."

As this weeks "bloggenations" is rapidly coming to an end, I want to look briefly at two quotes that have been posited in the name of our Lord and biblical Christianity. What do you think? Let me know your thoughts...

As the Day Draws Near,
Steve
1 Timothy 6:20
PS- I am very privileged to serve the Lord with each one of you who have given countless hours of your time to share your insights from week to week on this blog. I am deeply humbled and honored to be a co-laborer of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Keep on...


Who said these things?
Q-1: "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

Q-2:"Mary has directed me to Christ in every way and without her, I would not have found Christ. It is through my devotion to her that I found out that the Catholic Church is the only true religion. So if anyone who reads my articles are impressed in any way or have come closer to Christ in any way, it is from the grace of God through Mary that I possess any good qualities."

Was it: Benny Hinn? NO. Pat Robertson? NO. Brian McLaren? well maybe... but, NO.

The Answers:
Q-1: The Roman Catholic Church. (CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SECOND EDITION, #841); and

Q-2: a Romanist who has posted before on this blog (there is a question about his real name and identity).

They (The RCC and its sycophants) will deceptively claim that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone... don't be fooled. They practice idolatry through the veneration of Mary and still promise eternal life absent of the gospel; even to those who reject the exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ--as in the case above to Islam.

This is heresy beloved; another gospel, which is no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-9). Could it be any more revealing? Romanism is a false church, representing a false gospel, led by a false teacher, occupying a false office.

Here are the scriptures that refute the erroneous claims asserted in the quotes mentioned above:
Q-1: John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12; 1 John 2:22-24; Hebrews 2:9-18.

Q-2: John 6:35-44; Ephesians 1:4-14.

An encore presentation originally posted 9/23/05