Saturday, September 22, 2007

BLESSED PROVIDENCE (PSALM 63)


1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. >>>PSALM 63: 1-8.

TRUE AND HONEST MEN

True and Honest Men
They flung him into a pit. Genesis 27.24

By their wisdom and justice, by the purity and benevolence of their daily life, by their devotion to the interests of the people,--and they, idolaters,--Joseph and Daniel proved themselves true to the principles of their early
training, true to Him whose representatives they were. These men, both in Egypt and in Babylon, the whole nation honored; and in them a heathen people, and all the nations with which they were connected, beheld an illustration of the goodness and beneficence of God, an illustration of the love of Christ.
{Ed 56.2}

What a lifework was that of these noble Hebrews! As they bade farewell to their childhood home, how little did they dream of their high destiny! Faithful and steadfast, they yielded themselves to the divine guiding, so that through them God could fulfill His purpose. {Ed 57.1}

The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. The history of Joseph and Daniel is an illustration of what He will do for those who yield themselves to Him and with the whole heart seek to accomplish His purpose. {Ed 57.2}

The greatest want of the world is the want of men-- men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. {Ed 57.3}

But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature--the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man. {Ed 57.4}

The youth need to be impressed with the truth that their endowments are not their own. Strength, time, intellect, are but lent treasures. They belong to God, and it should be the resolve of every youth to put them to the highest use. He is a branch, from which God expects fruit; a steward, whose capital must yield increase; a light, to illuminate the world's darkness. {Ed 57.5}

Every youth, every child, has a work to do for the honor of God and the uplifting of humanity. {Ed 58.1}


EDUCATION, Ellen G. White, Pages 56-58.

Note: Bolds and highlights added for emphasis.

'A FALLING AWAY'


1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,


2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.


2 Thessalonians 2 (King James Version)

THE SECRET OF THE GREAT APOSTASY

The Secret of the Great Apostasy

IN spite of the infinite contrast repeatedly drawn by Inspiration in the Scriptures between Greek ignorance and Christian knowledge, Christianity had barely become rooted in the world before there were those amongst the Christians who began to incline to the world’s way, and to claim virtue for Greek ignorance. And this was the origin of the great apostasy.

The exaltation of worldly wisdom, which was but Greek ignorance, was the secret of the “falling away” from the truth of the gospel. And the divine warning against this thing was especially urged to the Ephesians. First, in the letter to the Ephesians, as follows: “This, then, is what I say unto you and urge upon you in the Lord’s name. Do not continue to live as the heathen are living in their perverseness. Owing to the ignorance existing among them and the hardening of their hearts, their powers of discernment are darkened, and they are cut off from the Life of God. For lost to all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, in order to practice every kind of impurity without restraint.

“But as for you, FAR DIFFERENT is the lesson that you learnt from the Christ — if, that is, you really listened to Him, and by living in union with Him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus. For you learnt with regard to your former life that you must lay aside your old nature, which, owing to the passions fostered by Error, was in a corrupt state; and that you must undergo a mental and spiritual transformation, and once for all clothe yourselves with a new nature — one made to resemble God in the righteousness and holiness demanded by the Truth” (Ephesians 4:17-24).

And again, at that important meeting when, from Miletus, Paul “sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church,” in his address to them, he spoke thus: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:28-32).

This apostasy was the burden of the apostle’s warning, not only at Ephesus, but in other places. At Thessalonica, both in his preaching and in his letter to the Thessalonians, he dwelt much upon this. For concerning the day of the coming of the Lord in glory, having in his first letter written much of this, he wrote to them in his second letter thus: “As to the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our being gathered to meet Him, we beg you, Brothers, not lightly to let your minds become unsettled, nor yet to be alarmed by any so-called ‘inspired’ statement, or by any message, or by any letter, purporting to come from us, to the effect that the day of the Master is here. Do not let any one deceive you, try as they may. For come it will not, until after the Great Apostasy and the appearing of that Incarnation of Wickedness, who is born for destruction, and who opposes himself to every one that is spoken of as a God or as an object of worship, and so exalts himself above them that he seats himself in the Temple of God, and displays himself as actually being God!” (II Thessalonians 2:1-4). Then, after having thus stated what that apostasy would reveal, he appeals to the memory of the Thessalonians, thus: “Do you not recollect how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this?”

Much more is said of this in the Scriptures, but there is no need to cite more of it here. This is sufficient to enable all to see how certainly the apostasy was connected with the bringing in of worldly ignorance, and the mingling of it with the knowledge of God. And it was only in proportion that worldly ignorance — science falsely so called — was brought in, that the apostasy grew. And when the apostasy gained the ascendancy, it was but the ascendancy, under the Christian name, of the original Pagan Greek philosophy and science — Greek ignorance — in the professed Christian Church.

Against this evil, the apostles preached, wrote, and warned, all their days. For they saw the enormous consequences that must result from the entertainment only of the small beginnings that were apparent, even in their day. Yet in less than fifty years after the death of the last of the apostles, this apostasy had become so prominent that there were schools of it conducted under the Christian name and passing for Christian schools. The leaders in this thing, the heads of these schools, made the so-called philosophy of the world their standard; and amongst the standard world’s philosophers they regarded Plato as “wiser than all the rest, and as especially remarkable for treating the Deity, the soul, and things remote from sense, so as to suit the Christian scheme” (Mosheim).

This thing was readily adopted by large classes of would-be philosophers and their imitators, who thus could assume the credit of being Christians without any of the self-denial or the correction of the inner life that is essential to Christian experience. The same old heathen life could be maintained under the name and profession of Christianity. This evil made such progress that it was not long before “the estimation in which human learning should be held was a question upon which the Christians were about equally divided. Many recommended the study of philosophy and an acquaintance with the Greek and Roman literature; while others maintained that these were pernicious to the interests of genuine Christianity and the progress of true piety.

“The cause of letters and philosophy triumphed, however, by degrees; and those who wished well to them continued to gain ground, till at length the superiority was manifestly decided in their favor. This victory was principally due to the influence of Origen, who, having been early instructed in the new kind of Platonism already mentioned, blended it, though unhappily, with the purer and more sublime tenets of a celestial doctrine, and recommended it in the warmest manner to the youth who attended his public lessons. The fame of this philosopher increased daily among the Christians; and in proportion to his rising credit, his method of proposing and explaining the doctrines of Christianity gained authority, till it became almost universal” (Id).

The position of Origen at that time may be estimated from the fact that to this day he is one of the chiefest of the Fathers of the church; and from the further fact that “from the days of Origen to those of Chrysostom [A.D. 220-400], there was not a single eminent commentator who did not borrow largely from the works of Origen”; and “he was the chief teacher of even the most orthodox of the Western Fathers.”

“Innumerable expositors in this and the following centuries pursued the method of Origen, though with some diversity; nor could the few who pursued a better method make much head against them.”

But “this new species of philosophy, imprudently adopted by Origen and other Christians, did immense harm to Christianity. For it led the teachers of it to involve in philosophic obscurity many parts of our religion, which were in themselves plain, and easy to be understood; and to add to the precepts of the Saviour no few things of which not a word can be found in the Holy Scriptures. . . . It recommended to Christians various foolish and useless rites, suited only to nourish superstition, no small part of which we see religiously observed by many even to the present day. And finally, it alienated the minds of many in the following centuries from Christianity itself; and produced a heterogeneous species of religion, consisting of Christian and Platonic principles combined. And who is able to enumerate all the evils and injurious changes that arose from this new philosophy — or, if you please, from this attempt to reconcile TRUE AND FALSE RELIGIONS with each other?” (Mosheim).

The result of all this is expressed in the one word — “the Papacy,” as it has been, and as it is. Then occurred a curious though perfectly logical thing: In order to be “scientific,” the apostasy adopted that pagan science falsely so called. Then, when she had filled the world with this pagan ignorance as Christian knowledge, and true science in the simple reading of nature sought recognition, she anathematized, and prohibited, and persecuted it.

That philosophic trend, as already stated, found its spring in Plato. But when it is borne in mind that Plato was only the reporter and continuator of Socrates, who was the great Greek educator, the basis of whose system of education was only “a profound and consistent skepticism,” it is plainly seen that this system of the new Platonism which made the Papacy was nothing else than the system of Greek education swung in under the Christian name, and passed off as Christian knowledge when it was only Pagan ignorance.

And this is “how” it is that “we are to account for the supreme elevation of this man [Plato] in the intellectual history of our race.” This is “how it happens that the writings of Plato have preoccupied every school of learning, every lover of thought, every church, every poet — making it impossible to think, on certain levels, except through him.” This is how it is that “he stands between the truth and every man’s mind, and has almost impressed language, and the primary forms of thought, with his name and seal” (Representative Men, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, page 46). And this is also how it is that “in the history of European thought and knowledge, down to the period of the revival of letters, the name of Aristotle was without a rival, supreme. . . . It even came to pass that, for a long period, all secular writings but those of Aristotle had dropped out of use in Europe . . . . All sought in Aristotle the basis of knowledge. Universities and grammar schools were founded in Aristotle” (Encyclopedia Britannica, article “Aristotle”).

And this, in turn, is how it is that when Christianity was revived for modern times, in the great Reformation, when Luther began to preach Christianity, and to introduce Christian education anew into the world, he was compelled to meet, to renounce, and to denounce, Aristotle, and other teachers of “a deceitful-philosophy,” as follows:

“Do not attach yourself to Aristotle, or to other teachers of a deceitful philosophy; but diligently read the Word of God.

“He who says that a theologian who is not a logician is an heretic and an adventurer, maintains an adventurous and heretical proposition.

“There is no form of syllogism which accords with the things of God.

“In one word, Aristotle is to theology as darkness to light.

“Aristotle, that blind heathen, has displaced Christ.”

And again, of education wholly: “I much fear the universities will become wide gates to hell, if due care is not taken to explain the Holy Scriptures and engrave it on the hearts of the students. My advice to every person is, not to place his child where the Scripture does not reign paramount. Every institution in which the studies carried on lead to a relaxed consideration of the Word of God must prove corrupting.”

The special point in this will be more clearly seen when it is understood that in the Greek system, logic was the test of truth: than which it would be impossible to make a greater mistake.

And it was the double placing of the worldly ignorance of Greek philosophy and logic — Plato and Aristotle — above the divine knowledge of the Word of God, that, at the very beginning of this revival of Christianity for modern times, led Wycliffe to declare that “there is no subtlety in grammar, neither in logic, nor in any other science that can be named, but that it is found in a more excellent degree in the Scriptures.”

Such was the key-note of the Reformation. And though to the sincere Christian it is all so plain and true; yet after the death of Luther, when the apostasy of Protestantism had begun to come in, in less than one hundred years Aristotle was again given the chief place in the seats of learning, and the Greek system of education was continued; so that today it reigns supreme in the schools of both the Church and the State, even in professed Christian and Protestant lands.

Christian Education, By Alonzo T. Jones, Chapt.4. The Secret of the Great Apostasy .

Alonzo T. Jones (1850 – 1923)

At age 20, A. T. Jones began three years of service in the Army. Interestingly enough, he spent much of his time pouring over large historical works, SDA publications, and the Bible. He was baptized when he left the Army, and began preaching on the West Coast. In May, 1885, he became editor of the Signs of the Times, and was later joined by E. J. Waggoner.

Photo of Alonzo T. JonesIn 1888, these two men stirred the General Conference session in Minneapolis with their preaching on righteousness by faith. For several years thereafter, they preached on that subject from coast to coast. Ellen White accompanied them on many occasions. She saw in Jones’ presentations of "the precious subject of faith and the righteousness of Christ...a flood of light" (EGW, 1888 Materials, p. 291).

Jones was on the General Conference Committee in 1897 and editor-in-chief of the Review and Herald from 1897 to 1901.

In 1889, with J. O. Corliss, he spoke against a bill in the U.S. Congress on Sunday observance; the bill was defeated. Thereafter he was a prominent speaker for religious freedom, serving as editor of the forerunner of the Liberty magazine.

After being president of the California Conference (1901-1903), he joined Dr. J. H. Kellogg’s staff against the counsel of E.G. White, a move which, after a series of unfortunate misunderstandings and unwise choices, led to his separation from denominational employment and loss of church membership.

Jones remained a Sabbath observer and loyal to most of the other doctrines of the church. He is remembered especially for his part in bringing into prominence the doctrine of justification by faith.

Reprinted by:

Giving & Sharing, PO Box 100, Neck City, MO 64849

Suggested donation for printed copy: $3.00

Source: http://www.giveshare.org/family/christian-education.html#apostasy

HUMAN PROBATION CLOSES

Human Probation Closes

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Rev. 22:11.


When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. {Mar 263.1}

Scoffers pointed to the things of nature--to the unvarying succession of the seasons, to the blue skies that had never poured out rain, to the green fields refreshed by the soft dews of night--and they cried out: "Doth he not speak parables?" In contempt they declared the preacher of righteousness to be a wild enthusiast; and they went on, more eager in their pursuit of pleasure, more intent upon their evil ways, than before. But their unbelief did not hinder the predicted event. God bore long with their wickedness, giving them ample opportunity for repentance; but at the appointed time His judgments were visited upon the rejecters of His mercy. {Mar 263.2}

Christ declares that there will exist similar unbelief concerning His second coming. As the people of Noah's day "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so," in the words of our Saviour, "shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:39. When the professed people of God are uniting with the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden pleasures; when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of worldly prosperity--then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will come the end of their bright visions and delusive hopes. {Mar 263.3}

The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready. {Mar 263.4}

Maranatha, Ellen G. White, pg. 263.

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Words & Music:

Mar­tin Lut­her, 1529

(MI­DI, score); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by

Fred­er­ic H. Hedge, 1853.


This song has been called “the great­est hymn of the great­est man of the great­est per­i­od of Ger­man his­to­ry” and the “Bat­tle Hymn of the Ref­or­ma­tion.”

This hymn was sung at the fun­er­al of Amer­i­can pre­si­dent Dwight Ei­sen­how­er at the Na­tion­al Ca­thed­ral in Wash­ing­ton, DC, March 1969.


Frederic H. Hedge (1805-1890)

In 1720 a re­mark­a­ble re­viv­al be­gan in a town in Mo­rav­ia. Jes­u­its op­posed it, and the meet­ings were pro­hib­it­ed. Those who still as­sem­bled were seized and im­pris­oned in sta­bles and cel­lars. At Da­vid Nitsch­mann’s house, where a hund­red and fif­ty per­sons ga­thered, the po­lice broke in and seized the books. Not dis­mayed, the con­gre­ga­tion struck up the stan­zas of Lu­ther’s hymn,

“And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us;
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.”

Twenty heads of families were for this sent to jail, in­clud­ing Nitsch­mann, who was treat­ed with spe­cial se­ver­i­ty. He fin­al­ly es­caped, fled to the Mo­rav­i­ans at Herrnhut, be­came a bi­shop, and af­ter­wards joined the

Wes­leys in 1735 in their ex­pe­di­tion to Sa­van­nah, Georg­ia.

Sankey, p. 106

Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm

PSALM 5

PSALM 5
1Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SALMO 5

1 Escucha, oh Jehová, mis palabras;
Considera mi gemir.


2 Está atento a la voz de mi clamor, Rey mío y Dios mío,
Porque a ti oraré.


3 Oh Jehová, de mañana oirás mi voz;
De mañana me presentaré delante de ti, y esperaré.


4 Porque tú no eres un Dios que se complace en la maldad;
El malo no habitará junto a ti.


5 Los insensatos no estarán delante de tus ojos;
Aborreces a todos los que hacen iniquidad.


6 Destruirás a los que hablan mentira;
Al hombre sanguinario y engañador abominará Jehová.


7 Mas yo por la abundancia de tu misericordia entraré en tu casa;
Adoraré hacia tu santo templo en tu temor.


8 Guíame, Jehová, en tu justicia, a causa de mis enemigos;
Endereza delante de mí tu camino.


9 Porque en la boca de ellos no hay sinceridad;
Sus entrañas son maldad,
Sepulcro abierto es su garganta,
Con su lengua hablan lisonjas.


10 Castígalos, oh Dios;
Caigan por sus mismos consejos;
Por la multitud de sus transgresiones échalos fuera,
Porque se rebelaron contra ti.


11 Pero alégrense todos los que en ti confían;
Den voces de júbilo para siempre, porque tú los defiendes;
En ti se regocijen los que aman tu nombre.


12 Porque tú, oh Jehová, bendecirás al justo;
Como con un escudo lo rodearás de tu favor.

Friday, September 21, 2007

MARTIN LUTHER THE REFORMER?

In the year 1517, the Protestant Reformation is known to have been initiated, when
the German monk Martin Luther nailed his ninety five theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. It is commonly thought that the basis of the reformation was Sola Scriptura, or Scripture Only; the authority of scripture over that of church councils and the concept of Papal infallibility.

Today, while calling themselves Protestants, mainstream Christianity continues to adhere to pre-reformation church tradition that is in direct opposition to scripture. While reformation did occur in the 16th century; the proclamation of it, as being
Sola Scriptura
in nature, is misleading.

Very few Protestants have not heard of Luther, nailing his ninety five theses to the door of the church. Most have no idea what those theses addressed. They have
been led to believe that the goal of Martin Luther’s reform was to separate from the Catholic Church; and to replace it with what is now recognized as Protestantism.
That is a Tall Tale of theology.

The rejection of Old Testament scripture by Martin Luther, the only scripture
available to believers that walked and talked with Messiah, proves that
the reformation of his day was not based on the Bible.
A direct quote from Luther makes that plain:

"We don’t want to see or hear Moses.

How do you like that, my dear rebels? We say further, that all such Mosaic teachers deny the gospel, banish Christ, and annul the whole New Testament. I now speak as a Christian for Christians. For Moses is given to the Jewish people alone, and does not concern us Gentiles and Christians. We have our gospel and New Testament. If they can prove from them that images must be put away, we will gladly follow them. If they, however, through Moses would make us Jews, we will not endure it.."

"...Therefore Moses? legislation about images and the Sabbath, and what
else goes beyond the natural law, since it is not supported by the natural
law, is free, null and void, and is specifically
given to the Jewish people alone."



Near the end of his life, Martin Luther warned that those studying his work
should: "read my earliest books very circumspectly" He goes on to explain:
"I too was a monk, and one of the right frantic and raving papists. When I
took up this matter against Indulgences, I was so full and drunken, yea,
so besotted in papal doctrine that, out of my great zeal, I would have been
ready to do murder — at least, I would have been glad to see and help that
murder should be done — on all who would not be obedient and subject
to the pope, even to his smallest word
."

While Luther and others did achieve a certain degree of reformation, no
reformation was necessary for the faithful remnant of his day: those who kept:
"the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
Even though their names may not be recorded in history books, they are
written in the "Lambs Book of Life."

Source: http://www.toolong.com/index.htm

CATHOLIC EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE?


Catholic Evangelical Alliance?


Unity and harmony between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics were the objectives of the declaration entitled "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium." While it may have united those who endorsed the agreement, it has created lingering discord and controversy in the Evangelical community. Many believe it has blurred the biblical distinctions of the Gospel and set the mission of the church back 500 years. On March 29, 1994, Evangelicals, including Chuck Colson, Bill Bright, Pat Robertson, and J. I. Packer signed the agreement with Roman Catholics that compromised the eternal truth of the Gospel for the sake of temporal social and political issues.


It appears this is yet another strategic move by the Vatican to bring all religions under the influence and power of the Pope. Other recent ecumenical efforts include: an ongoing dialogue with the Anglican Church; the establishment of diplomatic relations with the sovereign state of Israel, 46 years after its rebirth as a nation; and the welcoming of voodoo worshippers with their pagan practices into the Catholic Church. In order to build a bridge with Islam, Vatican II also included the Moslems, who deny the deity of Christ, in its plan of salvation.


The document attempted to minimize the ten doctrinal disagreements that exist between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics, and yet it failed to mention the one most critical -- the means of salvation. The biblical plan of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone is not taught in the Catholic Church. Instead, Catholics are taught they must do good works, obey the commandments, be baptized and receive the sacraments to be saved (A Catechism for Adults by Rev. Cogan).


In the sixth century, the Vatican created a place called Purgatory where those who do not fulfill these requirements perfectly can be purged for their sin. Catholics are also taught "they can attain their own salvation and at the same time cooperate in saving their brothers" through good works. (Vatican II, Flannery's Edition, Vol. 1, pages 64-68) Obviously this is a different gospel that produces only false hope. Paul declared, in his letter to the Galatians, anyone preaching a different gospel should be eternally condemned -- not be called a brother in Christ.


However, the declaration does claim all Catholics are brothers and sisters "in Christ." It appears the endorses of this document overlooked what it means to be "in Christ." In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul describes those who are "in Christ" as: redeemed by the blood of Christ, forgiven, and sealed with the Holy Spirit guaranteeing their inheritance. Yet any Catholic who believes he is eternally secure in Christ is cursed with an anathema by his church (Canon 30, 6th Session, Council of Trent).


The document also declares conversion to Christianity "is a continuing process so that the whole life of a Christian should be a passage from death to life, from error to truth, from sin to grace" (Section V). Why did Evangelicals sign this document knowing that conversion occurs the moment a repentant sinner is born again of the Spirit by placing his trust in Christ alone for salvation? It is so disturbing to see the most essential doctrine of Christianity undermined and refuted.


Why did Evangelicals sign an agreement that prohibits them from proselytizing Catholics? It may have developed from threats from high ranking Roman Catholic clergy. At the 31st National Conference of The Bishops of Brazil, Bishop Bohn threatened to declare a holy war against Evangelicals. He said, "The Catholic Church has a ponderous structure, but when we move, we'll smash anyone beneath us." Bishop Bohn stated the only way to avoid an all-out holy war is if Protestants halt their evangelism efforts in Brazil. Must the Great Commission be compromised because of a threat?


If this agreement is sustainable then its endorsement must declare the Reformation was a terrible mistake and the martyrs who died defending the Gospel, died in vain. Let us pray for the discernment of those involved, that they may realize the severe implications of their actions and annul the agreement. Evangelicals must unite to defend the integrity of the Gospel and boldly contend for the faith that was once entrusted to the saints. Truth, not tolerance, is the only basis for Christian unity.


Source: http://www.pro-gospel.org/01/ea-021.php

EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLICS TOGETHER

Evangelicals and Catholics Together

There are many religious movements today that may seem new to us. However, most of their ideas and policies have been practiced for centuries. They are put under new names with new faces, but their goals are still the same; to turn people's focus away from God and towards man made ideas and icons.

Ecclesiastes 1: 9b,10

" ...and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."

Charles Colson and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus (Lutheran who converted to Catholicism) authored the ecumenical documents Evangelicals and Catholics Together and Evangelicals and Catholics Together II. The approval for the wording was required to come from Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity.

Besides the authors, Charles Colson and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, the original document was signed in 1994 by:

(# --Have since removed their names)

There are most likely many others that applied their names in agreement even if they never made it public. As well, one must consider the influence and position each in agreement has with colleagues and congregations.

Evangelicals and Catholics Together II boasts scholars and Christian leaders who endorsed the original 25-page statement in addition to the original authors Colson and Neuhaus.

They include:

Roman Catholics:

  • Fr. James J. Buckley (Loyola College in Maryland);
  • Fr. J.A. Di Noia, O.P. (Dominion House of Studies);
  • Fr. Avery Dulles, S.J. (Fordham University);
  • Fr. Thomas Guarino (Seton Hall University);
  • Dr. Peter Kreeft (Boston College);
  • Fr. Matthew L. Lamb (Boston College);
  • Fr. Eugene La Verdiere, S.S.S. (Emmanuel);
  • Fr. Francis Martin (John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family);
  • Mr. Ralph Martin (Renewal Ministries); See: CNP's Robert Weiner & Maranatha; Shepherding Movement Connections; General Council Meeting of the Ft. Lauderdale Elders
  • Fr. Richard John Neuhaus (Religion and Public Life);
  • Mr Michael Novak (American Enterprise Institute); See: CNP Joint Projects : A-D; CNP's Alan P. Dye, Alan Keyes
  • Fr. Edward Oakes, S.J. (Regis University);
  • Fr. Thomas P. Rausch S.J. (Loyola Marymount University);
  • Mr George Weigel (Ethics and Public Policy Center); CNP Joint Projects : E-J
  • Dr. Robert Louis Wilken (University of Virginia).

The second document which was formally released December 8,1997 in Christianity Today included evangelical and Catholic theologians who had met in New York and together adopted the joint statement entitled "The Gift of Salvation" also called "Evangelicals and Catholics Together II."

The statement that was distributed throughout the Internet for several months before the official publishing included Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission, and Bob Seiple (World Vision) as signers, but their names were subsequently omitted in the Christianity Today report with no explanation offered.

"The publication of "The Gift of Salvation" in Christianity Today is accompanied by an introduction by Timothy George, senior adviser to Christianity Today and dean of Beeson Divinity School at the Southern Baptist-supported Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. George says "The Gift of Salvation" "has been made possible by a major realignment in ecumenical discourse: the coalescence of believing Roman Catholics and faithful evangelicals who both affirm the substance of historic Christian orthodoxy against the ideology of theological pluralism that marks much mainline Protestant thought as well as avant-garde Catholic theology. Thus, for all our differences, Bible-believing evangelicals stand much closer to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger than to Bishop John Spong!" (George, "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: A New Initiative," Christianity Today, Dec. 8, 1997, p. 34).

For Bob Seiple See: World Vision: A UN Global Vision; World Vision: Institute for Global Engagement & Eastern College

In Atlanta, Georgia at a Pastors conference, Promise Keepers brought together "leadership" from The World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, evangelicals, Mormons, and Roman Catholics, including about 600 priests.

Bill McCartney of Promise Keepers says this:

"We have a plan...Baptists... Lutherans...Roman Catholics...we've been divided...but now we're being reunited...! Nobody can go out of here without the same plan...every man connected to a church; every church connected to each other...! (Washington,DC)

But lest it be suggested that Promise Keepers and it's supporter are the only vehicle being used to further the agenda of uniting people and religion, the following should be cause to pause.

Excerpt from:

Ecumenical News International
ENI News Service; Vatican official says justification statement can be signed 'without delay'
ENI-98-0415
17 September 1998 by Stephen Brown

"... A senior Vatican official has said that the Roman Catholic Church is ready to sign - "without delay and in its integrity" - a major statement with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) which aims to resolve a doctrinal dispute dating from the Reformation.
Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said that he was clarifying "misreadings" of the official Catholic response to the "joint declaration on justification", on the basis of which some observers believed the Vatican had given only qualified support to the joint declaration with the LWF, the world's major grouping of Lutheran churches...
The doctrine of justification was a major point of contention between Martin Luther and his followers and the Papacy at the time of the Reformation. The differences led to mutual doctrinal condemnations by Lutherans and Catholics.
A key paragraph in the joint declaration - which was drawn up by a Catholic-Lutheran working group - states that these condemnations do not apply to the Lutheran and Catholic doctrines on justification as they are presented in the declaration. Many Lutherans hope that such a statement will allow significant ecumenical progress with the Roman Catholic Church in other areas..." end quote.

There are many entering into agreements to "unite" the world, either through denominations or causes. However God calls His people to something else.

There are serious issues that cannot be ignored when looking to the Catholic Church. Mary Ann Collins, a former Catholic nun, writing about Catholic issues states:

"The Pope is called “Holy Father” and the Catholic Church is called “Holy Mother Church”. According to “The Catholic Encyclopedia,” the idea of freedom of religion is wrong. People are not supposed to use their own personal judgment to determine their religious beliefs. (This article is online.)

According to Canon Law (the official laws governing the Roman Catholic Church), Catholics are required to submit their minds and wills to any declaration concerning faith or morals which is made by the Pope or by a church council. They are also required to avoid anything that disagrees with such declarations. And they can be coerced if they don’t comply. (You can read these laws online.) [Note 2]

The Catholic Church teaches that only the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (the Pope and the bishops in communion with him) has the right to interpret Scripture. People like us are not allowed to interpret Scripture for ourselves. We have to check it out with Church authorities. (This is online.) [Note 3]

Catholicism teaches that Catholics are supposed to “receive with docility” any directives given to them by Catholic Church authorities. (This is online.) [Note 4]

Catholicism teaches that there is no salvation apart from the Catholic Church, its sacramental system, the priesthood, and the Pope

The Bible says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. (2 Corinthians 6:14) By Biblical standards, the Catholic Church presents a Gospel that is badly distorted. It is salvation by “Jesus plus”. Jesus plus the Catholic Church. Jesus plus the sacraments. Jesus plus good works. Jesus plus Catholic tradition.

This is contrary to Scripture. The Apostle Paul said that requiring people to be circumcised nullifies the grace of God, with the result that people are not saved. It is such a serious thing that “Christ is become of no effect unto you” and you “are fallen from grace”. In other words, Jesus Christ no longer does you any good. (Galatians 5:1-4)

If just being required to add circumcision nullifies the grace of God, then what happens when you are required to add the sacraments and the Pope and Catholic tradition and good works and the Catholic magisterium? [The “magisterium” is the official teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.]

Catholics have faith in the Catholic Church. (Their faith in Jesus Christ is through the Catholic Church, rather than directly in Jesus Himself.) Their rule of faith is the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and other official Catholic documents. This includes the Catholic Bible, as interpreted by the Catholic magisterium..."

http://www.CatholicConcerns.com

A Little History

Freemasonry is one group that claims many fronts and forms, but whose goals and philosophy are embraced by adherents, as the "Universal Religion". Through much research into history one will find many other groups that have tried to unite different people and religions into one religion. One major conflict to that agenda was the Reformation. It was a major turning point for Christianity but also a time when the Catholic Church was grieved for those who chose to follow the Protestant religion. That grief has never subsided.

Since that time Rome has developed strategies and policies to bring "the lost sheep" back into the fold, under the required leadership of the Pope, while many outside the Catholic faith work their way back to Rome.

Many of those strategies were discussed in the book, "The Secret History of The Oxford Movement" by Walter Walsh, 1899. Though Walsh was writing about the work of the Catholic church in his time, many of the thoughts and ideas are applicable to many Christian organizations and leaders today.

The book was written as an expose on the secret societies and movement of the Society of the Holy Cross, "Ritualists and Romanizers" in the 1800's. Walsh wrote, "Secret Ritualistic Societies have now come into existence, and they are increasing in number every year... At present the Church of England is literally honeycombed with Secret Societies, all working in the interests of the scheme for the Corporate Reunion of the Church of England with the Church of Rome. These secret plotters are the real wire-pullers of the Ritualistic Movement.... report of speeches delivered in the secret meetings of Secret Societies, and of Semi-Secret Societies, several of them by men who have since risen to positions of eminence in the Church of England. (Pg. xxxviii Preface)

Quoting from Jesuits and those who were Catholic or Catholic sympathizers or supporters, Walsh recounted,

"......Cardinal Newman... 1833 as the start of the Tractarian Movement. Within three months from that date he published his work on the "Arians of the Fourth Century", in which the "Disciplina Arcani", or the "secret teaching", which found such favour...Newman himself. "If," he writes, "it is necessary to contrast the two with each other, the one may be considered as withholding the truth, and the other as setting it out to advantage." (Chapter 1, page 1) …he quotes with approval …advice of Clement of Alexandria: "The Alexandrian father," he affirms, "who has already been quoted, accurately describes the rules which should guide the Christian in speaking and writing economically... Whatever is in his mind is also on his; towards those who are fit recipients, both in speaking and living, he harmonizes his profession with his thoughts. He thinks and speaks the truth; except where careful treatment is necessary, and then, as a physician for the good of his patients, he will LIE, or rather utter a LIE, as the Sophists say…Nothing, however, but his neighbour’s good will lead him to do this. He gives himself up for the church". (Pg. 2)

While what Newman presented was supposedly for people of faith he admits that it didn't come from the Word of God, although that should not really be a surprise when you read it.

"...It is worthy of note that Newman affirmed that these secret doctrines were not learnt from the Scriptures. ..he writes, "How was any secrecy practicable, seeing that the Scriptures were open to everyone who chose to consult them?…the secret doctrines of the early church, have never been learnt merely from Scripture"…Surely the Sacred Volume was never intended, and is not adapted, to teach us our Creed". (pg 2)

"Pusey wrote:

..."I know not that the Popish controversy may not just be the very best way of handling Ultra-Protestantism, i.e., neglecting it, not advancing against, but setting Catholic views against Roman Catholicism and so disposing of Ultra-Protestantism by a side wind, and teaching people Catholicism, without their suspecting, while they are only bent on demolishing Romanism. I suspect we might thus have people with us, instead of against us, and that they might find themselves Catholics before they were aware." (Pg. 10.)

Many people are caught up in the ritualism and manner of the Catholic church, while denying it their "verbal support." We find the same thinking and behavior throughout all religions. Lip service is nothing new, and those claiming to belong to Jesus Christ are cautioned about this very thing.

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

A plan was devised to bring Protestants back into the Roman Catholic Church.

"The English clergy were formerly too attached to the Articles of Faith to be shaken from them. …to reunite them to the Romish Church; and so the Jesuits of England employed another plan. This was to demonstrate from history…the legitimacy of the usages of the English Church, whence, through the exertions of the Jesuits concealed among its clergy, might arise a studious attention to Christian antiquity. This was designed to occupy clergy in long, laborious and abtruse investigation, and to alienate them from their Bibles."

" …a Roman priest asked Desanctis: "But …would be for the greater glory of God, that all the Puseyites (followers of Dr.Pusey) should become Catholics?" "No my son, the Puseyite movement must be left alone that it may bring forth fruit. If all the Puseyites were to declare themselves Catholics, the Movement would be at an end. Protestants would be alarmed, and the whole gain of the Catholic Church would be reduced to some million of individuals and no more. From time to time it is well that one of the Puseyite leaders should become a Catholic, in order that, under our instructions, the Movement may be better conducted, but it would not be desirable for many of them to come over to Catholicism. Puseyism is a living testimony to the necessity of Catholicism in the midst of our enemies; it is a worm at the root which, skillfully nourished by our exertions, will waste Protestantism till it is destroyed." (Pg 32-33)

We are constantly on information overload and activity overload, where we fill our time with everything but the study of the Word of God and time with Him.

Walsh claims the Society of the Holy Cross consisted of the following consisted of "of Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and candidates for Holy Orders." .. "The Objects of the Society" are,... "to maintain and extend the Catholic faith and Discipline…" (Pg. 48)

Amidst controversy, the Society, instead of being perceived wrong, reconstructed:

...(After controversy the issue of disbanding the Society was discussed) " …to dissolve would be to create confusion in certain minds, and would involve some loss of self-respect; if we dissolved we acknowledged ourselves to be in the wrong, and destroyed the great instrument we had for promoting the Catholic Revival in this country.... the Society had been rushed into the midst of its foes, and was now surrounded, and in danger of being cut to pieces. There was nothing for it but to "take open order,’ to skirmish as it were for a time, to pass through our enemies and re-form in a stronger position…. he (Rev. E.G. Wood) counseled disbanding the Society, with the view of thereby escaping …reconstructing the Society under the same or a similar title….(pg 130-131)

Note—they voted not to disband.

"The Order of Corporate Reunion is even more secret… than the Society of the Holy Cross…more Popish…acknowledging the Pope as the Lawful Head of the whole visible Church on earth…. supplying the rank and file of the Ritualist, in the Church of England, with the Roman doctrine and ritual for which they craved... the real object …to bring not only themselves, but the whole Church of England with them, back to the Pope—and this is what is meant by Corporate Reunion. (Chapter 5, pg. 147...)

The idea was, give people what they are looking for and they won’t look any further. It appeared to work, and continues to do so today.

Chapter IX of this book entitled, "The Romeward Movement", probably holds some of the most controversial yet relevant statements of the whole book. The thinking and strategies to move all people back to Rome continues today at a rate that is phenomenal.

"If the Majority of the Church of England could have been induced to accept the views of these advanced Romanizers, she would have been sufficiently "Catholicised" for reunion with the Papacy. ...The romanizers…. thought they were, even then, within a measurable distance of the realization of their hopes. So full of expectation…Their Roman Catholic brethren must be let into the secret. So an anonymous letter was sent…now known, the author was Rev. W. G. Ward (a letter published 1841)…. From this very remarkable and thoroughly Jesuitical letter, I give the following extracts: ---

"You see, then sir, that humility, the first condition of every sound reform, is not wanting in us. We are little satisfied with our position... We groan at the sins committed by our ancestors in separating from the Catholic world. We experience a Burning desire to be reunited to our brethren. We love with unfeigned affection the Apostolic See, which we acknowledge to be the head of Christendom; and the more so because the Church of Rome is our mother, which sent from her bosom the blessed Saint Augustine, to bring us her immovable faith. We admit also, that it is not our formularies, or even the Council of Trent, which prevent our union. After all these concessions, you may ask me, why, then, do you not rejoin us? What is it that prevents you?… "There are at this moment, in the Anglican Church, a crowd of persons who balance between Protestantism and Catholicism, and who, nevertheless, would reject with horror the very idea of a union with Rome. The Protestant prejudice, which, for three hundred years, have infected our Church, are unhappily to deeply rooted there to be extirpated without a great deal of address. [Did he not really mean sly cunning?] We must, then, offer in sacrifice to God this ardent desire that devours us of seeing once more the perfect unity of the church of Christ. We must still bear the terrible void which the isolation of our Church creates in our hearts, and remains still until it pleases God to convert the hearts of our Anglican confreres, especially of our holy fathers, the bishops. We are destined, I am persuaded, to bring back many wandering sheep to the knowledge of the truth. In fact, the progress of Catholic opinions in England, for the last seven years, is so inconceivable that no hope should appear extravagant. Let us, then, remain quiet for some years, TILL, BY GOD’S BLESSING, THE EARS OF ENGLISHMEN ARE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HEAR THE NAME OF ROME PRONOUNCED WITH REVERENCE. At the end of this term you will soon see the fruits of our patience." (Pg. 280)

"(Removing the Barriers) …1867, the authorities of the Society of the Holy Cross were busily engaged in securing signatures…at the first Lambeth Conference. The Romeward leanings of the society…. This document will be read … all who love the freedom of the Church of England, and believe that it would be a sin to join the Roman communion… "We are mindful of efforts made in former time by English and foreign Bishops and theologians to effect, by mutual explanations on either side, a reconciliation between the Roman and Anglican Communions. And, considering the intimate and visible union which existed between the Church of England and the rest of Western Christendom, we earnestly entreat your lordships seriously to consider the best means of renewing like endeavors, and to adopt such measures as may, under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, be effectual in REMOVING THE BARRIERS which now divide the Western Branch of the Catholic Church." (Pg. 324)

The strategies and thoughts are found in groups such as Promise Keepers whose leadership have stated:

" We believe that we have a 'God-given mission' to unite Christian men who are separated by race, sectarianism, age, culture and economics... the biblical directive to be 'ambassadors of reconciliation' compels us to breakdown the walls that have divided and polarized the Body of Christ for too long." (Promise Keepers Statement of Faith, Promise Keepers 1996 magazine, pg.5)

Also in the PK pamphlet "Biblical Unity & Biblical Truth: a Necessary Tension", we find the split of the Christian church discussed.

"...for the first thousand years, there was but one recognized Church....the first major division...resulting in the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches...another fracture occurred leading to the creation of the Protestant Church. Protestanism...the formation of a myriad of denominations and sects, each intending in its own way to maintain the purity of the Gospel and uphold Biblical Christianity...the Ecumenical Movement. Intending a broad-based reunification,...In view of history, and in spite of the difficulties involved, Promise Keepers believes the Lord is calling Christian men to denominational reconciliation... sought to find the common ground upon which all Christians can unite....Therefore, while Promise Keepers desires to call men of all Christian denominations together in Biblical unity, that unity must be based on the historically essential truths of Christianity..."

Going by the historical presentation in their document, Promise Keepers leadership and adherents believe that each denominational split from the original Church are to be considered part of the denominational reconciliation and unity. Finding common ground in this way, although claiming to be based on the Biblical truth of Christ, is really the same concept as the secular "unity in diversity". Unity on the things we can agree on, tolerance and respect for the things we disagree with.

"(Appendix PG 380) - Reunion with Rome (what the Ritualists Teach) " We have no wish to revile the faith of Roman Catholics, for it is the same faith of our own; we have no wish to insult their worship, for we worship God in the same Eucharist;…The real difference in the matters of faith between a sincere and intelligent Roman Catholic and a Catholic-minded member of the Church of England is the merest shadow of a shade. Each refers to Holy Scriptures, each refers to the history of the Church through its eighteen centuries of existence, as the real test of the truth of its doctrines, and the difference between them therefore cannot be great. The spirit of schism would lead each to magnify difference to the greatest possible extent, but the spirit of Christian faith and love will lead to a different conclusion. Two things we know for certain, …Catholic Unity is a plain Christian duty; and secondly that there can be no such thing as Catholic Unity without the Bishop of Rome as the lawful Primate and President of Christendom…."

"Of course to those whose cry is ‘No peace with Rome’, and whose glory is in the shame of divided Christendom, it [i.e. Corporate Union] is a thing as incredible as hateful, the wish that it may ever be so is the father to the thought; … What we have to strive and pray for is the restoration of the outward, visible, corporate manifestation of that unity. Do, brethren, consider seriously these things, and be not lead away by blind prejudice, and by that insensate outcry against Rome and Popery."

What has been taking place throughout the religious world is a culmination and continuation of this thinking. It did not stop. It did not fade away. It simply has manifested itself with different people and groups embracing and forwarding the agenda.

Scripture always provides a clear course of action for any situation we encounter.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Notes:

1. “Inquisition” in “The Catholic Encyclopedia,”Volume VIII (8), 1910 (online edition 2002). The statement opposing freedom of religion is in the second paragraph of the article. The Office of the Inquisition is an ecclesiastical institution for suppressing heresy. It is a permanent office with headquarters in Rome (described on pages 1 and 23-24 of my print-out). http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm

For a Protestant perspective on the Inquisition, you can go to the following article. It is on the web site of Bart Brewer, who is a former Catholic priest. http://mtc.org/~bart/inquis.htm

2. “Code of Canon Law,” Latin English edition, New English Translation (Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1988), pages 247 and 409, Canons 752, 1311-1312. The 1983 “Code of Canon Law” was translated into English in 1988. It is available online. The following links go to the Index of the book, which has links to the laws. Canon 752 is near the beginning of Book III. Canons 1311-1312 are in the beginning of Book VI.

http://www.intratext.com/X/ENG0017.htm

http://digilander.libero.it/gergely/cic_en.htm

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/canon/

3. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Paragraphs 85, 100, 891, and 2051. The “Catechism” summarizes the essential and basic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1992 and the English translation was released in 1994. The latest English edition was printed in 2000. It is available on-line, with a search engine.

http://www.christusrex.org/www2/kerygma/ccc/searchcat.html

4. “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Paragraphs 87, 1310, and 2037.

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Source: http://www.seekgod.ca/ect.htm