A Catholic friend recently contacted me about an abortion protest being held in Troy New York this weekend. She follows my blog and although she doesn't leave comments, she often emails me with additional and often brilliant insights in regard to some of my posts. When she mentioned Troy, I replied to her that my former neighbor in upstate NY attends High Mass there. I called my neighbor (
who I often refer to as a Super Catholic) and suggested they meet sometime (they did on Saturday...small world). While on the phone, we discussed my post last Sunday and she asked me, "Why aren't you Catholic?" I can't help but feel that she thinks it is my only hope for true salvation. I responded that I was happy with my current
relationship with Christ. I did a little digging today and found a very long
answer to her question.
1 Timothy 2:5 gives the most concise answer...
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
7 comments:
Controversy. I believe a certain way and that is the religion I favor. I grew up that way in my culture and family and history. Although I can learn ideas from other religions. As long as a religion teaches about a higher entity and shows a good way to live that the members strive to live, what difference does it make? I am a Mayflower descendant. Their religion does not even exist anymore-just offshoots. But we believe in God and his son Jesus. Catholic people are just now being taught more about the Bible in an interesting perspective, and Jewish people can really bring the history of the Bible and that area to living, interesting life. The Bible is my only main book and was written by brilliant men in the Middle Ages to teach people the correct way to live. What more could a person ask for. The Bible has always gone everywhere with me-even a small one in my pocket - and I often pulled it out and read a verse. (I have gone to many religious organizations and cults and read many books such as the Koran but I don't understand or like them-just gibberish to me-people looking for their answer and what works for them to get through this life and cope. I am not the judge to judge-GOD IS).
Margery,
What a surprise! I too am a Mayflower descendant (2 of my ancestors were on the boat). Although, I must admit, one of my direct descendants (Cotton Mather) who wrote "The Wonders of The Invisible World," was instrumental in the Salem Witch Trials, which ultimately condoned the murder of many people – all in the name of religion. Of course, I don't think much has changed over the past 300+ years when it comes to religion driving the slaughter of outliers and non-believers. History is full of hard truths.
My ancestors came from Scotland/Ireland in the early 1700's to get away from religious persecution. They were "blue stocking" Presbyterians (whatever that means). There were "killing times" in Ireland and certain poor souls roamed the moors of Scotland and lived in caves to avoid being killed. We have been fortunate so far in this country.
I believe Martin Luther was observing:
Timothy 2:5 ----For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
when Luther broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and formed the Lutheran Church. Although I am a Missouri Synod Lutheran – I believe a lot of Catholic and other Protestant Church members – who accept Jesus as their Savior and mediator - will be saved.
I worked with a woman who converted to Islam. I was surprised to find out that she said only the men go to the Mosque...I have always wanted to ask a muslim why their are no groups of Lutheran suicide bombers...I live in Minnesota land of 10 million Lutherans.
Just because Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and Mankind, does not mean that there are not additional subordinate ministers and mediators between Jesus Christ and mankind. A corporation may have one CEO, one Boss between the employees and the shareholders, but that does not mean that there are not many other lesser bosses that the employees must obey if they want to keep their jobs and their pensions.
Christ himself appointed and sent 72 out into the world to spread his word--he did not go himself, all alone. He appointed subordinates, and explicitly warned that it is blasphemy to despise these lessor mediators:
"And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come... 'He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.'" (Luke 10: 1, 16)
Also, it is absolutely necessary to hold the Catholic (means Universal) Faith, outside of which all are sadly lost--like those who perished outside of Noah's Ark (1 Peter 3:20).
Faith is like a bank account number, or the answer to a math problem. There is only one, and it has no tolerance of error. If you deposit your soul into a bank account that is one number off of Heaven's, you are lost. There is an infinity of wrong answers to 2 + 2, and one and only one right one.
If you want to find the True Faith, you need need to trust God that since it pertains to Him, and since He is Good and All Powerful and All Knowing, and commanded that His Truth should not be like a lamp hidden under a bushel, but as a bright city shining on a hill, that this One True Faith must be obvious in all times and places, from the time of the apostles on, like said shining city on the hill.
Were Evangelicals known in all times and places? Were Lutherans? Were Calvinists? Were Methodists? Was there a shining Baptist city on the hill in all ages? Or Jehovah's Witnesses? Or 7th Day Adventists? Or Mormons? No, these are all recent factions and schisms and inventions--but there are two religions that everyone, everywhere knows of and has known of for going on 2,000 years. One of them is of the Old Testament, largely confined to one race, and fulfilled and no longer efficacious, and the other is the Catholic Faith, open to all races.
"Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] ONE BODY (not 10,000 Protestant sects) and ONE SPIRIT; as you are called in one hope of your calling. [5] One Lord, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM." (Ephesians 4:3-5)
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