Being Protestant

In Awe of Him said:
I think it is well established that GOD is the MASTER MATHEMATICIAN and so.... as BibleLover pointed out....This topic of deceptive doctrines is one that has deeply "affected" me... and NOT because I got swallowed in... but rather... because it was charged to me/ dumped on me as "truth"... leaving me to lump it or leave it. I have been very verbal about the fact that I have no desire to belong to a church... and that I do not TRUST any man. This seems to have played out to my benefit in a majority of cases... because a soul that does not trust others... is not easily deceived. There have been several major dilemmas for me with regards to false doctrine... in my Christian walk.
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Good morning, In Awe of Him;

You're not alone. Making the decision to accept Jesus Christ in your life is the most important decision you will make. For many of us, deceptive, or confusing doctrines will cross our paths. It's no wonder when some believers don't trust man. For others this may take time.

I want to encourage you. Not all men and women of God deceive or share confusing Gospel. I praise God for obedient believers who apply the knowledge and wisdom when sharing Christ with others.

Please continue to ask your questions and vent. This allows God to reveal the Truth to you while pruning and cleansing your heart, enabling you to discern in your Christian walk, listening and talking Jesus with others.

God bless you.

Bob
 
In Awe of Him said:
It is sad Major... that when a person needs the TRUTH of WHO GOD IS the most... they can't seem to find it.
Granted...I became a believer via a Christian Chatroom... so I got a lot of CRAZIES coming at me from the get go...

When I was 14... something happened to my mom... and she went all in on religion. She chose the Catholic Church... she fell in love with a priest and my life was a living hell. My father had left us without even a good bye... and I was stuck living with a suddenly RELIGIOUS fanatic.

I could go on and on here... things did not get any better with my extended family BECAUSE they were the strict Pentecostals. I did not experience this till well in my adulthood... but suffice to say.... FINDING the TRUTH of WHO GOD IS... was not an easy task.

By the time I reached middle age... I was so broken... my soul was shattered and NO ONE in the Christian world offered me HOPE.
Everything was by stipulation. YOU must do this... in order... and then you must remain vigilent to REMAIN saved.... BLAH... BLAH... BLAH.

For many years... I think I simply GAVE up even trying to figure things out.... One thing I knew for sure is that I was NOT WORTHY of even being SAVED in the first place... let alone having to maintain my status.

The miracle of what happened to me at the lake 4 years ago... is truly an AMAZING event... because in one SECOND.... it was imputed into my spirit that GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS. HE is the GOD of the BIBLE. Those were the ONLY words I heard spoken.. .but after those words... was an INSTANT alignment of TRUTH. I knew that I was deeply loved and cherished by the GOD of the UNIVERSE. I knew that I was SAVED and belonged to HIM. I knew that HE would finish within me what HE has started. EVERYTHING fell into place... and simultaneously... I was healed from my DECADES long depression. I can't explain this experience.... but neither can I deny that it occurred because from it has flowed an amazing story of HEALING and REDEMPTION.

Not sure what the lesson here is...God dealt with me personally.... NOT because I was extra special... but rather because I was extra desperate and starving to death for truth. NOT one CHRISTIAN in twenty years came to my aid with TRUTH... .and so for twenty years I sunk lower and lower into the pit of despair.

SO YEAH..... I don't have a good vibe with many who profess to be Christian.
You know me more than many here Major... I think I have proven that for the most part... I have been granted the wisdom to have some solid doctrine in me. I had no interest in getting my ears tickled.... I only had interest in being able to cope with life.
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God love you my sister........and He does. As Bob said, you are not alone and many share your experiences.

What you just said is the reason I spend time here posting what I believe is the correct Word of God in a down to earth country way of speaking so that any and all can understand.

From what I know about you.....YOU have overcome many obstacles and are definitely now on the right path.

Keep your head up and your eyes on the Lord Jesus and keep putting one foot in front of the other one!
 
Hello Major;

Thank you for posting here as long as you have. 15 years ago I battled my demons and wherever I could hear or read the word including CFS has been beneficial for all who are serious in their faith.

You can charge this time (BR546) to our sister In Awe of Him.

I'm all tapped out, brother! 😎👍 lol!
 
Major said:
God love you my sister........and He does. As Bob said, you are not alone and many share your experiences.

What you just said is the reason I spend time here posting what I believe is the correct Word of God in a down to earth country way of speaking so that any and all can understand.
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I have come to depend on your teachings over these last two years... as well as Bob's caring encouragement. I have been SO BLESSED that a GREAT many here tucked me under their wings and protected and sheltered me.

My sharing was more of a lament.... My heart is for the new believer.... New Christians need to be mentored and discipled for AT LEAST the first year to set them on the right track.

I think a lot of people get sucked into a church that has spectacular Worship. I am guilty of having done the same. I did not want to listen to someone teach me... I simply wanted to be in the Presence of God... and corporate worship did that for me.

Now... I would shy away from such churches and simply attend the little Lutheran church down the road that is simple and probably has hymnals.
 
In Awe of Him said:
I think a lot of people get sucked into a church that has "spectacular Worship." I am guilty of having done the same. I did not want to listen to someone teach me... I simply wanted to be in the Presence of God... and corporate worship did that for me. Now... I would shy away from such churches and simply attend the little Lutheran church down the road that is simple and probably has hymnals.
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Hazel and I visited an elderly friend in her city for the weekend. Her late husband and her were our mentors in the past when they lived in our community. We attended her neighborhood "mega" Church and all the seniors were sitting in the back seats of the auditorium setting. The stage had glittering lights and the sound system did the vocals no justice. The praise leader was in his mid 30s, wore a baseball cap backward, spoke with a fake southern accent and we couldn't understand a word he was supposedly singing mixed with rap.

I looked around and the seniors sat in the back seats and it seemed they weren't a part of the praise and worship. All the youth and young adults were up front bouncing to the sound.

We were so blown away but in our hearts we kept it respectable especially when the minister finally came out and preached. This was about 4 years ago and today our friend left that Church and is now attending a small Church where she could join in with the praise and worship and listen to the sermon at a comfortable sound level.

Point is, God doesn't need the aid of "spectacular" worship with all the glitter, expensive sound equipment not to mention the TV monitors. For those Churches that can get the anointing worship and message across to the congregation is a blessing but for those who can't need to do a self-check starting with the Senior Pastor and his motives of bringing others into the Church.

At the Lutheran Church you're visiting, is the Pastor's name Luther? 😉
 
In Awe of Him said:
It is sad Major... that when a person needs the TRUTH of WHO GOD IS the most... they can't seem to find it.
Granted...I became a believer via a Christian Chatroom... so I got a lot of CRAZIES coming at me from the get go...
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the solution to that is
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


the Bible also says we have a unction that we may know all things.. the main reason people get hood winked deceived. that dont know the truth.. a person dont have be a bible scholar to know the truth. take a bible and follow who ever is speaking. if they say something you dont think is right and cant find it in the Bible drop them like a hot coal .. that is sound advice for all there is so much junk terms . if a person lets it .. they can fall for it
 
bobinfaith said:
At the Lutheran Church you're visiting, is the Pastor's name Luther? 😉
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I only discovered the church last Sunday morning... and so I did not go because it's far from me. I am going to visit the church this Sunday and am looking forward to it. I will take a bus to down town and walk from the bus terminal. Because my city is small... our city bus routes are not many and it takes forever to get places. If I take the bus to the terminal... I only have about half a mile to walk instead of 4 miles.

I also have asked my boss and her husband if they would be willing to have a house-meeting one Sunday a month. That plan is also in the making.
 
bobinfaith said:
Hazel and I visited an elderly friend in her city for the weekend. Her late husband and her were our mentors in the past when they lived in our community. We attended her neighborhood "mega" Church and all the seniors were sitting in the back seats of the auditorium setting. The stage had glittering lights and the sound system did the vocals no justice. The praise leader was in his mid 30s, wore a baseball cap backward, spoke with a fake southern accent and we couldn't understand a word he was supposedly singing mixed with rap.

I looked around and the seniors sat in the back seats and it seemed they weren't a part of the praise and worship. All the youth and young adults were up front bouncing to the sound.

We were so blown away but in our hearts we kept it respectable especially when the minister finally came out and preached. This was about 4 years ago and today our friend left that Church and is now attending a small Church where she could join in with the praise and worship and listen to the sermon at a comfortable sound level.

Point is, God doesn't need the aid of "spectacular" worship with all the glitter, expensive sound equipment not to mention the TV monitors. For those Churches that can get the anointing worship and message across to the congregation is a blessing but for those who can't need to do a self-check starting with the Senior Pastor and his motives of bringing others into the Church.

At the Lutheran Church you're visiting, is the Pastor's name Luther? 😉
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Agreed.

For some reason we have decided that more is better and bigger is smarter. I have no idea why, but we have.

It is like the truck stop with all the trucks on the interstate. People see that and think the food is great BUT, They might NOT be there for the food, but for the bathroom!:)

The problem with spectacular worship services and those that produce spiritual and emotional "highs" is that those activities do not glorify God and in fact are not worship at all. Those activities are rock and roll concerts and those that attend are always searching for that next emotional high.
 
Major said:
I want to be very careful here and not get banned or rebuked but.......the real question must be asked, is the Catholic a Christian church?

I think that there are TWO answers, the short one and the long one.

The SHORT one is that the Roman Catholic church underwrites all the important doctrines of the Christian faith, such as the Trinity, sin and our need for redemption, Jesus’ dying for sins, the Resurrection, forgiveness of sins, the coming judgement and eternal life.

The LONG answer is that the Catholic church has ADDED to the Word of God the traditions of men instead of what God said.

Again we must ask, does the Roman Catholic church believe that the Bible is God’s word and that we should do what it says? ? ?

Allow me to list for all of you several doctrines taught in the Catholic religion that ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE!

1. Purgatory.
The word, the idea or thought is no where in the Bible. The Catholic church teaches that it is a place or state where souls undergo purification before entering heaven. Catholics believe it’s a chance to cleanse venial sins.

2. Immaculate Conception.
This teaching states that Mary, Jesus’ mother, was born without original sin. Again, there is no words or thought or a suggestion that Mary was any different that YOU. She was a sinner just like YOU and ME.

3. Papel Infallibility.
This Catholic doctrine says the Pope can not make a mistake when speaking ex-cathedra on matters of faith and morals. It is taught that he is the vicar of Christ and is equal to an Apostle.

4. Transubstantiation.
This is the belief that bread and wine become the actual, literal body and blood of Christ during Mass. The Bible does NOT say that but instead says that the Communion is a "symbol" of Christs blood and body.

5.Indulgences.
Indulgences in times past are said to reduce time in purgatory for sins already forgiven. This practice developed in the Middle Ages. It’s based on the Church’s power to distribute the merits of Christ and saints and resulted in sinners PAYING money to the church for the church forgiving those sins. The Bible doesn’t mention indulgences or this system of spiritual economy.

6. The Assumption of Mary.
This a Catholic doctrine of faith stating that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was assumed (or, taken up) body and soul into Heaven at the end of her life. Again, as in all the other doctrines of the RCC, this is NOT FOUND or suggested in the Bible.

7. Guardian Angels.
The Catholic church teaches that all believers have a guardian angel. Many protestants also believe that but the Bible NO WHERE tells us that we have guardian angels. Instead, the Bible says that we have God in the form of the Holy Spirit.

8. The Rosary.
The rosary is a popular devotional practice involving prayer beads. It developed in the Middle Ages as a way to meditate on Jesus and Mary’s lives. While the Bible encourages prayer, the word Rosary is not found and there is NO suggestion of such a thing.

9. Salvation is in Baptism.
Baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but I adamantly reject baptism as being required for salvation.
Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that baptism is necessary for salvation is to say we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ’s death in order to make it sufficient for salvation.

10. Works are needed to be saved.
Now, when speaking to a Catholic believer on this, they will substitute the phrase, "positive actions" for good works. They will also add the word "Alone" to the question of, are good works need to be saved. The idea is that faith "Alone" is not enough to be saved. By that suggestion then we must do something to help God save us and that is by doing good works or having positive actions.

Now, that is just the 1st 10 of probably 35 teachings that are NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE. Some of you can and probably will add some more. So then the question again was..............is the Catholic a Christian church?
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Rome officially committed Apostasy at Council of Trent as they proclaimed that Pauline Justification was anathema, and that Sacramental gracing salvation heresy is the one to go

Are there saved Catholics, of course, but saved despite the heretical teachings and dogmas of Rome, and once saved, should depart out from there
 
Major said:
A Protestant believer is someone who disagrees with the teachings of the Catholic Church and dates back to the 16th century.

The Protestant Reformation began on 19-31-1517 when a young German monk named Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenburg Church. Luther wrote his theses to propose a public debate about the moral and theological abuses he had witnessed with the Roman Catholic Church’s popular (and lucrative) practice of selling indulgences, which were certificates that released one from having to perform a certain amount of penitence for sin, including reducing time in purgatory.

I am a Protestant because I believe the Bible emphasizes salvation as a free gift of God which is received by faith alone, and as such I believe we appeal to the authority of the Bible as the ultimate rule for Christian living, rather than deferring to tradition or the proclamations of a Pope. While each Protestant sect has developed its own distinctive set of beliefs and practices, they are united by a common commitment to the centrality of faith for salvation and a regard for Scripture as the supreme authority for the Christian faith.
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I go one step further, as I am thankful am a Baptist, as while no church has perfect theology and doctrines, think Baptists tend to hold to the essentials in a very biblical manner
 
YeshuaFan said:
I am thankful am a Baptist
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i am thankful i got saved before being a baptist .. actually there are humteen baptist each one has a different teaching , i am just happy i am saved and have fair knowledge of the word . i am also glad i have discernment that i can know if something aint right... i have seen enough of mans church example you cant mention foot washing in this church.. or the litmus test how do you believe the plan of salvation or how about the baptism of the holy spirit all this is man made questions . i need to know what the word says
 
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