Why Be Catholic? (part 2)

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Why Be Catholic? by Dr. Ray Guarendi
I usually like to include a few excerpts from different talks, but this one was so good that I really wanted to share the whole thing with everyone. Dr. Guarendi gives a great commentary on Catholics vs. Protestants and which one is more likely to be correct. As he says in his talk, this isn't to put down any member of a Protestant faith. This is just a commentary on the system that they are in. Maybe you have asked yourself this question before. With the thousands and thousands of Christian religions out there all claiming to have the truth, which one is right?

Dr. Guarendi is someone who ventured away from the Catholic Church. He described himself as a New Atheist. While the old Atheists do not believe in GOD, the new Atheists say there is a GOD, but he thinks just like me. I think we all know a few people like this. Someone who believes that whatever their conscious tells them is OK, then GOD must think it is OK. This is very dangerous territory.

As Dr. Guarendi ventured out, he started asking questions. Protestants believe that the bible is the only authority you need, and that you don't need the church, the pope, bishops, etc. Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit guides them to the truth in their reading and interpreting of the bible. Well, if that is the case, how have we arrived at over 35,000 Protestant religions who believe different things? Is the Holy Spirit confused? Some Protestants might answer that all the different Protestant religions agree on the basics. Well then, what are the basics? Is the sanctity of life a basic? Because about half of the Protestant world doesn't think so. What about homosexuality? Because a good bit of them think this is OK. What about baptism? Some think it washes away sin and some don't. Some think that it brings the Holy Spirit and some say it does no such thing.

Most Protestants think that the Catholic Church messed up Christianity and lost its way. They believe that we made up several things, such as the Eucharist, the Pope, Purgatory, prayers to Saints, baptism of babies, etc. Well, there is a way to check this out. Just go back to the first, second, and third centuries and get writings from early Christian leaders, the people closest to Jesus, and see what they believe. Theologians of the time, such as Irenaus, or disciples of the Apostles, like Ignatius. You will see in their writings that they believe Mary was a virgin, they had bishops, they believed the Eucharist was the actual body and blood of Christ, the believed in purgatory, baptism of babies, confession, and prayer to saints and Mary. Protestants will argue that these are irrelevant because they are not scripture. So you are saying that someone like Ignatius, who knew the Apostle John for four decades, cannot be trusted because it is not in the bible? These are the people that were right next to Christ. You don't believe these people, but you believe Martin Luther who came 1500 years later?

Finally, Dr. Guarendi ends with a great point. If the early church had a mission of converting as many people over to Christianity, why would they make up something like the Eucharist? How many people do you think they lost by saying that you must eat the flesh of the lord? Why would you make up something like that if it wasn't true? And that is the only reason to be Catholic. Because it is the truth. If you don't believe it is the truth, there are plenty of other religions out there that are easier to be in. So I urge any Protestant that may be watching this. Please keep on open mind and do the research for yourself and see what the people who were closest to Christ believed.

Category:

Education

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• jesus
• Christ
• GOD
• Catholic
• Christian
• Protestant
• bible
• religion
• Ray
• Guarendi

[23valluco]

it's a shame that you as a leader to a church give such a teaching...open your eyes..Simply John 3:16.. says it straight for everyone...Never does it include the Virgin Mary a way to the father...there is only one way..the 10 comendments.. you shall not have gods before me..what do you think that means...with these final note..according to your visions or dreams..please read 2 corinthians 11:13-15..have a good day

[100PercentCatholic]

@23valluco Catholics do not believe that Mary is another way to the Father. Listening to non-Catholics trying to explain Catholic beliefs is almost comical to me.

[javiramir7]

@100PercentCatholic A year or two later, God The Father showed up in a dream, standing with his back turned and arms stretched out. I was laying in the grass as he was showing me all of his creation. I was in deep awe!

[100PercentCatholic]

@javiramir7 Wow, that's awesome!

[javiramir7]

@100PercentCatholic The Father had pure white hair, beard and moustache/hair not too long. A pure white robe and was very bright. The Son had Brown straight hair, not long, a well kept beard and moustache. He wore a Crimson red robe with a long cloth wrapped around him, can't remember what color it was, maybe white? He wasn't as bright as the Father, but brilliant and majestic looking! Jesus does not look like the usual pictures we see, he looks better and stronger.

[javiramir7]

@100PercentCatholic The first vision was when I was 3 yrs old. One day I went to the living room window to look outside for God and Jesus. There appeared a white cloud and the Father and the Son appeared, standing, Jesus on his right side! After looking for 5 seconds it was so powerful that it took my breath and I looked away giggling full of joy. They were spreading their arms out and smiling with great Joy! I saw their faces, the color of their hair and clothing they wore.

[100PercentCatholic]

@javiramir7 Sacred Tradition does not contradict Scripture. It may go against someone’s fallible interpretation. Also, the Church does not teach that only priest or the pope can prophesize. Prophecy is one of many gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:10). I went to a Charismatic Conference a few months ago where many people who were not priests were sharing visions that they had. Please share your visions if you would like.

[javiramir7]

@100PercentCatholic I agree. That is why God gives his servants visions and prophetic knowledge. The key is: that it has to not contradict the previous words of God. Sir, Revelation 19:10 says that The testimony of jesus is the spirit of prophesy but Churches want to suppress this in people and say that only a pator, priest or the pope has the authority to prophesy. The Bible says otherwise. Not to sound arrogant but I have the gift of prophesy and have visions I can share!

[100PercentCatholic]

@javiramir7 “Nowhere in scripture does it say that we are to pray to Mary or the Saints.” Nowhere does scripture tell us that everything we need to know as Christians is explicitly stated in scripture. Can you show me the verse in the Bible that teaches that scripture ALONE is the sole rule of faith? As I said earlier, God’s word is passed down by “word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess 2:15)

[javiramir7]

@100PercentCatholic There are similarities between the early Christians way and the church that Emperor Constantine created in the 3rd century, but traditions of God are different than traditions of men. Nowhere in scripture does it say that we are to pray to Mary or the Saints and images of reverence is Idolatry. Even the Christmas tree goes way back to old testament times as an Idol. The Roman Church executed and tortured the Christians for their testimnony of Jesus. Foxes' Book Of Martyrs.