HE PRAYER OF A MINOR PROPHET

HE PRAYER OF A MINOR PROPHET
...recovering the reverence of God in ministry

Too much is being made of postmodernism today. It's not that difficult to figure out, comprehend or confront.

The issue in ministry is what it has always been--a right view of God: of His character, of His gospel and of His Word - proclaimed. No one ever lives greater than their view of God.

So much of ministry today is focused on methodology rather than the Master; and everyone is trying to be the smartest guy in the room, trying to figure out new ways to figure out how to breakthrough the postmodern mindset in evangelism today. This is not that complicated beloved. How "culturally-correct" was Elijah when calling down fire on Mount Carmel; when Paul called the Stoic Athenian philosophers to repentance on Mars Hill; when Moses commanded Pharaoh to "let My people go"; when John the Baptist called the Pharisees coming out to see those being baptized as “a brood of vipers”; or when the Lord shrunk Gideon’s armies of 32,000 to 300 against a foe of 135,000, etc.? They weren't; that wasn’t their concern, focus, or preoccupation. They were not concerned with bringing the times into eternity; but brought eternity into time by proclaiming the truth of God's Word and calling people to live in the fear of the Lord.

But today, the face of evangelicalism has been altered so dramatically that it looks "doctrinally disfigured"
suffering from one too many "botox injections" of pragmaticism and ecumenism; with severe "soteriological 'nips and tucks'" that gifted "plastic surgeons" skilled with the scalpel of New Perspectivism, Inclusivism, Open Theism and Postmodernism have cut away so much of authentic gospel "tissue" that what's left is just a synthetic, artificial substitute. The "religious legislative laser technicians" have almost completely burned away the aged wrinkles of faithfulness to God's Word trying to give a "new face of influence" through political activism--turning the body of Christ into just another lobbyist group or political action committee. Seminaries are having "theological lypo-suction" done at such alarming rates that even the doctrinal positions of the Emergent/Emerging Church are looking strangely... "orthodox" by comparison. And "full body makeovers" of local churches are being done so effectively as to not have to look like church, sound like church, act like church, be called a church, or function as a church that they could be featured on a special ecclesiastical episode of "The Swan."

All sardonic metaphor aside,
here's the plain truth: the rule of faith is no longer the Scriptures, but experience; the goal of faith is no longer holiness, but happiness; the purpose of faith is no longer the glory of God, but being 'in conversation' with the culture; and the object of faith is no longer Christ, but self. In other words, 'Evangelical Christianity' is becoming completely unrecognizable.

What's the solution?
We need to recover biblical ministry in the church today; the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (sola fide - justification and imputation); and a high view of God calling people to live in the fear of the Lord. The Lord never lowers His call on His people because of cultural vacillations or proclivities. IOW, you don't need to pepper church ministry with sponsoring "poker night" this week in order to appeal to pomos in your neighborhood.

The right priority of biblical ministry can be summed up in one phrase beloved:
"It's not about us, it's all about Him."

As you read the following prayer written by A.W. Tozer at the beginning of his ministry, may it encourage you to recover the reverence of God in ministry once again.

"O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and was afraid. Thou hast called me to an awesome task in a grave and perilous hour. Thou art about to shake all nations and the earth and also heaven, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. O Lord, my Lord, Thou hast stooped to honor me to be Thy servant. No man taketh this honor upon himself save he that is called of God as was Aaron. Thou has ordained me Thy messenger to them that are stubborn of heart and hard of hearing. They have rejected Thee, the Master, and it is not to be expected that they will receive me, the servant.

My God, I shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfittedness for the work. The responsibility is not mine, but Thine. Thou hast said, 'I knew thee - I ordained thee - I sanctified thee,' and Thou hast also said, 'Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.' Who am I to argue with Thee or to call into question Thy sovereign choice? The decision is not mine but Thine. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not mine, be done. Well do I know, Thou God of the prophets and the apostles, that as long as I honor Thee Thou wilt honor me. Help me therefore to take this solemn vow to honor Thee in all my future life and labors, whether by gain or by loss, by life or by death, and then to keep that vow unbroken while I live.

It is time, O God, for Thee to work, for the enemy has entered into Thy pastures and the sheep are torn and scattered. And false shepherds abound who deny the danger and laugh at the perils which surround Thy flock. The sheep are deceived by these hirelings and follow them with touching loyalty while the wolf closes in to kill and destroy. I beseech Thee, give me sharp eyes to detect the presence of the enemy; give me understanding to see and courage to report what I see faithfully. Make my voice so like Thine own that even the sick sheep will recognize it and follow Thee.

Lord Jesus, I come to Thee for spiritual preparation. Lay Thy hand upon me. Anoint me with the oil of the New Testament prophet. Forbid that I should become a religious scribe and thus loose my prophetic calling. Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitation, of professionalism. Save me from judging a church by its size, its popularity or the amount of its yearly offerings.

Help me to remember that I am prophet not a promoter, not a religious manager, but a prophet. Let me never become a slave to the crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house. Lay Thy terror upon me, O God, and drive me to the place of prayer where I may wrestle with principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world. Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to be blind to the little ways that could make life easier. If others seek the smoother path I shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. I shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes. Or, if, as sometimes it falleth out to Thy servants, I should have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Thy kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever I receive in such manner that will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And, if in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.

And now, O Lord of heaven and earth, I consecrate my remaining days to Thee; let them be many or few, as Thou wilt. Let me stand before the great or minister to the poor and lowly; that choice is not mine and I would not influence it if I could. I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame and I choose it above all things on earth or in heaven.

Though I am chosen of Thee and honored by a high and holy calling, let me never forget that I am but a man of dust and ashes, a man with all the natural faults and passions that plague the race of men. I pray Thee, therefore, my Lord and Redeemer, save me from myself while trying to be a blessing to others. Fill me with Thy power by the Holy Spirit, and I will go in Thy strength and tell of Thy righteousness, even Thine only. I will spread abroad the message of redeeming love while my normal powers endure.

Then, dear Lord, when I am old and weary and too tired to go on, have a place ready for me above, and make me to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. Amen."

-this has been an encore presentation-

Jim Staley - Understanding Galatians DVD

Jim Staley Identity Crisis pt.4 "The Common Myths of the Bible"-- "VS" patrick j miron singular deception of truth

ok

First of all we need to understand the common myths. One of the most popular myths is that the Jewish people were the chosen people in the Old Testament.


 A lot of people grew up believing that like I did and even taught that to others. But this is what I used to teach that the Jewish people were the chosen people and it was always uncomfortable for me because I did not quite understand when I say the chosen people, what did that mean? 


The term "chosen people", are they still chosen people today? And how did that all fit in?


 And what if they don't believe in Jesus? But the Jewish people are chosen, or if we ever just ignore that subject in church. We don't want to touch that with a ten foot pole, we are going to touch that one in this article. 



Another common myth is that the Torah and the Law was given to the Jews. That is another belief that will drastically change how you read your bible. These myths are being promoted by the enemy for almost 2000 years. 



Another one is that the Passover that Jesus kept along with the other Feast Days of the bible that the disciples kept were "Jewish" Feast Days which include the Sabbath Day. 

This is the number one thing that people will tell me when I say "hey man, I love the feast days, I have been keeping them for a few years now, they revolutionized my family's life, I don't even know how I existed without them, and they are that unbelievable, they are all about the Messiah." 


They say, you are keeping those, those are Jewish Holidays. I know you also heard that at least once in your lifetime. They are Jewish Holidays right. Well, true or not true, we are going to find out in this article. 
So let me ask you a question that is on the heels of this question,

 "How many tribes were at the base of Mt. Sinai when the commandments were given? "


 All 12 Tribes! Next question logical to be asked is how many were Jewish? One tribe! One tribe was Jewish which begs the question, where are the other ones? If they were given to all of Israel, all the 12 tribes, then they can't possibly be Jewish or that is just not fair. 


The Jewish people cannot own the holidays because they are just one tribe. Here are all the tribes that are out here: Asher, Issachar, Simeon, Levi, Gad, Reuben, Judah, and Joseph.

Passover, The Basics - Part 1 vs patrick j miron

Shabbat Night Live! in Studio - January 4, 2013-- balance reality vs patrick j miron

Testimony from an Ex Satanist! What satan DOES NOT! want you to know!!!

Jeff Dunham Walter Funniest joke--- patrick j miron --ALL prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, My interpretation

Protestant Theology & Catholic Doctrines

 

 

Exposed to cover & discover the “Naked Truth“... Catholic responses to the Booklet: “Answers to my Catholic Friends” by Thomas F. Heinze …    Part 5b

 

 

 

A Catholic reply to Protestant “[mis]- Understandings” Part 5b  

 

My interpretation

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEVIDED INTO  3 SEPARATE LESSONS

A friendly word of caution to our non-Catholic friends

2Cor.11:13 to 15 “For such men are false apostles, [NOTE: There can logically only be One Truth per precise issue. What are the odds that the truth didn’t happen for 1, 500 YEARS after the Bible had been written?] deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. [Perhaps unknowingly] Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

The Bible never infers that that any saints, living or dead, sympathize with us more than God does. … This is  a irrelevant observation. Paul speaks directly to and about those he understands are doing all that is required to become saints. He praises there example and ask others to emulate them. Catholics do not so much prayer to Saints [as THROUGH them to God], NOT because they are more sympathetic than God; No, we Catholics pray THROUGH them because

 

 

 they STAND IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD, My interpretation

 

 

 

 and then add to our prayers, there own on our behalf.] My interpretation

Heb. 12: 1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, [SAINTS in heaven]  let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Tob.12: 15 “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy [Arch] angels [Saints and Angels are considered here to be of similar class] who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One."

 2 Tim. 1: 16-18 Paul Prays for the dead: 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me-- may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day--and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.”

1Mac.12:11 “We therefore remember you constantly on every occasion, both in our feasts and on other appropriate days, at the sacrifices which we offer and in our prayers, as it is right and proper to remember brethren”

Christ Himself tells us to whom we should pray.

Matt.7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Do Protestants Believe in the Saints ? Yes BUT, not the same understanding of the term as Catholics have. 

WHY don’t Protestants pray to saints? … Because the bible tells us not too [“because they are idols.”]

“To answer the Catholic argument that “saints do answer prayers” with miracles, we must respond that spiritual manifestations [including miracles] can come from two different places: God, or the Devil and his demons.” …

 

 

 

 THIS FRIENDS IS A SPIRITUAL IMPOSSIBILITY. 

  My interpretation

 

JUST AS GOD CANNOT CAUSE EVIL DIRECTLY;  My interpretation

 

SATAN IS LIMITED BY GOD IN WHAT HE CAN accomplish IN GOD’S NAME.  My interpretation

"And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." —Exodus 7:10-12

While Satan can cause  UNNATURAL phenomenon to happen; he cannot cause good to happen in order to deceive those who are and strive to be good.; which is the point missed by our Brother Thomas … God’s Saints always and every time who have miracles performed THROUGH THEM BY GOD, always and every time do so for a good. This follows the example set by Christ Himself while He was on earth.

Matt. 10: 1-8 “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb'edee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.”

These same powers and authority granted to the Apostles continue to flow through His one Church in order to fulfill God’s mandate to “teach the whole world” Mt. 28:19-20. …John 17: 18-19 “As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. [WITH MY GODLY POWERS AND AUTHORITY] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth”

We shall begin our Catholic Response; exposing “The NAKED TRUTH”. God and truth are on the side of the only set of Faith beliefs  found in the New Covenant ; for the newly “Chosen People” of His one and only Catholic Church, with  His One and only One, set of faith beliefs.

FACTS:

1. Only Peter and the CC through him have been GRANTED the “keys” My interpretation

 

 

 [ALL THAT IS NECESSARY for one’s own salvation] MY interpretation

 

 

 

by Jesus Himself in person…Matt. 16:15-19

2.  The term “church” was first introduced by Jesus Himself in Matt. 16:18 “And I [Jesus] tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,”MY interpretation

 

 [SINGULAR]

3. Therefore it is a FACT that every reference to “church and churches” contained in the Bible, must and Do reference ONLY to today’s Catholic Church. The ONLY “church” in the entire world when the bible was completely written. My interpretation

4. No where in the entire Bible, either explicitly or implicitly did God EVER approve of ANY set of teachings, or ANY “other church or Faith” other than the RCC My interpretation[and the 23 branches aligned with Her]

5. Therefore what Thomas and protestant denominations seem to have done is violate the very code of the Bible,

 

 by denial of God’s actual and real teaching,  My interpretation

 

or simply not understanding them, and proliferate “faiths” designed by mortal men,  My interpretation

 

 

based on convenience, ease of worship, and ONLY human-logic; who it appears think that they know more; or know better than Jesus Christ Himself.   My interpretation

 

The ONLY set of faith beliefs actually given by God, Inspired by God, Protected by God and warranted by Jesus Himself. My interpretation

 

 

 

 

 

 Mt. 16:15-19; Mt. 28:16-20; John 14:16-17; John 17:15-19; and John 20:19-22... And in John 15 and 19 Jesus specifically transfers His Power and His Authority to His CC; and never; ever to anyone else can this be said of. “As the Father has sent ME; so to I God send YOU!”

 

 

 “My Catholic] Church“. My interpretation

6. For more than ONE THOUSAND YEARS the only Christian-“church” that existed was today’s Catholic Church.

7. The NT alone provides more than One HUNDRED proofs of Only One God; Only His One set of beliefs, in and through His only One Catholic Church.MY interpretation

 

 My interpretation

 

 And YES, I can provide the list.MY interpretation

John.10: 16 “And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd”

Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 

 

 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord

 

 

, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father if you are baptised with the holy spirit in a atholic church

 

 MY interpretation

 

 

 of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”

Eph. 2:19-20 “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [SINGULAR] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

 

 [SINGULAR]

  My interpretation

 

 

in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Eph. 3: 9-10  “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in  God who created all things;  that through the church  My interpretation

 

 

 [SINGULAR] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.  

 

 

This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, My interpretation

So my friends how are we to respond to this level of misunderstandings?  There can be and there is only one singular truth. God and logic permits only one truth per issue. With God’s assistance with we shall present it with charity, and clarity, these truths as taught By Christ Himself and allow you to decide who shares the singular truth. We’ll tackle this task by topic, so that one can gain a right [fully supported by the Bible], understanding of the Catholic Position; which is defacto: GOD”S ONLY POSITION.

OUR FIRST TOPIC to be explained correctly and defended WILL BE THE COMMANDMENTS

 

  My interpretation

 

Let’s compare  The [Catholic] Douay Rheims version of Exodus chapter 20, to that of the [Protestant] King James Bible, and see how they differ, and see if we can explain any differences.

The first Entire Bible [in a single language] was the Latin Vulgate, translated from Greek, Aramaic, and Latin around the year 350 AD by the Catholic, St. Jerome, into the first complete bible in a single Latin language, and the Church called it ’the Latin Vulgate”, copies of which can still be found today.  The reason for Latin was because it was the official language of the then, “world-wide” Roman Empire, led by Constantine, so the common language of the world became “Latin.“ Quite naturally the RCC too accepted “Latin” as there own “common language.

The Douay Rheims [the first Catholic “common English-language bible“] and the Vulgate were the Bibles Luther used to “create” his own version of a Christian bible. And it in addition to making many textual changes to support his new beliefs , eliminated seven bible books. “The books now known as the Apocrypha are also called the deuterocanonical books Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees. The Catholic bible also include chapters in the books of Esther and Daniel not found in the Protestant Bibles. Some have claimed that we Catholics added them but they have always been in the Bible.”

 

 

 The logical question of course is If the Bible is the “Inspired Words of God“; [2^nd. Tim. 3:16] WHY WHERE THEY REMOVED AFTER 1,500 years in the Bible?

 

 

 MY interpretation

 

 

In reaction to the Protestant Revolution, Led by Luther, and  soon joined by  John Calvin, Wycliffe and others, who were preparing there “own modified bible version into their own common language [language of the people]” from the once Catholic “Only” Bible,  caused the Church to publish its own Catholic Version, also in “common language,” so as to prevent, or at least not make it necessary for the “flock of Christ” to turn to the Protestant Bibles, in search of biblical knowledge, which would naturally lead to errors of faith..

King Henry the Eighth separated from the RCC around 1200 AD, and had his own version of the Anglican Bible, but it never really caught on outside of the Realm of England, as this was before the invention of the printing press. His “State” religion was really only practiced in England where it was forced on the populace.

Prior to this the RCC did not want people to be reading the bible by themselves, fearing that it was too easy to error in self-interpretation. That fear has been factually- validated, and continues to exist today, and has led to and is the cause of the MANY THOUSANDS  of Protestant denominations; My interpretation

 

 

 

each with there own understanding of what the bible actually means. Obviously these cannot be true or correct , nor are they God’s Inspired and Holy Spirit directed Understandings. As supported by Biblical evidence,

 

 

 the RCC is the only fully authorized by God, guided, and fully-God-protected source for a proper translation, because that was and remains God’s Plan. My interpretation

 

 

 [Mt/ 16:18-19; Mt. 28:19-20]

The Catholic Church probations against individual reading of the bible begin because of the lack of literacy within the ranks of lay-folk within the early church’s formation. 

 

  My interpretation

 

But even after the “Age of Enlightenment,”  the prohibitions were continued; but now on the grounds that one who was not specifically trained in the Art of Bible study [Exegesis] could easily do more harm to their Spiritual life, than possible good. Why did the Fathers support this opinion?

 Rom.10: 17 “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ”

Eph.3:  9 to 12  “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church

 

 

 [SINGULAR: meaning   MY interpretation which is

 

 

  THE CATHOLIC Church;

 

 

 the ONLY “church“ when the Bible was FULLY written] MY interpretation

 

 

 

 the  manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him”

Matt.13:9-12 “He who has ears, let him hear." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answered them, 

 

"To you  [My church] it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven,  

 

but to them it has not been given.”  

 

 

 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. “

2^nd. Peter 3: 14-17  “Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters.  

 

 

 

There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability” My interpretation

John 5: 37 “And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen;  and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. 

 

 

You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me;  yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life [Speaking of accepting the entire WORD of GOD]. I do not receive glory from men .

 

 

[Meaning disobedience is rampant!]   My interpretation

 

 

 

 

 But I know that you have not the love of God within you.  I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me” [Listen to me or Obey Me!]

2^nd. Peter 1: 16-21  “You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

 

First of all you must understand this, that ALL--(none by U)

 

ALL prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 

 

 

 

  because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

1Cor2: 6-7 “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

 

 

 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory”

1Tim.3: 15 “if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, [SINGULAR] My interpretation

 

 

 which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth“. 

 

[All SINGULAR] My interpretation

 

 

 The Catholic Church.

2 Thess. 1: 8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might

Now back to our Commandments and the differences between what we Catholic accept and what Protestants are being force-fed to believe. Having READ both Exodus, chapter 20, and the book of  Deuteronomy, chapter 5, I cannot get past the significant fact; 

 

  My interpretation

that in its teaching and message BOTH versions TEACH the same Doctrines in BOTH the Protestant KJ version and in the Catholic bibles. Emphasis, not substance is the difference.

The Protestant position claims that 

 

Catholic’s “ARE FACTUALLY Idolaters”  

 

 

 

… Is founded on  a serious lack of understanding that Catholics prayers  to Mary and the Saints ARE meant for them alone. Such is NOT THE TRUTH! Our prayers still ascend to GOD, 

 My interpretation

 

 

 but  through Mary and the Saints as intercessors, which according to the understanding of Thomas makes this practice “idolatry.”

This practice is NO MORE idolatrous than pictures of Luther, Wesley, Smith, Calvin or others. And yes even though they are not prayed “to” neither do our Prayer intensions end with Mary and the saints.  

 

  My interpretation

 

 The  GOAL and the end of our Prayers is Jesus Christ Himself. They pass-through; FROM Mary and the Saints to Jesus. 

 

  My interpretation

 

 

And here is how we know that God, and the Bible do not prohibit such forms of practice.

The REAL issue is in the understanding of just what actually takes place; why it happens this way, and what praying to and through Mary or the Saints actually accomplishes.  “Idolatry” by dictionary definition requires INTENT to divert; reverence, glory or Worship away from God and to someone / something else.

THAT IS NOT THE motive or INTENT OF INFORMED AND FULLY PRACTICING CATHOLICS. 

 

  My interpretation

 

 C

 

 

 

Can or does it ever take place? Sure; with over one billion Catholics in the world; there are going to be some who do not correctly understand and practice our faith, fully or properly, as both God and the Magesterium desire, and as is taught by the church.

Here are TWO Biblical examples of YAHWEH God commanding Moses to make “holy images,”   for the express purpose of WORSHIPING THEM.

WORSHIP defined: 1 : to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power 2 : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion <a celebrity worshipped by her fans>

Catholics use the terminology of “Worship” with the above Merriam-Webster definition accepted and applied to God; and God alone. The other terms of “reverence,: “honor” or veneration Do apply to Saints and Mary by Catholic understanding and intent.