| Many years and experiences ago, I always felt a deep | | | | this or say it, again, he brushed me off with, "Oh we |
| presence of God in my heart. I grew up as a Catholic | | | | are always being accused of these things and |
| who faithfully went to church, but there was always | | | | attacked." Humm, I wondered why that was. In the first |
| an empty spot that ached to be filled. I was so full of | | | | part of Matthew it says Mary and Joseph did not have |
| questions and needed more. I began reading the Bible | | | | relations UNTIL Jesus was born. In history, it was |
| at age 21 and taught a religious education class for | | | | unthinkable for a couple to not consumate their |
| about 10 years, but something was missing. Something | | | | marriage. Luke 8 discusses Jesus' mother and |
| was not adding up. About at the age of 24, I had an | | | | brothers. Galatians 1:18 discusses Paul meeting Jesus' |
| awesome experience which took me to new heights. I | | | | brother James, whom they claim wrote the book of |
| cannot explain what happened, but it was like one | | | | James. In Matthew 13:55 it lists Jesus' brothers James, |
| morning I woke up and was literally a new person. I | | | | Joseph, Simon, and Judas by name. So, why do they |
| saw life literally in a whole new light. I had remorse for | | | | call Mary a virgin and pure? She was when God |
| the things I did in the past and had to call individuals to | | | | chose her to be the mother of Jesus, but the Bible |
| say I was sorry. I had to make right some of the | | | | says the opposite of still being a virgin. Well, "Father" |
| wrongs I did. It felt great! From that point on, I really did | | | | Dee's response was that the word brothers meant |
| some searching. I read the New Testament from a | | | | cousins. Ok then, did Jesus lie when He said every |
| couple different Bibles and read the whole Catholic | | | | word to the smallest curve was true? I do not think so. |
| Bible. I collected and read so much material I could get | | | | On Baptism, no where is it meant for infants. The Bible |
| my hand on. When I home schooled my son, we | | | | says, and Paul stressed over and over, that baptism is |
| studied the churches and history of the Bible in | | | | for the remission of sin - to be washed completely |
| concordance with the history of the world. It took me | | | | after one confesses Christ. Read Acts 2:38, 8:36-38, |
| about 16 years to realize I had to have even more and | | | | 22:16, 10:48, Mark 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, and even |
| some of the issues with the Catholic faith really | | | | Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 3:27. Christ says that |
| bothered me. Several of those included praying to the | | | | once we confess and are baptized, He will remember |
| saints, Jesus' mother Mary being prayed to and made | | | | our sin no more. One also needs to understand that |
| into a "virgin" and assumed into heaven, communion | | | | baptism meant the whole body being emmersed in |
| being changed to the actual body of Jesus and | | | | water to symbolize total cleanliness, not a sprinkle on |
| sacrificed over and over every Sunday, to baptism. | | | | the forehead. There are pictures of those "baths" in |
| There were just too many issues and for a little while, I | | | | the Archeological Bible. In Matthew 18:3 and Mark 10:13 |
| was confused and scared of change from something I | | | | Jesus Himself said the children are innocent. Several |
| have always grown up with. I knew I had to get | | | | argue that it reads that if only you believe you are |
| personal with God and get it right. So, I recently | | | | saved, but if they read (I think Corinthians) a chapter or |
| became a Christian and boy did the "Catholic" | | | | two before that statement, they will know that Paul |
| community and family members throw a fit. So in | | | | already told them to confess and be baptized. Jesus |
| response to some family members, I decided to write | | | | was NOT a baby when He was baptized, he was |
| down the main reasons why I left the Catholic faith to | | | | much older than that. We are suppose to live by |
| become a Christian. I decided to share this article to | | | | example so I really wonder why they changed that to |
| help anyone else out there struggling with their faith. | | | | infants. One cannot take one thing out of text. Has to |
| Please keep in mind that I do use make believe names | | | | be read as a whole to completely understand it. |
| in this article. | | | | I preceeded to tell "Father" Dee that I understood the |
| I looked back through the years at how others treat | | | | thought behind the infant baptism that led the Catholics |
| those who seek and convert and saw how they | | | | to put into place the sacrament (which are not |
| were treated. For example, my sister and | | | | supported in the Bible) of Confirmation. As a teen, I |
| brother-in-law. They were hurt so bad by those who | | | | was not ready to fully understand what accepting |
| claim to be of the Lord and show love that God said | | | | Christ meant. My Confirmation was a joke. "Father" |
| was top priority. I recall not long ago she saying how | | | | Cam who taught our class talked about his night |
| her family would make snide remarks as they would | | | | before parties and I remember one day going |
| come in the door on Holidays. And I, being among | | | | somewhere with a group of us girls and when he got |
| those inside, had my eyes and heart opened to love of | | | | around the sharpest curve going down the knobs, he |
| family and why Jesus said He came to separate not | | | | backed his car up. It was a joke. As far as the infant |
| join. God also says in John 4:6 that those of God listen, | | | | baptism because Catholics believe also in "original" sin, |
| but those who are not do not listen and that is how | | | | well Ezekiel 18:20 says we do not inherit or are |
| we recongnize the Spirit of truth and of falsehood. The | | | | responsible for our father's, or even sons, sins. Humm. |
| more I searched, the more hypocrisy I saw. God says | | | | As far as the sacraments being put into place to save |
| we should seek Him and He will find us and He found | | | | us, well that is wrong because only going through |
| me. | | | | Jesus Christ and accepting Him can save us. First |
| In seeking, I found so much in history that disturbed me. | | | | Communion, Confirmation, and some of these other |
| The Roman Catholic popes of old loved control to the | | | | things were added or changed to suit man. They claim |
| point of hanging, beheading, and torturing those who did | | | | if the Bible does not say it, then it is alright. No, God |
| not follow their way. There was a man named Tetzel | | | | says the opposite. He says in Matthew that every |
| who sold "indulgences," or papers to get out of a so | | | | word to even the smallest curve is true. |
| called "purgatory" (purgatory is a supposed place | | | | Galatians 1:8, Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5 & 6, and |
| where one goes after death to be punished before | | | | the last paragraph in Revelations says to NOT add to |
| they go to heaven) that is not supported by the Bible. | | | | or change the Bible less one be eternally condemned. I |
| They needed funds to support the building of their | | | | needed to make my mind up if I should keep following |
| churches and some even sold extra indulgences to | | | | something against the Bible or stand up. I have been |
| those wanting their family and friends out early. Built on | | | | accused of being too literal, but Jesus said Himself |
| deceit and lies, the popes kept going. The Bible says | | | | every word to the smallest curve was true, so that |
| once you die, that is it, your fate has been decided by | | | | tells me I have to be literal and I am very happy to be. I |
| God, not man. Priests claim to "absolve" you of your | | | | am so blessed to have had the veil lifted and God |
| sin. No, only going through Jesus Christ can that | | | | allowing me to see what I was searching for. From the |
| happen. | | | | beginning of the Catholic church there has been a |
| I had a discussion with "Father" Dee about the many | | | | power struggle and Reformation and now I understand |
| issues I found. But first on the note of "Father," it reads | | | | why. They changed and added too much. |
| in Matthew 23:8 Jesus is explaining to the disciples | | | | I have been hearing other's stories on how they |
| when teaching, to NOT call anyone Father but the | | | | confronted their priests and one said the priest pretty |
| Father in heaven. Yes, we call our father who raised | | | | well told him to shut up. Another told a different young |
| us father, but this was specifically discussing those | | | | man to not bring such charismatic stuff to this |
| who taught God's word. One of the first things | | | | congregation or else... Wow, sounds like a threat to me. |
| discussed with "Father" Dee was communion. In | | | | The reasons behind a man of God with true love and |
| Hebrews 10:10 it says we have been made holy | | | | interest in teaching God's truth acting this way is |
| through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once | | | | beyond me. Sounds like a power thing and that is the |
| for all. Once you fall away, Hebrews says you cannot | | | | fact of history. Some others at this Catholic church I |
| come back because it is like sacrificing Jesus over and | | | | just moved from are now moving on too. I have heard |
| over again and that is impossible. So then, I asked why | | | | some are blaming the priest and wanting him to leave, |
| it was that Catholics turn the bread and wine into the | | | | but in truth, it is not his fault. He is just following what he |
| body and blood of Christ and say, "We offer up this | | | | was taught. |
| sacrifice to you oh Lord." "Father" Dee's response was | | | | Catholics do not ever carry their Bibles to church. It |
| that we just remember what Jesus did for us. Yes, | | | | seems to me that they only trust what man has to |
| we are suppose to remember, but that still is not | | | | say instead of God completely. Many years ago the |
| answering my question as to why is the bread and | | | | mass was said in Latin because they knew many did |
| wine changed to the actual body of Christ and | | | | not understand the language of that time frame. They |
| sacrificed. | | | | created their own creeds and books and forbid people |
| The next thing I asked was why do Catholics think | | | | to have Bibles. They were afraid people would find out |
| praying to dead saints and Mary can help them. Why | | | | the truth and they would lose their power. All of this |
| not go straight to God? All over in the Bible it says that | | | | information is not something I made up, read for |
| there is ONE mediator between God and man and | | | | yourselves. It amazes me how cruel some can be |
| that is Jesus Christ. Acts 10:25 reads where even | | | | when they discover someone is seeking the Lord. I |
| Peter makes Cornelius stand up from bending to | | | | understand how my sister-in-law felt ( and feels ) and |
| worship him and says, "I am but a man." So to me, no | | | | am saddened by the lack of love some Catholics |
| man should be bowed down to. | | | | show when you no longer are in their "circle." And by |
| 1 Corinthians 15:56 reads that God gives us victory | | | | using the term "catholic," it probably seems I am just |
| through Jesus Christ - does not say man or dead man. | | | | targeting them, but it is all I ever knew and the only |
| Galatians 4:19 says there is no mediator when ONE | | | | "personal" religion I can use in comparison. |
| party is involved - Jesus Christ (referring to the priests | | | | Someone told me not long ago that I have to be |
| before Jesus was sacrificed once for all who went | | | | careful on what I read in the Bible. I almost had to laugh |
| into the holy of holies to ask God's forgiveness for our | | | | out loud when this individual told me, after asking her if |
| sins). Ephesians 1:7 and 2:18 discuss One Mediator. 1 | | | | she ever read any of the Bible, that she had not. |
| Timothy 2:5 says there is ONE God, the is also ONE | | | | Someone who has studied, read, took notes, searched, |
| mediator. Hebrews 7:25 and just all over in Hebrews it | | | | and found being told to be careful by someone who |
| says this. 1 John 2:1 says when we commit sin we | | | | has not touched it. How prejudice and wrong that is. |
| have an Advocate - Jesus Christ, not man or any | | | | Some people really must be scared of what they will |
| priest. Why did the Catholics change God's word to | | | | find out. I know it seems good to stay in your comfort |
| benefit themself is what I am wondering. | | | | zone and that is to each one's choice, but those who |
| "Father" Dee's response, and I quote, was, "Well, we | | | | want to seek and find, should not be hindered or made |
| are leaning against that (praying to the saints) now. It is | | | | fun of. That kind of behavior is not God-like and that is |
| just like going to visit President Lincoln's memorial and | | | | another reason I walked away. God says to build one |
| you see his statue sitting there in that chair and are | | | | another up and to not tear down and I want to be a |
| reminded of what he did for our country. Likewise, we | | | | part of building up and encouraging. I want to do what |
| are reminded of the saints and what they did for us | | | | God wants me to do, not what other's want me to do. |
| and we should live lives like them", I said the word | | | | I pray that whoever reads this article that they too will |
| exactly and asked him why then did Catholics pray to | | | | find some answers to those questions on faith, |
| dead saints to help them. He pretty well brushed me | | | | baptism, communion, Mary, and Jesus Christ. I know, as |
| off and two weeks later in mass was saying, "Lets | | | | I was once in there, that it is hard to find out what we |
| pray to the saints that they blah blah blah...". | | | | have been taught might be wrong. I know how easy it |
| At that point, especially after the rest of the | | | | is to say to someone else that they are wrong and I |
| conversation I will explain further, I felt the true | | | | am right. But, keep an open mind and before you |
| deception and brushing me off and my heart sunk. I | | | | judge, find out for yourself. God says we are to know |
| felt like he was just telling me things to pacify the | | | | His word and follow His example and we cannot go |
| moment and he honestly did not care about the truth. | | | | through life without listening to His instructions for us. He |
| He is just a man infallable as the rest of us. But, it is | | | | gives us 168 hours a week and we can at least |
| written that those who preach and teach God's word | | | | dedicate some of that time back to Him. Find out how |
| will be held more responsible for spreading the correct | | | | you too, can improve your life. God loves you and |
| Word. | | | | wants you to seek Him and His Light. I cannot express |
| In Matthew 5 it reads that Jesus said every word to | | | | enough when I got up from being emersed in water |
| the smallest curve is true and when I asked him these | | | | and cleansed of all of my sin how great it felt. It was |
| things and why they claim Mary is still a virgin, they | | | | the right thing to do and as a baby, I could not sin. I |
| made her the queen of heaven, and claim she was | | | | pray whoever you are, that you find Him too. Many |
| assumed into heaven when the Bible does not support | | | | blessings to all of you! |