Christian Forums

All though history there have been people that have wanted to be "spiritual" leaders, priests and shaman that were looked up to as being nearer to God. So called "Holy men" who have gained power over others through a, supposed, higher relationship to God.

Most of mankind has always known that a god existed. Some of these people created a god, or gods, of their imagination. They told others what this god wanted them to do in order to please him and started convincing others that they must listen to them, and do as they say, or be dammed. This gave these people their power over others. It is the same spirit that had Jesus crucified, Stephen stoned to death, and the killing of many other Children of God. The religious mindset is the reason the inquisitions were instituted and for the persecution of the Anabaptists.

When the RCC withholds communion it is intimidation. Since the RCC teaches that a person must take communion in order to be saved, the church, withholding communion is tantamount to saying the person will lose his salvation. This is intimidation plain and simply.

Intimidation is not new in religions. It is how the RCC gained vast wealth in land and money during the Middle Ages. All the Christian kings during that time had to pay tribute to the RCC because of the threat of being cast out of the RCC and go to hell.

In many protestant churches, today, they use Mal. 3:8 to persuade people to give money to the church organization even when they know that the requirement of giving to the Temple was under the Law and is not under grace.

When people of religion teach others that they must do as they say or go to hell they are taking the place of God and use intimidation to get their converts. The more rules they can come up with the greater the ability to intimidate others.

There is only one thing that Jesus wanted us to do as far as a ritual/ceremony is concerned, the Lord's Supper MEMORIAL, and nowhere did He say it would determine our place in heaven. Nowhere did He say it had to be performed by a clergy.

The Church has become a living organism built by men and separate from the Children of God. -- According to Paul, the Children of God ARE the Church. -- However, in this world the Children of God have been replaced by, and are supposed to be sub-servant to, this living organism created and ran by men.

The gospel of grace as taught by Paul is very simple. To those that would say it isn't then I direct you to Paul in 2 Cor 11:3. Paul said it was simple.

According to Paul, all those that place their faith, trust, confidence, and hope in what Jesus (God) did on the cross are made Children of God, by God.

Eph 1:12-14
12   that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13   In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14   who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
(NKJ)

Rom 10:17
17   So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(NKJ)

Gal 3:1-3
1   O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
2   This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3   Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
(NKJ)

It is only when the Holy Spirit opens your heart that He (the Holy Spirit) will baptize you and make you a Child of God.

But most men love their religion more than God. The death of Jesus, the Son of God, is proof that they do.

I Jn 5:4-5
4   For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.
5   Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
(NKJ)

I believe (have faith) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and I believe (have faith) He died on the cross so that I can be a Child of God, through Him. There is nothing else on the face of this earth that I place my faith in. I have overcome the world through Him. I do not need man's religions. I only need HIM!

Now to those that say I have created my own religion you are mistaken. I did not create Jesus Christ, nor do I believe having faith in what Jesus Christ (God) did on the cross is a religion.

Copyright 1998, by H. Richard Burger

Did you really write this in 1998?  Or did you just forget what decade it was for a minute there?

Quote from: RichardBurger on Thu Feb 07, 2008 - 20:20:20
Copyright 1998, by H. Richard Burger

Quote from: Wycliffes_Shillelagh on Fri Feb 08, 2008 - 16:57:00
Did you really write this in 1998?  Or did you just forget what decade it was for a minute there?

Quote from: RichardBurger on Thu Feb 07, 2008 - 20:20:20
Copyright 1998, by H. Richard Burger

I said what I wrote

Quote from: RichardBurger on Thu Feb 07, 2008 - 20:20:20

When the RCC withholds communion it is intimidation. Since the RCC teaches that a person must take communion in order to be saved, the church, withholding communion is tantamount to saying the person will lose his salvation. This is intimidation plain and simply.

It would be nice if everyone knew what they were talking about before diving into a topic.  Richard, you are just plain wrong on this one.  If you had an idea about what the Church teaches about communion, you would not have made this comment, which is based on ignorance...plain and simply.

Quote from: broach972 on Fri Feb 15, 2008 - 08:39:18

Quote from: RichardBurger on Thu Feb 07, 2008 - 20:20:20

When the RCC withholds communion it is intimidation. Since the RCC teaches that a person must take communion in order to be saved, the church, withholding communion is tantamount to saying the person will lose his salvation. This is intimidation plain and simply.

It would be nice if everyone knew what they were talking about before diving into a topic.  Richard, you are just plain wrong on this one.  If you had an idea about what the Church teaches about communion, you would not have made this comment, which is based on ignorance...plain and simply.

Why can't you just state that you disagree? Why do you feel it necessary to say what I believe is based on ignorance?

Quote from: RichardBurger on Fri Feb 15, 2008 - 11:05:00
Why can't you just state that you disagree? Why do you feel it necessary to say what I believe is based on ignorance?

Because your beliefs are based on ignorance.  Ignorance is not the same as stupidity.  You and many others on this forum just don't know any better.  I am getting tired of people either misrepresenting or just plain lying about what Catholics believe in or what the Church teaches.  This is perhaps why I am not as vocal as I have been in the past.  People will believe what they want to believe...even if it is wrong.