I am constantly amazed at how much doctrinal and theological error we are surrounded with each and everyday, and how passive we have become as Christians. Most of us are not taking a stand against heretical views and false doctrine, because we are afraid of offending anyone who professes to be a Christian, no matter what theology they hold to.
Case in point, I have started a new job.
I am working for a friend that I met about 10 years ago. He is a Catholic. I mean, a real practicing Catholic, not your average cultural Catholic, much like I was at one time. You know, the kind that are Catholic just because everyone else in the neighborhood is.
He was trained for several years in El Salvador by the Franciscan Monks.
He later went to a Catholic seminary in the U.S. for a short period of time. He is very well versed in Catholic theology.
Back to my friend in a minute.
In this new job, I have met three other individuals as well. One, a cultural Catholic (hardly ever shows up for mass).
One, a practicing Catholic, much like my friend although without the formal training. The other, a full fledged, will argue tooth and nail Seventh Day Adventist. A language barrier already exists, for they are all Hispanic and speak very little English. As I began to share the gospel with these three men on the job it became obvious that there existed another barrier as well. After I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ I found myself rather quickly having to defend Orthodox Biblical Christianity. What a shift. I mean I certainly expected them to fall down on their knees immediately and repent to God for their wicked ways, yeah right.
Instead the two Catholics began to talk amongst themselves. The practicing Catholic was actually responding to what had been said. It was the non practicing Catholic who was earnestly defending his religion. He knew Catholic dogma quite well. I found myself trying to show them the many errors of Catholic doctrine compared to scripture. They were like most Catholics, they attend mass every Sunday and never bring their bibles.
They never read their bibles when they get home, they only believe what they are told by their priests. After all, isn't that what everyone else in their communities did ? If it is good enough for them then its good enough for me, right? So, I began to work out some issues with them, mainly the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Not works of any kind on our part. The Seventh Day Adventist pipes in at this point and says that repentance and baptism assure one of true salvation. When He says baptism he was speaking of regenerational baptism. At this point I am thinking, wow, doctrines of demons. His religion also teaches that you can not eat certain foods. They still hold to the dietary laws of Leviticus 11.
1 Tim. 4:1-6 came to mind:
But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.
All three of these men were staring down the barrel of this verse. The Catholics, believing and forbidding priests from marriage and the Adventist teaching the abstaining from certain foods. They are in essence following the doctrines of demons. More importantly they are following a hell damning gospel of works propagated by satan and carried out by his demons. There are some Christians who I know will say, there is no need to argue with them over their false beliefs or learn about the many false doctrines. I agree we should not argue with them, we should do as 2 Tim 2:24-26
And the Lord's bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape the snares of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
So, may God continue to give me opportunity to share Hs truth with these three men. May God lead these men out of bondage and the captivity of satan.
May I continue to hold to the truth of this passage of scripture:
2 Tim. 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
In such an age of Ecumenism and apathy, may we all become Christians who will gladly pay the cost of standing for the truth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now, my Catholic friend whom I mentioned earlier.....................
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