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You may want to check out the topics I pasted below. They are all in the Apologetics section of the Forum.
NOTE: Some of those threads my help you. Some of the messages might lead you to even more confusion. Because some people take things way off topic, and some take things way out of proportion to the truth, you will need to
be careful with separating the wheat from the chaff (if you know what I mean) . And then, some people hit it right on the mark of truth by providing scripture that shows truth.
You have to be the one to
study your bible and pray God give you discernment to know truth from false teachings.
The bible holds the truth. Rely on truth in scripture, not on doctrine of man.
Be careful, I was born into the Catholic faith and that doesn't mean all Catholics can be trusted to profess truth as it is IN the Bible. They can twist and pervert it just like any other person of some different faith. So trust the bible, not man's opinion.
An example; A while back, I decided to see a counselor in the church. I told that counselor that I was tired of the sin in my life and that I was through with it and that I had cut that person out of my life because he refused to stop with the sin he wanted me to participate in. I told the counselor I just refused to carry on in that manner with that person, that it was unhealthy and it was pressing on my conscience. I was tired of having to deal with the guilt of doing wrong and I was tired of dragging it on for so long, so I told that "friend" of mine that we had to end our relationship. And the counselor once told me this.
"So you want to be perfect now? That's no fun.
"
:o Needless to say, I was shocked to hear that coming from a Catholic counselors mouth! And yes, that counselor was serious! So please do be careful and don't accept what man has to say in regards to your sense of purity and being close to Christ.
I don't think that counselor knew how I wanted to clean up my life and stop living IN sin. It must have gone right over their head. I stopped seeing the counselor also. I am now conscience clear and without that particular sin in my life. I am relieved instead of having to live with the guilt and the pain and suffering that particular sin brought into my life while I was accepting it rather than eliminating it, like I should have even before I went to that counselor for help. That counselor was not help! But just another person who says to accept living in your sin, instead of saying be born again of Christ Jesus by the renewing of your mind. THAT IS the only way to come out of the sin that you want to be rid of. That counselor did not rely on scripture but on man's flawed psychology! That counselor that was hired by the church spoke only HALF TRUTHS. Sometimes good, other times very contradictory with the bible.
Who do you think I trusted? The counselor that was hired by the church, or Jesus the Christ our Savior from all sins?
My point being... If you want to be true to your commitment to Christ Jesus, you need to
make Jesus your counselor and not trust in the false parts of what a what a person who calls themself a counselor. This is why
you need to study and learn your bible as best as you can, so you learn to decern when one speaks truth or false doctrine.
Christians need to trust in the truth of God, not man's liberal minded false doctrines and made up contradictions to the truth of scripture.
(
By the way, I an no longer a practicing "Catholic". I am not of any denomination. I am Christian. )
[ Poll ] To those who pray to Mary...:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15586
Catholics treat Mary the same way they treat God:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15614
Give props to the Mother of our Lord:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15650
The False Mary of Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15851
Orthodox reasoning/Praying to Saints:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15886
Orthodox reasoning/Praying to Saints:
http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=15886
There are many more topics on the subject of praying to the saints and to Mary. You can do a search by just typing in the word Mary in the search engine for this forum.
Hope this has helped you.
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The more you read the bible the more God will open to you spiritual discernment.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.
1 Theselonians
9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and
how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2 :3-4
3For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak;
not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Philippians 4: 8
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any
praise,
think on these things.
Joshua 1:8
8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
2 Corinthians 7:10
10For
godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of
the world worketh death.
Psalm 139: 23-24
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.
1 Peter 1:22-25
22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently:
23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
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