You have my whole undivided attention now since I'm not really doing anything...
-We differ here...spirits who have passed on are very active on this life on earth.
Carlita, you have two choices. You can base your faith on what you think and personally experience, or you can base your faith on the word of God. Here is what God's word says on the subject. It tells how we all have a common destiny, which is death. It also tells us that the dead will never again have any part in anything under the sun.
Remember, we believe in different faiths.
Both of us could be wrong. In this case, I only have two choices--one to build a relationship with my family (my roots regardless of their living now or in the past) or I can forget about my roots and have no foundation in my life. I do not express and believe in God the same way Christians do. I don't even see "Him" that way. I understand what you're saying; and, as a Christian, it applies to your life. It does not apply to mine.
There is nothing wrong with us talking to our deceased loved ones. People do it all the time. It helps us to feel close to them, and it brings us comfort. However, this is not the same as praying to them, asking them to intercede for us on our behalf.
Because I communicate with my deceased relatives, I can ask them to help me know God the way they knew Him (intercede for me on my behalf). It is the same example of the dialogue example I gave you earlier.
It is not wrong to ask someone else to pray for you if you find it hard to pray yourself. What God of scripture is saying, people are praying to people
as if they were God or Jesus; according to the Bible,
that is wrong. Catholicism does not teach to pray to the Saints
as if they were God. Those that do, in my humble opinion, are not following the teachings of the Church and scripture.
Background: I practice Ancestral Veneration as a religion of its own, among other things. I see the source or foundation in my life through, and not limited to, my ancestors and family (both religious family, kin, and blood-related). We have spirits holding us all together, watching over us as family. I learn about others and how I relate to life, people, are faith etc through who I am as a person (which we all do). You do this through God. I do this through my ancestors.
I'm glad you recognize that this is not in Scripture. This did make many people uncomfortable, as it should have. It is a false teaching.
I do recognize this teaching that is based on the Bible. It's not false. It is
different than what many anti-catholic protestants believe in. However, we all have different interpretations of scripture--my interpretation (what I get from it) and what you get from it does not mean I am wrong and you are right (and visa versus).
There is no referee in this situation. That is why it's a
personal relationship with God.
Regardless of the good they may have done in the past, it will not erase their false teaching. When you have some free time, read Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Revelation. The church at Pergamum was tolerating false teachers. Jesus said if they didn't change their ways,He would make war on them. Jesus hates false teaching.
I read Revelations years ago. I don't have use to read them now since it is very difficult to grasp the understanding of the golden roads, and pearly gates, and so forth. Also, my interpretation would be crude because unlike the gospels, it isn't to the point.
Also, from studying the Bible and Catechism, I do not see false teachings in Catholicism. It is not for everyone. It is deeply embedded in devotion and tradition of the Church. Protestants can tap dance around the Church's teachings, but the Church will always stand firm that the members
do believe Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, they
do repent of their sins to be forgiven and keep that state of union with Christ,
they do confirm their vows to their Savior, and
they do always (or should at least) keep mindful of the sins they made and ask God for forgiveness of the ones they did make. These are the sacraments of the Church. Anything outside these sacraments do not make a Catholic less of a Christian.
The Bible does say that the Holy Spirit indwells Christians. It also says that christians are in Christ. However, there is not one verse in the entire Bible that says christians are divine.
I know. I see being divine as being part of God. Christ is a part of Christians... they share in His Divinity (which is in scripture somewhere) just as He shares in His Father's divinity.
In other words, the divinity is Christ alone. Christians are sharing in it (by the Holy Spirit) to unite with the Father. Being Christ is sharing in the divinity of Christ--hence why it is a relation-ship with Him.That's what I meant.
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Carlita, I know you are a good person. Your love of family and sincerity shine through in your posts.
As for me, I was once caught up in the teachings of men. Then I discovered how those teachings contradicted God's word. They could not be found in the Bible. Now, I don't go beyond what is written. I trust that God has given me, and all of us, everything we need to know about salvation and living a good christian life pleasing to God. I do not go outside of God's word ever.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Here is my opinion on what you said. Please don't take it as an offense.
When you are a part of the Church, you are a part of Scripture. You are part of Christ's Body not man. Once you start seeing outside of the Church (Outside of Christ and scripture), you compare and contrast "what is the true teaching; what does scripture say; and so forth" you forget that the teachings are not
just in scripture, they are also in Christ's Body too.
In Acts, the gentiles didn't shove the apostles aside (as protestants are doing with priests) and say "hand me the Hebrew scriptures instead" (or Bible), they listened to the apostles as well as kept their traditions (Paul said keep your traditions). It is a combination of how one devotes oneself to Christ with the Body and with Christ Himself. There is no Christ without His Body. (and yes, that is in scripture-where there is more than one, I am there)
Christianity is not a solitary faith. Regardless the denomination, Christ wants Christians to be together. The Catholic Church mirrors His teachings just as Baptist, Lutheran, and Pentecostals do.
Where was I,
I have never been a Bible Only person even if I returned to the Church. If everything Christ said about life is in the Bible, a lot of things would not exist. Its best the read the Bible in context. I could never follow the Bible if I did literal only because many of my issues are not in the Bible. Gosh, if everything about us and life was in the Bible, that book would be pretty thick.
God could not have put all about life in the Bible. So, to say you will not believe in anything unless it's literally in the Bible confuses me....you're taking a lot about what God taught in your life out the window because it is not written in the leather bound book you own.
I don't understand that at all. Though, I had this discussion with another person in RF... so I don't want to re-invent the wheel.