If all the information you are getting on the current immigration flap comes from pundits on the right and left, you are probably confused. At the very least you've been misled.
The left sees uncontrolled immigration as some kind of divine right. The right sees liberal immigration rules (and/or non-enforcement) as a way to insure a surplus of cheap labor in order to keep wages low and to render workers powerless to change that.
In reality immigration is a simple budgeting issue. Take money -- the more you print of the stuff the less it's worth. Which is precisely why the Federal Reserve's job is to control the money supply in order to maintain a reasonably stable, productive and predictable value structure. Without controls on the money supply the economy would become a fiscal version of Mad Max.
The same goes for immigration. Here's the bottom line: It's not about the immigrants -- it's about the numbers, stupid.
Watch this short video to the very end. Then pass it along to others. And while you're at it, send the link to your members of Congress, if for no other reason to let them know that you know -- you vote, and you have long memories.
Is Your Church Free From Cultic Tendencies?
It is obviously true that we are in the greatest apostasy the world has ever seen. It stands to reason that we will be seeing more and more cults spring up around the world. Cults come in all forms and shapes and sizes. It can get somewhat confusing. There are many different denominations today, along with many different belief systems. Couple that with various churches that seem to be mainstream and yet have subtle false teachings. Worse yet, many cults hide behind a little truth from the Bible. Mix a little truth with a little false teaching and you have a slick cult group. These are the most dangerous ones because they can deceive even long time Christians.
So how can we recognize them when we see them?
Fortunately, there is a simple solution. No man needs to be a rocket scientist to be able to recognize false teachers and cult groups when he sees them. The simple answer is this: STUDY THE WORD OF GOD. Our Creator has left his Word with us. We can know exactly what He say's and what He teaches by studying His Words. We don't need to study the cults and the false teachers. We need not examine all of the counterfeits out there. We only need to study the real mccoy. If any teaching does not line up with the Word of God, you can safely write it off as being a counterfeit. The more we study the Word of God, the more easy it becomes to recognize a false teaching when it pops up. We get letters all the time saying "well who has put you in such authority? what makes you people think you are so correct?". Comments like these come from confused and unsettled spirits. You don't need to be an ordained authority to know and understand the Word of God. God put forth His Word for ALL of us to study and know. My 9 year old child reads the Bible and understands many things in it. It is not amazing that even he can recognize false teachings easily. This is because he reads the real mccoy. He knows what God say's.
Unfortunately, many are too prideful and too rebellious to actually sit down and take up pen and parchment and spend time laboring over the study of the Word. They would rather base their beliefs on things they have heard on television or read in books or seen at religious gatherings where some false teaching was presented. Then when a well studied Bible believing Christian tells them "hey, brother, you have that wrong, that's not what God teaches us..." that person becomes defensive. He will go through a whole process of semantics for escaping conviction. He will begin pointing the finger at the Bible believer saying "well what makes you so perfect hmmm?" or "well you're just as much of a sinner as I am!" or "hey fella, Jesus loves me just as much as He loves you! I don't have to know that Bible, Jesus loves me anyhow!" Sometimes that person will even go way off on a tiff about something that does not even pertain to the subject matter such as "well I happen to know that last month you committed such and such a sin!" Reader, we do not profess to be perfectly righteous Christians. We know and understand that Jesus Christ is the only man among us who lived His life perfectly without sin. We do not exalt ourselves above other believers. We openly profess that ALL believers can know and understand the Word of God. It is for you as well as it is for us. We not only profess it, but we encourage it! Please, read and study the Word of God. So please do not send us letters telling us about how self righteous we are or how we exalt ourselves above others by trying to teach the Bible. Times are prosperous right now and Bible's are easy to get ahold of. You can if you wish, choose to study to shew thyself approved as well as we can.
Now back to the cults.
Cults and false teachers are not necessarily the same. There can be false teachers standing in the pulpit in America's Churches who are not cultists, but are merely misguided in their teachings because they haven't taken a close enough look at the scriptures. And indeed there are. But it really doesn't matter if you are listening to and following the teachings of a cultist or a false teacher does it? A false teaching is a false teaching no matter where it comes from. All the sincere believer needs to do is stay in the King James Bible and he will be able to recognize false teachings. Use the King James Bible like a straight edge. Hold it next to any teaching you hear, and it will show all the curves and angles of that teaching. Now is that simple enough? You bet it is! If my 9 year old boy can do it, then you better believe you can do it!
Some of the more major guidelines in recognizing false teachings and cultic beliefs. These are but a few of the most major doctrines of the Bible. If your pastor is teaching against any of the below, you need to get out of where you are.
1) Is your pastor teaching you that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved?
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
2) Is your pastor teaching you that Jesus Christ died for you and rose again on the 3rd day?
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
3) Is your pastor teaching you that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one?
1Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
4) Is your pastor teaching salvation by grace through faith alone?
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
5) Is your pastor teaching you that you cannot lose your salvation?
1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
6) Is your pastor teaching you of the Virgin birth?
Matthew 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
7) Is your pastor teaching your congregation to worship Jesus and not Jesus' mother?
1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Ho 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
8) Is your pastor teaching you that remission of sin is through confession of sin to Jesus Christ and not to him (your pastor) or any other man or proclaiming priest?
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
9) Is your pastor teaching you that your sin is forgiven by God because of Jesus' bloodshed sacrifice on the cross and that His sacrifice is the final and complete sacrifice for remission of sin?
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
10) Is your pastor teaching that all people have the right to call on Jesus to be saved because Christ died for all people and that who ever wants to be saved can be?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
So how can we recognize them when we see them?
Fortunately, there is a simple solution. No man needs to be a rocket scientist to be able to recognize false teachers and cult groups when he sees them. The simple answer is this: STUDY THE WORD OF GOD. Our Creator has left his Word with us. We can know exactly what He say's and what He teaches by studying His Words. We don't need to study the cults and the false teachers. We need not examine all of the counterfeits out there. We only need to study the real mccoy. If any teaching does not line up with the Word of God, you can safely write it off as being a counterfeit. The more we study the Word of God, the more easy it becomes to recognize a false teaching when it pops up. We get letters all the time saying "well who has put you in such authority? what makes you people think you are so correct?". Comments like these come from confused and unsettled spirits. You don't need to be an ordained authority to know and understand the Word of God. God put forth His Word for ALL of us to study and know. My 9 year old child reads the Bible and understands many things in it. It is not amazing that even he can recognize false teachings easily. This is because he reads the real mccoy. He knows what God say's.
Unfortunately, many are too prideful and too rebellious to actually sit down and take up pen and parchment and spend time laboring over the study of the Word. They would rather base their beliefs on things they have heard on television or read in books or seen at religious gatherings where some false teaching was presented. Then when a well studied Bible believing Christian tells them "hey, brother, you have that wrong, that's not what God teaches us..." that person becomes defensive. He will go through a whole process of semantics for escaping conviction. He will begin pointing the finger at the Bible believer saying "well what makes you so perfect hmmm?" or "well you're just as much of a sinner as I am!" or "hey fella, Jesus loves me just as much as He loves you! I don't have to know that Bible, Jesus loves me anyhow!" Sometimes that person will even go way off on a tiff about something that does not even pertain to the subject matter such as "well I happen to know that last month you committed such and such a sin!" Reader, we do not profess to be perfectly righteous Christians. We know and understand that Jesus Christ is the only man among us who lived His life perfectly without sin. We do not exalt ourselves above other believers. We openly profess that ALL believers can know and understand the Word of God. It is for you as well as it is for us. We not only profess it, but we encourage it! Please, read and study the Word of God. So please do not send us letters telling us about how self righteous we are or how we exalt ourselves above others by trying to teach the Bible. Times are prosperous right now and Bible's are easy to get ahold of. You can if you wish, choose to study to shew thyself approved as well as we can.
Now back to the cults.
Cults and false teachers are not necessarily the same. There can be false teachers standing in the pulpit in America's Churches who are not cultists, but are merely misguided in their teachings because they haven't taken a close enough look at the scriptures. And indeed there are. But it really doesn't matter if you are listening to and following the teachings of a cultist or a false teacher does it? A false teaching is a false teaching no matter where it comes from. All the sincere believer needs to do is stay in the King James Bible and he will be able to recognize false teachings. Use the King James Bible like a straight edge. Hold it next to any teaching you hear, and it will show all the curves and angles of that teaching. Now is that simple enough? You bet it is! If my 9 year old boy can do it, then you better believe you can do it!
Some of the more major guidelines in recognizing false teachings and cultic beliefs. These are but a few of the most major doctrines of the Bible. If your pastor is teaching against any of the below, you need to get out of where you are.
1) Is your pastor teaching you that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved?
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
2) Is your pastor teaching you that Jesus Christ died for you and rose again on the 3rd day?
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
3) Is your pastor teaching you that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one?
1Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
4) Is your pastor teaching salvation by grace through faith alone?
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
5) Is your pastor teaching you that you cannot lose your salvation?
1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
6) Is your pastor teaching you of the Virgin birth?
Matthew 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
7) Is your pastor teaching your congregation to worship Jesus and not Jesus' mother?
1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Ho 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
8) Is your pastor teaching you that remission of sin is through confession of sin to Jesus Christ and not to him (your pastor) or any other man or proclaiming priest?
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
9) Is your pastor teaching you that your sin is forgiven by God because of Jesus' bloodshed sacrifice on the cross and that His sacrifice is the final and complete sacrifice for remission of sin?
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
10) Is your pastor teaching that all people have the right to call on Jesus to be saved because Christ died for all people and that who ever wants to be saved can be?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Is Catholicism Christian?
by Dean Robinson
Some time ago Presidential candidate George W. Bush made a campaign stop in South Carolina at a prestigious and well-known Christian university known as Bob Jones University. Soon thereafter Bush was "raked over the coals" by the liberal news media for making an appearance at such a right-wing, conservative, narrow-minded, fundamentalist school. One of the issues that was brought up during this time was BJU's teaching on the subject of Roman Catholicism. It was reported that the school taught in their classroom that Catholicism was a cult. This seemed to irritate many in the media and were demanding from Bush a response to such a position. That which perplexed the media was how anybody could think or believe that Catholicism was not Christian? While I do not endorse everything that BJU believes or teaches, I would have to stand in agreement with their position on the Roman Catholic church.
Due to the ignorance of the average person regarding Catholicism, there is a very tolerant attitude today. Protestants are having dialogue with Catholic leaders and a reunion is more than a possibility. The fact that those who claim to be practicing Catholics are ignorant of the true nature of the system is evidence of its own deceptiveness. Catholicism claims to be Christian. It claims to be the true church of Jesus Christ when in fact it is anti-Christ and anti-Bible. This can be proven from their teaching on the following points.
1. What They Teach About The Pope
The term "pope" was a title claimed by Boniface III in 607 A.D. The word comes from a Latin word "papa" which means father." Other terms are used such as "pontiff" which means: bridge builder, the link between this life and the next. Then there is title "vicar of Christ" -- a person authorized to perform the functions of another; substitute in office. Here is what is taught,
according to the Texas Catholic Conference, Department of Religious Education, 1988: "The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter and visible head of the church. He takes the place of Christ."
The pope cannot be the "vicar of Christ," i.e. His substitute as Head of the church because the Bible plainly declares Jesus Christ to be the Head of the church and no one else: Eph.1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col.1:18. Even Peter, whom the Catholics claim was the first pope, was not confused as to who was the Head when he wrote: "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner." (1 Peter 2:7)
The term "pontiff" is also unscriptural because "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
By the way, Peter could not have been the first Pope because he was married (Matt.8:14), he refused to be worshipped (Acts 10:25-26), and he was rebuked by the apostle Paul (Gal.2:11). Neither was the N.T. church built upon Peter.
It was established and founded by Jesus Christ, according to Matthew 16:18, who is the Rock (petra). Peter was the "petros": a little stone, pebble. Peter was but one among many building stones made alive through Christ from which He built His church.
2. What They Teach About The Priest
With in the Roman Catholic system their priests are referred to as "Father So & So" which is in contradiction to the teaching of Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
We don't need any priests on earth to be our go-between or representative before God. The Bible teaches on the priesthood of the believer (1 Peter 2:5,9; Rev.1:6). As believers in the Lord we have direct access to God. In fact, we have Jesus Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 8:1; 9:11-12).
It is believed that as the Catholic priest offers the mass, the wafer literally becomes the body of Christ and the wine literally becomes the blood of Christ by or through the hands of the priest. This is idolatry where the Catholics worship a god made by human hands. The mass is central to Catholic worship. It is not a memorial to remember the death of Christ but instead it is a sacrifice of Christ again and again by the priest on the altar. The problem with this is that the Bible teaches that there is to be no continual sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ as offered once and for all (Hebrews 7:27; 9:25-27; 10:10-12). According to 1 Cor.11:25-26, the observance of the Lord's Supper was to be done in remembrance; it was to show His death, not repeat it. Another practice of the Catholics is that they go to their local priest to confess their sins which is in violation of 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1 Only Jesus Christ the righteous, our Advocate, has the authority and the ability to forgive us of our sins.
3. What They Teach About The Penance
Penance is one of the seven sacraments taught to be practiced as a means of obtaining salvation. To quote from one Catholic catechism: "Penance is the means by which sins committed after baptism are forgiven through the absolution of the priest."
The Bible teaches that only God can forgive sin (Mark 2:5,7; Luke 7:48) and that salvation is only by the grace of God (Eph.2:8-9).
4. What They Teach About Purgatory
Catholics claim that the purpose of purgatory is to punish an individual fully for his/her sins before he can enter heaven. To quote from their own writings: "The pains of purgatory are very severe, passing anything endured in this life. According to the Holy Fathers of the Church, the fire of purgatory does not differ than the fire of hell except in point of duration."
The truth is, the Bible never mentions a place called purgatory. It does talk about "a great gulf fixed" (Luke 16:26) and about "paradise" (Luke 23:43), but no place of suffering called purgatory. The only place that is taught in the Bible that is described as unbearable torment and suffering is hell. For the believer, 2 Cor.5:8 teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Even in Phil. 1:23 the apostle Paul mentions about his desire to depart and be with Christ. No such hint of a place called purgatory. In fact, if a person is really born again, saved by the grace of God, he will never have to suffer for his sins because One suffered for him on the Cross of Calvary (1 Peter 3:18). Thank the Lord for Hebrews 10:17 which says, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
5. What They Teach About Their Praying
Most Roman Catholics practice what they call the "Rosary." They are supposed to repeat this prayer 50 times and keep count by using beads.
The words of the prayer are as follows: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen."
Calling Mary the mother of God and praying to her started as far back as 431 A.D. The Bible never exalts Mary to a position higher than everybody else. Luke 1:28 makes reference to her as a woman blessed among women, not above. She even admitted to the fact of her need in life of a Saviour (Luke 1:47). Mary had to be saved the same way as any other lost sinner -- through trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
We don't need Mary to intercede for us as believers because we have the Lord and His Spirit interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27,34; Hebrews 7:25). The Bible teaches that when God's people pray, they are to pray to the Heavenly Father, not Mary (Matthew 6:7-9). When God's people pray, they are to pray in the name of Jesus, not Mary's (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24).
Conclusion
The only defense against the damnable heresy of false doctrine is a solid grounding in the Word of God. As a tree without roots is easily blown over in the slightest breeze, even so a Christian without a foundation of knowledge established upon the Word of God is susceptible to being moved about by whatever direction the current doctrinal wind is blowing.
We are warned in Colossians 2:8 to not be "spoiled" (seduced, carried away) with philosophy, vain deceit, tradition of men, and rudiments of the world. Roman Catholicism is involved in all four of these areas. It has incorporated the philosophy of paganism, the vain deceit of fabricated fables that have no Biblical basis, the traditions of men that have been exalted to the position above the Bible, and rudiments of the world are evident to the extreme in the sacramental system and human effort to obtain God's saving grace.
Is Roman Catholicism Christian? Not according to the Bible. To be Christian one must be a follower of Christ and His teachings. There is no such thing as a "Christian Catholic." Do we hate Catholics? No. Our hearts go out to those who have been blinded by the god of this world, lest they see the Light and believe in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, which is able to save their souls. Our prayer is that for all Roman Catholics to be delivered from the power of darkness and be glorious saved through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Some time ago Presidential candidate George W. Bush made a campaign stop in South Carolina at a prestigious and well-known Christian university known as Bob Jones University. Soon thereafter Bush was "raked over the coals" by the liberal news media for making an appearance at such a right-wing, conservative, narrow-minded, fundamentalist school. One of the issues that was brought up during this time was BJU's teaching on the subject of Roman Catholicism. It was reported that the school taught in their classroom that Catholicism was a cult. This seemed to irritate many in the media and were demanding from Bush a response to such a position. That which perplexed the media was how anybody could think or believe that Catholicism was not Christian? While I do not endorse everything that BJU believes or teaches, I would have to stand in agreement with their position on the Roman Catholic church.
Due to the ignorance of the average person regarding Catholicism, there is a very tolerant attitude today. Protestants are having dialogue with Catholic leaders and a reunion is more than a possibility. The fact that those who claim to be practicing Catholics are ignorant of the true nature of the system is evidence of its own deceptiveness. Catholicism claims to be Christian. It claims to be the true church of Jesus Christ when in fact it is anti-Christ and anti-Bible. This can be proven from their teaching on the following points.
1. What They Teach About The Pope
The term "pope" was a title claimed by Boniface III in 607 A.D. The word comes from a Latin word "papa" which means father." Other terms are used such as "pontiff" which means: bridge builder, the link between this life and the next. Then there is title "vicar of Christ" -- a person authorized to perform the functions of another; substitute in office. Here is what is taught,
according to the Texas Catholic Conference, Department of Religious Education, 1988: "The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter and visible head of the church. He takes the place of Christ."
The pope cannot be the "vicar of Christ," i.e. His substitute as Head of the church because the Bible plainly declares Jesus Christ to be the Head of the church and no one else: Eph.1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col.1:18. Even Peter, whom the Catholics claim was the first pope, was not confused as to who was the Head when he wrote: "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner." (1 Peter 2:7)
The term "pontiff" is also unscriptural because "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
By the way, Peter could not have been the first Pope because he was married (Matt.8:14), he refused to be worshipped (Acts 10:25-26), and he was rebuked by the apostle Paul (Gal.2:11). Neither was the N.T. church built upon Peter.
It was established and founded by Jesus Christ, according to Matthew 16:18, who is the Rock (petra). Peter was the "petros": a little stone, pebble. Peter was but one among many building stones made alive through Christ from which He built His church.
2. What They Teach About The Priest
With in the Roman Catholic system their priests are referred to as "Father So & So" which is in contradiction to the teaching of Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
We don't need any priests on earth to be our go-between or representative before God. The Bible teaches on the priesthood of the believer (1 Peter 2:5,9; Rev.1:6). As believers in the Lord we have direct access to God. In fact, we have Jesus Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14; 8:1; 9:11-12).
It is believed that as the Catholic priest offers the mass, the wafer literally becomes the body of Christ and the wine literally becomes the blood of Christ by or through the hands of the priest. This is idolatry where the Catholics worship a god made by human hands. The mass is central to Catholic worship. It is not a memorial to remember the death of Christ but instead it is a sacrifice of Christ again and again by the priest on the altar. The problem with this is that the Bible teaches that there is to be no continual sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ as offered once and for all (Hebrews 7:27; 9:25-27; 10:10-12). According to 1 Cor.11:25-26, the observance of the Lord's Supper was to be done in remembrance; it was to show His death, not repeat it. Another practice of the Catholics is that they go to their local priest to confess their sins which is in violation of 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1 Only Jesus Christ the righteous, our Advocate, has the authority and the ability to forgive us of our sins.
3. What They Teach About The Penance
Penance is one of the seven sacraments taught to be practiced as a means of obtaining salvation. To quote from one Catholic catechism: "Penance is the means by which sins committed after baptism are forgiven through the absolution of the priest."
The Bible teaches that only God can forgive sin (Mark 2:5,7; Luke 7:48) and that salvation is only by the grace of God (Eph.2:8-9).
4. What They Teach About Purgatory
Catholics claim that the purpose of purgatory is to punish an individual fully for his/her sins before he can enter heaven. To quote from their own writings: "The pains of purgatory are very severe, passing anything endured in this life. According to the Holy Fathers of the Church, the fire of purgatory does not differ than the fire of hell except in point of duration."
The truth is, the Bible never mentions a place called purgatory. It does talk about "a great gulf fixed" (Luke 16:26) and about "paradise" (Luke 23:43), but no place of suffering called purgatory. The only place that is taught in the Bible that is described as unbearable torment and suffering is hell. For the believer, 2 Cor.5:8 teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Even in Phil. 1:23 the apostle Paul mentions about his desire to depart and be with Christ. No such hint of a place called purgatory. In fact, if a person is really born again, saved by the grace of God, he will never have to suffer for his sins because One suffered for him on the Cross of Calvary (1 Peter 3:18). Thank the Lord for Hebrews 10:17 which says, "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
5. What They Teach About Their Praying
Most Roman Catholics practice what they call the "Rosary." They are supposed to repeat this prayer 50 times and keep count by using beads.
The words of the prayer are as follows: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen."
Calling Mary the mother of God and praying to her started as far back as 431 A.D. The Bible never exalts Mary to a position higher than everybody else. Luke 1:28 makes reference to her as a woman blessed among women, not above. She even admitted to the fact of her need in life of a Saviour (Luke 1:47). Mary had to be saved the same way as any other lost sinner -- through trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
We don't need Mary to intercede for us as believers because we have the Lord and His Spirit interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27,34; Hebrews 7:25). The Bible teaches that when God's people pray, they are to pray to the Heavenly Father, not Mary (Matthew 6:7-9). When God's people pray, they are to pray in the name of Jesus, not Mary's (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24).
Conclusion
The only defense against the damnable heresy of false doctrine is a solid grounding in the Word of God. As a tree without roots is easily blown over in the slightest breeze, even so a Christian without a foundation of knowledge established upon the Word of God is susceptible to being moved about by whatever direction the current doctrinal wind is blowing.
We are warned in Colossians 2:8 to not be "spoiled" (seduced, carried away) with philosophy, vain deceit, tradition of men, and rudiments of the world. Roman Catholicism is involved in all four of these areas. It has incorporated the philosophy of paganism, the vain deceit of fabricated fables that have no Biblical basis, the traditions of men that have been exalted to the position above the Bible, and rudiments of the world are evident to the extreme in the sacramental system and human effort to obtain God's saving grace.
Is Roman Catholicism Christian? Not according to the Bible. To be Christian one must be a follower of Christ and His teachings. There is no such thing as a "Christian Catholic." Do we hate Catholics? No. Our hearts go out to those who have been blinded by the god of this world, lest they see the Light and believe in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, which is able to save their souls. Our prayer is that for all Roman Catholics to be delivered from the power of darkness and be glorious saved through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Jesuit - Vatican Tyrrany
ORIGINALLY INSTITUTED (Portugal/Spain,1534) BY THE VATICAN, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF EXTERMINATING THE REFORMATION,
THE ORDER WAS SUPPRESSED 21 JULY 1773 BY POPE CLEMENT XIV (for which he was promptly poisoned). THE ORDER WAS
RE-INSTITUTED 1814 AND GIVEN THE "SECRET TREATY OF VERONA"
FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT ITS DICTATES.
THIS EDICT WAS FINALLY RATIFIED BY ITS CONTRACTING PARTIES OCT 1822: CAUSING PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, UPON LEARNING OF ITS EXISTENCE, TO WRITE THE MONROE DOCTRINE, AS RECORDED IN THE: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE., VOLUME 53, PART 7, PAGE 6781 OF THE 64th CONGRESS, 1st SESSION, 25 April 1916.
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED TO EX-JESUIT PRIEST: DR. ALBERTO ROMERO RIVERA, WHO'S LIFE STORY INSPIRED.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matt,7:15)
...Details
THE ORDER WAS SUPPRESSED 21 JULY 1773 BY POPE CLEMENT XIV (for which he was promptly poisoned). THE ORDER WAS
RE-INSTITUTED 1814 AND GIVEN THE "SECRET TREATY OF VERONA"
FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT ITS DICTATES.
THIS EDICT WAS FINALLY RATIFIED BY ITS CONTRACTING PARTIES OCT 1822: CAUSING PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, UPON LEARNING OF ITS EXISTENCE, TO WRITE THE MONROE DOCTRINE, AS RECORDED IN THE: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE., VOLUME 53, PART 7, PAGE 6781 OF THE 64th CONGRESS, 1st SESSION, 25 April 1916.
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED TO EX-JESUIT PRIEST: DR. ALBERTO ROMERO RIVERA, WHO'S LIFE STORY INSPIRED.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Matt,7:15)
...Details
The False Religion of Islam
By Dean Robinson
(The following is a brief study on the subject of Islam. Many different sources were referred to which made this research possible. The purpose of the study was to offer a short analysis of some of the basic beliefs, ideas, and views held to by the typical Muslim.)
INTRODUCTION: Islam is not a religious cult in the strictest sense of the word but it is a major world religion, a false religion vastly different and opposed to Christianity. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with one out of every 5 people on the face of the earth being a Muslim. It is considered to be one of the four largest religions in the world, behind Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. It is estimated that by the year 2010, Islam will move ahead of Judaism to become the second largest religion in America. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world have embraced the Islamic faith to where entire countries are ruled and dominated by Islamic teachings, practices, and laws. Islam is a religious, social, and political force which every born-again Christian and every American should be aware of.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
It is recorded that Islam first got its start around 600 A.D. by a man named Muhammed in an area in what is known today as Saudi Arabia. This man claims to have received supernatural visions and revelations from Allah (Islamic name for God) through the archangel Gabriel: one hundred fourteen to be exact. These visions and revelations were recorded and written down known as the Koran (Arabic term for "the recitation"), the holy book of Islam. Muhammed claimed he was the true and final prophet to restore true religion and the praise of Allah throughout the world.
In order for us to understand the basic history and beliefs of Islam, there are some religious terms that need to be defined:
1) Islam -- is the name of the religion which came out of the revelations and teachings of Mohammed; it is the Arabic term for "submission."
2) Muslim -- name given to one who adheres to, follows the religion of Islam. It means: "one who submits." A Muslim is to submit to the will of Allah as revealed by Muhammed.
Muhammed was born in Mecca in 570 A.D. After his father's death he was raised by his grandfather and an uncle. His uncle was a merchant who traveled and Muhammed accompanied him, becoming a camel driver. It has been explained that when Muhammed began to see the polytheistic, idolatrous Arab tribal society around Mecca deteriorating in his day, that he decided to withdraw to a mountain cave near Mecca and spend a month (28 days) in meditation. This happened to be the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in Islam's lunar calendar. During this time he claims Allah, through the angel Gabriel, first spoke to him and this is when Islam had its start. Muhammed continued to have visions and revelations and began to claim he was restoring the true religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc. which had been corrupted. These visions and revelations were later recorded as the Koran. The Koran records Abraham as saying: "This am I commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."
After conflicts for several years within his own country and people, Muhammed was able to convince many of his fellow Arabs that Allah was the only true god. Sources today indicate that Allah was in fact one of the 360 idol-gods worshiped by the Arab tribes. Allah was originally a mood god to the Arabs. Muhammed's proclaiming of Allah as the only god caused so much opposition in Mecca that he and his followers in 622 A.D. had to flee 250 miles to what is known as Medina. It was here that Muhammed became the political and religious leader in Medina and the town became the center for expansion of Islam. Muhammed eventually gained enough followers that he conquered Mecca in 630 A.D. He destroyed all the idols in the town and declared it a mosque (Arabic word for "temple"). In the next few years after this Muhammed's followers spread Islam over Palestine and Syria. Over the period of years, Muhammed married 15 wives. He said he did so for political reasons and because so many Muslim women were left without husbands who had been killed in battles of war.
When Muhammed died, he left no male heir to take over and so Islam splintered into different groups. The biggest group is the Sunnite sect which claim to recognize and follow the teachings of the immediate successors of Muhammed. They practice a moderate form of Islamic interpretation of the Koran. Over 90% of the Muslims in the Mideast, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Libya are of this group.
The next biggest group is the Shi'ite sect who claim to be the rightful line of succession to Muhammed. This group is much more literal in its interpretation and application of the Koran and is much more militant and fanatical. About 93% of Muslims in Iran are of this group.
Muhammed died in 632 A.D. and was buried in Medina. This is a known historical fact but Muslim tradition tells a different story. They claim that he went to Jerusalem on a white horse and ascended into heaven from a rock that is now enclosed in the Dome of the Rock (Mosque of Omar) on Mt. Moriah. This is why Jerusalem is considered a holy place for Muslims.
THE KORAN AND ITS TEACHINGS
It is traditionally taught that there is no ceremony, no ritual involved in a person who wants to become a Muslim. All one has to do is to believe and say: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet." After saying this, the person is obligated to do all the duties of Islam. One must remember that the word "Muslim" means: one who submits. Islam basically offers the world two choices: the Koran (conversion) or the sword (death). According to the teaching of the Koran, conversion to Islam can either be by persuasion or force. We must understand that the spread of Islam through the centuries has been carried out largely on the battlefield. Islam has been advanced by the widespread use of war, torture, and force of arms. Islam has swept over the world slaughtering Jews and Christians alike. Islam is a fighting religion. Conquest is a religious duty in Islam. The Koran urges Muslims to take up arms against the "infidel" (anyone who is not a Muslim). The Koran specifically says: "When ye encounter unbelievers, strike off their heads until ye have made a great slaughter among them, and bind them in bonds. " In another place it says: "those who fight against you, kill them wherever ye shall find them ...You Allah are our protector. Give us victory therefore over the infidel nations." "Kill thine enemy" is the practical teaching of Islam.
The Koran is the final authority in Islam. It is the recordings of all the visions and revelations that Muhammed supposedly received directly from Allah. There were 114 in total. These revelations in the Koran are believed by Muslims to have come to Muhammed over a period of 23 years. The Koran is divided into 114 "sura's" or chapters and contains many quotations and references to the Bible. Quoting from one source: "The Koran offers a religion that relies upon methods of violence and force -- a doctrine of holy wars that brings inducements to political revolution and assassinations which have produced wars and tragedies unimaginable. The Koran offers a theology that is distinctly anti-Christ, claiming a method of salvation based entirely upon works."
Islam claims to revere the writings of all the supposed great prophets of the world yet the Muslims definitely exalt and honor the "prophecy" of Muhammed (i.e. the Koran) above the Scriptures and any other religious writings. Muslims believe that Muhammed is the prophet who fully revealed the final truth and they will not compromise that belief. A leaflet prepared by the Institute of Islamic Information and Education states: "Muhammed is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews, and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham." The leaflet continues: "Muhammed is considered to be the summation and the culmination of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting, and living the teachings of the Koran." Muslims believe that all mankind must be brought into subjection to the teachings of the Koran in order to experience peace and blessing.
In the Koran, Islam is more than a religion; it is a complete way of life that includes political, economic, social as well as religious conduct. All Islam claims to follow the Koran but there are a multitude of interpretations and applications of it among Muslims.
At first glance to the general public, Islamic belief appears to be almost compatible with Christianity. Often people claim that the Muslims believe in the same God as Christians with the exception that they do not accept Jesus Christ. It is often said that Christians, Jews, and Muslims are worshiping the same God but in different ways. Muslims have capitalized on this misconception and now urge Christians and Jews to worship the one God (Allah) with them, and work together for solutions to the world's many social problems.
Based on the Koran, Muslims believe in one god (Allah but not the Trinity); they believe in God as the Creator and Jesus as a prophet (but not as Saviour); they believe in the resurrection of all (including animals), final judgment, and eternal punishment. They believe in all of these things but not according to the Bible's definition of these things. When you carefully study the Bible and compare it with the teachings of the Koran, it becomes obvious that the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible. Islam rejects the biblical doctrines of the Trinity and the Deity of Christ, among other things.
What Muslims Believe About God
For the Muslim, Allah is the only true God. The Muslim concept of Allah is not what God reveals Himself to be in the Bible. To say that God and Allah are two names for the same being reveals a lack of understanding of the Bible or the Koran or both. The Muslims teach there is no such thing as the "blasphemous" doctrine of the Trinity, i.e. the Godhead is One but exists in three Persons. Christians are referred to as unbelievers, infidels by the Muslims because they believe in the Trinity. In a booklet entitled "Christian Muslim Dialogue" on page 16, it states: "The Trinity is not biblical. The word "trinity" is not even in the Bible or Bible dictionaries; it was never taught by Jesus and was never mentioned by him. There is no basis or proof in the Bible whatsoever for the acceptance of the Trinity." The Koran states that Christians worship 3 gods: God, Jesus, and Mary. It denies that there is a Trinity in the Godhead. It also says that those who say that God is a Trinity are to be severely punished: "Surely they are disbelievers those who said Allah is one of the 3 in a trinity. But there is none who has the right to be worshiped but one God (Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them."
The Muslim god is unapproachable by sinful man; he is so perfect and holy he can only communicate with mankind through a progression of angels and prophets. The Muslim god is a god of judgment, not grace; a god of wrath rather than love. Muslims have no concept of God as a loving and compassionate Father. Muslims never do refer to God as "Father;" they explain He would have to have a wife and children to be called such a name. This means, of course, that Muslims deny the deity of Christ. The Koran states: "It is not meet for Allah, the he should have any son. Allah forbid." Another quote plainly says: "God has no Son."
What Muslims Believe About Jesus Christ
To the Muslim, Jesus Christ is just one of many prophets of Allah. He is not the eternal Son of God or God Himself. Jesus Christ was a prophet for His people in His day. The Koran says: "Jesus is not more than a servant whom we favored, and proposed as an instance of divine power to the children of Israel." Muhammed, say the Muslims, is Allah's last and greatest prophet and all should heed him, superseding Jesus and all other prophets.
From the booklet "Christian Muslim Dialogue," it says on page 3: "The reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible Jesus never claimed to be God." Islam sees Jesus Christ as a prophet of God who otherwise is no different from other men. The Koran says: "Jesus was no more than a mortal whom Allah favored and made an example to the Israelites." According to the Koran, the main significance of Jesus is that He prophesied the coming of Muhammed. All Muslim commentators teach that Jesus' promise of the coming of the Comforter in John 16:7 is a prophecy that Muhammed would come.
According to the Koran, anyone who says "God is the Messiah, Mary's Son, God shall prohibit him entrance into Paradise and his refuge shall be the fire. They are unbelievers who say God is the Third of Three." Another quote: "Kill those who join other gods with God (Allah) wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush."
In reference to Jesus Christ, the Koran states: "The Messiah, Son of Mary, is but an apostle; other apostles have flourished before him. And his mother was a just person, they both ate food." In other words, Jesus was just a human; God does not eat food, argue the Muslims. Another quote: "God has no wife, therefore he can have no son."
In a pamphlet entitled "Prophethood in Islam" it states: "The Koranic account of Jesus emphatically rejects the concept of his divinity and divine sonship." In a tract called "Is Jesus Really God," written by the Institute of Islamic Information and Education, it states that Islam totally rejects the Biblical teaching that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
Islam has even gone as far as to actually deny that Jesus Christ was ever crucified. In the booklet "Christian Muslim Dialogue," it says on page 3: "The reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible Jesus did not die on the cross." Muslims teach that Jesus Christ did not atone for anyone's sins, although He was Himself sinless. Various Muslim traditions say that Jesus Christ either miraculously substituted Judas Iscariot for Himself on the cross, or that Allah miraculously delivered Him from the hands of the Romans and Jews before He could be crucified. Most Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was taken bodily into heaven without having died. Koran says: "they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them...they slew him not for certain, but Allah took him up unto himself."
To deny Jesus Christ's crucifixion is to deny His resurrection. Muslims believe in a resurrection, but not the resurrection of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ. So here we see that Islam denies the basic, essential message of the Bible: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In doing so, it has taken away the Saviour and has rejected God's saving grace. Islam says it has a high regard for Jesus as a prophet of Allah but no amount of respect for Jesus as a prophet can be acceptable to God when the Person and work of Jesus Christ are outright denied.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
(The following is a brief study on the subject of Islam. Many different sources were referred to which made this research possible. The purpose of the study was to offer a short analysis of some of the basic beliefs, ideas, and views held to by the typical Muslim.)
INTRODUCTION: Islam is not a religious cult in the strictest sense of the word but it is a major world religion, a false religion vastly different and opposed to Christianity. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with one out of every 5 people on the face of the earth being a Muslim. It is considered to be one of the four largest religions in the world, behind Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. It is estimated that by the year 2010, Islam will move ahead of Judaism to become the second largest religion in America. Hundreds of millions of people all over the world have embraced the Islamic faith to where entire countries are ruled and dominated by Islamic teachings, practices, and laws. Islam is a religious, social, and political force which every born-again Christian and every American should be aware of.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
It is recorded that Islam first got its start around 600 A.D. by a man named Muhammed in an area in what is known today as Saudi Arabia. This man claims to have received supernatural visions and revelations from Allah (Islamic name for God) through the archangel Gabriel: one hundred fourteen to be exact. These visions and revelations were recorded and written down known as the Koran (Arabic term for "the recitation"), the holy book of Islam. Muhammed claimed he was the true and final prophet to restore true religion and the praise of Allah throughout the world.
In order for us to understand the basic history and beliefs of Islam, there are some religious terms that need to be defined:
1) Islam -- is the name of the religion which came out of the revelations and teachings of Mohammed; it is the Arabic term for "submission."
2) Muslim -- name given to one who adheres to, follows the religion of Islam. It means: "one who submits." A Muslim is to submit to the will of Allah as revealed by Muhammed.
Muhammed was born in Mecca in 570 A.D. After his father's death he was raised by his grandfather and an uncle. His uncle was a merchant who traveled and Muhammed accompanied him, becoming a camel driver. It has been explained that when Muhammed began to see the polytheistic, idolatrous Arab tribal society around Mecca deteriorating in his day, that he decided to withdraw to a mountain cave near Mecca and spend a month (28 days) in meditation. This happened to be the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in Islam's lunar calendar. During this time he claims Allah, through the angel Gabriel, first spoke to him and this is when Islam had its start. Muhammed continued to have visions and revelations and began to claim he was restoring the true religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc. which had been corrupted. These visions and revelations were later recorded as the Koran. The Koran records Abraham as saying: "This am I commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."
After conflicts for several years within his own country and people, Muhammed was able to convince many of his fellow Arabs that Allah was the only true god. Sources today indicate that Allah was in fact one of the 360 idol-gods worshiped by the Arab tribes. Allah was originally a mood god to the Arabs. Muhammed's proclaiming of Allah as the only god caused so much opposition in Mecca that he and his followers in 622 A.D. had to flee 250 miles to what is known as Medina. It was here that Muhammed became the political and religious leader in Medina and the town became the center for expansion of Islam. Muhammed eventually gained enough followers that he conquered Mecca in 630 A.D. He destroyed all the idols in the town and declared it a mosque (Arabic word for "temple"). In the next few years after this Muhammed's followers spread Islam over Palestine and Syria. Over the period of years, Muhammed married 15 wives. He said he did so for political reasons and because so many Muslim women were left without husbands who had been killed in battles of war.
When Muhammed died, he left no male heir to take over and so Islam splintered into different groups. The biggest group is the Sunnite sect which claim to recognize and follow the teachings of the immediate successors of Muhammed. They practice a moderate form of Islamic interpretation of the Koran. Over 90% of the Muslims in the Mideast, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Libya are of this group.
The next biggest group is the Shi'ite sect who claim to be the rightful line of succession to Muhammed. This group is much more literal in its interpretation and application of the Koran and is much more militant and fanatical. About 93% of Muslims in Iran are of this group.
Muhammed died in 632 A.D. and was buried in Medina. This is a known historical fact but Muslim tradition tells a different story. They claim that he went to Jerusalem on a white horse and ascended into heaven from a rock that is now enclosed in the Dome of the Rock (Mosque of Omar) on Mt. Moriah. This is why Jerusalem is considered a holy place for Muslims.
THE KORAN AND ITS TEACHINGS
It is traditionally taught that there is no ceremony, no ritual involved in a person who wants to become a Muslim. All one has to do is to believe and say: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet." After saying this, the person is obligated to do all the duties of Islam. One must remember that the word "Muslim" means: one who submits. Islam basically offers the world two choices: the Koran (conversion) or the sword (death). According to the teaching of the Koran, conversion to Islam can either be by persuasion or force. We must understand that the spread of Islam through the centuries has been carried out largely on the battlefield. Islam has been advanced by the widespread use of war, torture, and force of arms. Islam has swept over the world slaughtering Jews and Christians alike. Islam is a fighting religion. Conquest is a religious duty in Islam. The Koran urges Muslims to take up arms against the "infidel" (anyone who is not a Muslim). The Koran specifically says: "When ye encounter unbelievers, strike off their heads until ye have made a great slaughter among them, and bind them in bonds. " In another place it says: "those who fight against you, kill them wherever ye shall find them ...You Allah are our protector. Give us victory therefore over the infidel nations." "Kill thine enemy" is the practical teaching of Islam.
The Koran is the final authority in Islam. It is the recordings of all the visions and revelations that Muhammed supposedly received directly from Allah. There were 114 in total. These revelations in the Koran are believed by Muslims to have come to Muhammed over a period of 23 years. The Koran is divided into 114 "sura's" or chapters and contains many quotations and references to the Bible. Quoting from one source: "The Koran offers a religion that relies upon methods of violence and force -- a doctrine of holy wars that brings inducements to political revolution and assassinations which have produced wars and tragedies unimaginable. The Koran offers a theology that is distinctly anti-Christ, claiming a method of salvation based entirely upon works."
Islam claims to revere the writings of all the supposed great prophets of the world yet the Muslims definitely exalt and honor the "prophecy" of Muhammed (i.e. the Koran) above the Scriptures and any other religious writings. Muslims believe that Muhammed is the prophet who fully revealed the final truth and they will not compromise that belief. A leaflet prepared by the Institute of Islamic Information and Education states: "Muhammed is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews, and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham." The leaflet continues: "Muhammed is considered to be the summation and the culmination of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting, and living the teachings of the Koran." Muslims believe that all mankind must be brought into subjection to the teachings of the Koran in order to experience peace and blessing.
In the Koran, Islam is more than a religion; it is a complete way of life that includes political, economic, social as well as religious conduct. All Islam claims to follow the Koran but there are a multitude of interpretations and applications of it among Muslims.
At first glance to the general public, Islamic belief appears to be almost compatible with Christianity. Often people claim that the Muslims believe in the same God as Christians with the exception that they do not accept Jesus Christ. It is often said that Christians, Jews, and Muslims are worshiping the same God but in different ways. Muslims have capitalized on this misconception and now urge Christians and Jews to worship the one God (Allah) with them, and work together for solutions to the world's many social problems.
Based on the Koran, Muslims believe in one god (Allah but not the Trinity); they believe in God as the Creator and Jesus as a prophet (but not as Saviour); they believe in the resurrection of all (including animals), final judgment, and eternal punishment. They believe in all of these things but not according to the Bible's definition of these things. When you carefully study the Bible and compare it with the teachings of the Koran, it becomes obvious that the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible. Islam rejects the biblical doctrines of the Trinity and the Deity of Christ, among other things.
What Muslims Believe About God
For the Muslim, Allah is the only true God. The Muslim concept of Allah is not what God reveals Himself to be in the Bible. To say that God and Allah are two names for the same being reveals a lack of understanding of the Bible or the Koran or both. The Muslims teach there is no such thing as the "blasphemous" doctrine of the Trinity, i.e. the Godhead is One but exists in three Persons. Christians are referred to as unbelievers, infidels by the Muslims because they believe in the Trinity. In a booklet entitled "Christian Muslim Dialogue" on page 16, it states: "The Trinity is not biblical. The word "trinity" is not even in the Bible or Bible dictionaries; it was never taught by Jesus and was never mentioned by him. There is no basis or proof in the Bible whatsoever for the acceptance of the Trinity." The Koran states that Christians worship 3 gods: God, Jesus, and Mary. It denies that there is a Trinity in the Godhead. It also says that those who say that God is a Trinity are to be severely punished: "Surely they are disbelievers those who said Allah is one of the 3 in a trinity. But there is none who has the right to be worshiped but one God (Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them."
The Muslim god is unapproachable by sinful man; he is so perfect and holy he can only communicate with mankind through a progression of angels and prophets. The Muslim god is a god of judgment, not grace; a god of wrath rather than love. Muslims have no concept of God as a loving and compassionate Father. Muslims never do refer to God as "Father;" they explain He would have to have a wife and children to be called such a name. This means, of course, that Muslims deny the deity of Christ. The Koran states: "It is not meet for Allah, the he should have any son. Allah forbid." Another quote plainly says: "God has no Son."
What Muslims Believe About Jesus Christ
To the Muslim, Jesus Christ is just one of many prophets of Allah. He is not the eternal Son of God or God Himself. Jesus Christ was a prophet for His people in His day. The Koran says: "Jesus is not more than a servant whom we favored, and proposed as an instance of divine power to the children of Israel." Muhammed, say the Muslims, is Allah's last and greatest prophet and all should heed him, superseding Jesus and all other prophets.
From the booklet "Christian Muslim Dialogue," it says on page 3: "The reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible Jesus never claimed to be God." Islam sees Jesus Christ as a prophet of God who otherwise is no different from other men. The Koran says: "Jesus was no more than a mortal whom Allah favored and made an example to the Israelites." According to the Koran, the main significance of Jesus is that He prophesied the coming of Muhammed. All Muslim commentators teach that Jesus' promise of the coming of the Comforter in John 16:7 is a prophecy that Muhammed would come.
According to the Koran, anyone who says "God is the Messiah, Mary's Son, God shall prohibit him entrance into Paradise and his refuge shall be the fire. They are unbelievers who say God is the Third of Three." Another quote: "Kill those who join other gods with God (Allah) wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush."
In reference to Jesus Christ, the Koran states: "The Messiah, Son of Mary, is but an apostle; other apostles have flourished before him. And his mother was a just person, they both ate food." In other words, Jesus was just a human; God does not eat food, argue the Muslims. Another quote: "God has no wife, therefore he can have no son."
In a pamphlet entitled "Prophethood in Islam" it states: "The Koranic account of Jesus emphatically rejects the concept of his divinity and divine sonship." In a tract called "Is Jesus Really God," written by the Institute of Islamic Information and Education, it states that Islam totally rejects the Biblical teaching that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
Islam has even gone as far as to actually deny that Jesus Christ was ever crucified. In the booklet "Christian Muslim Dialogue," it says on page 3: "The reader will be surprised to learn that in the Bible Jesus did not die on the cross." Muslims teach that Jesus Christ did not atone for anyone's sins, although He was Himself sinless. Various Muslim traditions say that Jesus Christ either miraculously substituted Judas Iscariot for Himself on the cross, or that Allah miraculously delivered Him from the hands of the Romans and Jews before He could be crucified. Most Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was taken bodily into heaven without having died. Koran says: "they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them...they slew him not for certain, but Allah took him up unto himself."
To deny Jesus Christ's crucifixion is to deny His resurrection. Muslims believe in a resurrection, but not the resurrection of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ. So here we see that Islam denies the basic, essential message of the Bible: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In doing so, it has taken away the Saviour and has rejected God's saving grace. Islam says it has a high regard for Jesus as a prophet of Allah but no amount of respect for Jesus as a prophet can be acceptable to God when the Person and work of Jesus Christ are outright denied.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was indeed God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim.3 :16). John 1:1 and 14 says God dwelt as a Man among men. The Lord said to the religious people of His day who rejected His deity: "if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was crucified and His crucifixion and resurrection are the basic message of the Bible. About one-third of the words of the first 4 books in the New Testament are given to eye-witness accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The basic essential message of the Bible is the gospel of Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross for sinners, His burial, and His glorious resurrection from the dead.
The Bible teaches that from birth man is a sinner and cannot help or save himself. He must have a substitute to atone for him and the only substitute God will accept is Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross. The death of Christ is the only means of salvation. It is the only means of reconciliation to God. Without the crucifixion, God's Word makes it clear there can be no forgiveness of sin and no eternal life. If Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross and rise from the dead, there is no salvation from sin.
Islam unashamedly rejects these basic truths which comprise the gospel. While many people try to argue that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, 2 John verse 7 and 9 say otherwise: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. . . Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
Denying the doctrine of Christ reveals Islam as a deception and an antichrist religion. The Koran has substituted false doctrines which present another gospel. No matter how intellectual, civilized, or scientific Islam is made to appear, it is still a religion which embraces and proclaims a false gospel and the Bible declares it and those who believe it to be accursed. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
FALSE CONCEPT OF SIN AND SALVATION
For a true Muslim, the Koran is the "word of Allah," and is to be believed and practiced literally. Apart from being a Muslim, there is no hope for a person according to the Koran. The Koran says: "Whoso desires any other religion than Islam, that religion shall never be accepted from him, and in the next world he shall be among the lost." Another quote: "The true religion with God is Islam." These two quotes simply signify that there can be no compromise, concession, or agreement between true Christianity and orthodox Islam.
Biblical Christianity and Islam teach a different concept of sin and salvation. Islam believes mankind is born pure, without sin. From the tract entitled "Introducing Islam to Non-Muslims," it is explained: "Muslims believe that people are born free of sin. It is only after they reach the age of puberty and it is only after they commit sins that they are to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for or can take the responsibility for the sins of others." What this does is to deny the Biblical teaching that all mankind sinned in Adam, i.e. Adam's sin has been imputed to the whole human race: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12). Second, this is a denial of the Biblical teaching that the sin of man is imputed to Christ, i.e. Christ became sin for us on Calvary's cross: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Third, this is a denial of the Biblical teaching that the righteousness of God is imputed to men upon believing, i.e. believers possess the righteousness of God: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) By denying these truths which are fundamental to the gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone, Islam has laid the groundwork for a false gospel of self-righteousness and salvation by works.
The differing concepts of sin between Christianity and Islam leads to differing views of salvation. Islam's "salvation" is based on an individual's good works outweighing their bad works. The Bible teaches that salvation is not a reward but "the gift of God" (Romans 6:23). Heaven is the eternal abode of those who have received Christ as Saviour. Islam teaches that salvation is indeed a reward for a life of relative piety and righteousness. The Koran states: "Then those whose scales are heavy, they are successful. And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls."
It is taught that a Muslim cannot be assured of attaining Paradise (Koran's concept of Heaven) unless he dies in a "jihad" (holy war). Then he goes immediately to paradise, which explains why Muslims are willing to die in terrorist acts. Note this quote from the Koran: "And they who have suffered in my cause and have fought and fallen, I will blot out their sins from them, and I will bring them into gardens beneath which the streams do flow."
One writer wrote describing a Muslim's concept of paradise as a type of desert oasis "where they will recline on soft couches, drinking cups of wine handed to them by maidens of paradise, of whom each man may marry as many as he pleases."
FIVE PILLARS OF THE FAITH
Every Muslim who hopes to escape the judgment of Allah, must fulfill his religious duties which are the works of the "Five Pillars of the Faith":
1. Recite the Muslim creed -- "There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet." To say the creed with conviction and sincerity makes one a Muslim.
2. Pray 5 prescribed prayers a day toward the holy city of Mecca.
3. Give alms to the poor. Muslims are required to give one-fortieth of their income as charitable contributions.
4. Fast during the entire month of Ramadan (9th month in the Muslim's lunar calendar). This is when the Muslims are supposed to fast for 28 days from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset in atonement for their own sins over the previous year. In actuality, what this involves is sleeping all during the day and eating all night.
5. Make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in a lifetime. For those unable to physically go, they can hire a substitute to go in their place.
CONCLUSION
According to the Bible, Allah is not God, Muhammed is not his prophet, and the Koran is not the Word of God. Islam is a false religion and utterly without power to save from sin because it doesn't recognize Jesus Christ as the Saviour. No person, no matter how religious or how sincere he may be, can possess truth or salvation apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. The person and work of Christ is the crucial divider between Christianity and Islam. Christ's atoning death is the perfect and only sacrifice which God will accept in behalf of sinners.
Our message to Muslims is that they, like all men, are hopelessly lost. All are naturally at enmity with God. There is no good in us that can merit God's favor and there is no good we can do to endear ourselves to Him. Being utterly lost and completely unable to save ourselves, God did all that was required to reconcile men to Himself by sending His only begotten Son. Christ bore our sin, died on the Cross as our Substitute, shedding His precious blood as a complete, all-sufficient, perfect sacrifice for sin, and He arose again bodily from the dead. Repenting of one's sins and believing on Christ, trusting Him for salvation, is all that is necessary to be saved.
Islam claims to be a religion of peace and tolerance when in fact it is characterized by violence and religious bigotry. It is the Christian's duty to diligently witness to, not dialogue with the Muslims. We must stand for the true Gospel and against all other false gospels. Islam has rejected the essential teachings of the Word of God. The so-called prophet Muhammed brought an erroneous message from a false spirit that is totally opposed to the Gospel of God's grace. The message of Islam is a curse, not a blessing. "There is only one true religion. It was prophesied in the Garden of Eden, typified in the days of Noah, confirmed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and realized in the Person and work of Jesus Christ."
There is no doubt that Muslims have a definite zeal for their god. They desire to follow Allah and express their worship of Allah through their lives. But the fact remains, Muslims need Christ and His saving Gospel which is still the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. They need not only to hear and believe this life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, but they also need to see it demonstrated in the lives of believers to serve as an example of what the Lord can do with a life that is totally and truly surrendered and submitted unto Him. Islam offers this world two choices: the Koran (conversion) or the sword (death). Bible-believing Christians have only one choice to offer the world: the Cross and empty tomb of Jesus Christ.
In this age of ecumenicalism and tolerance, many people would like to emphasize the resemblances and similarities between Islam and Christianity. While the two religions may share many historical persons and events in common, there is still an unbridgeable gap between them. "There is no possible compromise between biblical Christianity and Islam and none should be sought."
Sources Referred To:
The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin.
The Discerner by William A. BeVier
The Baptist Watchman -- "Is the God of Islam the God of the Bible?" by Laurence A. Justice
The False Gospel of Islam by Ric Llewellyn
Baptist Pillar
The Bible teaches that from birth man is a sinner and cannot help or save himself. He must have a substitute to atone for him and the only substitute God will accept is Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross. The death of Christ is the only means of salvation. It is the only means of reconciliation to God. Without the crucifixion, God's Word makes it clear there can be no forgiveness of sin and no eternal life. If Jesus Christ did not die on the Cross and rise from the dead, there is no salvation from sin.
Islam unashamedly rejects these basic truths which comprise the gospel. While many people try to argue that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, 2 John verse 7 and 9 say otherwise: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. . . Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
Denying the doctrine of Christ reveals Islam as a deception and an antichrist religion. The Koran has substituted false doctrines which present another gospel. No matter how intellectual, civilized, or scientific Islam is made to appear, it is still a religion which embraces and proclaims a false gospel and the Bible declares it and those who believe it to be accursed. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
FALSE CONCEPT OF SIN AND SALVATION
For a true Muslim, the Koran is the "word of Allah," and is to be believed and practiced literally. Apart from being a Muslim, there is no hope for a person according to the Koran. The Koran says: "Whoso desires any other religion than Islam, that religion shall never be accepted from him, and in the next world he shall be among the lost." Another quote: "The true religion with God is Islam." These two quotes simply signify that there can be no compromise, concession, or agreement between true Christianity and orthodox Islam.
Biblical Christianity and Islam teach a different concept of sin and salvation. Islam believes mankind is born pure, without sin. From the tract entitled "Introducing Islam to Non-Muslims," it is explained: "Muslims believe that people are born free of sin. It is only after they reach the age of puberty and it is only after they commit sins that they are to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for or can take the responsibility for the sins of others." What this does is to deny the Biblical teaching that all mankind sinned in Adam, i.e. Adam's sin has been imputed to the whole human race: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12). Second, this is a denial of the Biblical teaching that the sin of man is imputed to Christ, i.e. Christ became sin for us on Calvary's cross: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Third, this is a denial of the Biblical teaching that the righteousness of God is imputed to men upon believing, i.e. believers possess the righteousness of God: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) By denying these truths which are fundamental to the gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone, Islam has laid the groundwork for a false gospel of self-righteousness and salvation by works.
The differing concepts of sin between Christianity and Islam leads to differing views of salvation. Islam's "salvation" is based on an individual's good works outweighing their bad works. The Bible teaches that salvation is not a reward but "the gift of God" (Romans 6:23). Heaven is the eternal abode of those who have received Christ as Saviour. Islam teaches that salvation is indeed a reward for a life of relative piety and righteousness. The Koran states: "Then those whose scales are heavy, they are successful. And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls."
It is taught that a Muslim cannot be assured of attaining Paradise (Koran's concept of Heaven) unless he dies in a "jihad" (holy war). Then he goes immediately to paradise, which explains why Muslims are willing to die in terrorist acts. Note this quote from the Koran: "And they who have suffered in my cause and have fought and fallen, I will blot out their sins from them, and I will bring them into gardens beneath which the streams do flow."
One writer wrote describing a Muslim's concept of paradise as a type of desert oasis "where they will recline on soft couches, drinking cups of wine handed to them by maidens of paradise, of whom each man may marry as many as he pleases."
FIVE PILLARS OF THE FAITH
Every Muslim who hopes to escape the judgment of Allah, must fulfill his religious duties which are the works of the "Five Pillars of the Faith":
1. Recite the Muslim creed -- "There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his prophet." To say the creed with conviction and sincerity makes one a Muslim.
2. Pray 5 prescribed prayers a day toward the holy city of Mecca.
3. Give alms to the poor. Muslims are required to give one-fortieth of their income as charitable contributions.
4. Fast during the entire month of Ramadan (9th month in the Muslim's lunar calendar). This is when the Muslims are supposed to fast for 28 days from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset in atonement for their own sins over the previous year. In actuality, what this involves is sleeping all during the day and eating all night.
5. Make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in a lifetime. For those unable to physically go, they can hire a substitute to go in their place.
CONCLUSION
According to the Bible, Allah is not God, Muhammed is not his prophet, and the Koran is not the Word of God. Islam is a false religion and utterly without power to save from sin because it doesn't recognize Jesus Christ as the Saviour. No person, no matter how religious or how sincere he may be, can possess truth or salvation apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. The person and work of Christ is the crucial divider between Christianity and Islam. Christ's atoning death is the perfect and only sacrifice which God will accept in behalf of sinners.
Our message to Muslims is that they, like all men, are hopelessly lost. All are naturally at enmity with God. There is no good in us that can merit God's favor and there is no good we can do to endear ourselves to Him. Being utterly lost and completely unable to save ourselves, God did all that was required to reconcile men to Himself by sending His only begotten Son. Christ bore our sin, died on the Cross as our Substitute, shedding His precious blood as a complete, all-sufficient, perfect sacrifice for sin, and He arose again bodily from the dead. Repenting of one's sins and believing on Christ, trusting Him for salvation, is all that is necessary to be saved.
Islam claims to be a religion of peace and tolerance when in fact it is characterized by violence and religious bigotry. It is the Christian's duty to diligently witness to, not dialogue with the Muslims. We must stand for the true Gospel and against all other false gospels. Islam has rejected the essential teachings of the Word of God. The so-called prophet Muhammed brought an erroneous message from a false spirit that is totally opposed to the Gospel of God's grace. The message of Islam is a curse, not a blessing. "There is only one true religion. It was prophesied in the Garden of Eden, typified in the days of Noah, confirmed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and realized in the Person and work of Jesus Christ."
There is no doubt that Muslims have a definite zeal for their god. They desire to follow Allah and express their worship of Allah through their lives. But the fact remains, Muslims need Christ and His saving Gospel which is still the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. They need not only to hear and believe this life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, but they also need to see it demonstrated in the lives of believers to serve as an example of what the Lord can do with a life that is totally and truly surrendered and submitted unto Him. Islam offers this world two choices: the Koran (conversion) or the sword (death). Bible-believing Christians have only one choice to offer the world: the Cross and empty tomb of Jesus Christ.
In this age of ecumenicalism and tolerance, many people would like to emphasize the resemblances and similarities between Islam and Christianity. While the two religions may share many historical persons and events in common, there is still an unbridgeable gap between them. "There is no possible compromise between biblical Christianity and Islam and none should be sought."
Sources Referred To:
The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin.
The Discerner by William A. BeVier
The Baptist Watchman -- "Is the God of Islam the God of the Bible?" by Laurence A. Justice
The False Gospel of Islam by Ric Llewellyn
Baptist Pillar
Self Defense as a Christian Obligation
Unscrambling the Message from the Pulpits
"If Jesus Christ were to come today, people would not even crucify him. They would ask him to dinner, and hear what he had to say, and make fun of it." - Thomas Carlyle
Nowhere is Jesus Christ more misunderstood than with respect to his stance on violence. As a result of the work of Christian theologians, the faithful are never quite sure if they should defend themselves in the event of an assault or just stand there and turn the other cheek. They don’t know if they ought to shoot somebody who’s about to kill a member of their family or pray for the shooter. They wonder whether they should support capital punishment or look at a convicted murderer like he's a baby about to be aborted. Christians aren't sure if they should go to war when the draft board calls or claim conscientious-objector status. In fact, they generally appear to be totally confused when the subject turns to violence.
http://members.aol.com/psychquery/PT53.html
The Jesuit Oath
I furthermore promise and declare that I will, when opportunity present, make and wage relentless war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, Protestants and Liberals, as I am directed to do, to extirpate and exterminate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex or condition; and that I will hang, waste, boil, flay, strangle and bury alive these infamous heretics, rip up the stomachs and wombs of their women and crush their infants' heads against the walls, in order to annihilate forever their execrable race. That when the same cannot be done openly, I will secretly use the poisoned cup, the strangulating cord, the steel of the poniard or the leaden bullet, regardless of the honor, rank, dignity, or authority of the person or persons, whatever may be their condition in life, either public or private, as I at any time may be directed so to do by any agent of the Pope or Superior of the Brotherhood of the Holy Faith, of the Society of Jesus.
Masons, Witchcraft, and Satanic Rituals
MASONS-WITCHCRAFT-SATANIC RITUALS
http://www.government-propaganda.com/masons.html
http://www.chick.com/information/religions/masonry/
http://itwasjohnson.impiousdigest.com/fox.htm
http://www.christian-gate.com/masons.htm
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"Gal. 4:16The Witchcraft Side of MasonryBy William SchnoebelenThere is something about the Lodge that has always attracted sorcerers. The list of occultists and witches in the last century who were Freemasons reads like a Who's Who of 20th century occultism:Arthur Edward Waite - occult writer and Masonic historian.Dr. Wynn Westcott - member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia and founding member of the occult Order of the Golden Dawn.S. L. MacGregor Mathers - co-founder of the Golden Dawn.Aleister Crowley - master satanist of this century and founder of the anti-christ religion of Thelema.Dr. Gerard Encaussé - (Papus) masterful author, teacher of the Tarot and leader of the occult Martinistes society.Dr. Theodore Reuss - head of the O.T.O., a German occult/satanic society which made Crowley its head for the British Isles.George Pickingill - the master warlock (male witch) of 19th century England, leader of the "Pickingill covens."Annie Besant - leader of the occult Theosophical society and Co-Masonic hierarch. (Yes, there are female Masons!)Alice Bailey - founder of the New Age organization, Lucis (formerly Lucifer) Trust.Bishop C. W. Leadbetter - Theosophist, mentor to the failed New Age "Christ", Krishnamurti, and prelate in the occult Liberal Catholic Church.Manly P. Hall - Rosicrucian adept, author, founder of the Philosophical Research Society.Gerald B. Gardner - founder of the modern Wiccan (white Witchcraft) revival.Alex Sanders - self-styled "King of the Witches" in London and one of the most influential leaders of Wicca after Gardner.Would you really wish to belong to an organization which welcomed these powerful sorcerers into its midst with open arms?The Mason is "unequally yoked" together with all these unbelievers and witches in rebellion to the Word of God (II Corinthians 6:14-18). That alone is enough to knock the spiritual stuffing out of any man!
http://www.government-propaganda.com/masons.html
http://www.chick.com/information/religions/masonry/
http://itwasjohnson.impiousdigest.com/fox.htm
http://www.christian-gate.com/masons.htm
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"Gal. 4:16The Witchcraft Side of MasonryBy William SchnoebelenThere is something about the Lodge that has always attracted sorcerers. The list of occultists and witches in the last century who were Freemasons reads like a Who's Who of 20th century occultism:Arthur Edward Waite - occult writer and Masonic historian.Dr. Wynn Westcott - member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia and founding member of the occult Order of the Golden Dawn.S. L. MacGregor Mathers - co-founder of the Golden Dawn.Aleister Crowley - master satanist of this century and founder of the anti-christ religion of Thelema.Dr. Gerard Encaussé - (Papus) masterful author, teacher of the Tarot and leader of the occult Martinistes society.Dr. Theodore Reuss - head of the O.T.O., a German occult/satanic society which made Crowley its head for the British Isles.George Pickingill - the master warlock (male witch) of 19th century England, leader of the "Pickingill covens."Annie Besant - leader of the occult Theosophical society and Co-Masonic hierarch. (Yes, there are female Masons!)Alice Bailey - founder of the New Age organization, Lucis (formerly Lucifer) Trust.Bishop C. W. Leadbetter - Theosophist, mentor to the failed New Age "Christ", Krishnamurti, and prelate in the occult Liberal Catholic Church.Manly P. Hall - Rosicrucian adept, author, founder of the Philosophical Research Society.Gerald B. Gardner - founder of the modern Wiccan (white Witchcraft) revival.Alex Sanders - self-styled "King of the Witches" in London and one of the most influential leaders of Wicca after Gardner.Would you really wish to belong to an organization which welcomed these powerful sorcerers into its midst with open arms?The Mason is "unequally yoked" together with all these unbelievers and witches in rebellion to the Word of God (II Corinthians 6:14-18). That alone is enough to knock the spiritual stuffing out of any man!
Warning Signs of the Occult
On this page we will try to give you the knowledge you need to have to detect POSSIBLE involvement in the Occult. While some people will do and use the things listed below, it does not mean they are involved. Some are just following a fad and are trying to be cool.If there are several of these things evident, it is a good probability the person is involved. These are in no special order.
What is the Occult?
Defined in the dictionary as: Secret, hidden, not revealed, to hide, conceal.
The objective is to hide the true meaning of their religion, which is Satan worship.
So with this in mind let's explore some ways you can tell what is going on.
1 An unusual interest in the bible. (learning of Satan)
2 Mocking Christianity.
3 Interest in Occult movies and books.
4 "Into" heavy metal music--- See Satanic Music
5 Speaking in Rhyme and backwards talking.
6 Reading Poems or other writings with themes of blood, death, murder, satan, suicide or anything evil.
7 Unusually long finger nails (painted black)
8 Eating raw meat in front of peers.
9 Violent rebellion (Jeckyl and Hyde personality)
10 Occult drawings on books or Tattoos--See Signs and Symbols
11 Use of drugs.
12 Dressing in Black or Unusual dress.
13 An Altar in basement, yard, trees, room, etc...
14 Occult objects in room.. candles, knives etc..
15 Boys wearing evil appearing make-up.
16 Cruelty to innocent people or animals.
17 Bizarre haircuts and or hair color.
18 Withdrawal from family
19 Interest in days with no special meaning.
20 Behavior changes. depression, paranoia etc..
21 Deep fears, nightmares, walking in sleep.
22 A sudden change of friends.
23 Obsession with Occult games, Dungeons & Dragons, the Ouija board.
24 Interest in Horoscopes, Palmistry, Tarot cards, spells, curses etc..
25 Books such as "The Book of Shadows" , "The Satanic Rituals" and "The Satanic Bible"
What is the Occult?
Defined in the dictionary as: Secret, hidden, not revealed, to hide, conceal.
The objective is to hide the true meaning of their religion, which is Satan worship.
So with this in mind let's explore some ways you can tell what is going on.
1 An unusual interest in the bible. (learning of Satan)
2 Mocking Christianity.
3 Interest in Occult movies and books.
4 "Into" heavy metal music--- See Satanic Music
5 Speaking in Rhyme and backwards talking.
6 Reading Poems or other writings with themes of blood, death, murder, satan, suicide or anything evil.
7 Unusually long finger nails (painted black)
8 Eating raw meat in front of peers.
9 Violent rebellion (Jeckyl and Hyde personality)
10 Occult drawings on books or Tattoos--See Signs and Symbols
11 Use of drugs.
12 Dressing in Black or Unusual dress.
13 An Altar in basement, yard, trees, room, etc...
14 Occult objects in room.. candles, knives etc..
15 Boys wearing evil appearing make-up.
16 Cruelty to innocent people or animals.
17 Bizarre haircuts and or hair color.
18 Withdrawal from family
19 Interest in days with no special meaning.
20 Behavior changes. depression, paranoia etc..
21 Deep fears, nightmares, walking in sleep.
22 A sudden change of friends.
23 Obsession with Occult games, Dungeons & Dragons, the Ouija board.
24 Interest in Horoscopes, Palmistry, Tarot cards, spells, curses etc..
25 Books such as "The Book of Shadows" , "The Satanic Rituals" and "The Satanic Bible"