For Catholics That Have Doubts About Christianity

[princess2000]

Ok, wow, where to begin, um...I deleted most of my original post in this reply-reply post because that'd just get too long. So...

"I. Jesus Christ Granted the Apostles His Authority to Forgive Sins

John 20:21 - before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins.

John 20:22 - the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.

John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

Matt. 9:8 - this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to "men." Hence, those Protestants who acknowledge that the apostles had the authority to forgive sins (which this verse demonstrates) must prove that this gift ended with the apostles. Otherwise, the apostles' successors still possess this gift. Where in Scripture is the gift of authority to forgive sins taken away from the apostles or their successors?

Matt. 9:6; Mark 2:10 - Christ forgave sins as a man (not God) to convince us that the "Son of man" has authority to forgive sins on earth.

Luke 5:24 - Luke also points out that Jesus' authority to forgive sins is as a man, not God. The Gospel writers record this to convince us that God has given this authority to men. This authority has been transferred from Christ to the apostles and their successors.

Matt. 18:18 - the apostles are given authority to bind and loose. The authority to bind and loose includes administering and removing the temporal penalties due to sin. The Jews understood this since the birth of the Church.

John 20:22-23; Matt. 18:18 - the power to remit/retain sin is also the power to remit/retain punishment due to sin. If Christ's ministers can forgive the eternal penalty of sin, they can certainly remit the temporal penalty of sin (which is called an "indulgence").

2 Cor. 2:10 - Paul forgives in the presence of Christ (some translations refer to the presences of Christ as "in persona Christi"). Some say that this may also be a reference to sins.

2 Cor. 5:18 - the ministry of reconciliation was given to the ambassadors of the Church. This ministry of reconciliation refers to the sacrament of reconciliation, also called the sacrament of confession or penance.

James 5:15-16 - in verse 15 we see that sins are forgiven by the priests in the sacrament of the sick. This is another example of man's authority to forgive sins on earth. Then in verse 16, James says

[Guest shiloh357]

If for you that's something different, that's fine.

For me, its called "The Bible."

[Gauntlet]

I'd like to say, good job on this post. I am an ex-catholic (wishy washy catholic that is). It's one thing to read on someone else's beliefs, it's something completely different when you were part of it for years and held them as your own. I would go to church often, more or less to appease my mother and would witness people doing the same thing every weekend. It got to a point you could call it before it happened...same tradition, different day. I would witness the same words being repeated, people kneeling and crawling around the feet of statues in prayer. Praying to Mary for fogiveness, praying to the saints of lost items to help them find their car keys...I mean, C'mon!!!! I would never be so bold as to say if you are Catholic you are Hell bound, I believe there are hell bound "catholics" like there are hell bound "protestants"...those that call themselves Jews but are not, if you will. But if you do call yourself Catholic, where is your faith? Is it in Christ or Mary? A living God or an inanimate statue? This will show you where your heart is. If you say you pray to anyone other than God, you have done wrong. kneel before a statue? wrong. Pray in repitition? in vain...God hears your heart, not what passes your lips. All I would ask, is you really read your bible and ask yourself if you are doing God's will or simply putting on what "looks" and "feels" holy.

Pay more attention to your own walk, my friend. Stop hating on other worship styles.

[Gauntlet]

I would never be so bold as to say if you are Catholic you are Hell bound, I believe there are hell bound "catholics" like there are hell bound "protestants"...those that call themselves Jews but are not, if you will. But if you do call yourself Catholic, where is your faith?

You probably should keep stuff like this to yourself.

[refugepsa91]

Closed. Looks as though OP doesn't want to continue the discussion.

Any questions you may pm me....