Showing posts with label Roman Catholics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roman Catholics. Show all posts
The Bill, the Church and the Blind Parrots
I never thought I'd write about the Reproductive Health Bill (RH-Bill), but I can't seem to get away from it whenever I go online and if you're work involves using the internet at least 12 hours a day then that makes it impossible to avoid.Personally I am in favor of the RH-Bill however; I am jaded with the opposing poles of the most outspoken representatives of both sides. Because they both parrot themselves as the sole arbiters of what is absolutely right in such huge issue that would take more than simple catchphrases exchanged in national television.
Benedict J. Groeschel on justification
The Franciscan friar Benedict J. Groeschel whom I’ve first encountered thru channel surfing on cable TV via his program on EWTN, is one of the many reasons why I believe (contrary to what most Evangelical Protestants) that Catholicism is a legitimate expression of the Church that Christ established in the New Testament.
I’ve found his writings insightful and have found comfort in his books especially during the first time that I really felt discouraged at my local church where I accidentally read a portion of his book Arise From Darkness that deals with instances that the church lets us down.
Salvation History
Those who studied in Roman Catholic schools are quite familiar with the term ‘salvation history’ as it is one of the emphasis in their required theology classes, which most of the time students don’t really try to understand or at the (very least) care to give a hard look at the subject since in the first place it does not make sense to them, and whether they or the teacher is to blame for that lack on interest in the subject one thing is certain – it is in the Bible.
This I think is one of the mistakes that people make into articulating theology and its terms, they make it seem that they stand alone, and are only articulated in the latter works of more popular theologians rather than as spiritual truths that are already revealed in sacred Scriptures that speaks of God’s self-revelation in the history of Israel and in that of Christ’s time and in the Apostolic Church.
why celebrate christmas?
A few days ago I stumbled upon a program of the INC, speaking of why 'christians. (pertaining to members of their sect) ought not to celebrate Christmas.
They argue that there is no mention of a command by God The Father (whom they acknowledge as the only true God, that is superior than Jesus, because to them Jesus is just a man since they don't subscribe to the orthodox Godhead that is defined in the Bible as the Trinity), and they concluded that since there is no biblical basis for such therefore it is not to be celebrated, another is that they emphasized as much as other groups that oppose Biblical Christianity that it is the Roman Catholics that invented the said celebration.
Well I have no arguments with them on the statement that its not commanded in the Bible, yes indeed the Bible does not command us to do so there are only two commandments that the Bible tells us to follow Communion and Water Baptism. But true enough there are also no commandments that tells us not to celebrate the Savior's birth and not to remember Jesus Christ. However we must understand that Philippians 2:9 records the fact that the Father exalted Jesus and given Him a name which is above every name. Let us also desire to exalt Jesus in every opportunity that we have and celebrating Christmas is one of them.
As for the allegations that Roman Catholics invented it well, I may have my reservations towards Romanists as well and based on what Church history tells us that the early Christians had celebrated it as early as 90 AD. and the organized Latin Christians (Roman Catholics) started in 313 AD so as to rival pagan feastivities. It goes to show that way before the advent of Roman Catholicism early Christians have already commemorated it.
Its also worth putting into account that those who promote the boycott of not celebrating Christmas to their members is the fact that instead of preaching love, joy and hope during the Holiday season, they preach hatred and disdain.
Lastly is that Christ is to be remembered not only during the Christmas season but the commemoration of His birth is also a time where it ought to be given emphasis on how we should re-evaluate our lives so as to understand the extent of what was given to us in Bethlehem some to 2 thousand years ago, another is that its our motives that count more as we celebrate Christmas rather than that of the rituals and above that commercial hype and the other good things that which a number of us give a high regard to during Christmas. Another is that celebrating Christmas is also an oportune time for evangelism because it arouses people who've not yet come close to Christ to ask that question of why it is important and why is the birth of Jesus a turning point in history in which the direction of history is now divided from BC to AD.
So why celebrate Christmas you ask?
I say why not?
They argue that there is no mention of a command by God The Father (whom they acknowledge as the only true God, that is superior than Jesus, because to them Jesus is just a man since they don't subscribe to the orthodox Godhead that is defined in the Bible as the Trinity), and they concluded that since there is no biblical basis for such therefore it is not to be celebrated, another is that they emphasized as much as other groups that oppose Biblical Christianity that it is the Roman Catholics that invented the said celebration.
Well I have no arguments with them on the statement that its not commanded in the Bible, yes indeed the Bible does not command us to do so there are only two commandments that the Bible tells us to follow Communion and Water Baptism. But true enough there are also no commandments that tells us not to celebrate the Savior's birth and not to remember Jesus Christ. However we must understand that Philippians 2:9 records the fact that the Father exalted Jesus and given Him a name which is above every name. Let us also desire to exalt Jesus in every opportunity that we have and celebrating Christmas is one of them.
As for the allegations that Roman Catholics invented it well, I may have my reservations towards Romanists as well and based on what Church history tells us that the early Christians had celebrated it as early as 90 AD. and the organized Latin Christians (Roman Catholics) started in 313 AD so as to rival pagan feastivities. It goes to show that way before the advent of Roman Catholicism early Christians have already commemorated it.
Its also worth putting into account that those who promote the boycott of not celebrating Christmas to their members is the fact that instead of preaching love, joy and hope during the Holiday season, they preach hatred and disdain.
Lastly is that Christ is to be remembered not only during the Christmas season but the commemoration of His birth is also a time where it ought to be given emphasis on how we should re-evaluate our lives so as to understand the extent of what was given to us in Bethlehem some to 2 thousand years ago, another is that its our motives that count more as we celebrate Christmas rather than that of the rituals and above that commercial hype and the other good things that which a number of us give a high regard to during Christmas. Another is that celebrating Christmas is also an oportune time for evangelism because it arouses people who've not yet come close to Christ to ask that question of why it is important and why is the birth of Jesus a turning point in history in which the direction of history is now divided from BC to AD.
So why celebrate Christmas you ask?
I say why not?
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