Catholicism III
Concerning Priests
Catholicism teaches that the priest is a mediator between God and man. (See Pg. 365, #1456).
“One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.” Pg. 374, #1493
“Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance:” Pg. 365, #1456
“It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. Pg. 357, #1424 (See also Pg. 374, #1493).
“Only priests who have received the faculty of absolving from the authority of the Church can forgive sins in the name of Christ.” Pg. 374, #1495 (See also Pg. 364 #1448)
Confessing sins to a priest is wrong:
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Tim. 2:5
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
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Matthew 23:9
Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? Mark 2:7
Catholicism teaches:
“All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate ‘for the sake of the kingdom of heaven’ … Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.” Pg. 395, #1579
Priests may and should marry:
And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. Matthew 8:14
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
Ps 78:64
And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:45
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Exodus 2:16
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Tim. 4:1-3 (KJV)
(See I Corinthians 7)
Qualifications of a Priest, Bishop, or Pastor:
1 Tim. 3:1-7
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; [5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)…..”
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Isaiah 28:7
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1
If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. Micah 2:11
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: Leviticus 10:9
But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. Amos 2:12
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (also read Genesis 9:20-24; 19:32-33)
Bowing to the Pope, or any man is wrong….
Jesus’ example:
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; [9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:8-10
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. [26] But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man Acts 10:25-26.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
938 7th St., Wasco,CA. 93280, 661-758-5906
Spanish Department, 944 7th Street
Schedule of services:
Sunday…..10am, 11am, & 6pm, Wednesday………7pm