Dear Readers, It seems we have a lot of visitors on the board. Some people appear to be interested in why some of us have chosen to be Baptists. From what has been said, it appears some don't see distinctions between the denominations. After much experience in researching, I find MANY differences between the denominations. I think today it is tolerance for non-Biblical / worldly views that has blurred the lines. In my case, I was born into a family that was Catholic. Here are the reasons why I am a Baptist (and not a Catholic anymore.) BTW, In the past, I posted a message about salvation on several Boards, which is plain and simple, from the Bible, the way to get to Heaven, and eternal life. It is summed up here: Gini reveals a SECRET!!! Many people in the church world today would confuse this message with church traditions, ordinances, sacraments, adding to or taking away from the Bible, among many new ideas, but that is not necessary. It is then with eternity in mind that I write this letter. I was formerly in a mainline denomination, with which I do not agree. I find it hard to meet people who really understand a purely Biblical view of salvation in that particular church, the Roman Catholic church, in comparison with the simple and pure Gospel taught in the Baptist church.. I have also found that to be true in many Protestant churches (God led me to do much research on denominations before I married John, and I PTL for that info, for it has made my ministry a much more effective outreach to the lost. It helps to understand where there is a deviation from the Bible!). In other religions and Christian denominations I find that things are becoming blurred with a new tolerance for any viewpoint, and there is no longer any plumb line (Amos 7). It seems everyone can use the name of Jesus, but it does not mean you worship the Jesus of the Bible. Often there is a new age Jesus, or a good teacher, or some other perversion of the Bible. Let me say clearly, I am not opposed to denominations, but to denominationalism and the new evangelicalism/ecumenism. When the desires, rules, goals, etc., of the denomination or group supercedes that of Almighty God and His Word, then I find that to be a problem. Purity can be found in the Baptist church. This is why we are Independent Baptists and not part of a group of some sort. I also find that there are those with goals to overrule the Bible based on selfishness, humanism and worldliness. Their doctrines are no better than the rest. For a long time, I was not sure of the age at which I was saved. I didn't serve the Lord immediately, and someone convinced me when I was spiritually immature that my childhood conversion did not count. Today I realize that it did, as I look back and see the conviction that was in my heart through so many events in my life. At 7 years old some unsaved neighbors took me to Sunday school and the Lord saved me. (I became born again) He called me out of the RCC church, but I did not walk the walk, as I had no discipleship, just Catholic dogma around me. I had no more than the conviction of the Holy Spirit.. I began my search for the truth of His Word, which led me to try many churches as I grew into my teens, and eventually became a Baptist. It was God who put on my heart to follow Him and not men. That is why I am an Independent Funadamental Baptist, which seems to follow the Bible in its purest form, following a proper hermeneutical method of rightly dividing the Word called Dispensationalism. I learned to embrace just God, and not traditions of men. His desire was that I have a relationship with Him, a personal one. Don't get me wrong, I do like churches, and God encouraged me to seek one that was Biblical, but the emphasis is to be on God, not an institution. There are some good churches that teach truth. I learned a lot in the last 13+ years in the various Baptist, Bible and non-denominational Churches where I lived, or from their radio & tape ministries. I believe what the Bible teaches about God being the head, not a man in a church hierarchy or denomination. Anyway, I still have many Catholic family and friends. I pray that one day they will all come to know the truth about Salvation in Jesus, that is made plain in the Bible, as I posted previously. So many of my personal experiences were ones where no Biblical truth was taught, and I pray to bring light to those still in that darkness. Because of this, and the love I have for those people, and the desire I have for them to come to know the truth, and be saved, I have written this so that some (no matter what church they attend) may see the things that I have come to know through the leading of the Spirit. We all are free to make the choice God leads us in, but for me, I do not see how anyone who is truly saved and born again, can stay in a church that endorses such doctrines, especially when they are not found in the Bible. I would say that about any group, not just the Catholics, for any group that relies on things other than being saved by grace, through faith, in Christ alone, is deceived. My heart truly breaks for those who do not ever hear the truth preached in their churches, and I encourage anyone who wants help to boldly ask for it! Please share this info with others as God leads you. All Bible quotations are from the KJV. Ephesians 2:8-9 spells it out clearly. 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. Note that our good works do not get us into Heaven, we do not need to have a works righteousness. Works do not get us in, we do them after we are saved out of love for the God who saved us! Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. This one above, for me sums it up. Justified by faith, not works. We can't earn our way to Heaven. No penances, sacraments, no good works, no traditions, nothing added to Jesus! We are saved by Christ alone! Nothing added! John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Isaih 8:20 To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. If we deny what the Bible teaches, then we are not truly saved. If we add, then we preach another Gospel. 2 Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 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.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. We need to keep to the truth. Please read the following and see if you can justify it, I know I can't. My heart breaks for those caught up in tradition, without truth. I pray that just one heart would receive this and be saved. I just want to share truth, and see someone not spend an eternity in the lake of fire. At the time of the Reformation in the 16th century, many doctrines of the Catholic Church were repudiated as having no part in the Religion of Jesus as taught in the New Testament. There is a need for a fresh reformation today, we need to set the doctrinal record straight once again. That's my point. The following things are not in the Bible, and have been added as part of some special "works" by which people attain salvation, or traditions which must be adhered to in order to be a "good Roman Catholic". I think these things keep people in bondage. We are given liberty in the Spirit, and not a new yoke of bondage. 1. Of all the human traditions taught and practiced by the Roman Catholic church, which are contrary to the Bible, the most ancient are the prayers for the dead and the sign of the Cross. Both began 310 years after Christ. (310AD) 2. Veneration of angels and dead saints about 375. 3. Daily mass, adopted in 394, as in the Babylonian cultic religion. 4. The worship of Mary, and the use of the term, Mother of God, as applied to her, originated in the council of Ephesus in 431. 5. The doctrine of Purgatory was not established until 593, by Gregory the Great. (Who also a few years later imposed Latin as the language used in church. Not a language that most could understand. Who do you know that speaks Latin?) 1 Co 14:9 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 6. The Bible teaches we pray to God, no one else. In the early church, prayers were never directed to Mary or other dead saints. Prayers to Mary began in 600. 7. It was a pagan custom to kiss the emperor's feet. Kissing the Pope's feet began in 709. Acts 10:25 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. Peter was NOT Pope, and he did not let people kiss his feet! There is no historical evidence for him ever having been in Rome! Nor Biblical evidence! 8. Worship of the cross, of images, relics, idols, was first authorized in 788. Done by order of Dowager Empress Irene of Constantinople. This is idolatry in the Bible, and is condemned. Ex 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Dt 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 9. Holy Water, with a pinch of salt added, blessed by a priest began in 850. 10. Mass was developed gradually as a sacrifice, and attendance was made mandatory in the 11th century. Jesus' death was a one time sacrifice for our sins. Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 11. Celibacy for priests was decreed by Pope Hildebrand Boniface VII in 1079. Nowhere in the Bible does it ask a preacher to do this. 12. The Rosary, or prayer beads, was introduced by Peter the Hermit, in 1090, and copied from Hindus and Mohammedans. Counting or prayers is a pagan practice and is condemned by Jesus. Mt 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 13. The selling of Indulgences, commonly called the buying of forgveness and a permit to indulge in more sin began in 1190. Christianity, as taught in the Bible, condemns such a traffic. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ......and this does not tell us to confess to the preacher or priest. This brought on the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. (Martin Luther) 14. The dogma of transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III in 1215. In this doctrine, the priest pretends to perform a daily miracle, by changing a wafer into the body of Christ, and then pretends to eat Him alive, in the presence of his people during the mass. The Bible condemns such absurd things, for the Lord's Supper is simply a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ. The spiritual presence of Christ is implied in the Lord's Supper. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 15. Pope Innocent III also, in 1215, instituted confession to the priest. The Bible condemns such, as we are only to confess our sins to God. 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I might add here that penance is also not mentioned in the Bible. 16. The Bible forbidden to layman and placed in the index of forbidden books by the Council of Valencia in 1229. Jesus commands that scripture should be read by all. 2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 16. The scapular was invented by Simon Stock, an English Monk in the year 1287. A piece of brown cloth, with a picture of Mary, supposed to contain supermatural virtue to protect from all dangers those who wear it on naked skin. This is fetishism.