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THE UNGODLY DEVIATIONS ORIGINATING Perverse individuals often attach themselves to ritualistic teachings to bring in destructive sects. (2 Peter 2:1). But with research the origins of these unGodly beliefs may be discovered. Here are just a few of the more obvious ones: (1) In the third century A.D. Augustine wrote a manuscript based on his own confessions, which in this century is now a published work called 'Confessions'. A doctrine adopted from this work, and still prevalent today, is that of sectarian priests of the Catholic religion setting themselves up as mediators in place of The Christ in order to hear the sinful confessions of its members. After the sinner has said to the priest: 'Forgive me Father, for I have sinned', the priest then hears the sinner's confession of his/her sins and pronounces the sinner forgiven for their sins. Given that we have only One Father Almighty God, and that only His Son has been appointed by God as mediator for the forgiveness of sins, the hearing of confessions by a Catholic priest is "publicly showing himself to be a god." (2 Thess 2:4. See 1 Tim 2:5,6). (2) In many places of sectarian worship members light candles, supposedly to represent a votive arrangement and thanksgiving to God. The originator? Paschal. There is no scriptural basis for this visual demonstration. The "lampstand" consisting of seven lamps used by our Lord to symbolically describe the seven named congregations of the Revelation, was but a "shadow" of a coming reality in all Christ's congregations. (Rev 1:12,13 & 20). (3) The TRINITY, the concept of a three-in-one God as taught by Augustine, has become the central doctrine of the Catholic sect. Catholics are anti-Christs because they refuse to believe in the separate God-created existence of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-18). (4) Augustine referred a great deal to the developments of a demonic city on earth in opposition to the heavenly City of God under development. The Catholic sect has created that city on earth: Vatican City, Rome. (5) Augustine formulated extensive arguments in an attempt to substantiate his belief in resurrections of the dead back to life in the flesh on earth (with the exception of those he called saints who would be resurrected to heavenly life). The belief in an earthly resurrection is particularly prevalent among those falsely calling themselves Jehovah's Witnesses. While it did not prove a difficult thing for Almighty God to resurrect Lazarus back to a fleshly existence, this is not what God has foreordained for the rest of mankind. The resurrection of Lazarus had a special purpose. (See John 11:4). The Scriptures state that all will be resurrected, some to a resurrection of everlasting spirit life, and some to a resurrection of judgement and the reproach of eternal abhorrence. (See Subject Index: Resurrection). (Dan 12:1,2 NEB). 16/9/90. |
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