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A REPLY TO A PADRE PIO DEVOTEE
I received (5th May, 2009) the following email concerning our YouTube video on Padre Pio which may be viewed here. I would normally answer such emails on another page, but this one is rather long and therefore judged to need a page on its own. The writer's name has been withheld to protect their anonymity. The original email appears in black - my comments, as ever, in red. **** |
Dear Preacher Colin Maxwell,
I hope you are well and prepared for receiving the Truth. Jesus has placed on my heart a desire to write you a note. I hope you will read it with the compassion I am writing it.
Dear SC, I appreciate you taking the time both to watch the YouTube presentation and also for writing.
I am sure that others more educated than I and for no doubts more holy than I have written to you...alas but since you have disabled the
comments on your one sided and opinionated you tube video on Padre Pio I feel that I should send you a brief note of your particular untruth
regarding scripture.
First
of all, I disable the comments solely to prevent people leaving abusive
comments and so abusing their privilege. However, as this communication
proves, I have room for email contact. There are other sites on YouTube
extolling Padre Pio so anyone looking for both sides have the liberty
to consult them.
Secondly, my comments are no more nor less one sided or opinionated than those which you have sent me. I have calmly and coolly brought the claims of Padre Pio and the system that produced him to the light of Scripture and recorded some of my findings. It is somewhat of a put down (and at odds with the compassion that you claim to be writing in) to relegate my comments in the way that you do.
so your own thesis is completely inaccurate though I certainly understand how you or any holy person can infer that except that it is not complete -- cafeteria Christianity if to pick out a verse that goes with what you want to hear and it's just not the way Christ planned it. He planned a feast not a cafeteria. Can you imagine the difference?
I deny the charges that you are bringing. I might, indeed, make my own charges. Why should I believe the extra bits that the Roman Catholic Church have decided to throw (to use your own imagery here) unto the plate and then reject the extra portions which the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses have also decided need to be added to the sufficiency of Scripture? It is not a matter of picking out what parts we want to hear (or swallow) but avoiding the parts that are of no use or even poisonous.
I hope you are well and prepared for receiving the Truth. Jesus has placed on my heart a desire to write you a note. I hope you will read it with the compassion I am writing it.
Dear SC, I appreciate you taking the time both to watch the YouTube presentation and also for writing.
I am sure that others more educated than I and for no doubts more holy than I have written to you...alas but since you have disabled the
comments on your one sided and opinionated you tube video on Padre Pio I feel that I should send you a brief note of your particular untruth
regarding scripture.
Secondly, my comments are no more nor less one sided or opinionated than those which you have sent me. I have calmly and coolly brought the claims of Padre Pio and the system that produced him to the light of Scripture and recorded some of my findings. It is somewhat of a put down (and at odds with the compassion that you claim to be writing in) to relegate my comments in the way that you do.
Thirdly,
I deny that my views on Scripture constitute an untruth. They may not
conform to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, but as long as
they conform to the word of God Himself, then any doubt cast upon their
veracity is but a doubt cast upon God.
by the one standard that you use the Holy Written Word
Where in the Holy Word does it say use only the Holy Word? It is not there.
This part of your letter (cut and pasted from your email without any interference) is somewhat incoherent. If I am reading it correctly, then you are asking me to use my own principle of "Sola Scriptura" (Scripture Alone) to substantiate that the Bible says that we should only use the Holy Word. I have pursued this argument here in great depth and need not therefore repeat the arguments on this page. Another useful observation is to be found here. by the one standard that you use the Holy Written Word
Where in the Holy Word does it say use only the Holy Word? It is not there.
so your own thesis is completely inaccurate though I certainly understand how you or any holy person can infer that except that it is not complete -- cafeteria Christianity if to pick out a verse that goes with what you want to hear and it's just not the way Christ planned it. He planned a feast not a cafeteria. Can you imagine the difference?
I deny the charges that you are bringing. I might, indeed, make my own charges. Why should I believe the extra bits that the Roman Catholic Church have decided to throw (to use your own imagery here) unto the plate and then reject the extra portions which the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses have also decided need to be added to the sufficiency of Scripture? It is not a matter of picking out what parts we want to hear (or swallow) but avoiding the parts that are of no use or even poisonous.
the
feast of Pentecost is coming up; the birth of His Church and the Word
reads I will send the Healer and comforter (I am sure that
you can find this in the scripture) And He will be with you.
Again, a somewhat incoherent sentence here. Not sure what you are getting at. The verse you are looking (at least as far as the Comforter is concerned) is John 14:16 where Jesus said: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;" I think your inability to even look it up and quote it shows a somewhat loose attachment to Scripture.
And on the day of Pentecost thousands were converted by the Apostle Peter who is the one that Christ gave the keys to...and Peter
is a thread in the fabric of love woven by Christ. It is not much good as a lonely thread.
I agree in your words as they stand, but you do not state what argument that you are building on them. I assume that you are using these words to elevate Peter to the position of Pope. The keys that Peter had are found in the gospel which he preached. These keys are now effectively in the hands of every gospel preacher who opens the Book and preaches Christ. IOW: Christ painted a word picture for us here. The same imagery is used in Luke 11:52 where Christ denounced the lawyers who had hidden the word of God from the people. I quote: "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."
And in James it says not be faith alone ---
You are swerving all over the place here, jumping from one subject to the other. I agree that James says that "it" is not by faith alone. However, since you do not state what "it" is (although I am pretty sure that I know) then your sentence is again without an argument. For the record, Paul speaks about justification before God and is therefore by faith alone without works. OTOH: James is speaking about being justified before men and this can only be proved by works.
which Martin Luther ( A Catholic priest who broke his vows and got a Catholic nun to break her vows of chastity due to his desire to get
laid and for his own sexual gratification) tried to have removed from being included in the scripture to catalyst his own program states plainly
We jump again to yet another subject. Once Luther became convinced of the unscriptural nature of the Roman Catholic priesthood, then he was no longer under any obligation to keep any vows that he had made concerning it. Likewise for Catherine Von Bora re: the requirements of monastic virgin hood. Since the Bible says that marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4) it is pity that you should put try and stain what God has honoured by putting a sensual spin upon it. And to do this (as per your opening lines) under the cloak of compassion makes it 10 times worse.
And also in James it says the prayers of a righteous man will be answered so if you believe in the Holy Word as the living Christ as I do, and I am in the least category of the body of Christ --then I challenge you to pray for a sign--and to be open for the answer when the Holy Spirit places it plainly in front of your eyes that will not see. I could go on more but until God moves your heart it is useless.
I do not require a sign in that I have a sufficient guide in the Holy Scripture. It would be tempting God if I were to ask Him for a sign. Signs (as you call them) can be so misleading. What if I ask for a sign and then report that I got one telling me to stay put where I was? Where does that leave you?
Jesus was a Jew. We are followers of His Way...as per the Acts of the Apostles. He was not a human of disorder nor a God of disorder. He would not leave a plethora of bosses; he left the keys with Peter and it even says so in scripture and after Peter each person who took this position was martyred for 300 years or so and they were happy and honored to have it done to them.
These comments assume two things, both of which may be safely challenged.
One: It is implied (though not stated) that Rome is perfectly organised while Protestantism has no order at all. This is not the case. The Roman Catholic Church is split a thousand ways with liberals and conservatives etc., within her fold.
Secondly, you are assuming that the Roman Catholic Church is the same church as that of the NT. This is not the case. She has so corrupted over the many centuries that if Peter himself returned, he would not recognise her (in both senses of the word).
And also in scripture it says the Word is not to be individually interpreted but to follow what I and the Holy Ones have taught and to hold fast to the traditions that I have taught you. yeah I send you this letter and will tell you even more when I get there...I believe that is Paul.
The words that you seek are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:15. We contend that these traditions are found written in the pages of Holy Scripture. Rome herself often makes vague references to these traditions, but has never defined what she means by them in any meaningful or practical way. This means that folk are unable to check them out and see if what they are being told is indeed true. OTOH: Those who go by the Bible alone have ready access to the Scriptures and the many teaching aids that accompany them.
and He said He will bring up the weeds and wheat together so even if you have a problem then it should be brought to Him, and it should be done as is in the Acts of the apostles where they had a synod in Jerusalem through the One Body and that is the church; not as martin Luther did which was to dishonor discussion and obedience. --Not many of you should be teachers because you will be held accountable--- And I believe the church Christ left can follow its history back to Christ and after His Resurrection to the Upper Room Pentecost through the Catholic church.
If you read Acts 15, then you will discover that they subjected their conclusions to the authority of Scripture. If Rome had only done likewise, then a whole plethora of beliefs would have been cast aside as unscriptural.
If you follow your beliefs back to a heretic, whoring, whining, selfish, promise breaker (Martin Luther) who left that lineage what does that make your thoughts.
I find your language here to be totally offensive and I feel totally justified in disabling the comments section of the YouTube presentation.
First of all, I trace my beliefs back to the pages of Scripture itself. Luther only but articulates my own thoughts on the Scripture.
Secondly, should it turn out (as I believe it does) that Luther's marriage is indeed honourable and the bed undefiled (as in Hebrews 13:4) then where does that leave your cursing of what God has blessed? In the use of one little word, you manage to blacked the characters and motives of two people whose only supposed crime is to have left the Roman Catholic Church. Again, if this is an example of your compassion, then I am quite happy to forgo it.
Thirdly, I think that you (assuming that you are a Roman Catholic) but pull the mask away from the position that your church has donned since Vatican II. The old hatreds are still there beneath the weasel words of Vatican II and other pronouncements.
Jesus needs men like you -- and Paul --- who also had the wound in his side that he wanted no credit for -- to be strong and lead the weak back to the old path. I hope when Christ knocks you off your horse and gives you a St. Paul experience that you will remember He is calling you.
I find your argument here somewhat confusing. First of all, Jesus needs me but it seems that I need Him! This is totally incoherent.
Islam is stomping down the paths and can't wait to get to the baby Christians who do not know what to do. Homosexuals and devil worshipers are crying out to destroy Christ Church and disciples. He needs you to love Him and do what He has asked you to do. Preach the Truth. Get out of your selfish lie. Love Jesus. Love God. Love His Mom, Mary! Not because you are so good but because God loves you first.. He sent His Son to die for you. The only worship Catholics have is the Sacred Mass. The breaking of the bread. Eucharistic celebration.And Jesus instituted this on Holy Thursday; consummated is on Holy Friday and enjoyed it with the followers after the Resurrection; it is ongoing, eternal, forever. This is based on the fact that it was a Jewish promise and recorded in scripture as Jews understood it. You do realize that all the first church; Jesus, His Mom, all the Apostles were Jewish? Anything else beside the mass is prayers and communication. Worship is the act of partaking in the same Eucharistic sacrifice, not a new one but the same one. You probably won't understand this because you do not understand the promise of the Jewish Messiah or the Jewish required annual Passover meal.
I refute the error and blasphemy of the mass here.
We pray to Mary and Joseph and all the angels and saints because they are with God. He said so...today you will be with me and if he would take a sinner crucified with him to paradise what more would He do for His own momma...and it is a commandment to Honor your Father and Mother...and you might look that commandment up again and read the whole thing. It is an interesting read.
I note with particular interest your wording (none of which on this page I have changed) You state that you pray TO Mary etc., In the light of this page and this YouTube presentation, this is a very interesting admission to make. Mary is nowhere called "The Mother of the Church" nor given similar titles in the Bible. There is no example of anyone praying to her, nor any precepts to do so. It is just the old pagan idea of praying to goddess's wrapped in so called Christian garb.
May the Peace of Christ be with you Colin and when you realize the Truth know that Jesus will Hold you up because you will collapse when you realize how ugly and consuming the sin of disobedience and running His church in your own way is....this is what happened to me. Jesus is real. He loves you. He even loves me. And whatever you do if you do it without love then its just a loud old gong so please forgive me if I do not speak clear enough but I pray that Jesus will open your heart to His thoughts and if He chooses to use my wordy note for good then to do so. In Christ, SC
David prayed, Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trustâ� (Psalm 16:1). The Hebrew word that David uses for preserve in this verse is packed with meaning. It says, in essence, Put a hedge around me, a wall of protective thorns. Guard me and keep me. Observe my every move, all my comings and goings.
I deny your charges against me.
Thank you for wishing God's peace to be with me.
I agree that Jesus is real and loves us both.
Thank you for writing, although you have said nothing that causes me to change my faith in Christ alone as my Saviour. Colin.
OTHER PAGES ON THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY
THE WAY OF SALVATION SIMPLY STATED
THE END:
you can find this in the scripture) And He will be with you.
Again, a somewhat incoherent sentence here. Not sure what you are getting at. The verse you are looking (at least as far as the Comforter is concerned) is John 14:16 where Jesus said: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;" I think your inability to even look it up and quote it shows a somewhat loose attachment to Scripture.
And on the day of Pentecost thousands were converted by the Apostle Peter who is the one that Christ gave the keys to...and Peter
is a thread in the fabric of love woven by Christ. It is not much good as a lonely thread.
I agree in your words as they stand, but you do not state what argument that you are building on them. I assume that you are using these words to elevate Peter to the position of Pope. The keys that Peter had are found in the gospel which he preached. These keys are now effectively in the hands of every gospel preacher who opens the Book and preaches Christ. IOW: Christ painted a word picture for us here. The same imagery is used in Luke 11:52 where Christ denounced the lawyers who had hidden the word of God from the people. I quote: "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."
And in James it says not be faith alone ---
You are swerving all over the place here, jumping from one subject to the other. I agree that James says that "it" is not by faith alone. However, since you do not state what "it" is (although I am pretty sure that I know) then your sentence is again without an argument. For the record, Paul speaks about justification before God and is therefore by faith alone without works. OTOH: James is speaking about being justified before men and this can only be proved by works.
which Martin Luther ( A Catholic priest who broke his vows and got a Catholic nun to break her vows of chastity due to his desire to get
laid and for his own sexual gratification) tried to have removed from being included in the scripture to catalyst his own program states plainly
We jump again to yet another subject. Once Luther became convinced of the unscriptural nature of the Roman Catholic priesthood, then he was no longer under any obligation to keep any vows that he had made concerning it. Likewise for Catherine Von Bora re: the requirements of monastic virgin hood. Since the Bible says that marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4) it is pity that you should put try and stain what God has honoured by putting a sensual spin upon it. And to do this (as per your opening lines) under the cloak of compassion makes it 10 times worse.
And also in James it says the prayers of a righteous man will be answered so if you believe in the Holy Word as the living Christ as I do, and I am in the least category of the body of Christ --then I challenge you to pray for a sign--and to be open for the answer when the Holy Spirit places it plainly in front of your eyes that will not see. I could go on more but until God moves your heart it is useless.
I do not require a sign in that I have a sufficient guide in the Holy Scripture. It would be tempting God if I were to ask Him for a sign. Signs (as you call them) can be so misleading. What if I ask for a sign and then report that I got one telling me to stay put where I was? Where does that leave you?
Jesus was a Jew. We are followers of His Way...as per the Acts of the Apostles. He was not a human of disorder nor a God of disorder. He would not leave a plethora of bosses; he left the keys with Peter and it even says so in scripture and after Peter each person who took this position was martyred for 300 years or so and they were happy and honored to have it done to them.
These comments assume two things, both of which may be safely challenged.
One: It is implied (though not stated) that Rome is perfectly organised while Protestantism has no order at all. This is not the case. The Roman Catholic Church is split a thousand ways with liberals and conservatives etc., within her fold.
Secondly, you are assuming that the Roman Catholic Church is the same church as that of the NT. This is not the case. She has so corrupted over the many centuries that if Peter himself returned, he would not recognise her (in both senses of the word).
And also in scripture it says the Word is not to be individually interpreted but to follow what I and the Holy Ones have taught and to hold fast to the traditions that I have taught you. yeah I send you this letter and will tell you even more when I get there...I believe that is Paul.
The words that you seek are found in 2 Thessalonians 2:15. We contend that these traditions are found written in the pages of Holy Scripture. Rome herself often makes vague references to these traditions, but has never defined what she means by them in any meaningful or practical way. This means that folk are unable to check them out and see if what they are being told is indeed true. OTOH: Those who go by the Bible alone have ready access to the Scriptures and the many teaching aids that accompany them.
and He said He will bring up the weeds and wheat together so even if you have a problem then it should be brought to Him, and it should be done as is in the Acts of the apostles where they had a synod in Jerusalem through the One Body and that is the church; not as martin Luther did which was to dishonor discussion and obedience. --Not many of you should be teachers because you will be held accountable--- And I believe the church Christ left can follow its history back to Christ and after His Resurrection to the Upper Room Pentecost through the Catholic church.
If you read Acts 15, then you will discover that they subjected their conclusions to the authority of Scripture. If Rome had only done likewise, then a whole plethora of beliefs would have been cast aside as unscriptural.
If you follow your beliefs back to a heretic, whoring, whining, selfish, promise breaker (Martin Luther) who left that lineage what does that make your thoughts.
I find your language here to be totally offensive and I feel totally justified in disabling the comments section of the YouTube presentation.
First of all, I trace my beliefs back to the pages of Scripture itself. Luther only but articulates my own thoughts on the Scripture.
Secondly, should it turn out (as I believe it does) that Luther's marriage is indeed honourable and the bed undefiled (as in Hebrews 13:4) then where does that leave your cursing of what God has blessed? In the use of one little word, you manage to blacked the characters and motives of two people whose only supposed crime is to have left the Roman Catholic Church. Again, if this is an example of your compassion, then I am quite happy to forgo it.
Thirdly, I think that you (assuming that you are a Roman Catholic) but pull the mask away from the position that your church has donned since Vatican II. The old hatreds are still there beneath the weasel words of Vatican II and other pronouncements.
Jesus needs men like you -- and Paul --- who also had the wound in his side that he wanted no credit for -- to be strong and lead the weak back to the old path. I hope when Christ knocks you off your horse and gives you a St. Paul experience that you will remember He is calling you.
I find your argument here somewhat confusing. First of all, Jesus needs me but it seems that I need Him! This is totally incoherent.
Islam is stomping down the paths and can't wait to get to the baby Christians who do not know what to do. Homosexuals and devil worshipers are crying out to destroy Christ Church and disciples. He needs you to love Him and do what He has asked you to do. Preach the Truth. Get out of your selfish lie. Love Jesus. Love God. Love His Mom, Mary! Not because you are so good but because God loves you first.. He sent His Son to die for you. The only worship Catholics have is the Sacred Mass. The breaking of the bread. Eucharistic celebration.And Jesus instituted this on Holy Thursday; consummated is on Holy Friday and enjoyed it with the followers after the Resurrection; it is ongoing, eternal, forever. This is based on the fact that it was a Jewish promise and recorded in scripture as Jews understood it. You do realize that all the first church; Jesus, His Mom, all the Apostles were Jewish? Anything else beside the mass is prayers and communication. Worship is the act of partaking in the same Eucharistic sacrifice, not a new one but the same one. You probably won't understand this because you do not understand the promise of the Jewish Messiah or the Jewish required annual Passover meal.
I refute the error and blasphemy of the mass here.
We pray to Mary and Joseph and all the angels and saints because they are with God. He said so...today you will be with me and if he would take a sinner crucified with him to paradise what more would He do for His own momma...and it is a commandment to Honor your Father and Mother...and you might look that commandment up again and read the whole thing. It is an interesting read.
I note with particular interest your wording (none of which on this page I have changed) You state that you pray TO Mary etc., In the light of this page and this YouTube presentation, this is a very interesting admission to make. Mary is nowhere called "The Mother of the Church" nor given similar titles in the Bible. There is no example of anyone praying to her, nor any precepts to do so. It is just the old pagan idea of praying to goddess's wrapped in so called Christian garb.
May the Peace of Christ be with you Colin and when you realize the Truth know that Jesus will Hold you up because you will collapse when you realize how ugly and consuming the sin of disobedience and running His church in your own way is....this is what happened to me. Jesus is real. He loves you. He even loves me. And whatever you do if you do it without love then its just a loud old gong so please forgive me if I do not speak clear enough but I pray that Jesus will open your heart to His thoughts and if He chooses to use my wordy note for good then to do so. In Christ, SC
David prayed, Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trustâ� (Psalm 16:1). The Hebrew word that David uses for preserve in this verse is packed with meaning. It says, in essence, Put a hedge around me, a wall of protective thorns. Guard me and keep me. Observe my every move, all my comings and goings.
I deny your charges against me.
Thank you for wishing God's peace to be with me.
I agree that Jesus is real and loves us both.
Thank you for writing, although you have said nothing that causes me to change my faith in Christ alone as my Saviour. Colin.
OTHER PAGES ON THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY
THE WAY OF SALVATION SIMPLY STATED
THE END: