#1 from Jason on January 02, 2012

Even though I knew that Martin Luther would eventually leave the Catholic church, I was in a bit of suspense as Jeff spoke about his life.
I found myself wondering how this man was going see the wrong and stand up for the right. The more “Catholic” or religious he got, the more I wondered how he would get out of it, because he was supposed to be believing and submitting to the church he was getting deeper into.
To go against the church would be spiritual suicide, because it was above the bible right?
Well let us take rest and learn from this awesome example of how the word of God is used by the Holy Spirit to change people, no matter where they are. This means our atheist friends, and our Catholic friends can be saved.

God Bless the Gideon Ministry

Jason

#2 from Matt on May 06, 2012

So someone who shows open hatred towards others (I’m referring to Luther’s comments about how to deal with Jews) is “justified”, but someone with a sincere heart, through faith, is obeying what they believe to be living for God through Catholic sacraments and traditions (which is not the only thing that Catholics focus on, fyi)is what? Not a “Christian”? going to Hell?

Could it not be argued that, even though he devoted a large portion of his life to bringing Christianity back to the Bible and pointing out flaws in the Church at that time, that he did not truly have Christ inside of him? How could a Christ-loving, God-fearing man, contain this kind of hate in his heart?

As well, he called the pope the anti-Christ. Was this to humiliate him? Or did he now elevate himself to a position above men and start claiming things that only God could possibly know? Clearly he was wrong. 

I find it odd that Jeff seems to celebrate Luther’s mockery of the pope and the Church. It’s this kind of rivalry within the body of Christ that assists in turning non-believers off to Christianity. This not what Jesus wanted. This is not what God wants with his church. It is crippling to the spread of the gospel to have churches quarreling, fighting among each other, mocking each other and putting each other down. In my humble opinion, it is devastating to the message when one sees a pastor opening cutting down another denomination, fellow believers. 

Jason, it is interesting/disturbing that you equate Catholics to atheists. Have you ever spoken to a devoted Catholic about their faith? I say devoted because many people are technically Catholic, but do not practice as they were simply raised this way. Same would go for many protestants, except there is no formal label that they receive, so they are not technically anything. Anyway, have you ever been to a Catholic mass? spoken with a catholic priest?

Yes, there were many things that the RCC did in those “dark ages” that were far from biblical and detrimental to just about everyone at the time. Still, there seems to be some practices in this church that do not seem to be biblical, but the gospel message in the Catholic Church is biblical. They teach salvation through faith; not works, not through sacraments, as is the misconception that I have heard time and time again among other Christians who are simply uneducated. I too thought that this was true of the RCC growing up.   

I believe Catholics will be saved, in the same way that other Christians will be saved, through faith. To Claim otherwise is judgement to which no human on earth has the right to. 

I hope someone actually reads this, and thank you to whoever does. Replies and feedback are more than welcome. 

Matt

#3 from Jason on May 08, 2012

Well, none of us can truly know anybody’s heart so we cannot know for certain whether somebody is going to heaven or hell. That being said, we can trust what the bible says about the matter. I say that my dad is in heaven because he told me he was trusting in Jesus and what He did on the cross, for the forgiveness of his sins. He believed that Jesus died for him about 2000 years ago and he believed that he would go to be with Him when he died.
I could say that I don’t really know where he is right now because I don’t know his heart, and that would technically be correct. However, I have no reason to doubt his Faith and I wouldn’t want to either.
So we agree that we don’t know where Martin Luther is for sure.

As far as Catholicism goes, my mom is from a 10 member Catholic family and went to a Catholic school growing up. When I go to a Catholic wedding, she still remembers “what to say and when to say it” if you know what I mean. My wife was Catholic and is from a 10 person Catholic family herself. I have a friend who was Catholic and is now born again and I know people who are still in the Catholic church. I do know enough from all of them to understand what their faith is in.
I can’t speak for all Catholics but the ones that I do know, believe that they need to pay for their own sins. One of them told me that my dad has cancer because not all of his sins are forgiven and he needs to work it out himself. They all pray the rosary to be forgiven of their sins on an ongoing basis, and they make sure to say the same prayers at dinner because that’s what you are supposed to do in order to recieve the blessing.
They are trusting in Jesus, AND their rosary prayers. Jesus, AND their baptism. Jesus, AND the eucharist.
Maybe there are a lot of Catholics who will be saved, but will they be the textbook Catholics like I just described? Give em the gospel brother, that’s all I can say.

Did you know that Muslims say that they belive in the same God as the Christians? The God of Ishmael. Same God as the God of Isaac? A topic for a different day but can we say with certainty that they will go to hell? What about Hindu’s or Buddhists? We may not know their heart but we know the word of God. It is not the amount of faith you have, but what your faith is in that matters. I believe that the weakest Christian will go to heaven and the most devout Buddhist will go to hell.

I have learned of David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam” serial killer and how he has been born again after reading a Gideon bible in prison. He now speaks of the forgiveness he found in Jesus to many. He was sick, but now he is free. Praise God for saving him and setting an example to show that anybody can be saved if they have faith. Even Martin Luther?