catholics what do u think?

Question

1 Timothy 4
1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

catholics, in view of nt eating meat on fri and not allowing priests and nuns to get married, what do u think abt this verse?

Answer 1

traditions are of no value to GOD or the Saint. Jesus is alive.

Answer 2

This verse is not speaking of customs of the Catholic Church.

The verse talks about forbidding ANY members from marrying. Inthe Catholic Church, Matrimony is a HOLY SACRAMENT - a sign of God's love for us that gives grace to those who receive the sacrament. In most non-Catholic faiths, marriage is not considered a sacrament and is just a civil ceremony officiated by a minister.

The Catholic Church does not forbid eating meat on Fridays because it is something bad or evil, but as a self-sacrifice. Fasting and self-sacrifice are very commonly found in Scripture. The Catholic Church does not reject meat, but recognize it as a gift from God.

Answer 3

Though I'm not Catholic now (I'm a Spiritual Agnostic), I was raised Catholic, and my thought on this was as follows:

If we are considering the Lenten tradition of not eating meat on Friday and not allowing Priests/Nuns to marry to be signs of the "later times", then we've been in those later times for over a millennium now. Clearly, nothing bad has visibly happened, or else the Catholic religion would be no more.

Answer 4

I do not understand the verse. Perhaps I didn't read it carefully. Everyone seems to have their own interpretation of what the Bible means. I don't know what it means. Yes Catholics can not eat meat on Fridays and the clergy cannot be married, but that is apart of Tradition. I may not understand the significance, but that is how it is done in my faith. That is how it has been done for years. Finally, I don't see how it harms anyone abiding by these rules.

Answer 5

I think it's absolutely true, but it doesn't speak of the Catholic Church at all.

Each mention targets a specific group, none of which were or are Catholic.

As for those who abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits ... it could only be speaking about the 31,000 different protestant denominations, who all claim to believe the Bible alone, but have yet to agree on most of it, each following its' own false traditions.

Answer 6

The Roman Catholic system is NOT of God. He says in Revelation, to "come out of her my people".

One of the problems with the system is all its traditions, but even more so, the whole root of it is corrupt.

Most, if not all, of the congregation, are very unaware of how it was founded, and what goes on at the top.

It is NOT of God. He calls the people to come to Him in spirit and in truth.

Answer 7

Try putting your energy into loving God's people,not tearing people down. It's called RESPECT.

Answer 8

The practices of a celibate clergy and group fasting and prayer are based on biblical teaching and practices.

+ Fasting and Prayer +

The Catholic Church and many other Christians Churches follow the Biblical practice of Jesus Christ and the Jews in setting aside days where the entire Church fasts and prays as one in a attitude of constant renewal.

By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and in spiritual preparation for the celebration of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

This season of penance is an intense moments of the Church's penitential practice and are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and charitable and missionary works.

+ Celibacy +

Priests, religious brothers and religious sisters (nuns) as part of their vocation choose not to marry following:
+ The practice recommended in the Bible
+ The example of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul.

+++ Scripture +++

+ In Matthew 19:12, Jesus says, "Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."

Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church's practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.

+ In Matthew 19:29, Jesus says, "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life."

Whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.

+ Matthew 22:30 - Jesus explains, "At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven."

In heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus' kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul writes, "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman."

This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

+ Then in 1 Corinthians 7:7, Paul says, "Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am."

Paul acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:27, Paul writes, "Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife."

Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full time ministers in the Church.

+ In 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, Paul teaches, "I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife." And in verse 38, "So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better."

Paul recommends celibacy for full time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

See also
1 Timothy 5:9-12
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Revevation 14:4
Isaiah 56:3-7
Jeremiah 16:1-4

+++ Scriptural Examples +++

Biblical role models of a celibate clergy came from John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.

John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.

WWJD? What would Jesus do? Jesus did not marry.

The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).

The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.

A priest is "married" to the Church. Some people think that a priest who takes his duties seriously cannot take proper care of a wife and family. "A man cannot serve two masters."

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 9

It is one of the reasons I left the Catholic faith. They LIE to everyone.

Answer 10

Where does your authority to interpret Scripture come from? Jesus Christ said only one Church has the authority to interpret divine revelation infallibly.

Christ promised to guide and protect his Church, which will last till the end of the age.

"And so I tell you. Peter; you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." - Matthew 16,18-20

"And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28,20

The Catholic Church is the Church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of truth.

But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. - 1 Timothy 3, 15

Infallible authority from God to teach with certitude:

All of this wrangling of how to interpret Scripture gets one nowhere if there is no way to know with infallible certitude that one's interpretation is the right one. The teaching authority of the Catholic Church comes directly from Christ and is, therefore, infallible.

"And so I tell all of you; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven". - Matthew 18,18

Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." - Luke 10,16

Christ sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect the Church:

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, who will stay with you forever". - John 14,16

"I have told you this while I am still with you, The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you". - John 14, 25

"When, however, the Spirit comes who reveals the truth about God, he will LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH." - John 16,13

Holy Tradition and Continuity

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

"It was he who gave gifts to people; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ". - Ephesians 4,11-12

"Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith". - Hebrews 13,7

The early Church preserved this Holy Tradition

"When, therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek among others the truth which is easily obtained from the Church. For the apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her most copiously everything, which pertains to the truth; and everyone whosoever, wishes draws from her the drink of life. For she is the entrance of life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers. That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with utmost diligence the things pertaining to the Church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth. What then? If there should be a dispute over some kind of question, ought we not have recourse to the most ancient churches in which the apostles were familiar, and draw from them what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the apostles had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted the Churches? (Against Heresies 3.4.1 [ca. A.D. 180])

The true Spirit and the False Spirit

"Those false prophets speak about matters of the world, and the world listens to them because they belong to the world. But we belong to God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error". - 1 John 4,5-6
May the Lord's peace be with you!