PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 25) 1. These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: 2. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4. Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. 5. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. 6. Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; 7. For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 8. Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? 9. Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 10. Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined. 11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 12. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. 13. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14. Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. 15. By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. 16. Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. 17. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. 18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. 20. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22. For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you. 23. The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. 24. It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 25. As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. 26. A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. 27. It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. 28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE The Gospel From Calvary TUESDAY 7TH JULY, 2026 THE CROSS BEFORE THE CROWN ✝️📖👑 📜```TEXT: MATTHEW 16:21-27```📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (MATTHEW 16:24). Jesus had just been confessed as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Immediately after, He began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again. Peter rebuked Him: “This shall not be unto thee.” But Jesus saw Satan in that suggestion. The way of glory runs through the Cross. There is no crown without the cross, no resurrection without crucifixion. Three truths about the path of the Cross: One, Jesus embraced His cross first. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew… how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer.” He set His face toward Calvary for you. Salvation was never an accident — it was a mission. Two, we must take up our cross daily. “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The cross is not jewelry; it’s surrender. It means saying no to self so we can say yes to Christ. Three, losing is winning in the Kingdom. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” What you cling to, you lose. What you surrender to Jesus, you keep forever. Are you trying to follow Christ without a cross? Wanting the crown but refusing the cost? Check your direction today. Peter tried to protect Jesus from the Cross and almost became a stumbling block. Don’t let comfort keep you from calling. The road to glory still goes through Golgotha. But remember: He walks it with you, and resurrection is coming. ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` You can’t follow a crucified Savior and stay uncrossed yourself. 📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 22-24*📜

A young 17-year-old boy was shopping in St. Cloud, MN, at a sports store, called Shields. The cashier was a Muslim lady who was wearing another headscarf. The 17-year-old was wearing a necklace with a cross on it. She told him he would have to put his cross under his shirt because it offended her. He told her he would not do that. Then he told her that he thought she should take her headscarf off. She then called for the manager. The manager came out and told the 17-year-old to just put his cross under his shirt and everything would be fine. The boy again refused to do so and at that point he left the items he had intended to purchase and walked out. Several customers who had been in line behind him had heard the conversation and also left their carts full of items and walked out of the store!! KUDOS TO THE 17-YEAR-OLD!!! We all know we are in some very changing times, and given the same circumstances, I pray we would all have the courage this young lad had. We spent a few minutes talking about the challenge we are facing for our first amendment right of religious freedom. (I have to wonder what's next? Are 'they' going to try to ban the jewelry store owners from selling any jewelry with a cross on it?? WILL YOU HESITATE TO PASS THIS ON?? OR BE READY TO DEFEND YOUR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS!!! GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Copy and paste!!

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 25) 1. These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: 2. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4. Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. 5. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. 6. Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; 7. For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 8. Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? 9. Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 10. Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined. 11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 12. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. 13. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14. Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. 15. By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. 16. Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. 17. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. 18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. 20. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22. For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you. 23. The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. 24. It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 25. As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. 26. A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. 27. It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. 28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH OUR HEART’S DESIRES God speaks to us through the sanctified desires of our heart. I’m not saying that everything on our “want list” is from God, but when we long in our heart for the works of the Spirit to operate in our lives, we know God is leading us in His plan for us. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” This works two ways: yes, He gives us what we long for, but He also puts a longing in our heart for things He wants us to have. We need to ask God to give us sanctified, or holy, desires. The Word says we are to eagerly pursue and seek to acquire love, and earnestly desire and cultivate spiritual endowments (see 1 Corinthians 14:1). We are to yearn for sanctified desires—not carnal desires! The desires of the flesh are opposed to the desires of the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the godless human nature (see Galatians 5:17). God puts a desire in us for something that will bring His righteousness, peace, and joy to situations in our lives (see Romans 14:17). When God leads us to do something, there is growing zeal in us to see it achieved. Thinking about doing it motivates us. It is extremely different from desires of the flesh, because lusting for selfish pleasures leaves us tormented. But the inner drive for God’s desires exhilarates us with enthusiasm. Therefore, we see that even in waiting we need balance. We also sense a deep peace if the desire we have is truly from God and not merely a fleshly desire. I know God often leads us by desire, and yet I was hesitant to add this section about desires in the book because I do not want people to think that everything they desire is something they should have. There are desires of the Spirit, and there are fleshly, carnal desires—right and wrong desires. We can desire something that isn’t necessarily wrong in and of itself, and yet, it may be wrong for us. I have asked God on several occasions what He wanted me to do about a specific thing, and He has responded in my heart, “Do what you want to do.” The first time I heard Him say that, I almost rebuked it as being from Satan. I was afraid to believe God would give me that kind of liberty, but I know now that He gives more and more liberty as people grow spiritually into a state of maturity. All I needed to do was think of my own children. When they were young and inexperienced, I made all their decisions for them. As they got older and more mature, I let them do more of what they wanted to do. They had been around Dave and me for a long time and were beginning to know our heart. Now all four of our children are grown, and most of the time they do what they want to do and rarely ever offend us because they know our heart and act accordingly. After we walk with God for a number of years, we get to know His heart, His character, and His ways. If we are committed to following them, He can give us a greater liberty because we start acting as though we are “one with Him.” Our spirit becomes filled with His Spirit, and our desires begin to merge with His. In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are One.” In John 8:28, He said, “I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught me.” In 1 Chronicles 17:2 we see that Nathan the prophet told King David to do all that was in his heart, for God was with him. At the time he said this, David was making preparations to build a tabernacle for God to dwell in. In verse 4 the prophet delivered a direct word from God saying that David was not to build the tabernacle, because God had assigned that task to another. The thing that has always interested me about this particular situation is that it appears that the “normal” method of operation between David and God was for David to do what was in his heart, and God would be with him. Then obviously in this situation we see that God had another plan, and so He interrupted David’s plan to build a house for Him. He even told David later that it was good that he had it in his heart, but that it was not His will for him to build it. He had chosen David’s son Solomon to do it. When I was learning how to hear from God and desiring with all my heart to be led by the Spirit, these verses really helped me to realize that we can move about with some degree of freedom following our sanctified desires, as long as we are ready to immediately go in another direction if God shows us we need to do so. It is not wrong to have a plan and follow it… if we are willing to give up our plan when God does not approve of it. In John 15:7 Jesus said, “If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” How can this be possible unless there really is a merging of our desires with God’s as we mature in Him? The goal of every true believer is to be one with God. The goal of every true believer is to be one with God. It happens spiritually when we are born again, and it occurs in mind, will, and emotion as we grow and mature spiritually. In Ephesians 4:15 the apostle Paul urges us, “Let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head.” As we do so, our desires become His desires, and we are safe in following them. The call that Dave and I have to our ministry is a good example of how God has led us by the desires of our heart. We couldn’t travel every weekend, stay in hotels, and be gone from our family if our desire was not God given. God has put such a strong desire in us that we are motivated to make any sacrifice necessary or overcome any opposition that may come against us in order to accomplish God’s will for us. Sometimes simple desires come to us from God, because He likes to bless us. He sometimes puts desires in us for the things He wants to give us. His Word says, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24 KJV). Several years ago God was dealing with me about being sweet and kind. I had been going through a rough time, and the Lord said to me, “Now just be a sweetheart; just be a sweetheart.” Later, in a meeting, a lady came up to me and gave me a bangle bracelet, saying, “This is my favorite bracelet, but I believe God told me to give it to you.” It had a word written on it in what looked like a foreign language. I asked, “What does this word mean?” She said “Well, I got this bracelet in Hawaii, and this is the Hawaiian word for ‘sweetheart.’” I knew then that God was giving me the bracelet as confirmation that He was dealing with my attitude. I wore the bracelet for many years. It was a little bit small for me, and once I got it on, it was difficult, even inconvenient, to get it off. I really had no release from God to stop wearing it. Sometimes I wanted other bracelets, but there was just no peace in me to buy something else when I knew God had specifically given me that bracelet as a reminder of His direction in my life. When the carnal part of us wants something, but our spiritual side is opposed, we need to wait for peace. When God is moving us to do something, there is agreement in both our carnal and spiritual desires. We should never override our spiritual desires for something that only our flesh demands. After a few years I mentioned occasionally to Dave, “I would like to get another bracelet.” He would always say something like, “No, I like that bracelet; it’s beautiful on you.” Or, “You don’t need another one; you couldn’t find a prettier one than that.” Then one day I was shopping, and a desire stirred within me for a new bracelet. I hadn’t been thinking about jewelry, and this desire was so sudden I felt it was from the Lord. I said, “Well, Lord, if this desire is really from You, I am just going to pray about it.” Spiritual desires will motivate us to pray. I said, “God, I don’t want anything except what You want for me. I don’t need a new bracelet to be happy, but if You want me to have other bracelets, then I pray that You will give them to me, in Jesus’ name.” Then I went about my business. I came home from that trip, and a couple of days later my close friend Roxane and I were spending some time together. She said to me, “I’ve got a present for you; it’s something that I felt God told me to give you.” I opened her gift to find a new bracelet. She continued, “It probably doesn’t make sense to you why I would buy a bracelet. I know how you feel about the bracelet that you always wear. But I really believe that God spoke to me to get this for you. So I ordered it some time ago, and it just arrived.” It is interesting that God spoke to Roxane, telling her to get the bracelet, and while it was on its way, He put a desire in my heart to receive it. We wouldn’t enjoy receiving something if we didn’t desire it. Many times, God has put a desire in my heart for something that He wanted to give me. The Bible says that God puts in us the desire both to will and to work for His good pleasure (see Philippians 2:13). We should pray for sanctified, holy desires. God puts desires in us to lead us in the way He wants us to go. If we desire to read the Word, then God is inviting us to read the Word. If we desire to pray when we are watching television, then God is speaking to us about the need to pray. As we read in John 15, we know that if we abide in Christ, if we continue our relationship with the Lord and dwell with Him over a period of time, His Word will abide in us. Then we can ask whatever we desire, and He has promised to give it to us. To abide with Him is to “hang out” with Him, to live with Him, to become like Him, and to nurture the desires He puts in our heart, because that is His will for us. He puts desires in our heart so we will pray and ask for those things He wants us to have. Without prayer, God has no vehicle through which to work. If you sense that God has put certain desires in your heart, then it’s important to pray and ask for those things you desire. If you’re not sure whether your desires are from Him, then say, “Lord, I believe You have put this desire in my heart, and so I am asking You for it. But I can be happy without it, because I am happy with You. Now it is up to You to do whatever You want to do.” Above all, remember that we are to be led by peace. No matter how much we may desire something, if we don’t have peace deep in our heart about it, then it is not right for us.

PHILISTINE GRAVEYARD UNCOVERED Goliath's people! For centuries, skeptics claimed the Philistines of the Bible were little more than mythology invented by Israelite storytellers. Yet in 2013, archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Ashkelon uncovered one of the most important biblical discoveries in modern archaeology: the first major Philistine cemetery ever found, containing more than 200 burials dating from roughly the 11th to 8th centuries B.C. For the first time, researchers had direct physical evidence of how the Philistines lived, buried their dead, and existed as a distinct people group exactly where the Bible said they would be. The Bible repeatedly presents the Philistines as Israel’s primary enemies during the days of Samson, Saul, and David. They controlled key coastal cities like Ashkelon, Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Goliath himself was said to come from Gath. Critics often argued that because no Philistine cemetery had ever been found, the biblical account could not be trusted. But the Ashkelon discovery dramatically changed that conversation. The graves revealed a culture clearly distinct from the surrounding Canaanite populations. Archaeologists uncovered pottery, perfume bottles, jewelry, arrowheads, and weapons buried alongside the dead. Some bodies were buried in tombs while others were cremated, practices unlike typical Israelite burials of the time. The discoveries fit remarkably well with the biblical picture of the Philistines as a foreign people living among the inhabitants of Canaan rather than originating from them. Even more fascinating were later DNA studies performed on remains from Philistine sites. The results showed a genetic connection to southern Europe and the Aegean region, supporting long-standing evidence that the Philistines were part of the “Sea Peoples” who migrated into the eastern Mediterranean world around the time many ancient civilizations collapsed. This matches the biblical description that connects the Philistines to Caphtor, commonly associated with Crete or the Aegean world (Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7). Over time, the genetic distinction began to fade as the Philistines intermarried with local populations. That detail is important because it fits real history rather than legend. Cultures migrate, settle, blend, and change over generations. The Bible records the Philistines during precisely the period archaeology now confirms they flourished in the region. What makes this discovery so significant is not merely that archaeologists found ancient graves. It is that once again, the dirt of the Middle East continues to confirm people, nations, and events skeptics once dismissed as fiction. The Bible did not invent the Philistines. They were real people, living in real cities, fighting real battles against Israel thousands of years ago. History keeps leaving fingerprints exactly where Scripture said they would be.

A Little Light Reading. THE COMING ONE WORLD CHURCH. Gary Gibbs One Christmas, a rabbi from Russia vis- ited an American family as part of a cultural exchange program. His host family wanted to treat him to a new culinary experi- ence, so they took him out one evening to their favorite Chinese restaurant. After the meal, the Chinese waiter brought each of them a little ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 1 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM  Coming! One World Church Christmas gift. It was a small, brass Christmas tree ornament that was stamped with the words “Made in India.” They all laughed at the irony of receiving a “Made in India” gift from a Chinese restau- rant. But suddenly, everyone stopped chuck- ling when they noticed tears rolling down the rabbi’s cheeks. Had they offended him in some way? “Nyet,” the rabbi replied. “I was shed- ding tears of joy to be in a country in which a Buddhist gives a Jew a Christmas gift made by a Hindu.” 1 Such peaceful co-existence and affirma- tion doesn’t happen often between religious faiths. Even today, religious differences fre- quently escalate into fierce war. It’s no wonder that many people want to dismantle the reli- gious “Berlin Wall” that exists between faiths. In no other community is this truer than within Christianity. Even though all Christian churches profess faith in Jesus as the Son of God, they have not been able to find a way to form a single, united group. For near- ly two thousand years, doctrinal differences have splintered Christians into hundreds of ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 2 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM Coming! One World Church  independent denominations. But many within Christianity desire to reverse this. Foremost in the crusade for Christian reunification is the pope. During the last few years he has been doing all he can to pave the way for a single world church. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls reports that the pope “is pushing hard on the accelerator toward unity.” 2 One of the road signs along the pope’s autobahn to unity are his confessions to non- Catholics. While conducting Mass in the Czech Republic, Pope John Paul II said, “Today, I, the pope of the church of Rome, in the name of all Catholics, ask forgiveness for the wrongs inflicted on non-Catholics during the turbu- lent history of these peoples.” 3 And this isn’t the only confession. He is also trying to bridge the gap between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. He says, “men of both sides were to blame” for the con- flict that erupted between their churches in the 11th century. 4 The pope’s confessions have found a favor- able response. Pennsylvania State University professor William Petersen remarks: “He’s ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 3 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM  Coming! One World Church bringing the church into the 20th century. You’ve had statements from the early popes that the Roman Church can never err.” 5 Pope John Paul II is not only making ver- bal overtures; he has also committed himself in print in three highly publicized works. In his letter “Orientale Lumen” (“The Light of the East”) he writes: “The sin of our separation is very serious. … How can we be fully credible if we stand divided?” “These divisions must give way to rapprochement and harmony. The wounds on the path of Christian unity must be healed.” 6 The twelfth encyclical of John Paul’s papacy is dedicated to the subject of Christian reunifi- cation and is appropriately entitled “Ut Unum Sint” (“May They All Be One”). The pope calls it his “contribution to this most noble goal,” which is “to increase the unity of all Christians until they reach full communion.” 7 And in his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul says it is his desire to see Christian unity achieved within the next few years—before we reach the new millennium. “By the year 2000 we need to be more united, more willing to advance along the path toward ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 4 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM Coming! One World Church  the unity for which Christ prayed on the eve of His passion.” 8 Without question, a united Christian church is a very worthy goal. It was Jesus’ great burden just before He died. He prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20, 21). While none should fault the pope for seek- ing unity, several questions must be carefully considered. What is the true source of disunity within the Christian church? One Vatican insider suggests, “The main obstacle is not doctrine, but history with all its prejudices.” 9 But is this an accurate evaluation? Do the differences stem merely from prejudice, or is it doctrinal? And, if it is doctrinal, which doctrines are in question? Furthermore, where Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox doctrines differ, which body will adjust their beliefs to appease the others? And most important of all, how does the Bible instruct God’s people to achieve true unity? ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 5 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM  Coming! One World Church The pope is already anticipating some of these questions. In “Ut Unum Sint,” he identifies five key doctrines that need further study before we “reach full communion”: the relationship of Scripture and tradition, the church’s authority, the ordination of priests, the sacrament of the Eucharist, and the role of the Virgin Mary. 10 While this is a good start, there are numerous other areas that must also be covered before unity of any degree can be reached. But for now, let’s briefly look at each of these five doctrines to see what the Catholic Church teaches and what must transpire if a united world church is ever to become more than a dream in the night. Scripture Versus Tradition Admiral Byrd, the famous explorer, knows death is only minutes away. He’s caught out- side in an unforgiving blizzard at the South Pole. Snow swirls around him like a dancing sheet. The temperature, well below zero, chills him to the bone. His limbs stiffen and threaten to freeze. The cold is painful. But all is not hopeless. He knows that he is within 100 yards of the warmth and security of ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 6 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM Coming! One World Church  his hut. But how to find the hut is the problem. Everywhere he looks there is the same snow and ice. White. Everything is white. There isn’t a single landmark. If only he could find one to use as a central reference point, then he could navigate to find the hut. But without it, he might head in the wrong direction to certain death. “A man can’t last long out here,” he thinks. Byrd knows there is no time for panic. Calmly he assesses the situation. In his hand is the 10-foot pole he always carries. It is his only chance. He sticks the pole in the snow and then ties his brightly colored scarf to it. Then he strikes out to find his hut, first in one direc- tion and then in another—but always keeping the pole with the waving scarf in sight. Three times he returns to the pole, and on the fourth excursion he discovers his hut and stumbles into its warmth. Our world is like trackless Antarctica in a blizzard. The devil blinds the minds of humanity “lest the light of the glorious gos- pel of Christ … should shine unto them” (2Corinthians 4:4). We are lost in sin, but there is a place of safety—heaven. It is out ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 7 6/9/09 3:41:59 PM  Coming! One World Church there. And it is not too far distant. That is, if a person can find the straight and narrow path that leads to it. Just how do we find this path? We need a reference point. We need an inerrant guide that can lead us through all the twists and turns and the ups and downs of life. But there is one danger. If the thing we use as our refer- ence point slips either to the left or to the right, then we are sure to stray and die. Catholic and Protestant churches have disputed the identity of this reference point for centuries. The Catholic Church teaches that the guide to heaven consists of the Bible and nearly two thousand years of church tra- dition. “We find the truths revealed by God in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. … Both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are the inspired word of God, and both are forms of divine revelation.” 11 Protestants, however, believe the Bible alone must form the basis for faith and practice. In fact, this was a major issue in the Protestant split from the Catholic Church in the 15th cen- tury. John Wycliffe, John Huss, Jerome, Martin Luther, and many other Protestants began as ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 8 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM Coming! One World Church  faithful Catholics. But while in pursuit of a closer relationship with God they discovered the practices of their church often contradict- ed the clear teachings of the Bible. The ensuing conflict was more than a battle of ideologies. These men had tried to live by the authority of tradition and person- ally found it bankrupt. Luther had a tortured conscience. Painful penances and fastings threatened to rob him of life itself. He didn’t find peace until he discovered the plan of sal- vation clearly presented in the Bible as a gift to all who believe. Somehow the traditions of the church had obliterated this most vital truth. For centuries it taught that salvation could be had by penance, pilgrimage, and payment. Salvation by faith as the free gift of God had been completely forgotten. Clearly tradition and Scripture were at odds—a fact that was not lost on the Protestants. A fact for which Luther was willing to die. In Worms, Germany, Luther stood before an august assembly of bishops, prelates, priests, and noble men to answer for his strange “new” doctrine of salvation as a free gift to those who accept Christ as their Savior. When commanded ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 9 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM 10 Coming! One World Church to renounce his “heretical” teachings, he said, at peril to his life, “Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments (since I believe neither the pope nor the councils alone, it being evident that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am conquered by the Holy Scriptures quoted by me, and my conscience is bound in the Word of God. I can not and will not recant anything, since it is unsafe and dan- gerous to do anything against the conscience. Here I stand. God help me.” 12 Tradition or Scripture. Luther had drawn the Mason-Dixon line for the Protestant Reformation. In 1545, the Catholic Church finally con- vened the Council of Trent in Austria to answer the questions raised by the Protestants. What will it be, tradition or Scripture? The answer came near the conclusion of the meetings. “Finally, at the last opening on the eighteenth of January, 1562, all hesitancy was set aside. The archbishop of Reggio made a speech in which he openly declared that tradition stood above Scripture. The authority of the church could not therefore be bound to the authority of the Scriptures.” 13 ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 10 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM Coming! One World Church 11 Like a sledgehammer striking a wedge in a block of dry wood, a split was created that has never been mended. But now, nearly four hundred and fifty years later, the pope is call- ing for reunification. And he accurately states that this issue of Scripture versus tradition must be resolved. So what is correct? Is it Scripture and tra- dition, or Scripture alone? Certainly the best source for an objective answer to this dilemma is the Word of God itself. What does the Bible say about tradition? It teaches several things. First, traditions that are in harmony with God’s Word are to be respected. “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Secondly, not all traditions are pleasing to God. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. … Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:7–9). Traditions that replace God’s commandments are vain worship. They reveal contempt for God’s authority. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 11 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM 12 Coming! One World Church Lastly, God has promised to rid His church of unscriptural traditions. “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” “Every plant, which my heav- enly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:6, 13). We cannot depend upon the traditions of men. They are often an erring guide. And not surprisingly so. Humans are erring. Even while trying our best, we make mistakes of mam- moth proportion. For centuries Protestant churches have claimed that Catholicism follows numerous unscriptural traditions. Is this charge accurate? If you are a Catholic, this question is doubly important. You love God and desire to please Him. But fellow believers say that many of your church’s doctrines are not found in the Bible. Your pope also acknowledges that this is a serious issue that needs study. And he says it must be resolved if we are to answer Jesus’ prayer for unity among Christians. Therefore, you will want to ask your- self this very important question. Does the Catholic Church really have many unscriptur- al traditions? Yes, unfortunately it does. This ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 12 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM Coming! One World Church 13 may be hard to accept, but it is true. Cardinal John Henry Newman made this candid admis- sion: “The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occa- sions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holy days and seasons, use of calendars, processions, bless- ings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the east, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesi- astical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison … are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church” (emphasis mine). 14 Many Catholic doctrines are of pagan origin and are not found in the Bible. But, wait. Catholics need not feel that this is an unkind thrust against them. This is not just a Catholic issue. Protestants also hold many unscriptural traditions that contradict clear teachings of the Bible. This fact has not been missed by some Catholics. Notice the following Catholic challenge to Protestants to be consistent with their “Scripture alone” maxim. “The Bible does not contain all the teachings of the Christian ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 13 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM 14 Coming! One World Church religion, nor does it formulate all the duties of its members. Take, for example, the matter of Sunday observance, the attendance at divine services and the abstention from unnecessary servile work on that day, a matter upon which our Protestant neighbors have for many years laid great emphasis. Let me address myself to my dear non-Catholic reader: “You believe that the Bible alone is a safe guide in religious matters. You also believe that one of the fundamental duties enjoined upon you by your Christian faith is that of Sunday observance. But where does the Bible speak of such an obligation? I have read the Bible from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, and have found no reference to the duty of sanctifying the Sunday. The day men- tioned in the Bible is not the Sunday, the first day of the week but the Saturday, the last day of the week. “It was the Apostolic Church [i.e. Catholic Church] which … changed the observance to the Sunday. … In observing the Sunday as you do, is it not apparent that you are really acknowledging the insufficiency of ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 14 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM Coming! One World Church 15 the Bible alone as a rule of faith and reli- gious conduct, and proclaiming the need of a divinely established teaching author- ity which in theory you deny?” 15 John A. O’Brien’s logic is glaringly accu- rate. If Protestants are going to insist that Catholics return to the Bible, then they must do the same. And back to the Bible we all must go—Catholics and Protestants. God’s Word is the only true founda- tion for consensus of faith. Catholics must stop defending their position that tradition and Scripture are of equal authority. And Protestants must surrender their unscriptural traditions and truly live by “every word” of God (Matthew 4:4). We should all keep the Bible’s Saturday Sabbath along with every other teaching of God’s Word. Only as we Christians are honest with God’s truth can we hope to positively impact an unbelieving world for eternal good. Church Authority India has a problem. They worship rats. And their worship is literally consuming them. Tens of thousands of rats overrun certain ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 15 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM 16 Coming! One World Church cities. They race across floors; feasting on anything they can sink their teeth into. Rats are especially revered and worshipped at the temple of Karni Mata. Here the furry critters leap onto the platform where food is placed for them. They eat while the priest serenades them with hymns and plays cymbals. These well-cared-for rats reproduce prolifically. And few Indians will kill them, fearing that in so doing they will kill their god’s companion. But the rats have introduced something worse than more rats. They’ve brought the plague. Hundreds have died as a result. But since the Indians won’t kill the varmints, the plague continues to spread. The issue of what we worship is crucial in all cultures. This is why the Catholic posi- tion on the authority of the Church and pope is so sensitive with non-Catholics. Catholic catechisms teach that church authority refers to the infallibility of the pope. “When the pope in his official capacity, with the fullness of his authority, as successor of St. Peter and head of the church on earth, proclaims a doctrine of faith or morals binding on the whole Church, he is preserved from error. It is to be noted that ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 16 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM Coming! One World Church 17 three conditions are required: (1) The pope must speak ex cathedra, i.e., from the Chair of Peter in his official capacity; (2) The deci- sion must be binding on the whole Church; (3) It must be on a matter of faith or morals” (emphasis mine). 16 These infallible doctrines of the pope are “certainly true and binding in conscience on all the faithful.” 17 So what should we believe regarding the pope’s authority? Catholics and Protestants must turn to the Bible to form their opin- ions. Here we’ll find that Scripture teaches no human is infallible. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even those who have been specially called to holy service are fallible. History is an eloquent witness to the foibles of church leaders, includ- ing popes. The apostle Peter himself fell into sin numerous times (see Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 22:54–62; and Galatians 2:11–14). Now, the church must have leaders. But every thing they teach as truth must be tested by Scripture. The Bible never teaches that spir- itual leaders have periods where they speak ex cathedra. There is no special chair or office from which they can proclaim infallible truth. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 17 6/9/09 3:42:00 PM 18 Coming! One World Church But the Bible does tell us to test our leaders by the Word. The believers in Berea were com- mended for being “more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they … searched the scriptures daily” to see if Paul’s teachings were in accord with God’s Word (Acts 17:10, 11). The Bible also warns us against spiritual leaders who are used by Satan to lead many astray. “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away dis- ciples after them” (Acts 20:30). Infallibility is a dangerous doctrine. If we ascribe it to any man, we make ourselves very vulnerable to deception. Therefore, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). How are we to “try the spirits?” Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” They are to be tested by the Bible. When Paul warned the church to beware of leaders who introduce erroneous teachings, he said to test them by the Word. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 18 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM Coming! One World Church 19 to build you up, and to give you an inheri- tance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32 emphasis mine). We can be safe only as we test every declaration of truth by God’s Word. Now the pope may be a good man with noble intentions. Nevertheless, all that he says and advocates must be tested by the Holy Bible. No human has carte blanche infallibility. For centuries, popes have claimed infallibility as direct successors of Peter, who they believe was the first pope. But according to Scripture, Peter was not established as a pope. He wasn’t even the leader of the early church councils— James was (see Acts 15:1–22). Another problem with the papacy is that it runs counter to God’s truth. Popes have great power. People bow before them. They confess their sins to them. Popes live amid great pomp, splendor, and riches. They have been some of the most powerful men who have ever lived. But when one studies the Bible for examples of men of God, we find a much humbler model. Our Lord Himself taught that those who desire rich robes and to sit in high places are not fol- lowing Him (Matthew 23:1–12). ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 19 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM 20 Coming! One World Church Clearly, the Bible never claims for church leaders what the papacy claims for itself. The papacy, therefore, is an unbiblical position. If consensus of faith is to be achieved, then all Christians will need to get back to the Bible. The claims made regarding the powers and rights of the papacy will need to be officially renounced. The pomp and splendor should also be traded for Jesus’ example of humility. The pope has indicated he is willing to explore some change in the function of the papacy. While not promising to surrender his ultimate authority over the church, he has said that he would seek “to find a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renounc- ing what is essential to its mission, is nonethe- less open to a new situation.” 18 What possible new situation could the Vatican be considering? The president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity of Christians has suggested that the pope may act as a mediator in religious disputes. Unfortunately, it seems the pontiff is only considering not insisting that Protestants accept the doctrine of papal infallibility. What he will settle for is to be the final mediator in ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 20 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM Coming! One World Church 21 doctrinal disputes between Christians. But this is still unacceptable to those who desire to take their faith from the Bible. No single human can claim the power to be the final word on doctrine and morals. Every believer must study the Scriptures for himself to determine what God would have him do. When there is a controverted point of doc- trine, the question can come to an assembly of representatives of the church for their humble study of God’s Word to see what Scripture truly teaches. Many minds working together to find God’s will is always a lot safer than one man being in charge of determining truth. But even in religious assemblies, we see the weakness of man. Many Christian con- vocations have made declarations that run counter to Bible truth. What should believers do in such cases? They should follow what the Bible teaches. Many American Catholics are already following their own convictions to some degree. Catholicism officially teaches that nearly all forms of birth control are sin. But most American Catholics disagree. Thereby they too deny the absolute, infallible authority of the pope. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 21 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM 22 Coming! One World Church The authority of the church is a crucial question, and the pope is correct in tagging it for discussion. But until he reverses the supremacy and primacy of the papacy, apostol- ic succession, and the authority of the church to be the sole interpreter of Scripture, no unity can be achieved with those believers who want to remain true to the Bible. Christianity cannot unite around a fallible human, no matter how noble a person he may be. Only as we humbly submit ourselves to God and His Word will we be able to come together. The Ordination of Priests We now come to the third doctrine iden- tified by Pope John Paul II. What does the Catholic Church teach about the ordina- tion of priests? Official Catholic teaching is that priests are ordained to have the power to forgive sins. 19 Some American Catholics may disagree with this representation. They may be honestly unaware of this doctrine. Nevertheless, it is true. Here are a few excerpts from official Catholic sources. “An authorized priest … [says] the words ‘I absolve you from your sins.’ … All bishops ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 22 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM Coming! One World Church 23 and priests have the power to forgive sins or absolve sins.” 20 “Who has the power to forgive sin today? All bishops and priests of the Catholic Church can forgive sin. … What do you have to do to have your sins forgiven? You have to be truly sorry for them and confess them to a Catholic priest.” 21 Sometimes American Catholics defend the confessional by comparing it to going to a counselor or psychologist. They claim the priest does not actually forgive sins, but simply plays the role of a counselor. However, when the pope speaks about priests, he refers to the official Catholic posi- tion and not the “corrupted,” Americanized version. The Church tries to make its official teaching clear in its catechisms. “Does the priest merely pray that your sins will be for- given? No, acting as God’s instrument and ordained minister, he truly forgives the sins.” 22 “This is not a mere ritual repetition or psy- chological exercise.’’ 23 “Does the priest really forgive your sins? … the priest really forgives your sins. The priest does not merely ‘pray away’ your sins.” 24 ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 23 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM 24 Coming! One World Church This Catholic teaching is based on John 20:23: “Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” A correct under- standing of this verse requires reading the context. Before telling the disciples about the remission of sins, Jesus said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” The dis- ciples were to go to the world in a way similar to which Jesus was sent to our world. How did the Father send Jesus to our world? Jesus said, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49). “I do noth- ing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus was sent not to speak His own words or teach His own doctrine or to do His own will. He came to speak the Father’s word and will and sent His disciples to do the same. Like an ambassador, the disciples were to tell others about the will and word of the Person they represented. “God … hath given to us ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 24 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM Coming! One World Church 25 the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye recon- ciled to God” (2Corinthians 5:18–20, empha- sis mine). Notice that the power to actually forgive sins was not given to the disciples as priests, but only the word of reconciliation as ambassadors. Ministers and believers can only pass on the word of truth that Jesus has recon- ciled the sinner to Himself if they will confess and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the right to invite and urge people in behalf of Jesus to come to Him. But the actual ability to read the heart and to grant forgive- ness is something only the Almighty can do. So how is it that “whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained”? Whenever an unbe- liever does not accept a believer’s call to repen- tance, then we have caused them to retain their sins. “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (1 James 4:17). “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 25 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM 26 Coming! One World Church ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth” (John 9:41). Sin remains and is retained when a sinner has encountered truth and has refused to repent and accept it. So when the disciples took truth to people and they refused to accept it, their sins were retained. “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak [margin: excuse] for their sin” (John 15:22). “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matthew 10:14, 15). On the other hand, if people accept the good news of sal- vation in Christ, then their sins are forgiven by God. Man is on dangerous ground when he tries to usurp God’s prerogatives. No one should ever say the words used by the priests in the Catholic sacrament of penance: “I absolve you from your sins.” Only God can forgive sin. “Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone” (Luke 5:21)? “Blasphemy,” ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 26 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM Coming! One World Church 27 the Bible calls it. Strong language we would do well to remember! Sin requires the death penalty be paid. Whenever we sin and confess to God, Jesus applies the blood of His death on the cross to our account. He alone can read the heart and apply the blood accordingly. We do not have this power. We don’t know if a person is truly sincere and desirous of transformation. We misjudge others all the time. There is a danger in accepting humans as our mediators with God. God regards only one Mediator. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Timothy 2:5). For humans to take the place of this Mediator is presumptu- ous. This is trying to take the place of Jesus and God. And no good Catholic or Protestant Christian wants this to happen. One cannot find any indication within the biblical record that the apostles exercised the authority supposedly conferred upon them to forgive sins. They certainly would have done it if they had understood Jesus’ words in the manner the Catholic Church teaches. Neither does the Bible refer to the Catholic Church’s ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 27 6/9/09 3:42:01 PM 28 Coming! One World Church confessional. There is no record of sinners going to the apostles to confess their sins and receive forgiveness. Yet, we do read numerous instances of the disciples directing people to God for forgiveness. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22, emphasis mine). Associated with the ordination of the priest is celibacy. According to the Catholic catechism, “The basis for clerical celibacy is the example of Christ and His apostles.” 25 Does the Bible really teach that priests are to remain unmarried and celibate for life? Admittedly, Jesus was celibate. But He did not command this for all who should follow Him in ministry. He called Peter to be an apostle, and Peter was married. “[Peter’s] wife’s mother lay sick of a fever” (Mark 1:30). Although it is recommended for those who choose it, celibacy is not a requirement for ministry. Jesus says that there are those who “have made themselves eunuchs for the king- dom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it” (Matthew 19:12). The apostle Paul highly recommended celibacy. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 28 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 29 He saw it as an opportunity to care only for the things of God (1Corinthians 7:32). But he also says this is his opinion and not a direct command from God. “I speak this by permission, and not of commandment” (1Corinthians 7:6). Furthermore, Paul did not forbid marriage. “If thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned” (1Corinthians 7:28). The Catholic position is not as flexible as that of Paul. “By Church law a Catholic priest in the western Church is obligated to live a life of celibacy [no marriage].” 26 The dilemma the pope finds himself in is that he forbids that which God clearly permits. Many Catholics, recognizing this, are trying to get their church to change this teaching. But the pope has indi- cated it will not change. A church in Georgia once installed chimes to play hymns over a loudspeaker for the townspeople to hear during supper. Every evening the chimes faithfully played their sweet music. But a nearby turkey farmer was not soothed by the sound. It seemed that the chimes disturbed his turkeys during their evening feeding. The birds just wouldn’t eat ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 29 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM 30 Coming! One World Church while the music played, and they were not get- ting fat for the market. Discussions between the farmer and church deteriorated. Pretty soon things became quite ugly. The farmer tried to silence the loudspeaker on the steeple by shooting it. In retaliation church mem- bers sneaked into the turkey pens at night, spooking the birds and giving them one more reason not to eat. Only after the birds had a complete nervous breakdown and the church steeple was peppered with bullet holes did the two parties finally come to an agreement that met both their needs. The church played the chimes at a different hour and the farmer called a cease-fire. 27 Resolving doctrinal differences does not need to become a shouting match and cer- tainly not a shooting match. Both the pope and Protestants agree that the Catholic doctrine of the ordination of priests must be resolved. And it must be done in light of Bible truth. Teachings regarding the priest’s ability to forgive sins, apostolic succession, and celibacy will need to be radically changed to come into harmony with the Bible. This is the only wise thing to do if we are to answer Jesus’ prayer for Christian unity. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 30 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 31 The Eucharist Four children were born to a family in Amman, Jordan. Each birth certificate said the child was a girl. And for 13 years the fam- ily believed this. But when the oldest child reached puberty, “she” started revealing male characteristics. The teenage “girl” grew facial hair, her voice broke, and she developed a male physique. Doctors examining Mohammed diagnosed him with a rare genetic defect that left him appearing to be female when in reality he was male. Apparently, during his development in the womb his male organs never descended. Mohammed’s three younger siblings were also diagnosed with the same defect. Fortunately, all the children were successfully operated on and are now males. The day of their transformation was one of great celebra- tion. The girls, now turned boys, cut their long hair, removed their jewelry, and wore boys’ pajamas. And their jubilant grandmother Fatima Netasha said, “I had six granddaugh- ters and two grandsons, and now I have six grandsons and two granddaughters. I thank God and the doctor.” 28 ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 31 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM 32 Coming! One World Church Sometimes things aren’t as they appear. This is what is at the heart of the contro- versy over the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. Protestants view the bread and grape juice as symbols of Jesus’ body and blood. But accord- ing to Catholic teaching the bread and wine aren’t what they appear to be—mere bread and wine. Instead, they are literally the real body, blood, and person of Jesus. Official Catholic teaching is unambigu- ous. “The Eucharist is a sacrament which real- ly, truly, and substantially contains the body and blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.” 29 “After consecration, this sign contains the whole Christ, his body and blood, his soul and divinity.” 30 “Christ is present in the Eucharist … with all his physical properties, hands and feet and head and human heart. He is present with his human soul, with his thoughts, desires, and human affections.” 31 Another difference between Catholic and Protestant beliefs is that of relevance. Protestants view the service as a holy ritu- al in which people voluntarily participate. However, the Catholic Church teaches that ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 32 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 33 “The Eucharist is necessary for salvation.” 32 This is because of their view that the benefits of the cross can be had only by partaking of Jesus’ “literal” body as found in the bread. Follow this to its logical conclusion. The only bread that can be Jesus’ body is bread that has had the special prayer and bless- ing of the Catholic priest. No priest means no changing of the bread into the body of Christ. No body of Christ means no salva- tion. A Protestant pastor cannot do what the Catholic priest can with the bread. Only the priest has the power conferred upon him to command God to come down from heaven and enter the bread. Therefore, if people are going to be saved, they must go to a Catholic Church to receive the Eucharist. Furthermore, in order to receive the Eucharist they must first become a Catholic. “The person who is receiving instructions in preparation for full membership in the Catholic Church should participate in the Mass but may not receive Holy Communion.” 33 What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 26:26–28, “Take, eat; this is my body. … Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood”? ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 33 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM 34 Coming! One World Church Did He really mean that His literal body and blood were present in the bread and wine? The disciples knew this wasn’t what He referred to. They had heard Him speak like this before. Jesus once said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. … Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:51–53). On that day, many who listened inter- preted Jesus’ words very literally. They thought He advocated salvation by cannibalism. They were shocked. Jesus knew their thoughts, so He clarified what He meant. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Jesus says His life is contained in His words. To eat His Word means to read and meditate upon its meaning. When we apply Jesus’ teachings to our life, then we’ve truly eaten His Word. The Catholic teaching of the Eucharist misses this point. Instead, what Jesus intends to be spiritual is taken literally. ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 34 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 35 Another controverted point regarding the Eucharist concerns the wine. In the Catholic communion service, only the priests drink it. This teaching came into the Church at the Council of Constance, a.d. 1414–1418, and is not taught in God’s Word. When Jesus took the cup, He gave it to all those present, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me” (1Corinthians 11:25 emphasis mine; See also Matthew 26:27,28). The blessing of this service is for every believer, not just priests. Yes, the pope is right again. The Eucharist needs to be studied. Imagine what blessings can come to Christianity if we all return to Bible truth. United on the clear teachings of God’s Word, we can be a powerful witness to unbelievers. But before unity can be reached, we must also resolve another doctrinal dif- ference the pope said must be resolved—the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary The Lawrence Welk Show had its televi- sion premier in 1955 and launched Welk into becoming what Life magazine called “the most ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 35 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM 36 Coming! One World Church popular musician in U.S. history.” But things weren’t always so rosy for Lawrence Welk. Once, after playing his accordion for a dance, he overheard one of the band members remark, “Did you get a load of that accordionist? If I had to play every night with him, I’d go back to jerking sodas.” 34 At the time, it appeared Welk might be a failure, but he continued to play and finally landed his television show. Though many would rate him as an average musician, 40 million people tuned in to his program faithfully every Saturday night. Quite a large following for an ordinary musician! To many Christians, Mary, though extremely blessed to be the mother of Jesus, was still just an ordinary human. In the Catholic Church, however, she “is honored and loved second only to God Himself.” 35 Because the pope is well aware that this reverence for Mary is a major block in the road to unity, he has put it on the list for discussion. And Protestants have some very good reasons to raise objec- tions to this Catholic belief. The Bible is very clear that Jesus is our Savior. No other person can atone for our sins. So to God alone should we pray. It is Jesus ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 36 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 37 “who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). Yet, Catholic catechisms contain numerous prayers to Mary pleading for her to make intercession for our sins. The very popular Hail Mary prayer says, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” 36 The Hail Holy Queen prayer addresses Mary as mankind’s advocate. “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. … O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, o holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”37 The Bible, however, says that there is no advocate for man other than Jesus. “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1John 2:1). The second problem with the Catholic doctrine of Mary is called the Immaculate Conception. This teaches that Mary was ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 37 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM 38 Coming! One World Church “conceived without sin.” 38 “Not only was she free from the slightest stain of actual sin, but by a singular miracle of divine grace she was free also from original sin, with which all the other children of Adam are born into this world. It was eminently fitting that she … should be undefiled by even that slight shadow of Adam’s fall. To her alone, among all the members of the race, was granted this singular immunity … the Immaculate Conception [refers] … to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother without the stain of original sin.” 39 Unfortunately, this teaching finds no sup- port in the Bible. It was only recently pro- claimed as a dogma of the Catholic faith in 1854. 40 The Bible unequivocally declares that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Only one person ever lived a life of perfect sinlessness—Jesus. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). So why does the Catholic Church teach that Mary never sinned? Simply because if Jesus was sinless, then they feel that His mother had to be sinless. But it is a mistake to assume that just because Jesus’ mother was ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 38 6/9/09 3:42:02 PM Coming! One World Church 39 a sinner, He had to be born a sinner. You see, Jesus received from His mother a body “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). But He received from His Father a divine spirit and mind. Jesus’ body, degraded by the effects of four thousand years of sin, did not control His actions or sully His character. Though His sinful flesh provided a launching pad for temptation, His divine nature recoiled from it. He chose not to heed temptation’s slightest whisper. Therefore, He was without sin. If Jesus had been born of a sinless mother, then He couldn’t be the sympathizing Savior that He is. It is because He did receive “the likeness of sinful flesh” from Mary that He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15). He is our Mediator and heav- enly Priest by virtue of this very fact. He under- stands us because He was tempted from His flesh. “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17,18). ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 39 6/9/09 3:42:03 PM 40 Coming! One World Church The Immaculate Conception veils the compassion of Jesus. This is why Mary is often prayed to as a mediator and interces- sor. Catholic catechisms portray her as one who understands our weaknesses better than Christ. “She is our Mother, near and dear to us, loving us with all the warmth of a mother’s love. As the little child frightened by the shadows of night finds safety in his mother’s arms, so will we in time of temptation find a safe refuge by fleeing to the outstretched arms of Mary our Mother. If we will but clasp the loving hand of our Mother, stretched out to aid us in every danger, our uncertain foot- steps will be guided safely to that golden lad- der upon whose rungs we will climb step by step, to the very throne of her Son and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 41 The Catholic teaching of the Assumption of Mary is another area of concern. This declares that Mary was taken to heaven before her body decomposed in the grave. “It was eminently fitting that the body of the chaste and Immaculate Mother of God was not per- mitted to undergo disintegration and putrefac- tion but was assumed into heaven.” 42 ComingOneWorldChurch.indd 40 6/9/09 3:42:03 PM Coming! One World Church 41 Given the burial process in Bible days, this would have had to happen very soon after her death. Four days after Lazarus’ death, his sis- ters expected his dead body would be decom- posed. “By this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39). Therefore, according to Catholic teaching, for Mary not to “undergo disintegration and putrefaction” we must conclude she was taken to heaven within four days. Again the Bible does not teach this. It is a new doctrine of the Catholic Church. “This belief … was formally defined as a dogma of the Universal Church by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950.” 43 Instead, the Bible declares that all who die go to the grave to sleep in the dust until the return of Christ. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2; see also Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; Psalms 146:4; 13:3). Catholics need to re-examine their doc- trines c

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 25) 1. These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: 2. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. 3. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4. Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. 5. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. 6. Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; 7. For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. 8. Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? 9. Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; 10. Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined. 11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 12. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. 13. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14. Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. 15. By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. 16. Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. 17. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. 18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. 19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. 20. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. 21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22. For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you. 23. The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. 24. It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. 25. As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. 26. A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. 27. It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. 28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

WILLING SPIRIT, WEAK FLESH “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” —Hebrews 1:3 ESV Have you ever been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to do? When you do that and you are caught, the guilty expression is, “I couldn’t resist myself.”  That’s a correct view of temptation. When we give in to temptation, we like to blame others. Think of when Adam was caught in the act in the Garden of Eden. The Lord asked, “Did you eat of that tree?” And Adam replied, “It’s the woman You gave me, Lord. She made me do it” (see Genesis 3:8–12).  And then there’s Aaron, who offered a classic example of a bad excuse for giving in to temptation. When Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s commandments, he entrusted the people to his brother Aaron. When Moses returned, he saw the people dancing naked around a golden calf. Aaron explained it this way: “We just threw the gold into the fire, and this calf came out.” The truth was that Aaron told the people to bring their gold jewelry. He molded it into a calf. And then he encouraged them to worship it (see Exodus 32:22–24).  James 1:14 leaves little room for bad excuses. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (NKJV). Every person plays the key role when they give in to temptation. The devil may tempt you. Someone may try to trap you. But they will not succeed unless you give in. The Bible makes it clear that no temptation is irresistible. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NLT).  Despite those assurances, temptation is shockingly easy to give in to. But you probably don’t need to be told that. Perhaps there’s a sin in your life that’s caught up with you. Perhaps you’re contemplating getting involved in a sinful relationship. Perhaps because of your sin, you’ve been overcome with guilt. If so, there’s something you need to know: God gives second chances.  First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT).  And David, who knew a thing or two about giving in to temptation and seeking God’s forgiveness, wrote, “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:10–14 NLT).  God bless you!