The Hilarity of Closed Mindedness
FSU Revolution is dedicated to keeping an open mind. I am about to share an example of why.
I found an answer on Yahoo! Answers to the question “Is there such thing as a catholic bible?”
Here’s one of the answers I found, by a person with the name of Chris:
Catholicism is not Christian. Catholicism cannot get anyone into heaven, because catholicism teaches works for salvation, and that is a false gospel of works (Galatians 1:6-9) that is against JESUS’S free gift of salvation!
And catholicism will not give you a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, which is what JESUS wants with you!
So, you need to get away from catholicism, and instead, to believe in JESUS for His free gift of eternal life in heaven! John 3:16! 
!
It’s clear from the Book of Acts in the Bible that catholics didn’t even exist during the days of Acts. And the SEVEN CHURCHES in Revelation, all of which existed before 100 AD, NONE of them are catholic! Catholicism didn’t exist for over 300 years after Jesus. And catholicism didn’t exist for over 200 years after the Bible was complete and compiled. Those in the Book of Acts are the first Christians, and they believed what would be called fundamentalist doctrine today. ANYONE can read the Book of Acts for themselves and see. Had catholicism existed during the time of Acts, the first Christians would have rejected catholicism completely.
Also there’s TONS of Christians who also completely rejected catholicism, long before Martin Luther was even born. Catholicism murdered millions and millions of Christians. :*(
So not only is it wrong for anyone to say that “catholics were the first Christians”, but this blows away the catholic claim that “no churches existed other than the catholic church, until Martin Luther”.
Every “pope” is a false prophet. And there is no “pope” in the Bible.
There were ALWAYS saved believers outside the catholic cult, who knew catholicism cannot save anyone.
Catholicism cannot save. Only believing in Jesus for His free gift of salvation, is what saves!
So, catholics need to get away from catholicism, and instead, to believe in JESUS for His free gift of salvation!
Jesus is God, and Jesus loves you so very much! And the Trinity is true!
The truth about Jesus is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to hell, is by believing in JESUS for His free gift of eternal life in heaven, believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died on the cross for all our sins as FULL PAYMENT for all our sins, and then Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe in Jesus for His free gift of salvation, and you will be in heaven, no matter what!
Salvation is a FREE GIFT that happens in a split second when you believe in JESUS for His free gift of salvation! It is impossible to lose or “leave” salvation (John 6:39-40, John 10:28, 1 John 5:13).
Please pray now: “Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross to pay for my sins and that You rose from the dead, and I thank You for eternal life!” You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die!
Feel free to email me if you need more help: *******@yahoo.com
I’m a Pastor
In my belief, a Pastor should know what he’s talking about when he says things like this. I was awed at the lack of information and argument he had. Since he said to email him, I did. Here’s my response:
Pastor Chris
You should read up on the history of the Bible. During the Great Reformation, the protestants actually took out the Apocrypha from the Bible (the books weren’t “added”).
I do not agree that the Apocrypha is very true (Ben Sirach, the author of Ecclesiasticus wrote a very sexist, very strange wisdom book), but the reason they were taken out has nothing to do with them being true or not. They were mostly not considered part of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) because they were written in Greek, not Hebrew or Aramaic.
The Apocrypha actually has very useful historical information in the Maccabean books (the history of Hanukkah)
Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestants, actually still included the Apocrypha in the Bible. He just separated it from the rest of the Hebrew Bible (Besides the Esdras, which he removed)
On the subject of the Catholic Church, tradition does hold that it was found by Jesus Christ. Though he didn’t specifically create the organized Church, it was probably the first organization of said Churches (not the first Churches). So even if it isn’t the first church, it’s the first group of them. The first Pope of Catholicism (And yes, I do disagree with the concept of the Pope) appeared with the legalization of Christianity in the Roman Empire in year 313.
But you do need to realize all Church groups have organized leaders. If not a single person, a counsel. The Lutherans have the Synods, the Methodists UMLS, etc, etc. Even non-denominational churches have their own leadership; an example would be the Great Commission Churches. So don’t judge solely on the fact that they have leadership.
And they still do believe that Jesus is the savor.
I’m a follower myself, as well as a Protestant. I do not agree with the Catholic beliefs, nor am I supporting it. But your arguments will only create hatred and resentment from people who will view you as someone who doesn’t accept people for who they are. It will be viewed as hypocrisy, which I want to tell you to watch out for. Image is important to Christians, because we represent Christ. Remember, Christ accepted all prostitutes, and even the Samaritans, the Jewish sect that was always looked down upon, whom he never condemned.
I don’t mean to go against your authority as a Pastor (I’m not ordained, but I would like to be), but I believe in accountability for all. I beg you don’t take this as disrespect, I always have love for a brother in Christ. I am interested in starting a conversation and getting to know you better though (I’ve seen a lot of your posts on Answers). I believe that we can learn from our differing opinions.
I get my knowledge from Biblical study courses I’m taking in College (Florida State University) as well as conversations and experiences with various pastors of various denominations. I am United Methodist myself, though I come from a Lutheran background and went to a non-denominational Church for a while.
In Christ,
James
As I said in my email to him, I took a class on Biblical history, etc. Not to brag, but I researched my information and supported it the best I could (Complain in the comments if you don’t agree).
My jaw literally dropped at his simple response.
“History” is garbage. Man can and does alter “history” all the time.
I believe the BIBLE, not man’s “history”.
I said to myself…okay? I already know this guy is somewhat a weirdo. Here’s my response:
I believe in the Bible as well, but not believing in man’s history can cause some interesting results. Do you believe in the history of the United States? Because if you don’t, we live in a pseudo-country. Are we actually a democracy? Did Ben Franklin actually exist?
History is, in fact, written by the victor, so it is probably altered and changed with varying opinions, as you said. But Christians are guilty of this as well, as we can be guilty of interpreting Biblical verses in our own ways. Stating so simply your version of interpretation and your version of events is the same crime you accuse history-writers of.
And even if you say it’s God’s interpretation and not yours, how can we prove that? How can we say it’s not our interpretation of what God is saying, and not what he himself is?
The human mind is very fallible and can take events to it’s own liking. Stating such things without support or reasoning for your argument only gives that impression.
Again, I am trying to be respectful and cohesive. Can I ask you to do the same?
In Christ,
James
I was doing my best to be cohesive with plenty of support. But he wouldn’t have it. In another short response, he says:
Satan is not interested in lying about Ben Franklin.
Satan is interested in lying about spiritual matters.
If you are a Christian, this is elementary.
“If you are a Christian, this is elementary.”
I gave up at this point.
This is an example of what will push people away from Christ. Closed mindedness, almost insulting words almost made me ashamed of those who share the title “Christian” with me…especially pastors (Or who claim to be pastors).
Am I wrong?
James
Kevin S said,
July 29, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for writing this. I appreciate that you took the time to try to get through Chris’s impenetrable skull. I am not sure what to make of him most of the time. To have the incredible stamina to post such concentrated bigoted hatred all day long, practically every day of the year for at LEAST three years (that’s how long I’ve been on there) suggests a very troubled mind and probably one that is in need of psychiatric care. Seriously, even Fred Phelps doesn’t seem to be so consumed by one single issue to this extent.
Chris (or David, as he sometimes calls himself) is positively eaten up by the fact that there was a Catholic church, and that it predates the one he belongs to. To say Catholics aren’t Christians – absurd though it sounds – is to, in essence, say that reputable history texts, scholarly writings, and even the DICTIONARY are lying.
I appreciate that you tried though. And as tireless as he is in posting such poisonous dreck, I will be equally tireless in opposing him.
Kevin