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An anti-Catholic Protestant who goes by the delightfully charitable nickname,\u00a0pearlsb4swine<\/a>, roused himself out of inactivity on Disqus (over a year) to comment underneath my article,\u00a0 <\/span>Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood? (vs. Douglas Wilson)<\/a>. He made nine comments over the span of three days. Knowing the usual tactics of anti-Catholics (and trollers in general) \u2014 from my 24 years of online apologetics \u2014 , I made a few replies and challenged him:<\/p>\n Your choice is this: either deal directly with my explicit, in-depth biblical arguments about the meaning of \u201cchurch\u201d and baptism in Scripture, and my question about Athanasius and Augustine [i.e., are they Christians?], or you will be banned as an anti-Catholic troll and I will delete all of your comments.<\/p>\n I want to see an anti-Catholic actually\u00a0grapple\u00a0<\/i><\/b>with Catholic bible-based arguments for a change.<\/p>\n You wanna talk Bible? I have given you plenty of it. Now please get to work and back up what you say under scrutiny. If your view is\u00a0so\u00a0<\/i><\/b>truthful and ours supposedly so\u00a0unbiblical and false<\/i>, it should be short work for you. You should\u00a0welcome<\/i>\u00a0the challenge, and be ecstatic about the\u00a0golden opportunity<\/i>\u00a0to set us ignorant papists straight \u2014 from the Bible \u2014 , right on one of our own web pages.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That was written about 30 hours ago, as of this writing. Oddly enough, we haven\u2019t heard a peep from pearlsb4swine<\/em> since. Sound familiar<\/em>? I\u2019ll give him to the end of this day to respond (another 13 hours). If he hasn\u2019t<\/em> by then, I will delete all his comments from that thread (but retain them here<\/em>). If he does<\/em> respond, I will \u2014 rest assured \u2014 add his words to this paper, and refute them, too. His words will be in blue<\/span> below (I\u2019ve made a few spelling corrections, and have retained his lack of capital letters).<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n One must believe the gospel to be a born again Christian. Religion and labels are the problem, denominations and human tradition are man\u2019s perversion of Christianity called \u201cthe cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming\u201d by the Bible. every individual should join themselves to the savior not to a religious system or event. God looks at the heart. There are many christians and church goers from all denominations that are not born of God. going to church doesn\u2019t save you only repentance and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ can save anyone. Jesus himself said \u201cyou must be born again\u201d The Core issue is what is the gospel and who is a part of the Body of Christ, not which label or religious ritual defines christianity. \u201cyou are my disciples if you obey my teaching \u201d Jesus said \u201cthey will know we are christians by our love for one another. anyone identifying themselves by anything other than the Jesus revealed in the gospels and the rest of the Bible is not a christian. you must have the Christ and the real Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n Christian unity comes only through the holy spirit inside a believer. all other externals cannot bring unity. those who are his have a new nature at work in them reconciling them to the light. \u201cif we live in the light as HE is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins.\u201d baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. read the bible for yourselves as you surrender to the savior and then test everything including your church and its leaders. God gives us all the same bible to test truth and the same Holy Spirit to discern family by that same spirit. the devil works feverishly to counterfeit christianity and to create many other counterfeit Christs through false religions.<\/span><\/p>\n What does this have to do with the topic of my article?<\/p>\n any debate about who is a true christian starts with being in Christ and applying biblical definitions to terms. it has everything to do with your article because your article focus on labels and denominations rather than on the gospel and the holy spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n we are individuals \u201csaved\u201d and a body together. \u201cthe church\u201d how it has become commonly used in culture is a place you go or a claim of authority and succession, but that is never how its defined in the new testament. The church are real christians not the visible church (institution) all though many genuine believers attend \u201cchurch\u201d. i am not against church just against wrong definitions which distort christian life and leaders use to control people and cultures. The point of this article opens up with a false dichotomy with \u201clabels\u201d and definitions that aren\u2019t biblical.<\/span><\/p>\n the issue of whether \u201cCatholics\u201d are \u201cchristians\u201d or not. neither label makes one IN CHRIST only repentance of sins and faith in Jesus Christ as total payment for the debt we deserve makes someone a part of the body of Christ. wearing a label or entering a building called \u201cchurch\u201d or joining any denomination doesn\u2019t make one a Christ follower. my point is that opinions matter not we must have biblically defined \u201cChurch\u201d . . .\u00a0<\/span>the word is \u201cgathering\u201d \u201cassembly\u201d of believers.<\/span><\/p>\n We are the church by being IN JESUS and the Holy Spirit makes us born again when we believe and receive the gospel of Jesus by faith.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Church\u201d defined biblically are individuals who are in Christ, not an institution, organization or people wearing that name. you can be inside the building or in the pulpit and not filled with the Holy Spirit. The gospel is preached by individuals not churches.<\/span><\/p>\n This is exactly the\u00a0opposite<\/i>\u00a0of how St. Paul uses the term in his epistles, following Jesus\u2019 parable of the wheat and the tares:<\/p>\n The Apostle Paul on the Galatians as Miserable Sinners<\/b><\/span> Galatians 1:6<\/b>\u00a0(RSV) \u201cI am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel\u201d Galatians 4:9b<\/b>\u00a0\u201c. . . how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 5:4<\/b>\u00a0\u201cYou are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 5:7<\/b>\u00a0\u201cYou were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n The Apostle Paul on the Galatians as Fellow Christians<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Galatians 1:2<\/b>\u00a0\u201cTo the churches of Galatia\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 1:11<\/b>\u00a0\u201cFor I would have you know, brethren, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 3:25-27<\/b>\u00a0\u201cBut now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:4-7<\/b>\u00a0\u201cBut when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \u201cAbba! Father!\u201d [7] So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:9a\u00a0<\/b>\u201cbut now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:12<\/b>\u00a0\u201cBrethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:19<\/b>\u00a0\u201cMy little children, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:28<\/b>\u00a0\u201cNow we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 4:31\u00a0<\/b>\u201cSo, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 5:1\u00a0<\/b>\u201cFor freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 6:1<\/b>\u00a0\u201cBrethren, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n Galatians 6:18\u00a0<\/b>\u201cThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n There are similar dynamics with the Corinthian church as well. Our Lord Jesus also calls all seven assemblies of Revelation \u201cchurches\u201d (2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 2:18; 3:1; 3:7; 3:14; along with the repetition of \u201cwhat the Spirit says to the churches\u201d in 2:7 and similar passages), yet excoriates several of them in no uncertain terms (2:4-5; 2:14-16; 2:20-22; 3:1-3; 3:15-18).<\/p>\n Jesus Himself rebukes six of the seven churches of Asia He addresses. Most scholars think that the Book of Revelation was written no later than 100 A.D. Yet look at all the serious problems we already observe in these apostolic churches, before the last Apostle (John) died:<\/p>\n a) The church at Ephesus \u201cabandoned the love [they] had at first\u201d (Rev 2:4), and are urged (corporately) to repent, lest their \u201clampstand\u201d be removed (2:5).<\/p>\n b) Pergamum was accused of idolatry and fornication: \u201cthe teaching of Balaam\u201d (2:14) and for allowing some of their ranks to adopt the Nicolaitan heresy (2:15). \u201cNicolas\u201d is the Greek equivalent of \u201cBalaam.\u201d<\/p>\n c) Thyatira is also accused of idolatry and fornication (2:20-23).<\/p>\n d) Sardis is rebuked as spiritually dead (3:1-3), but Jesus says \u201cyet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.\u201d (3:4). Even so, Jesus calls this group \u201cthe church in Sardis\u201d (3:1), just as He refers to all seven as \u201cchurches.\u201d<\/p>\n e) Philadelphia had \u201cbut little power\u201d (3:8).<\/p>\n f) Laodicea was \u201clukewarm, . . . wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked\u201d (3:15-18).<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Related Reading<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Sins and Sinners in the Catholic Church<\/a>\u00a0[1998]<\/p>\n An anti-Catholic Protestant who goes by the delightfully charitable nickname,\u00a0pearlsb4swine, roused himself out of inactivity on Disqus (over a year) to comment underneath my article,\u00a0 Blessed Virgin Mary Will Soon be Promoted to Godhood? (vs. Douglas Wilson). He made nine comments over the span of three days. Knowing the usual tactics of anti-Catholics (and trollers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":45305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[231],"tags":[855,2361,1119,2744,2440,8994,10427,10424,163],"class_list":["post-45302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anti-catholicism","tag-anti-catholic","tag-anti-catholicism","tag-catholic-church","tag-christian","tag-church","tag-definition-of-christian","tag-definition-of-church","tag-ecclesia","tag-ecclesiology"],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nGalatians 3:1-3<\/b>\u00a0\u201cO foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? [2] Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?\u201d<\/p>\nAre Sinful Church Leaders a Disproof of Catholicism?<\/a>\u00a0[1998]<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nHow Can the One True Church Have Sinners in it?<\/a>\u00a0[2002]<\/div>\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSinners in the Church & God\u2019s Mercy (vs. Calvin #8)<\/a>\u00a0[5-15-09]<\/div>\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDo Catholic Sexual Scandals Disprove Catholic Truth Claims?<\/a>\u00a0[11-10-11]<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nSt. Paul on Sinners in the Church (Notorious Galatians)<\/a>\u00a0[12-20-11]<\/div>\n*
\nCatholic Sinners & Corruption: the \u201cJesus, Paul, & Revelation\u201d Retort\u00a0<\/a>[5-25-17]<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nSinning Christians: Catholic vs. Protestant Approaches<\/a>\u00a0[8-10-17]
\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\nChristian Sinners & \u201cPuritanical\u201d Fanaticism (Reply to Calvin #5)<\/a>\u00a0[12-17-18]
\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n***<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nUnfortunately, Money Trees Do Not Exist<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span>If you have been aided in any way by my work, or think it is valuable and worthwhile, please strongly consider financially supporting it (even $10 \/ month \u2014 a mere 33 cents a day \u2014 would be very helpful). I have been a full-time Catholic apologist since Dec. 2001, and have been writing Christian apologetics since 1981 (see\u00a0my Resume<\/a>).\u00a0My work has been proven (by God\u2019s grace alone) to be fruitful, in terms of changing lives (see the tangible evidences\u00a0from unsolicited \u201ctestimonies\u201d<\/a>).\u00a0I have to pay my bills like all of you: and have a (homeschooling) wife and two children still at home to provide for, and a mortgage to pay.<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nMy book royalties from\u00a0three bestsellers in the field<\/a>\u00a0(published in 2003-2007) have been decreasing, as has my overall income, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.\u00a0 I provide over 2700 free articles here, for the purpose of your edification and education, and have\u00a0written 50 books<\/a>.\u00a0It\u2019ll literally be a struggle to survive financially until Dec. 2020, when both my wife and I will be receiving Social Security. If you cannot contribute, I ask for your prayers (and \u201clikes\u201d and links and shares). Thanks!<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nSee my\u00a0information on how to donate<\/a>\u00a0(including 100% tax-deductible donations). It\u2019s very simple to contribute to my apostolate via PayPal, if a tax deduction is not needed (my \u201cbusiness name\u201d there is called \u201cCatholic Used Book Service,\u201d from my old bookselling days 17 or so years ago, but send to my email: apologistdave@gmail.com). Another easy way to send and receive money (with a bank account or a mobile phone) is through\u00a0Zelle<\/a>. Again, just send to my e-mail address.\u00a0May God abundantly bless you.<\/div>\n*<\/div>\n***<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPhoto credit:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0BilliTheCat<\/a>\u00a0(12-26-18)<\/span> [Pixabay<\/a> \/\u00a0Pixabay License<\/a>]<\/div>\n<\/div>\n***<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"