NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSAL CAN BRING OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE GRACE GOSPEL

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You're probably aware by now that the Roman Catholic Church made some changes to their missal, which is the official handbook of how to conduct oneself at Mass and the exact words to say at proscribed times. Many longtime Catholics are upset about this as it will force them to learn to recite different words by rote or risk embarrassment from their peers. I've spoken to a couple of Catholics about this myself who said that even with the "cheat sheet" pew card, they found themselves repeating the old mantras. Knowing the R.C.C. considers itself to be the "new Israel" and applies the words of Christ to that nation directly to itself, I had to bite back a reference to Matthew 6:7: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Knowing that would be counterproductive, I used the conversation, in one case, to share the good news of a salvation free from works and ritual: by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that he died for the sins of the world, was buried and rose again to justify us from all things (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

and that is what the risen, ascended Lord Jesus Christ returned from glory to tell Paul to tell us.

Rita Bauschard of Bible Ambassadors has for many years had a heart for Catholic souls to be reconciled unto God through his Son, Jesus Christ; and she likes to keep an eye on what the Roman System is doing. She recently sent me this Huffington Post article, along with her incisive comments (below):

"The attitude of this gal is just one reason I don't usually recommend reading the Huffington Post. Seems to be a lot of sexist females there. Putting aside her feminist attitude and her lack of scriptural support for her printed insight, the article does address issues regarding the new R.C. missal, which is why I was reading it after a search for information on it.

"I have always been an advocate of 'equal pay for the same work;' but other than that, I am perfectly willing to accept my role as a female as God Almighty has ordained it (i. e. no women clergy); and I have no doubt that the word, 'man' applies to me when speaking of salvation. It would have been well for Michele Somerville to quote God's words on the matter of salvation today, those words are the power of God. (Note: the R.C. Church is using a word - 'many' - from the Old Testament Scriptures when they framed the new response: 'Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.' God DID only come for 'many' when he came to earth over two thousand years ago: He came for the Jew only.)

"Matthew 26:28: 'For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'

"Matthew 10:5-6: 'These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'

"Matthew 15:24: 'But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'

"God's words have a lot more influence on me than a sour feminist's words. When God says something, I perk up! But, neither has the R.C. Church learned that the O.T. scriptures are written TO the nation Israel and that the following words of Christ from 1 Timothy 2:4 are written to ALL men today:

"1 Timothy 2:4: 'Who will have all men to be saved, AND to come unto the knowledge of the truth (emphasis mine).' (From a book that needs no imprimatur -- the King James Version.)

"When the R.C.C. tries to steer you away from something, beware. It's usually because they have changed something in their own teaching or wish to teach it differently.

"As a writer herself, Michele should know that 'men' in this verse means, 'mankind' and includes me as a female. There is another scripture passage I would recommend to her:

"2 Corinthians 6:17-18: 'Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

"Come out from among whom? From among the idol worshipers. Mr. Ratzinger is an idol worshiper. The context of the passage tells us who to come out from among. Mankind today in 'Christendom' is making the same mistakes the nation Israel made; and God set them aside, causing them to be blind as a nation, and is offering salvation to ALL mankind (individual Jews and Gentiles). But God will not always strive with men. HE has a plan. Are you a part of it? Verse 18 tells us that if we obey the words given to us today, God will then be our father, rather than what he said in the O.T. scripture in:

"John 8:44: 'Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.'

"Versus: 2 Cor. 6:17-18: '...and I will receive you, And be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

"(For those who question the inclusion of Matthew in the 'Old' Testament, the events and messages of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were under the Old Testament program and the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Nothing had changed as far as God's people being the 'Jew Only' -- the nation Israel. But, after that, God, through the victorious RISEN Lord Jesus Christ, gave a new message for ALL men to the Apostle Paul...See Romans through Philemon.)

"Serving, in Christ,

Rita"

Thank you, Rita, for cutting to the heart of the problem! The Roman System, by ignorance (or design?), chooses to keep their members under the thumb of Israel's now-set-aside gospel of law and works. It's undeniable that playing on people's guilt makes them easier to manipulate and fleece. The old saying that religious institutions such as this, "Wet 'em, whip 'em, and work 'em," springs to mind... I hope and pray that those caught in religious bondage, as Catholics are, will come into contact with a believer who loves them enough to tell them the good news of God's grace to all today that will set them free to truly "go in peace to love and serve the Lord"!