In Matthew 23:9 Jesus says, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." Many people interpret this to mean, "Do not call a priest "father," and do not call your dad "father." Some who hold this opinion go further and believe that calling a priest "father" v…
In Matthew 23:9 Jesus says, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." Many people interpret this to mean, "Do not call a priest "father," and do not call your dad "father." Some who hold this opinion go further and believe that calling a priest "father" violates Scripture because it seemingly involves the rejection of a direct command from Jesus. This is a common objection to the Catholic Church. But, if we believe the conclusion that it is wrong to call others "father," then what are we to make of the Scriptures that contradict this one? For example, in Mark 7:9-13, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for not honoring their "fathers." Furthermore, calling the apostles and their successors "father" was common within the early Christian communities (cf. 1 Cor. 4:15; 1 Jn. 2:12; Acts 7:2; 22:1). As in the case of all scriptural interpretations, we must understand this passage in light of the rest of Scripture (cf. 2 Pet. 1:20; 3:16). This interpretative principle is called the analogy of faith (Catechism, no. 114).
+++++++++
Priests Confession Absolution Forgiveness
John 20:19-23
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew 16:18-20
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Acts 1:21-26
[21] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” [23] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [24] And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen [25] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” [26] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 14:19-23
Paul Stoned at Lystra
[19] But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 16:4-5
[4] As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Titus 1:5-16
Qualifications for Elders
[5] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—[6] if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. [7] For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. [9] He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
[10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. [12] One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. [15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
James 5:13-20
The Prayer of Faith
[13] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
[19] My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The Holy Catholic Church has been the true Church since St Peter. Luther was envious and angry that he was not to be made a bishop or cardinal. He was also upset over the indulgences offered by the papacy of the time, but that is not a fault of Christ's Church... that is a failing of the humans in those positions of authority at that time. By the way, Luther always considered himself Catholic, prayed his Rosary, and adored the Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints.
Back to the point... to rebel against 1500 years of established doctrine, Tradition, and theology Started by Jesus and continued by his Apostles and their Successors, was simply an insane and demonically misled action.
Luther was wrong. So were all the other rebellious men who broke away from the Church to do their own thing because they didn't like obeying the Word of God or the Church he created.
It's very simple. Protestantism is a rebellion against God Almighty. It always has been. That's why it is fractured, secular, and moving into a deep, deep progressive apostasy.
An excellent, logical, yet fantastically simple argument for proof of the validity of the Catholic Church, as the one true Christian Church:
Who created the Lutheran Church? Martin Luther.
Who created the Calvinist Church? John Calvin.
Methodist? John Wesley. Anglican? Henry the 8th.
Presbyterianism? John Knox. Mormon? Joseph Smith.
Quaker? George Fox. Amish? Jakob Amman.
Baptist? John Smyth. Pentecost? Charles Parham.
But the Catholic Church? Who began that one?
Christ Jesus... when he turned to St. Peter the Apostle and said,
(Matthew chapter 16)
"13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man [the Messiah] is?”
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do You say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Petra (rock)], and on this rock [Peter] I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” "
St. Peter was the first Pope. The word 'Pope' literally means "father" or "patriarch." St Peter was the first Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic (Universal) Church.
To deny any of this is to simply not understand Scripture and not accept history. It is delusion to disbelieve the Roman Catholic Church is not the Bride of Christ.
While I do not condone anything the current "pope" has done, as he is human and is in obvious error, greatly, his actions do not condemn the Church. They condemn him. Anyone who acts against Christ and his Word is also condemning themselves. Not the Church. The Church belongs to God. It always will.
I strongly suggest you buy a proper Bible (with either the Catholic 73 books, the Coptic 73 books, the Eastern Orthodox 76 books, or even the Ethiopian Oriental 81 books). The protestants removed books that did not fit their contemporary narrative (much like gnostics, mormons, jehovah witnesses, etc.).
Read the full Bible and see how misled the reformation rebellion was.
One of the greatest tricks the devil ever pulled on the Christian world... "the reformation."
It is no coincidence that the "Enlightenment" movement started soon after, eventually ushering in secularism, modernism, progressivism, socialism, communism, and eventually... the broken world we now live in.
I pray for Jesus to open your eyes and heart to the truth as well Mr. Thompson. 🙏When my flesh dies, I will immediately be with the Lord in Paradise, I pray that for you and Sarah as well.
catholiceducation . org
Priest called Father
In Matthew 23:9 Jesus says, "And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." Many people interpret this to mean, "Do not call a priest "father," and do not call your dad "father." Some who hold this opinion go further and believe that calling a priest "father" violates Scripture because it seemingly involves the rejection of a direct command from Jesus. This is a common objection to the Catholic Church. But, if we believe the conclusion that it is wrong to call others "father," then what are we to make of the Scriptures that contradict this one? For example, in Mark 7:9-13, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for not honoring their "fathers." Furthermore, calling the apostles and their successors "father" was common within the early Christian communities (cf. 1 Cor. 4:15; 1 Jn. 2:12; Acts 7:2; 22:1). As in the case of all scriptural interpretations, we must understand this passage in light of the rest of Scripture (cf. 2 Pet. 1:20; 3:16). This interpretative principle is called the analogy of faith (Catechism, no. 114).
+++++++++
Priests Confession Absolution Forgiveness
John 20:19-23
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew 16:18-20
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Acts 1:21-26
[21] So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” [23] And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [24] And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen [25] to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” [26] And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 14:19-23
Paul Stoned at Lystra
[19] But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20] But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21] When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23] And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 16:4-5
[4] As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Titus 1:5-16
Qualifications for Elders
[5] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—[6] if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. [7] For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. [9] He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
[10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. [12] One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. [15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
James 5:13-20
The Prayer of Faith
[13] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
[19] My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, [20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
+++++++++++
The Holy Catholic Church has been the true Church since St Peter. Luther was envious and angry that he was not to be made a bishop or cardinal. He was also upset over the indulgences offered by the papacy of the time, but that is not a fault of Christ's Church... that is a failing of the humans in those positions of authority at that time. By the way, Luther always considered himself Catholic, prayed his Rosary, and adored the Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints.
Back to the point... to rebel against 1500 years of established doctrine, Tradition, and theology Started by Jesus and continued by his Apostles and their Successors, was simply an insane and demonically misled action.
Luther was wrong. So were all the other rebellious men who broke away from the Church to do their own thing because they didn't like obeying the Word of God or the Church he created.
It's very simple. Protestantism is a rebellion against God Almighty. It always has been. That's why it is fractured, secular, and moving into a deep, deep progressive apostasy.
An excellent, logical, yet fantastically simple argument for proof of the validity of the Catholic Church, as the one true Christian Church:
Who created the Lutheran Church? Martin Luther.
Who created the Calvinist Church? John Calvin.
Methodist? John Wesley. Anglican? Henry the 8th.
Presbyterianism? John Knox. Mormon? Joseph Smith.
Quaker? George Fox. Amish? Jakob Amman.
Baptist? John Smyth. Pentecost? Charles Parham.
But the Catholic Church? Who began that one?
Christ Jesus... when he turned to St. Peter the Apostle and said,
(Matthew chapter 16)
"13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man [the Messiah] is?”
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do You say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Petra (rock)], and on this rock [Peter] I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” "
St. Peter was the first Pope. The word 'Pope' literally means "father" or "patriarch." St Peter was the first Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ, the Catholic (Universal) Church.
To deny any of this is to simply not understand Scripture and not accept history. It is delusion to disbelieve the Roman Catholic Church is not the Bride of Christ.
While I do not condone anything the current "pope" has done, as he is human and is in obvious error, greatly, his actions do not condemn the Church. They condemn him. Anyone who acts against Christ and his Word is also condemning themselves. Not the Church. The Church belongs to God. It always will.
I strongly suggest you buy a proper Bible (with either the Catholic 73 books, the Coptic 73 books, the Eastern Orthodox 76 books, or even the Ethiopian Oriental 81 books). The protestants removed books that did not fit their contemporary narrative (much like gnostics, mormons, jehovah witnesses, etc.).
Read the full Bible and see how misled the reformation rebellion was.
One of the greatest tricks the devil ever pulled on the Christian world... "the reformation."
It is no coincidence that the "Enlightenment" movement started soon after, eventually ushering in secularism, modernism, progressivism, socialism, communism, and eventually... the broken world we now live in.
I pray for Jesus to open your eyes and heart to the truth as well Mr. Thompson. 🙏When my flesh dies, I will immediately be with the Lord in Paradise, I pray that for you and Sarah as well.
Hopes and wishes do not negate Scripture and Magisterium. May God remove the scales from your eyes before it is too late.
+ In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
There are no words by Jesus Christ nor in Sacred Scripture that say who is and who is not going to Heaven.