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I looked for a church that did not come out of another church and teach a doctrine different from the church it came out of. Only one church qualified historically and scripturally. When some of my long time friends heard that I had become Catholic they were shocked (some of them were witches, others were fundamentalists, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Baptists, Anglicans and Methodists, including the AME pastors I had known and had shared unofficial pastoral ministry with). People asked me, "How can you do that?" I said, "Because I believe the Bible. Let me show you." I stand on the firm foundation of the doctrine of the Bible which includes all "authority established by God" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1-10&version=KJV Romans 13:1-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A17&version=KJV Hebrews 13:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A13-17&version=KJV 1 Peter 2:13-17]). The established Church has "the mind of Christ".

I looked for a church that did not come out of another church and teach a doctrine different from the church it came out of. Only one church qualified historically and scripturally. When some of my long time friends heard that I had become Catholic they were shocked (some of them were witches, others were fundamentalists, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Baptists, Anglicans and Methodists, including the AME pastors I had known and had shared unofficial pastoral ministry with). People asked me, "How can you do that?" I said, "Because I believe the Bible. Let me show you." I stand on the firm foundation of the doctrine of the Bible which includes all "authority established by God" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1-10&version=KJV Romans 13:1-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A17&version=KJV Hebrews 13:17]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A13-17&version=KJV 1 Peter 2:13-17]). The established Church has "the mind of Christ".

Rejection of scripture written by men who were sent by the Lord, is rejection of the word of the Lord who was sent by the Father, and rejection of the word of the Lord who was sent by God is rejection of the Lord who sent Him ([http://biblehub.com/luke/10-16.htm Luke 10:16]; [http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-40.htm Matthew 10:40]; [http://biblehub.com/luke/9-48.htm Luke 9:48]; [http://biblehub.com/john/13-20.htm John 13:20]; [http://biblehub.com/luke/9-48.htm 12:48]). The full context of the teaching of the Bible itself according to the whole of the first sixteen centuries of consistent Christian understanding of '''salvation''' through the blood of Christ alone, poured out by the Holy Spirit of Christ ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A9-11&version=KJV Romans 8:9-11]) in baptism with water ([http://biblehub.com/1_john/5-6.htm 1 John 5:6]; [http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-11.htm 1 Corinthians 6:11]; [http://biblehub.com/revelation/1-5.htm Revelation 1:5]), was the reason the whole Christian Church, Catholic, Orthodox and mainstream Protestant ''together'', guided by the Holy Spirit ([http://biblehub.com/john/14-16.htm John 14:16] and [http://biblehub.com/john/14-26.htm 26]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A13-14&version=KJV 16:13-14]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=KJV Matthew 28:19-20]), condemned the credobaptism doctrine of the [[Anabaptists]] and [[Baptist]]s as a doctrine of Satan himself, depriving souls of salvation "by water and the Spirit". What they say I say with them.

Rejection of scripture written by men who were sent by the Lord, is rejection of the word of the Lord who was sent by the Father, and rejection of the word of the Lord who was sent by God is rejection of the Lord who sent Him ([http://biblehub.com/luke/10-16.htm Luke 10:16]; [http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-40.htm Matthew 10:40]; [http://biblehub.com/luke/9-48.htm Luke 9:48]; [http://biblehub.com/john/13-20.htm John 13:20]; [http://biblehub.com/luke/9-48.htm 12:48]). The full context of the teaching of the Bible itself according to the whole of the first sixteen centuries of consistent Christian understanding of '''salvation''' through the blood of Christ alone, poured out by the Holy Spirit of Christ ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A9-11&version=KJV Romans 8:9-11]) in baptism with water ([http://biblehub.com/1_john/5-6.htm 1 John 5:6]; [http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-11.htm 1 Corinthians 6:11]; [http://biblehub.com/revelation/1-5.htm Revelation 1:5]), was the reason the whole Christian Church, Catholic, Orthodox and mainstream Protestant ''together'', guided by the Holy Spirit ([http://biblehub.com/john/14-16.htm John 14:16] and [http://biblehub.com/john/14-26.htm 26]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A13-14&version=KJV 16:13-14]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19-20&version=KJV Matthew 28:19-20]), condemned the credobaptism doctrine of the [[Anabaptists]] and [[Baptist]]s as a doctrine of Satan himself, depriving souls of salvation "by water and the Spirit". What they say I say with them. I am responsible for the initial and subsequent development of the historically-based Conservapedia article discussing [[Infant baptism]].

For the benefit of other readers here, it is evident that the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' affirms that "'''Baptism is of the spirit, not of the flesh'''" ([http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1213 '''1213-1284'''] and [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#1987 '''1987-2029''']). <br> It's pretty simple. Baptism '''saves''' the soul (1 Peter 3:21). A child can understand that. Look at Ephesians 5:25-27 "by water with the word" and Titus 3:5 "saved us by the washing of regeneration" (the Greek word means washing with water—for regeneration "by water and the Spirit", John 3:5).

For the benefit of other readers here, it is evident that the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' affirms that "'''Baptism is of the spirit, not of the flesh'''" ([http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1213 '''1213-1284'''] and [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#1987 '''1987-2029''']). <br> It's pretty simple. Baptism '''saves''' the soul (1 Peter 3:21). A child can understand that. Look at Ephesians 5:25-27 "by water with the word" and Titus 3:5 "saved us by the washing of regeneration" (the Greek word means washing with water—for regeneration "by water and the Spirit", John 3:5).

Perhaps you're familiar with Christ Renews His Parish CRHP Catholic Christian weekend retreats. About five years into the Catholic Church, at the beginning of the establishment of that program of spiritual renewal (a kind of Catholic "revival" weekend) I attended the one for men somewhat reluctantly, and to my great surprise and relief was tremendously edified to discover that there is such a thing as Christian male community, a renewal better than I had ever found in any of the "men's fellowships" I had previously experienced in other churches. I afterward enthusiastically joined the next men's formation team for the following CRHP men's weekend retreat scheduled to occur 6 months later.  

As for my participation in Christian community in Church. Perhaps you're familiar with Christ Renews His Parish CRHP Catholic Christian weekend retreats. About five years into the Catholic Church, at the beginning of the early 1980s establishment of that program of spiritual renewal (a kind of Catholic 2-day "revival" weekend retreat with testimony, Bible, prayer and meal-time fellowship) I attended the one for men somewhat reluctantly, and to my great surprise and relief was tremendously edified to discover that there is such a thing as Christian male community, a renewal better than I had ever found in any of the "men's fellowships" I had previously experienced in other churches. I afterward enthusiastically joined the next men's formation team for the following CRHP men's weekend retreat scheduled to occur 6 months later to help other Catholic men commit to rededicating themselves anew to the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Part of that formation was what is called "history and faith sharing" in which one by one we each were invited to tell our faith-journey, as much or as little as we wished, with the strict condition that nothing we shared was to be repeated outside to anyone else. When each of the guys finished his "testimony" and sat down we each responded with personal comments of support and appreciation for what they had said and what God had done in their lives and prayed with them briefly. However, when I gave my faith and history story and sat down, there was stunned silence. One of the men, studying for the diaconate, leaned forward with a shocked expression on his face and said, "Please don't misunderstand me, but why aren't you insane or dead?" I had been honest, and as my fellow Christian Catholic brothers they still accepted me. Reliving the details of what I had experienced and how Christ had saved me was a shattering experience. My hands trembled all the next day. But a week later, when we met again, one of the men told me that he'd had nightmares for 3 nights because of what I had said. A few years before my CRHP weekend I had been told by my spiritual director in private spiritual direction, "Mike, please do yourself and other people a favor: DO NOT give the details of your past. Most priests I know can't handle what you know. And I believe you." I promised I wouldn't. But I had been persuaded to disobey him when I told my story confidentially to these men with complete trust in the formation team for CRHP. I have firmly decided to never do that again. There is such a thing as "toxic knowledge" that once you have come to know it you wish to God with all your heart that you had never been exposed to that knowledge or experience. Abbreviated parts of my conversion experience I've posted in pieces on several Conservapedia talk pages. Please understand that each time I posted parts of my story I left out a lot, especially my participation in and embracing of non-Christian religions and practices. Posting was a spontaneous act. I could not actually sit down and compose my conversion story in response to a request. What I have posted here I adapted from what posts I have previously contributed on article talk pages and from my own talk page. I have also told only some of it one-on-one during friendly conversations over coffee and donuts in the church hall and sometimes with friends in a restaurant. But as welcome as the invitation to give on this page a witness and testimony to salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, please understand that I would rather not reveal more detail. Believe me, it just simply would not be a good idea. As I said, I was once asked innocently "What were you before your conversion." And I said, "I was evil." They thought I was joking. I wasn't. (I will only say that as "far gone" as I was, I never participated at any in any human sacrifice, or in any form of abortion—that at least I did not do.)  

Part of that formation was what is called "history and faith sharing" in which one by one we each were invited to tell our faith-journey, as much or as little as we wished, with the strict condition that nothing we shared was to be repeated outside to anyone else. When each of the guys finished his "testimony" and sat down we each responded with personal comments of support and appreciation for what they had said and what God had done in their lives and prayed with them briefly. However, when I gave my faith and history story and sat down, there was stunned silence. One of the men, studying for the diaconate, leaned forward with a shocked expression on his face and said, "Please don't misunderstand me, but why aren't you insane or dead?" I had been honest, and as my fellow Christian Catholic brothers they still accepted me. Reliving the details of what I had experienced and how Christ had saved me was a shattering experience. My hands trembled all the next day. But a week later, when we met again, one of the men told me that he'd had nightmares for 3 nights because of what I had said. A few years before my CRHP weekend I had been told by my spiritual director in private spiritual direction, "Mike, please do yourself and other people a favor: DO NOT give the details of your past. Most priests I know can't handle what you know. And I believe you." I promised I wouldn't. But I had been persuaded to disobey him when I told my story confidentially to these men with complete trust in the formation team for CRHP. I have firmly decided to never do that again. There is such a thing as "toxic knowledge" that once you have come to know it you wish to God with all your heart that you had never been exposed to that knowledge or experience. Abbreviated parts of my conversion experience I've posted in pieces on several Conservapedia talk pages as relevant to the discussions there. Please understand that each time I posted parts of my story I left out a lot, especially my participation in and embracing of non-Christian religions and practices. Posting parts of my witness was a spontaneous act. I could not actually sit down and compose my conversion story in response to a request. What I have posted here I have adapted from what posts I have previously contributed on article talk pages and from my own talk page. I have also outside of Conservapedia also told only some of it one-on-one during friendly conversations over coffee and donuts in the church hall and sometimes with friends in a restaurant. But as welcome as the invitation from NishantXavier to me to give on this page a witness and testimony to salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is, please understand that I would rather not reveal more detail. Believe me, it just simply would not be a good idea. At first, I declined. As I said, I was once asked innocently "What were you before your conversion." And I said, "I was evil." They thought I was joking. I wasn't. (I will only say that as "far gone" as I was, I had never participated at any in any human sacrifice, or in any form of abortion—''that at least I did not do''.) I realized that I could combine what I'd already written, and adapt it as my testimony and witness here to others.

By a sudden and vivid spiritual experience that was utterly unexpected and profoundly shaking, which raised the hairs on my head and arms and made me immediately stop in my tracks, Jesus brought me from profound darkness into his own "marvelous light". Afterward I willingly renounced all my psychic powers, and when that influence was removed, I could "breathe again"! <br> That will have to be enough, along with what you can glean from my contributions to my own and other article talk pages (most of which I have repeated here).

In 1977, by a sudden and vivid spiritual experience that was utterly unexpected and profoundly shaking, which raised the hairs on my head and arms and made me immediately stop in my tracks, Jesus brought me from profound darkness into his own "marvelous light". I did not understand at the time why it made me think of the Catholic Church. I contacted a priest and was assigned to take private instruction in catechism ("be catechized") by a Deacon of the church, Rev. Loren Ritz. (He said afterward that some of the things I confided to him about my past, "were some of the strangest things I've ever heard—no wonder Father said not to put you in a class together with others"—I had even offered to teach him how to psychically see through a wall!) Afterward, and during the period of my catechism, I willingly renounced all my psychic powers, and when that influence was removed, I could "breathe again", and sobbed for several minutes in gratitude! <br> That will have to be enough, along with what you can glean of my Christian understanding and historical scholarship from my contributions to my own and other article talk pages (most of which I have repeated here).

If Jesus is Lord, he commands us to obey him. I kept coming across passages in the Bible about the authority of the Church. —'''if he refuses to listen even to the CHURCH'''—He that hath an ear, '''let him hear what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES'''. (''Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22''). '''And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?''' (''Luke 6:46''). '''He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day''' (''John 12:48''). '''Why do ye not understand my speech? ''even'' because ye cannot hear my word.''' (''John 8:43''). <br> For this reason alone, if you believe in the Bible as the word of God, '''I beg you, for the sake of your soul, to obey Jesus' word, and do what he says, to listen to the Church and hear what the Spirit says to the Churches'''. <br>Little groups of "two or three" that get together to decide for themselves what the Bible means, if they are gathered together in the name of the Lord, Jesus is there in their midst, true, ''but if they refuse to hear his word to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches'', the word that he himself has spoken, the same shall judge them in the last day. The Spirit said through Saint Peter, "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (''2 Peter 1:20''). He also warns against those who "wrest" or twist the scriptures to their own destruction and draw others to fall from their stability in the Lord. Every group that separated from the authority of those who were over them in the church and went out and formed another church during the first 8 centuries of Christianity all died out and became extinct. Some groups, sects and churches today have been founded on those previously extinct teachings, but only after centuries of historical discontinuity. The only continuous church that has remained from the time of the apostles is the orthodox catholic Christian church.

Jesus is Lord, and he commands us to obey him. I had kept coming across passages in the Bible about the authority of the Church. —'''if he refuses to listen even to the CHURCH'''—He that hath an ear, '''let him hear what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES'''. (''Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22''). '''And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?''' (''Luke 6:46''). '''He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day''' (''John 12:48''). '''Why do ye not understand my speech? ''even'' because ye cannot hear my word.''' (''John 8:43''). <br> For this reason alone, if you believe in the Bible as the word of God, '''I beg you, for the sake of your soul, to obey Jesus' word, and do what he says, to listen to the Church and hear what the Spirit says to the Churches'''. <br>Little groups of "two or three" that get together to decide for themselves what the Bible means, if they are gathered together in the name of the Lord, Jesus is there in their midst, true, ''but if they refuse to hear his word to hear what the Spirit says to the Churches'', the word that he himself has spoken, the same shall judge them in the last day. The Spirit said through Saint Peter, "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (''2 Peter 1:20''). He also warns against those who "wrest" or twist the scriptures to their own destruction and draw others to fall from their stability in the Lord. Every group that separated from the authority of those who were over them in the church and went out and formed another church during the first 8 centuries of Christianity all died out and became extinct. Some groups, sects and churches today have been founded on those previously extinct teachings, but only after centuries of historical discontinuity. The only continuous church that has remained from the time of the apostles is the orthodox catholic Christian church.

I had read the Bible several times in the decades from age 8 to 30 before I was led to look at the Catholic Church, which I had been taught as a youngster is "the whore of Babylon". There are several irrefutable passages about established authority from God which I found impossible to ignore, if I was to be "honest to God". Jesus told his faithful followers that they had from him his own divine authority to preach and teach his doctrine of salvation in him alone: "And if any one will not receive you (plural) or listen to your (plural) words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you (plural), it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrhah than for that town." Matthew 10:14-15 <br> Jesus: "And I tell you, you are Peter (Petros = rock/stone), and on this rock I will build my CHURCH, and the powers of death / gates of hades shall not prevail against it. 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." Matthew 16:18-19 <br> Jesus: (said to his Jewish disciples) "if he refuses to listen even to the CHURCH, let him be to you (plural) as a Gentile and a tax collector (to the Jews a pagan and a traitor to the people of God). Truly I say to you (plural), whatever you (plural) bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you (plural) loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:17b-18 <br> Jesus: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (plural); and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age ([[eon|"''aeonos''"]] = millions of years)." Matthew 28:19b-20 <br> Jesus: "Truly, truly, I say to you (plural), unless one is born anew / from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:5 <br> Jesus: "And I will pray the Father, and he will give you (plural) another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you (plural) know him, for he dwells with you (plural), and will be in you (plural)." John 14:16-17. Jesus: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:6. Jesus: "I have yet many things to say to you (plural), but you (plural) cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you (plural) into all the truth" John 16:12-13a <br> "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you (plural). As the Father has sent me, even so I send you (plural).' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you (plural) forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you (plural) retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23 <br> "So those who received his word were baptized...And they devoted themselves to the apostles' (oral) teaching and fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts 2:41-42 (''the New Testament had not been written'') <br> "But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, 'Unless you are circumsised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved' (''based on their sola scriptura reading of Moses''). And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. So being sent on their way by the CHURCH...When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the CHURCH and the apostles and elders." Acts 15:1-2,4a "Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole CHURCH to choose men from among them and send them...'it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us' (the meaning of [[magisterium]])...and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation." Acts 15:22,28,30b-31 (''this has been called the [[Council of Jerusalem]]—the New Testament had not been written'') <br> Paul: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the CHURCH of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:28 <br> Paul: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." Romans 13:1-2 <br> Paul: "I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given to me by God to be a minister / official ambassador of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:15-16 <br> Paul: "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slave or free" 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "Now you (plural) are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the CHURCH first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators..." 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 <br> Paul: "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." 1 Corinthians 11:2 <br> Paul: "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 <br> Paul: "As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to to that which you received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:9 <br> Paul: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 <br> Paul: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy TEMPLE in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-21 <br> Paul: "to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known..." Ephesians 3:9-10 <br> Paul: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the CHURCH; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" Colossians 1:18-19 "holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God." Colossians 2:19 <br> Paul: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:15. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the traditions that you received from us." 2 Thessalonians 3:6 <br> Paul: "know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and bulwark / foundation / ground of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15 <br> Paul: "and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2 <br> Paul: "exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:15 (''written to the [[bishop]] of Crete''). "avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law / Old Testament, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is [[Schism|factious]] / an [[Heresy|heretick]], after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful: he is self-condemned." Titus 3:9-11 <br> ''Hebrews'': "A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses (''see Matthew 18:16''). How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:28-29 <br> ''Hebrews'': "We have an altar from which those who serve the tent / tabernacle have no right to eat." Hebrews 13:10 <br> ''Hebrews'': "Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17 <br> James: "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24 <br> James: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders (presbyteroi = "priests") of the CHURCH, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." James 5:14-15 <br> Peter: "Like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5. <br> Peter: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every HUMAN INSTITUTION, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." 1 Peter 2:13-15 <br> Peter: "be subject to the elders (presbyteroi = "priests"). Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you." 1 Peter 5:5-6 <br> Peter: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE." 2 Peter 1:3-4 (''[[Eucharist]]'', the promise of eternal life in John 6:53-58) <br> John: "Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. They WENT OUT FROM US, but they were not of us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us." 1 John 2:18-19 <br> John: "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:14-15 (''the Catholic Church confesses that Jesus is the Son of God in the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the [[Nicene Creed]] and in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. John 20:21 testifies that as the Father sent Jesus as Savior of the world He sent the apostles as Savior of the world in His Body the Church''). <br> John: "Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work." 2 John 9-11 (''this includes the doctrine of Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church that Jesus built on a rock'') <br> John: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES." Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 3:6,13,22  

I had read the Bible several times in the decades from age 8 to 30 before I was led to look at the Catholic Church, which I had been taught as a youngster is "the whore of Babylon". There are several irrefutable passages about established authority from God which I found impossible to ignore, if I was to be "honest to God". Jesus told his faithful followers that they had from him his own divine authority to preach and teach his doctrine of salvation in him alone: "And if any one will not receive you (plural) or listen to your (plural) words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you (plural), it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrhah than for that town." Matthew 10:14-15 <br> Jesus: "And I tell you, you are Peter (Petros = rock/stone), and on this rock I will build my CHURCH, and the powers of death / gates of hades shall not prevail against it. 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." Matthew 16:18-19 <br> Jesus: (said to his Jewish disciples) "if he refuses to listen even to the CHURCH, let him be to you (plural) as a Gentile and a tax collector (to the Jews a pagan and a traitor to the people of God). Truly I say to you (plural), whatever you (plural) bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you (plural) loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 18:17b-18 <br> Jesus: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (plural); and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age ([[eon|"''aeonos''"]] = millions of years)." Matthew 28:19b-20 <br> Jesus: "Truly, truly, I say to you (plural), unless one is born anew / from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:5 <br> Jesus: "And I will pray the Father, and he will give you (plural) another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you (plural) know him, for he dwells with you (plural), and will be in you (plural)." John 14:16-17. Jesus: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:6. Jesus: "I have yet many things to say to you (plural), but you (plural) cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you (plural) into all the truth" John 16:12-13a <br> "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you (plural). As the Father has sent me, even so I send you (plural).' And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you (plural) forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you (plural) retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23 <br> "So those who received his word were baptized...And they devoted themselves to the apostles' (oral) teaching and fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts 2:41-42 (''the New Testament had not been written'') <br> "But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, 'Unless you are circumsised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved' (''based on their sola scriptura reading of Moses''). And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. So being sent on their way by the CHURCH...When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the CHURCH and the apostles and elders." Acts 15:1-2,4a "Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole CHURCH to choose men from among them and send them...'it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us' (the meaning of [[magisterium]])...and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation." Acts 15:22,28,30b-31 (''this has been called the [[Council of Jerusalem]]—the New Testament had not been written'') <br> Paul: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the CHURCH of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood." Acts 20:28 <br> Paul: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." Romans 13:1-2 <br> Paul: "I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given to me by God to be a minister / official ambassador of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:15-16 <br> Paul: "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slave or free" 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "Now you (plural) are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the CHURCH first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators..." 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 <br> Paul: "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you." 1 Corinthians 11:2 <br> Paul: "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20 <br> Paul: "As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to to that which you received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:9 <br> Paul: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 <br> Paul: "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy TEMPLE in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-21 <br> Paul: "to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known..." Ephesians 3:9-10 <br> Paul: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the CHURCH; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" Colossians 1:18-19 "holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God." Colossians 2:19 <br> Paul: "So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:15. "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the traditions that you received from us." 2 Thessalonians 3:6 <br> Paul: "know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and bulwark / foundation / ground of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15 <br> Paul: "and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2 <br> Paul: "exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you." Titus 2:15 (''written to the [[bishop]] of Crete''). "avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law / Old Testament, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is [[Schism|factious]] / an [[Heresy|heretick]], after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful: he is self-condemned." Titus 3:9-11 <br> ''Hebrews'': "A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses (''see Matthew 18:16''). How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:28-29 <br> ''Hebrews'': "We have an altar from which those who serve the tent / tabernacle have no right to eat." Hebrews 13:10 <br> ''Hebrews'': "Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17 <br> James: "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24 <br> James: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders (presbyteroi = "priests") of the CHURCH, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." James 5:14-15 <br> Peter: "Like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5. <br> Peter: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every HUMAN INSTITUTION, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." 1 Peter 2:13-15 <br> Peter: "be subject to the elders (presbyteroi = "priests"). Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you." 1 Peter 5:5-6 <br> Peter: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE." 2 Peter 1:3-4 (''[[Eucharist]]'', the promise of eternal life in John 6:53-58) <br> John: "Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. They WENT OUT FROM US, but they were not of us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us." 1 John 2:18-19 <br> John: "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." 1 John 4:14-15 (''the Catholic Church confesses that Jesus is the Son of God in the [[Apostles' Creed]] and the [[Nicene Creed]] and in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. John 20:21 testifies that as the Father sent Jesus as Savior of the world He sent the apostles as Savior of the world in His Body the Church''). <br> John: "Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work." 2 John 9-11 (''this includes the doctrine of Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church that Jesus built on a rock'') <br> John: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES." Revelation 2:7,11,17,29 3:6,13,22  

'''I beg you''' to do what Jesus says and '''listen to the Church'''. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls" (''Hebrews 13:17'')—"submit yourselves unto the Elder" (''in context of 1 Peter 5:1-9, the "shepherds" of the Church''), and look at the warning in Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to '''all the flock, <big>over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers</big>''', to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood".  

'''I beg you''' to do what Jesus says and '''listen to the Church'''. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls" (''Hebrews 13:17'')—"submit yourselves unto the Elder" (''in context of 1 Peter 5:1-9, the "shepherds" of the Church''), and look at the warning in Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to '''all the flock, <big>over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers</big>''', to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood".  

His yoke is easy and his burden is light, and you will find in the Church rest for your souls in being united to him in Baptism and Eucharist and being absolved of sins by the ministry of the Church in the name of Christ alone.

His yoke is easy and his burden is light, and you will find in the Church rest for your souls in being united to Jesus in Baptism and Eucharist and being absolved of sins by the ministry of the Church in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit One God alone.

Little groups of two or three gathered in the name of the Lord are not the Overseers of all the flock which is the Church of God. The Shepherds, the Elders, '''are''', "who have the rule over you".<br> When there was a debate over doctrine the issue was submitted to the elders of the church in Jerusalem and they made a decision binding on the church—they didn't say "Go and read the Bible and decide for yourselves." <br>I pray for you who read this. '''I beg you''' to "'''listen to what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES'''" as Jesus said, because the Lord Jesus said, "'''He that rejecteth me, ''and receiveth ''not'' my words'', hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day'''".  

Little groups of two or three gathered in the name of the Lord are not the Overseers of all the flock which is the Church of God. The Shepherds, the Elders, '''are''', "who have the rule over you".<br> When there was a debate over doctrine the issue was submitted to the elders of the church in Jerusalem and they made a decision binding on the church—they didn't say "Go and read the Bible and decide for yourselves." <br>I pray for you who read this. '''I beg you''' to "'''listen to what the Spirit says to the CHURCHES'''" as Jesus said, because the Lord Jesus said, "'''He that rejecteth me, ''and receiveth ''not'' my words'', hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day'''".