Comments on Evangeliku: Carmen Christi

Justification is by faith. But the faith that St. ...

2009-08-19T08:29:59.429+02:00

Justification is by faith. But the faith that St. Paul, and the other inspired writers of the bible meant is certainly not one of ‘faith alone’. It is much, much more than that. Faith alone is a presumption of God’s mercy. Justification is by believing in Jesus Christ and obeying His commandments. That means taking up our daily crosses and suffering with Him. It is not the ‘health and wealth’ gospel; it is not ‘believing in Jesus’ alone; it is not being saved irrevocably. It is the hardship gospel, it is trusting IN and DOING what Jesus said to DO; it is a conditional salvation based on our love for Him.

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who DELUDE themselves” (James 1:22).

yes i acknoledge JESUS as my LORD AND GOD yes i ha...

2009-08-17T09:52:46.379+02:00

yes i acknoledge JESUS as my LORD AND GOD
yes i have turned to HIM alone for salvation.
HE helps me with HIS GRACE to obey HIM.
YES I GLADLY BOW MY KNEES BEFORE CHRIST IN ADORATION.
THANKYOU LORD FOR SAVING ME.

Two Comments. 1. In response to the the debate i...

2009-07-31T05:19:52.387+02:00

Two Comments.

1. In response to the the debate immediately above re the authority of scripture vs. its various interpretation by Protestants:

At 1John 2: 27, The Word of God itself gives itself over to the sole interpretation of those indwelt by the Holy Spirit -- i.e., those who are Born Again of God's Holy Spirit. (And as one "born Catholic," I for one can attest that while THAT infant baptism experience indeed made me Catholic, against my own free will I might add, being Born Again of God's Holy Spirit at the age of 26 made me a heaven-bound Christian. Hallelujah! What a glorious EXPERIENCE with the Living God!!)

1John 2:27: "As for you, the anointing you received from Him (when Born Again) remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit (like phony, external rituals) - just as it has taught you, remain in Him."

P.S. The ONLY truly "important" thing about Christianity is getting to heaven for all eternity -- as opposed burning in hell for all of same. Ouch. NOTHING more important than that. Right?

2. I came in here to comment on Dr. Mizzi's awesome newsletter this month; his section on the meaning of the word Eucharist was wonderful!

"The Eucharist is the prominent prayer of the church because during the Lord’s Supper we praise and thank God for the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Our English term ‘Eucharist’ is derived from the Greek word ‘eucharistia’ which means ‘gratitude, thanksgiving.’ Jesus gave thanks (‘eucharisteo’) when he took the bread and the wine (Matthew 26:27, Luke 22:19). In this sense the Eucharist is a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

It is especially interesting to me and affirming to "my interpretation" of the Word concerning the appropriate sacrifice we ought rightly to offer in this New Testament Age of Grace. I came to the conclusion when debating Roman Catholicism with others that the NT Church is to be offering ONLY The Sacrifice of Praise in this dispensation. So, how sweet that our monthly remembrance of Christ in the Eucharist is one more way, of many, to do that.

Singing songs of praise loudly to God all alone in your car is another one! :)

"..all the angels and even the demons, must give d...

2009-07-14T19:28:09.919+02:00

"..all the angels and even the demons, must give divine worship to Jesus Christ"

I do think this statement is fallacious, the main reason why the demons and Satan is IN Hell was because of their refusal to give worship and of DISOBEDIENCE to the AUTHORITY of Jesus.

Amen to that, Lex, Amen. Truth and logic complimen...

2009-07-12T19:58:37.761+02:00

Amen to that, Lex, Amen.
Truth and logic compliment each other.

Hey Guys, Protestant apologists (including Joe M...

2009-07-07T05:07:01.600+02:00

Hey Guys,

Protestant apologists (including Joe Mizzi) insist that inspite of their many differences (protestant's doctrines) they claimed they have the "essentials" and the rest are "not important".

To any serious Christian everything in the Bible is important even the commas, periods, tenses etc., because they are the words of God, our Redemption and Salvation.

And who the heck somebody will call the rest "not important", is he an authority to say they are such, what an irony, huh? they (protestants) despised authority of the Church but they themselves pass judgment to which one is "important or not in the Bible".

Hey Mark I have no quarrel with you, I think this ...

2009-07-05T11:05:20.490+02:00

Hey Mark I have no quarrel with you, I think this is where "Sola Scriptura" or "Bible Alone" is not even logically attainable.

I think it's just a mere obstinate refusal to authority of the people who adhere to this idea.

I couldn't find any logical objections beyond that whether it's biblical or human reasoning.

Assume a scenario: Someone in America has viola...

2009-07-04T10:33:50.260+02:00

Assume a scenario:

Someone in America has violated the U.S. Constitution, say the 2nd Ammendment or Bill of Rights etc. the quilty party could then just throw the Book (U.S. Constitution) back to the Supreme Court and practically to any law-abiding citizen and proudly declared…”according to the AUTHORITY of that Book (U.S. Constitution) WHICH IN MY OWN INTERPRETATION IS VERY CLEAR, THAT I’am not quity of any wrongdoing and you, the Court of Law have No Authority over me to pass judgment ….my ONLY AUTHORITY is the BOOK.

We could have a nirvana right here in the U.S.A.

Hello Kathleen, Beautiful exhortation to which I ...

2009-07-04T09:36:38.399+02:00

Hello Kathleen,

Beautiful exhortation to which I wholeheartedly agree....however again...the problem of what you said:

"And where their (christian pastors) teachings conflict with His (God), there is no contest as to which I'll believe."

Just want to make it clear:

Are you saying that you are somehow exempted from making an error in your understanding of the Bible because from your own words above, you are sure and with certainty that your knowledge and interpretation of the same Book is definitely according to His Teachings?

How about the claims of Mr. Mizzi and the rest of the christian pastors guided by the same Holy Spirit that differ from yours? (Mr. Mizzi admitted that he could err in his interpretation.)

Well, what can I say?

No offense but because of what you said I just drew a natural, logical conclusion, that all christian leaders should consult you and make it binding to all believers because you have the TRUE deposit of faith without which one could probably be lost.

I belong to a career that uses a lot, I mean a lot of mathematical thinking (truth with humility) and I find it very logical that IF Christian Faith (doctrine) is indeed a REVEALED TRUTH, which men must believe under pain of eternal loss, the gift of infallibility was necessary to the Church (in your case, you). Could she err at all, she might err in ANY POINT. The flock would have NO guarantee of the truth of ANY doctrine.

In the end, this is what protestantism is all about, make yourself your own pope and Apostolic Tradition put together with Authority!

No arguments.

Thanks and God Bless.

God's word is as relative, understandable, and pre...

2009-07-03T14:38:25.580+02:00

God's word is as relative, understandable, and precious to me as it is to anyone. I learn from a variety of teachers, but none more than THE GREAT TEACHER Himself. And where their teachings conflict with His, there is no contest as to which I'll believe.

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come TO ME and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture HAS said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. John 7:37-39

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and HIS SHEEP FOLLOW HIM BECAUSE THEY KNOW HIS VOICE. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; WHOEVER ENTERS THROUGH ME will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and MY SHEEP KNOW ME—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:e-5, 7-9, 11-12, 14-14

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who LIVES IN ME does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father... “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LEADS INTO ALL TRUTH. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But YOU KNOW HIM BECAUSE HE LIVES with you now and later will be IN YOU. John 14

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way NO ONE KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF GOD EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. WE HAVE not RECEIVED the spirit of the world but THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, THAT WE MAY UNDERSTAND what God has freely given us. 1 Cor 2:10-12

2 OF THE MOST PROFOUND VERSES that shows the Truth...

2009-07-03T07:22:37.579+02:00

2 OF THE MOST PROFOUND VERSES that shows the Truth of God is not just reveal to everybody but through the Bishops of the Church which are the modern successors of the Apostles.

Ephesians 3:4-6

“When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which WAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO HUMAN BEINGS in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy APOSTLES and PROPHETS by the Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:20

“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.”

I have no idea why are we insisting that we have the right and authority to read and say what the Bible TRULY teaches.

Every Blessings!

Dear Kathleen, Matthew 18:18 (after the Resurrect...

2009-07-02T22:00:06.265+02:00

Dear Kathleen,

Matthew 18:18 (after the Resurrection) “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

John 20:23 Jesus said to his Apostles “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Is there an authority being spoken by Christ and given to His Apostles here? Do you really think that authority died with the Apostles?

What do you think was the reason the Father SENT Jesus? To SEND means with the Authority of the one who send, to reconcile the world to His Father; from Jesus to His Apostles and then to the Bishops and so forth as Apostle Paul described the Church with Bishops, priests, deacons – very hierarchical same as in Heaven.

In my opinion, no offense, Joe Mizzi and you are the ones who have not been following the Bible, the very Word of God, which you claimed you cherished.

Hello! As I said before, the argument is not abou...

2009-07-02T20:44:31.333+02:00

Hello!

As I said before, the argument is not about Jesus as the Word of God, the summit and source of All Holiness and Authority which we all agree.

Each one of us could say, "it is clear from the Bible" but the problem starts when your opinion (interpretation) and my opinion and from many others on the same verse/document/book may be different from one another.

That is why in our world we settle this situation through the Supreme Court, right? without which the other scenario is chaos.

In the same, Jesus must have left us a means or say a body of people, an organic mechanism that have His authority that can pass a decision.

Now, my question to you is, who is going to settle the dispute/ offense? Who has the authority that can pass a decision and final judgment?

Matthew 18:15

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the CHURCH; and if he refuses to listen even to the CHURCH, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

I don't see Jesus say, go to the Bible, do you?

mmmm ... "Jesus didn’t say go to the Bible but He ...

2009-07-02T13:50:07.442+02:00

mmmm ... "Jesus didn’t say go to the Bible but He did say go to His Church … " I'm not so sure about that.

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matt 4:4

He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice. Luke 8:21

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. Acts 22:14

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:17

And so many more!

The Word of God is Christ Himself made manifest not only in the flesh, but in the heart of every true believer (He resides there), and in the Word made ink.

We err when we do not know THAT Word, His word (Matt 22:29), so He certainly did tell us to begin and end there.

All things, including the Church, are made by Him and for Him.

Be blessed,
Kathleen

Of course always and ultimately Jesus is the final...

2009-07-01T22:05:47.257+02:00

Of course always and ultimately Jesus is the final Authority, where all authorities come from, there is no dispute both protestants and catholics believed that,why? very simply, Jesus is God!

It is not the point I’m making, the million dollar question is, how will you know the Will of God? As some protestants used to say, what would Jesus do?

Just to give an example and applying that in our secular world, issues of artificial contraception, gay-marriage, therapeutic cloning, genetic-DNA therapeutic manipulation, euthanasia (mercy killing), some stages of abortion and a lot more? and if think about these issues of life should be part of our Christian doctrines because God is the Author of Life.

Who has the authority to speak for Christ? How would a Christian know for certain that teachings in anyone of these issues are from Christ? If you really would like to follow Jesus, imitate Him and obey His commandments, how would you know? It’s nice to ask Him but He is not here anymore.

Don’t tell me the Bible because most of those issues are not even mentioned in the Book. Don’t tell me Christian pastors because half of them are teaching the opposite.

There will be always be two maybe more (thousands even) opinions from one and the same wriiten document, whether it’s the Constitution of the U.S. , State law, etc. So, how do you settle dispute and offenses? Who has the authority from Jesus to pass a decision and final judgment?

Jesus didn’t say go to the Bible but He did say go to His Church…Matthew 18:15. Jesus said, if there are offenses, disputes we should take it to the Church as the final arbiter, does it still exist today? is it the Mormon church? or Jehovah witness? the Baptist? Seventh day-Adventist? Methodist, Pentacostal, your own pastor? my own church? just me? or maybe we could say the church as whole body of believers (as we use to say).The million dollar question is……Could it render a decision and FINAL judgment to declare that such an offender that still doesn’t listen to the “church” to be an outcast-tax collector AS prescribed in the BIBLE?

"Ephesians 3:4-6 “When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

There is no reason to believe that the truth will be revealed to each individual. If that were the case, would not the same be revealed to all? The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to the Bishops of the Church, modern day successors to the Apostles.

Ephesians 3:10 "so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens."

Faith is made know to all through the Church. Its as simple as that.Jesus appointed specific people, 12 to be exact, to carry out his mission. Even though Jesus has many, many followers, he called out 12 specific individuals to guide his flock. Even in Heaven there is a structured hierarchy where God is the Head, where Archangels and angels follow their rank, position and dominions also in the early church is very very hierachical as Paul described it as having Bishops, presbyters (priest) and deacons. In fact the church could not exist if Jesus had not been around to start it himself and he did, but he left it in the hands of Peter (Mt 16:13-19).So, we see that there was a church, with a specific structure of leaders that were called by God to lead the church. with all believing members. This is the Catholic (Universal) definition of church.

Now, if the church is founded upon the leaders then it is safe to say that “the church” can also mean “the leaders” or “the one’s with teaching authority” or we called as Megisterium and Apostolic Tradition.

The key is to make sure that the church whose auth...

2009-06-30T23:11:44.276+02:00

The key is to make sure that the church whose authority that you submit to is in turn submitting to the authority of God, and not attempting to assume too much authority upon itself. God is the only true authority and the church cannot replace the relationship between man and God. Too often we make the foolish mistake that we should not have a relationship between ourselves and Christ the Savior.. that we need to go through the church, which is untrue.

Blessings!

Mr. Mizzi, God Bless you. I hope you don't mind ...

2009-06-26T21:30:14.408+02:00

Mr. Mizzi,

God Bless you.

I hope you don't mind me asking, I know your brother Paul was the first one who converted to protestantism from catholicism, did anyone in your family ....dad, mom, sisters and others follow your conversion too?

Peace in Christ Jesus!

Joe, It's a wonderful thing to sing praises to Je...

2009-06-24T01:41:49.359+02:00

Joe,

It's a wonderful thing to sing praises to Jesus but it's another to show our loyalty and obedience to His Will.

If you live in the time of Moses with most indication of what you believed, you probably would not listen to Moses because you got the Torah (written Word)as your Only authority and thus you'll side with the guy named Koher who had challenged Moses's authority.

Wonder what happened to Koher and his followers? Read Exodus.

Romans 13:1-2

"Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves."

Comment: This passage should be frightening to those who do not submit to the Authority of the Church. When Christ founded the Church and commissioned its leaders, he granted them the authority necessary to fulfill its mission.

Some more: Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 3:15, Ephesians 3:4-6.

In the end, how will you show Jesus you are obedient to His authority when you can not even follow the authorities which He established?

It's the same thing as how can you show your love to God if you can not even love your neighbor as thyself?

God may guide us!