Expert: Brian Thompson - 3/2/2007

Question
Dear Brian,

             Hello, I am a young catholic woman whom is born again. Yes I am a happy christian but I hate how other people attack catholics like for instance we dont idol worship we believe that moses told us that we have religious statues as a reminder of the new covenant with God to man. An we dont view Mary as a Goddess we just view her as a holy woman sent by God and is the new Eve and that Christ is the new adam. We do believe in born again and we dont believe that gay people should marry or raise children in that environment. We are against abortion and we believe in the full length of the bible.Now Jesus gave St. Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven and made him the first pope of the church. That is why we catholics have a pope but really Jesus is still head of the church it didnt change for 2000 years :-D We are christians and are understanding more and more about loving others and helping others.

Answer
As a person who was raised Catholic, wandered in the wilderness for many years because noone told me about being born again, and came back through a different door, I can tell you this what is important is not the door you walk in but whether you know the owner of the house.

Historically you are not correct Peter was never the "POPE". Nor was he infalliable since Paul found it necessary to correct him. Catholics need to get off the one true church tack and realise that it is an unfolding revelation, it always has been and it will continue. No one group understands the entirety of God's revelation. Much of what the Church had in the beginning was lost in the dark ages and the Church fell into error and superstition requiring reformation and restoration there were a number who tried to reform from within, Francis, Luther etc but they were rejected by the corrupt system which existed. The Catholic Church has sought to protect its self from such reformers and so forced them to set up other demoninations, the Catholic Church has been ruthless in opposing any other thought, (Inquisitions) and thus been very unChristlike in its attitudes. Now there are good believing people in all denominations who hold the truth of Jesus Christ in common. You say you believe the entire Bible, good so do I, but the question is how much emphasis do you place on the  New Testament. The revealed truth of Jesus Christ is important because he is the turning point, the old system of worship ended with his death and from that point every believer had a one to one relationship with God. No intercessors necessary. now you say you are Born again, good, now you need to go on and become spirit filled; baptised with water, the Spirit and with fire as the Scriptures say.