"What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?" - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church & Bible to Consider

“What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?” - Important Passages of The Catechism of the Catholic Church to Consider:

• “essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine” (CCC, 11)
• “I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s Magesterium.  I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion.” (CCC, Fidei Depositum, Pope John Paul)
• “The presentation of doctrine must be biblical” (CCC, Fidei Depositum, Pope John Paul)
• “useful reading for all other Christian faithful” (CCC, 12)
• “For a deeper understanding of such passages, the reader should refer to the Scriptural texts themselves.  Such Biblical references are a valuable working-tool in catechesis” (CCC, 19)
• “It must be sound doctrine” (CCC, Fidei Depositum, Pope John Paul)
• “I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level” (CCC, Fidei Depositum, Pope John Paul)
• “Catechesis is an education in the faith” (CCC, 4)
• “St. Cyril of Jerusalem and St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, and many other Fathers wrote catechetical works that remain models for us” (CCC, 8)

 “What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• Deuteronomy 4.1–2 “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.” (ESV)
• Deuteronomy 18:20–22 “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ [21] And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’—[22] when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” (ESV)
• Proverbs 30:5–6 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (ESV)
• 2 John 9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (ESV)
• Matthew 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. [18] A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (ESV)
• 2 Peter 2:1–3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” (ESV)
• Revelation 22:18–19 "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (ESV)
• John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (ESV)

 “What is the Catechism of the Catholic Church?” - Important Questions to Consider:

• Does the Catechism of the Catholic Church go beyond the teachings of Jesus? Is it biblical?
• Why is there a need for tradition and the church authority in addition to the Bible?
• Why is there such a gap in time (350 years) between some of the early church writings that correspond to the claims of the catechism authority?
• Why are there so many internal inconsistencies in the Catechism of the Catholic Church? (note: see chapter towards the end that specifically addresses this concern)
• Why do some doctrines of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (purgatory, indulgences, etc.) validated later on in church history and mostly by tradition with little Scripture?
• Does the Catechism reference Scriptures within their contextual meaning?  Have you ever checked the footnote references in the Catechism to be sure?
• Why are the Catechisms and Tradition of the Catholic Church allowed to change or be added to?
• Why does the Pope pray to the dead (Mary) for her prayers for the work of the Catechism?  Is not talking to the dead directly called “necromancy”?  Is it biblical?
• What does John 14:26 say about who we access directly and primarily for help in teaching?

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A Biblical Response to “Pride Month”

Have you noticed the increased emphasis on validating, affirming, and encouraging LGTBQ+ in America during 2021?  Rainbow flags at U.S. Embassies.  Company logos changed to a rainbow pattern.  An onslaught of advertising campaigns. Products created to celebrate a sexual revolution.  Such rapid and radical changes in our society can often overwhelm us.  How should a biblical Christian understand our culture?  What should followers of Jesus do?

1 Chronicles 12:32 “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”

1. Love God - Understanding False Religion.  Read 1 John.  Just because someone calls themself a Christian doesn’t make them a genuine believer. Rebellion against God’s authority and Biblical commands reveals both a false religion and a false conversion.  If God’s voice in Scripture is not one’s authority, Jesus is not one’s Lord and Savior.  A true love of God is evidenced in obedience and submission to His Word.

Matthew 15:8 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”

2. Practice Self-Control - Understanding Cultural History. Be slow to speak.  The sexual revolution in America didn’t happen overnight, and was overwhelmingly found in heterosexual sin before LGTBQ+ sin.  Decades of sensuality, pornography, no-fault divorce, serial marriage, fornication, adultery, prostitution, abuse, and more have led us to the LGTBQ+ rebellion against God.  We are all broken sexually in our sin.  This cycle of sexual sin has happened repeatedly in many other cultures.  We are on a historical and moral path towards even more destructive sexual immorality: polygamy, polyamory, pedophilia, beastiality, virtual sex, and sex bots. 

Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

3. Be Kind to LGTBQ+ People - Understanding Relationships.  Many who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender, bi-sexual, queer, or any number of evolving labels have suffered intense hatred, insults, abuse, and attacks.  Get to know your LGTBQ+ neighbors.  Listen to their stories.  Weep with their hurts.  Find ways to show them genuine, Christian love without condoning or approving their sinful choices and self-identification.

Luke 6:27–28 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

4. Exhibit Faithfulness - Understanding Spiritual Truths.  The increasingly rampant heterosexual, homosexual, and gender identity sins are “false to the truth…earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (James 3:14–15).  Validating, affirming, approving, accepting, endorsing, encouraging, supporting, promoting, and celebrating LGTBQ+ is foolish, unnatural, dishonorable, impure, and offensive to our Holy God (Romans 1:18-32).  Watch out!  Before you form or share your opinion on LGTBQ+, examine the Scriptures in the pursuit of faithfulness to God’s truth (Romans 1:24-32, Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22; 20:13, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:3-6, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Jude 7).  Do not bend the knee to the false god of LGTBQ+ pride.

Romans 1:24, 26-27, 32 “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves…For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. …Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

The world says “love is love,” but God explains that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16); He is the definition and definer of true love.

The world encourages “love yourself” while God warns of the danger of being deceived to follow “the course of the world” in pursuing the “desires of the body and the mind” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

The world advertises “you be you”, but God says “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

The world teaches you to follow your “own truth” and understanding of god, while God  proclaims “whoever says ‘I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him”(1 John 2:4-6).

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

5. Be A Joy-Filled Presence - Understanding Eternal Consequences.  Those who continue in sexual sin, whether heterosexual or homosexual, have chosen a path to Hell.  When surrounded by cultural evil, may be choose to be like Noah, Daniel, Paul, the church in Philadelphia, and so many more faithful saints, keeping God’s Word and not denying His name (Revelation 3:8).  We must choose to be an evangelistic, joy-filled presence among those who are perishing.

1 Corinthians 6:9 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality."

6.  Endure - Understanding God’s Plan.  Don’t be surprised when people hate you for standing on God’s Word concerning the sinfulness of LGTBQ+ (1 John 3:13–14).  Some might falsely accuse you of being homophobic or a bigot.  Others may threaten and attack you (Matthew 5:10-11).  Stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29).  When possible speak truth, with humility, as an act of love.  Live in righteousness, evidencing the bright light of true love to a dark world.  Practice genuine love.

Romans 12:9 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”

Here are some helpful biblical resources for you to consider!

• What does the Bible say about homosexuality? - http://www.trustworthyword.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality 
• How can I be sure I’m a Christian? - http://www.trustworthyword.com/how-can-i-be-sure-im-a-christian
• How can I become a Christian? - http://www.trustworthyword.com/how-can-i-become-a-christian 
• Evidence for Jesus -  http://www.trustworthyword.com/evidence-for-jesus

Dear Mr. President [Biden], I Am Deeply Concerned for You. I Love You and I am Praying for You.

Dear Mr. President,

Yesterday a Washington Post reporter asked me my thoughts on President Trump’s final 24 hours in the White House.  I shared them and prayed that they would reach the President’s eyes or ears.

Today a Washington Post reporter asked me my thoughts on your inauguration.  I shared them and pray that somehow they reach your eyes or ears.  This is long, but I know it is worth every minute of  your time.

I love you.  I care for you. I am thankful for you.  I hope that many wonderful things will be accomplished during your presidency for the good of our nation.  

I don’t know your heart, but what I do know from your policies and politicking deeply concerns me.  I am praying for you.

• Proverbs 21:1–2 “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.” (ESV)

Today you laid your hand on your family Bible. I pray for it to be your authority and guide.   May you do what God commands and what is right in His eyes.

• 1 Kings 15:5 “because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (ESV)
• Isaiah 65:12 “I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.” (ESV)

Today, you took a sacred oath before God.  I pray that you walk humbly under the Lord Jesus Christ, personally trusting in His finished work on the cross, not your good works in life.

• Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (ESV)

Today, you beautifully made your first act of office to be prayer.  I pray you speak constantly and dependently to the one true God through the Holy Spirit. 

• Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”(ESV)

Today you honored the lives lost to COVID.  I pray that you value all human life, from the womb to the tomb. I pray that you value life  by choosing to fight against COVID, abortion, murder, and euthanasia.

• Psalm 139:13–14 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (ESV)

Today you said “so help me God.”  I pray that God to helps you, guides you, corrects you, leads you, strengthens you, and grants you wisdom.

• Daniel 2:21 “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (ESV)

Today you called all Americans a "good people."  I pray that God convicts you personally, so that you can see the depth of our depravity and lead our nation away from evil and wickedness and into righteousness.

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (ESV)

Today you quoted President Abraham Lincoln, saying “my whole soul is in it.”  I pray that God speaks eternal life and truth into your soul.

• 1 Timothy 2:1–4 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (ESV)
• 1 Kings 11:6 “So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.” (ESV)

Today you warned of lies and mentioned our enemies.  I pray that God protects you from the father of lies, Satan.  I pray that you take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (ESV)

Today you referenced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I pray that you heed what Dr. King wrote from his jail cell in Birmingham, advocating for and executing just laws that are rooted in God’s moral law.

• “How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, April 16, 1963,  page 7)

Today you repeated “here I stand” and mentioned the pope.  I pray for you to stand firmly, with conviction and courage, like Martin Luther on the Word of God alone.

• “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God.” (Martin Luther, Diet of Worms, 1521)

Today you mentioned the “will of the people.”  I pray for you to hear and treasure the “will of God” over and above the polls and politicians.

• Matthew 6:9–10 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (ESV)

Today you quoted Saint Augustine about us being defined by the common objects of our love.  I pray that you love and follow the Spirit of truth above all else.

• John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth”

Today you prioritized unity.  I pray for you to truly seek to bring our nation together “under God.”

• James 4:7–8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (ESV)

Today Garth Brooks sang and invited others to sing “Amazing Grace.”  I pray for God’s Amazing Grace and love in and through you, and across our nation.

• Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (ESV)

As today’s events concluded peacefully, I thanked God for the peace of today.  I thanked Him for our wonderful nation.  I asked Him to preserve our nation and to guide our nation back to Him.  I asked God to use you greatly over the next four years.

• Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (ESV)

Mr. President, today the Lord has allowed you the great privilege of serving as the President of the United States.  One day you will give an account to your Creator for your life and your presidency.  Tonight, and for the duration of your presidency, I am praying for you.

In Christ,

Jonathan Carl