Teachings of Pope Francis

 

“Pope Francis simplicity, gentle spirit, openness, and humility are an inspiration not only to Catholics, but to people everywhere.  He invites us to live lives of truth and simplicity, to seek goodness and beauty, and to act with justice and mercy.  He challenges us to care for those who experience poverty, disaster, violence and, suffering, and to reach out with compassion to those who are most vulnerable.

He reminds us that every person is worthy of our giving, every person reflects something of God’s glory; every person is immensely holy and deserves our love.  Pope Francis is a gift to all people of faith.”  Susan Stark and Daniel J. Pierson – Reflections from Pope Francis

Think about God’s patience, the patience He has with each one of us?

We are people who, on the one hand want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat people with and condemn them.  Be a person of mercy!

It is not easy to entrust oneself to God’s mercy, but we must.  God says to us, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11).  The Lord never tires of forgiving us!  It is we who tire of asking Him for forgiveness.

Bring hope to others!

Being a protector means protecting all creation.  It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live.  It means protecting people and showing loving concern for each and every person.  It means caring for one another.  It means building sincere friendships.  We must be protectors of God’s gifts!

We are all responsible for our world.  We need to do all we can to promote justice, reconciliation and build peace.  A one-dimensional vision of man reduces human beings to what they produce and to what they consume.

Follow Jesus!  He accompanies us and carries us.  Do not let yourself be robbed of hope!  Jesus gives hope.

Are you really willing to serve and help others?

Do we think that we will not be able to cope?  Let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which God cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to Him.

Remember what God has done and continues to do for us.  Remembering the road we have travelled is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. 

God’s love for us is so great, it is an unfailing love, one which always takes us by the hand and supports us, lifts us up and leads us on.

God is patient with us because He loves us and those who love are able to forgive and do not give up.  God always waits for us even when we have left Him behind!

             Please take time to think about these things this week.

 

Is there a purgatory?

The Bible does not mention the exact word “purgatory,” but instead it makes reference to a place which one could understand to be what Catholics refer to as purgatory.  To claim that just because the word purgatory does not exist in the Bible does not necessarily mean such a place does not exist at all. 

The word “Trinity” is never found in the Bible and some wonder whether this is a Biblical doctrine or not, but the absence of a term used to describe a doctrine does not necessarily mean the term is not Biblical. The issue is does the term accurately reflect what the Scripture teaches? 

Protestant churches teach the doctrine of the Trinity, as well as Catholics.  If other denominations teach the concept of Trinity then why do other denominations immediately reply there is no purgatory simply because the word purgatory is not found in the Bible?  Why do they deem one word valid and the other not based on the word appearing in the Bible?  Purgatory or Trinity both are words not found in the Bible.

The Bible contains references to many other Christian doctrines, but fails to call them out by name. One might as well deny that there is something called the Bible because no such name is found in the Bible.  If we are going to use the basis for validity of a doctrine on the word used to describe that doctrine being found in the Bible then we might as well deny incarnation because the exact word is not found in the Bible. 

The name does not make the place; the place must exist first, then we give it a name.  Catholics call this place “purgatory” because it means “a cleansing place.” Catholics believe that purgatory is the place that souls are purged of small sins, which prevent their immediate entrance into Heaven. 

Catholics will tell you in Matthew 5:26 and Luke 12:59 Christ is condemning sin and speaks of liberation only after expiation (death), “Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Now we know that no last penny needs to be paid in Heaven and from Hell there is no liberation at all; therefore, they say the reference must apply to a third place.

Catholics would also say in Matthew 12:32 it states, “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”   Here Jesus speaks of sin against the Holy Spirit.  The implication is that some sins can be forgiven in the world to come.  We know that in Hell there is no liberation and in Heaven nothing imperfect can enter.  Sin is not forgiven when a soul reaches its final destination because in heaven there is no need for forgiveness of sin and in hell the choice to go there is already made.

Catholics would go on to say in Revelation 21:27 “…but nothing unclean will enter it, or anyone who does abominable things or tells lies.”  The place that is to be entered (the place to which this passage refers) is heaven (read the text around it for context). 

It is hard for me to state beyond a shadow of doubt there is no purgatory when the Bible clearly implies a place for an purification after we die in the many passages which tell that God will reward or punish according to a person’s life.

It was explained to me, “After shouting at the neighbor about their dog, the angry and stress filled man walks into his house, had a heart attack, and died having just committed a small sin in the final moments of his life.  Remember, this man is Christian and justified by the Lord, yet he committed a sin and died before he could repent.  Does he go to heaven or does he go to hell or does he go to purgatory?  Are all sins created equal?  No, all sins are not equal and justified men of the Lord can make mistakes and sin”.  I believe God is just and would not send anyone to hell in a case like this, therefore I do not agree with the premise of purgatory.  

Catholics most likely would say that it is foolish for me to believe that Christ on the cross covered all my sins, past, present and future, but that is exactly what I believe.  If that is not the case then why did Christ go to the cross in the first place?   I do not believe Christ and the cross relieves me of my responsibility to not sin and I think it is foolish for anyone to think that it does.  Christ on the cross gives no one a license to sin.  I simply have a hard time believing purgatory is part of Gods plan for justice. 

I do not believe gifts or services rendered to the church, prayers by the priests, and masses provided by relatives or friends on behalf of the deceased can shorten, alleviate or eliminate any journey of the soul to a place called purgatory.  I take responsibility for my sins and I believe everyone else must do the same.  God’s judgment of me is only about me and no human being can fix my past after I am dead or before I die.  For me to believe any different seems to me to mean I have a misunderstanding of the atonement of Christ and adds insult to the finished work of the cross. 

I believe the suffering of Christ on the cross paid for all believers’ sins and I do not believe we need to make another suffering sacrifice.  On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished,” (John 19:30).  In the Greek, this was an accounting term which meant a debt was paid in full.  If the payment for our sins was paid in full on the cross, then how could purgatory be a reality?  Hebrew 9:27, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”

I personally do not believe in purgatory, but I will admit there are hints of such a place in the Bible and there are more than hints in the Bible that there is not.  I do not believe anyone is going to go to hell based on what they believe about purgatory, therefore I doubt if the subject is worth debating.  It is just one of the differences Catholics and Protestants have that we will argue about until the end of time, instead of focusing on the beliefs we have in common.

In closing I will confess I taught the doctrine of purgatory for many years because that was what I was taught and I believed at the time.  Now that I am retired and have far more time to study scripture on my own and have more freedom  I have come to doubt the need for a purgatory.

Is there a difference between joy and happiness?

“There is within my being joy no one can violate, unfettered, tranquil and unmarred, immune from pain and suffering.”

Happiness is an emotion, an emotional state that God never intended people to be in all the time.  There is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).   Biblical joy – true joy is an intimate relationship with Jesus.  Jesus put it this way: “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit,” (John 15:5).  That fruit includes joy.  The Bible speaks more often of joy than of being happy. 

Happiness is a glad emotional feeling that depends on something good happening in our circumstances.  Happiness is a result of something that is outside us.  We can be extremely happy and then the phone rings and we get a call that can dash all our happiness and fill us with sadness.  Also being happy is something that all people can enjoy.  It isn’t dependent on being a Christian.  I know people who are unbelievers that are happy.  Job in the Book of Job states that even evil people can be happy.  The only difference in non-believers and Christians is when trouble does come and it will their happiness ends and they have no joy to see them through.   

God wants us to experience happiness, but His greater desire is that we have unconditional joy.  Joy comes from within and does not depend on outside forces therefore giving us control over it.  Jesus said His joy would “remain in you” and “your joy no one will take from you,” (John 15:11; 16:22).  The evidence of joy is gratitude, contentment, optimism, a sense of freedom and other positive attitudes.

Biblical Joy is not natural to us.  It is in fact supernatural (spiritual), and it is a gift from the Holy Spirit.  It is something only Christians can experience.  Joy is the response of believers to the understanding of God’s love for them.  And, we only know that God loves us by the Holy Spirit.  Joy is our response to God for all He has done for us.

Both our joy and happiness is increased more by our giving and serving than from our getting. The apostle Paul reminded us that Jesus Christ taught: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35). 

To grow in joy, we must resist not only self-pity, but also being self-centered and self-absorbed.  For joy to flourish, we must focus on loving others and especially on loving God.  Joy is largely composed of gratitude – gratitude for the wonderful things God has done for us.  Gratitude produces joy (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

Try to follow this Biblical formula: Add to your life gratitude, humility, forgiveness, faith, hope, patience and love. Take away resentment, anger, fear, worry, materialism, greed, jealousy, complaining and pride. The result is Joy!

Joy is a major topic in the Bible.  In the King James Version of the Bible joy appears 158 times.  Rejoice is the verb form of joy, meaning to feel or have joy.  Joy is not optional. The Bible repeatedly commands us to rejoice (be joyful)! The most emphatic exhortation is in Philippians 4:4, where Paul says, “Rejoice (be joyful) in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice (be joyful)!”

God’s joy continues to flow through His people even during their suffering.  The joy that the Lord gives us enables us to cope with life’s trials.  It gives us hope, and enables us to become overcomers instead of victims.  Paul wrote, “We also rejoice (have joy) in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance,” (James 1:2). 

Jesus prayed for His followers, “…that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves,” (John 17:13).  He also teaches us to pray for joy.  As He tells us in John 16:24, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full!” 

Even when things are bad our strength comes from the joy of the Lord.  Joy is with the faithful believer at all time, both good and bad.  Happiness comes and goes depending on our circumstances.  Happiness is on the outside.  Joy is character and is on the inside. Happiness only meets our surface needs, but joy meets our deepest needs.  Happiness evaporates in a crisis.  Joy often intensifies in a crisis.

Joy empowers a person to be loving, kind, gentle, and self-controlled, consistently denying our selfish tendencies.  If we put Jesus first in our lives joy is a natural by product which empowers us to really love others and love ourselves.

Remember:  No one can steal our joy.  We must give our joy away.  Happiness can be stolen from us in a split second, without our having any control over it.  Happiness is external and joy is internal.  Happiness usually comes from others.  Joy comes from the Holy Spirit.  Happiness depends on our circumstances.  Joy is not affected by our circumstances.  Happiness can and usually is temporary.  Joy is permanent.  Only believers can experience Biblical joy.  Anyone can experience happiness. 

I have seen people living in extreme poverty and they are smiling and appear happy.  I would ask myself how they possibly could be happy.  Is it happiness or joy they are expressing?  I have come to believe it is joy - joy given to them by the Holy Spirit that brings them hope, regardless of their circumstances. 

God can make the impossible possible - blessings.

I want to share how God has blessed me.

As a young minister a man approached me and said, “Fr. do you know someone that is interested in buying a mom/pop grocery store in Sixth Ward, a black area of Houston?  If you do and we make a contract I will give you ten percent of the sell to do with as you please.”

I told him I did not, but ask why they were selling.  He explained that his son owned the store and had become addicted to gambling.  The son owed two large grocery supply houses in Houston and could not pay the debts.  He would have to file bankruptcy if he could not sell and if he did that might damage the father’s relationship with the supply houses. 

In the summer months as a child I always returned to my grandmother’s house in Birmingham, Alabama.  When I became old enough I spent my summers working in a mom/pop grocery store in a black area.  I loved everything about it even down to the distinct smell.  Little did I know God was preparing me for something in the future?

Out of curiosity I visited the store the next day.  It was under stocked and dirty.  It certainly needed some tender love and care.  The attitude of the people working in the store was if you want something, get it, pay and go.

That night as I prayed I included Mr. Russo’s request in my prayer.  Something came to me, why don’t you pursue getting the store.  I thought afterwards that is ridiculous.  I did not want to leave the ministry and I had no money.

Each day I thought more and more about the store.  I could provide jobs for some people in my parish if I had the store.  Then the bubble would burst and I would recall I had NO money.  After about the third day it came to me that what Mr. Russo was really interested in was getting his son out from under the debt.  I did not have money, but I had excellent credit and after all I was a priest and the suppliers were Catholic.

If Phillip filed bankruptcy the suppliers would get nothing, if they let me assume the notes and agreed to restock the store and give me a line of credit they may recoup something.  I did have experience in running a mom/pop grocery store in a black area.  

I called Mr. Russo and told him the idea that had come to me and explained it sounded stupid, but I wanted him to go with me to the suppliers and see if they had an interest.  We went and a week later they bought my idea.

I got volunteers to clean, paint and repair the store.  It looked great.  I hired people I knew from the parish that needed work and had a fiend that was the proof reader for the Texas Catholic Herald to agree to manage it. 

Within two weeks we were doing more business in one day than Phillip was doing in a week.  In less than three months we were doing more business in one day than Phillip was doing in a month.  It was a great success. 

We provided good jobs with good pay and benefits to the seven people working in the store.  Two young men finished college and graduated with honors working for us.  In the five years we had the store we never terminated an employee and no employee ever resigned. 

All the debts were paid in full and we eventually paid for everything when delivered.  My part of the profits was used for ministries and school scholarships.

Five years later God had another plan.  We sold the store to an elderly Italian man.  Each of the employees got one year salary with benefits paid in advance. 

God made what seemed impossible possible.  God had a plan then and God has a plan now for my life and God has a plan for your life.  Listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to you in a quiet voice and obey.

This is only one of many blessing I have seen God grant me and from time to time I want to start sharing them with you.

 

 

Why pray for the dead?

The question of purgatory and praying for the dead was a major issue between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century. The Council of Trent in 1563 reaffirmed the existence of purgatory and the usefulness of prayers for the dead, yet it cautioned against superstition concerning it.

The Catholic teaching regarding prayers for the dead has nothing to do with buying the dead out of purgatory, but unfortunately that is what most non-Catholics believe?  The Catholic Church’s teaching about purgatory (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1030-32) says that all sin has a life of its own and may have bad effects even after the sinner repents.  Repentance includes a desire to repair the damage done by one’s sins, but repentance may not be complete before the person dies, therefore Catholics pray for completion of repentance.  I do not agree totally with that teaching.

I will say this in defence of the Catholic doctrine on purgatory I would not say beyond a doubt that no type of purgatory exists.   I want to believe our loved ones go straight to heaven, but the truth is I do not know that for a fact.  The Bible provides evidence that there can be no imperfections in heaven.   According to the Catechism, most of us who don’t merit hell still need purification before we can enter heaven. 

I believe if there is any type of purgatory it would have nothing to do with punishment of sin.  It would only be a place to put the final touch on our perfection or holiness.  I will go further to say I do not believe it has anything to do with suffering or paying a sin debt.  Christ paid in full all our past, present and future sin debt. 

I do not believe anything we do after a person dies will affect the deceased relationship with God or their status in heaven.  I believe our salvation is determined on earth prior to death, therefore heaven or hell is determined before death.    

Christians and non-Christians alike have both heard the Bible verse ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Plus 9), but what does those verses really mean?  Does it really mean as soon as we breathe our last breath we are face to face with God?  I think those verses have a much deeper meaning.  Is Paul saying - if we are in our earthly bodies we are away from the Lord.  Yes, the Lord is always with us, but not where we can stand face to face with Him and that makes the difference.   I question that Paul was talking about a time line in those verses, but instead was assuring us that when we die we will come face to face with God.  Will that happen immediately, one day later, two days later or upon Christ coming again.  I do not know for sure.  I do know for sure it will happen and believers will come face to face with God. 

Protestants believe Hebrews 9:27 when it affirms that..."it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."  Protestants feel that prayers for the dead are useless.  They believe once you die judgment follows immediately.  They believe there is no state in between death and judgment called purgatory.   I am comfortable with that teaching.  But, I also find some aspects of Catholicism appealing due to its historicity and great respect for traditions, authority, and the early Church Fathers.

 I guess in the end it is up to each Christian to decide this issue, since there is no definitive answer in the Bible.  Catholics believe in Scriptures authority and its traditions.  Protestants believe in the sole authority of Scripture alone. There are many things in Scripture that remain a mystery to me and will remain a mystery until I am face to face with God.  These mysteries do not create a faith problem for me.  I think some scriptures remain a mystery for all, but some do not want to admit that they do not have it all figured out and are not in control.

Some may be scratching their head and saying I still do not have an answer.  I still do not know what he believes about praying for the dead.  Sorry, I am not sure I know.   I came to believe over fifty years ago that God did not call me to think for you or to tell you what to think.  I sincerely believe God called me to challenge you and provoke you to study scripture not just read it.  Pray over scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to a conclusion.  

The practice of praying for the dead in my mind naturally implies that we can influence the present state of those who are dead and I do not believe we can.  I do believe we are justified by faith in Christ, and we stand or fall based on our faith at the time of our death.  I believe our righteousness comes from the righteousness of Christ and that makes it hard for me to believe a place like purgatory would need to exist.  I do believe regardless of what you believe about praying for the dead it will not affect where you will spend eternity.   I hope that somewhat clears up my beliefs, but what I believe should not be a defining factor in your deciding what you believe. 

God wanted and wants us to be in unity.  He gave us the church and man was not satisfied.  God then allowed us to have Plan B - denominations.  We were not and are not yet mature enough to come together on the things we have in common and allow our difference to teach us and allow us to grow.  When we surround ourselves with only likeminded people we stifle our growth, but it seems we are more comfortable with likeminded people.

Is it biblically correct to pray to Mary?

This discussion is difficult for me.  I am sure there are friends that I will offend.  I never had a problem with the subject until I moved to the Philippines.  Down through the years I encountered a few people whom I felt might be abusing the devotion to Mother Mary, but in the Philippines it began to really concern me.  It seems to me many good Catholics have become confused when it comes to their devotion to Mother Mary.

The practices of many Catholics depart from the "official traditions" of the Roman Catholic Church.  The Roman Catholic Church does not "officially" teach Catholics to worship Mary, but rather to honour and revere her. However, through my observation, it is clear that many Catholics do in fact worship Mary. This is the result of the Roman Catholic Church not doing a good job of teaching and explaining our doctrines.  Many Catholics are completely ignorant of what Catholic doctrines and practices truly mean and signify.

I do not believe that Mother Mary is co-equal with the Father, Son or Holy Spirit and attending Mass any Sunday in the Philippines you would wonder if fifty percent of the people realise she is not.    I know there is a movement among some Catholics around the world to make her co-equal, but as of this writing the Pope has not seriously considered it.  I do not believe any Pope would ever approve it.  I think what disturbs me the most is it seems to me more prayer and devotions are offered to Mother Mary in the Philippines than to the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity.

 I have always heard that many Evangelicals and Protestants think the word pray means worship.  So it makes sense that they think Catholics who pray to Mary actually worship her.  The problem I now have is that I have come to believe that a vast number of Catholics no longer pray to Mother Mary they worship Mother Mary and the clergy seem to look the other way.  I honestly believe some of the clergy I have met in the Philippines worship Mother Mary themselves.

Let's look at the word pray in the dictionary.  Here is what Webster's says about the word pray: (1) to utter petition to God ... (2) to make a fervent request: PLEAD (3) to beseech: implore (4) to make a devout or earnest request.  The word worship is not included in the definition of pray.   A prayer to Mary is clearly not a petition to God.  Mary is not God, and I know of no knowledgeable Catholic who has said she was.  Clearly worship is not the first meaning of pray.

When Catholics pray to God they "utter a petition to God" and when they pray to Mary they make “earnest request for prayers” from Mary.  Catholics believe Mother Mary is a prayer warrior. 

There is a difference between veneration of Mary and worship of Jesus. This was formalized in writing back in 757 AD at the Seventh General Council:

1.Latria - adoration that is given to the Trinity alone occurs 5 times in the Bible, but always refers to God (John 16:2, Romans: 9:4, 12:6, Hebrew 9:1,6).

2. Hyper-dulia – veneration (showing respect) to Mary as the mother of God.

3. Dulia - honour paid to saints and angels occurs 5 times in the Bible (Romans 8:15, 21; Galatians 4:24, 5:1; Hebrew 2:15).

There are plenty of Old Testament references that distinguish veneration from worship. "Then Moses went out to meet his father- in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him…" (Exodus 18:7) and (1 Chronicle 29:20, 1 Samuel 24:8).  Moses did not worship his father-in-law, but he did show respect to him.

Some evangelicals say consecration shows that Catholics worship Mary.  The word consecrates means to entrust. I entrust myself to my closest friends, but only Jesus Christ is my Saviour.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe said, “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”  The question is not how much Jesus loved Mary.  The question is how much some Catholics love Mary; do they love her more than the Holy Spirit?  I am sure Jesus loved Mother Mary, but does Jesus love her more than He loves you and me, I doubt that.  I also think you can love Mother Mary too much if you have turned to worshipping her instead of venerating her, showing her reverential respect. 

I have a 5 foot statue of Mother Mary in my private prayer garden.  I do not worship Mary, but I do have the highest respect for her and when I look at that statue I think of her son Jesus Christ and I think of the physical and emotional pain she must have gone through as His mother.  It leads me to ask God to give me the same courage and strength.  I have no intention of removing the statue for it is comforting to me.  I do not pray to Mother Mary or any Saint.  I pray to the Father, through the Son (asking Him to mediate for me) and I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me in prayer.  Christ made it possible on the cross for us to go to the Father.

I believe it is wise for Catholics not to allow themselves to focus on Mother Mary to the point that it distracts them from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I do not think Mother Mary would want that.  I want to add my time thinking of Mother Mary has never been a distraction for me.  In fact it does the opposite it helps me focus more on Jesus Christ. 

Mary's role was not to jump on center stage and take the place of Jesus.  I do not believe she ever wanted to be in the spotlight.  I do think some men in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church wanted to give her a role that she did not want and God never intended for her to have.  It always perplexes me when men are not satisfied with God’s plan and want to substitute their own.

1 Timothy 2 does not say that God wants us only to communicate with Jesus. It says there is only one mediator between God and man, which is a different thing. The passage does not say do not ask people to pray for us.  The chapter not only allows intercessory prayer by third parties, but it indicates it is helpful.  “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone ...This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth? (Tim. 2:1-4).

Now one question that will arise is how can Mother Mary hear the prayers of all who are praying to her and distinguish between them for she is not all knowing as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Good Question!  I do not know the answer.  My only suggestion would be when a saint enters into the joy of their Master, they are "put in charge of many things" (Mat. 25:21).  Is listening to prayers one of them, I don’t know. 

Evangelical and Protestants will say, "I don't pray to dead people." Catholics don't think people in heaven are dead.  Catholics believe people in heaven are alive (Matthew 19:29, 25:46, Matthew 10:17-22, Mark 10:30, Luke 10:25-30, Luke 18:18-30, John 3:15-16).   We read in the Bible Lazarus was alive by Abraham's side (Luke 16:22).   At the transfiguration we read Moses and Elijah were alive beside Jesus, (Matthew 17:3).  There seems to be a lot of aliveness in Heaven in Revelation, (Revelation 4:10).  I do not believe people are in some type of comma until judgement day and I do not think the majority of Evangelicals or Protestants believe that either.

Some Evangelicals and Protestants think that asking a person in heaven to intercede for them is condemned in Deuteronomy 18:10 -12.  The Catholic Church believes that Deuteronomy 18:10 -12 speaks about the occult, soothsayers, sorcerers, spells, ghosts and spirits.  I think the same. 

Some Evangelicals and Protestants are uneasy asking Christians in heaven to pray for them because the final judgment hasn't occurred.   What does that have to do with the matter we are discussing?   I have never been to an Evangelical or Protestant funeral where they did not say, "He or she is with the Lord now."  They obviously believe as I do as soon as we die believers go to heaven.

This discussion could go on for many, many more pages.  But, I feel the need to bring it to a close.  I do have a problem praying for people after they have died.  I do not believe there are any second chances after death, but I will discuss that later. 

The problem I have is not having reverence for Mother Mary it is I am afraid some Catholics are abusing the tradition and have stopped praying to and reverencing her to WORSHIPPING her.  I think religious leaders have a responsibility to see that their followers do not do that.  Yes, it is easier to turn a blind eye and I have at times.  In the Philippines culture and tradition have deep roots, but religious leaders first responsibility is to teach God’s truths. 

I leave you with this thought Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.”  Jesus is not denying his relationship with his biological family; he is pointing out what makes us part of God’s family.  The belief that “blood is thicker than water” no longer applies.  For Jesus the waters of baptism that transform our identity as God’s children become a stronger bond in the Spirit than blood ties.  Water becomes thicker than blood in God’s family.  Spiritual and not physical kinship is the basis of relationships in the new dispensation.  Believers, who receive Jesus through faith and through baptism and are willing to do the will of God, become the true family of Jesus.

What should every Christian know about the Holy Sirit?

“I (Jesus) will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever.  That helper is the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit)... He lives with you and will be in you,” John 14:16 –17.   

The Holy Spirit is almost the forgotten member of the Trinity.  Sixty-one percent of US residents surveyed agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is "a symbol of God's presence or power, but is not a living entity.”  The Holy Spirit is not a mere symbol of anything.  Most Christians know that He is a member of the Godhead.  Many Christians know little about the Holy Spirit?  Many Christians think they know a lot, but do not. 

The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that He is a force like radar.  They are wrong.  The Mormons teach that He is a male personage of flesh and bones.  Actually, the Mormons teach that the Holy GHOST is a god, the male personage, and the Holy SPIRIT is the presence of God the Father.  They also are wrong.   Islam teaches there is no Holy Spirit and they are definitely wrong!

The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity.  The Trinity is the doctrine that there is only one God, but three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Each person is not the same person as the other, yet there are not three separate gods.  It is complicated and I will not try to explain it now.  The Holy Spirit is just as much God as is the Father and the Son.  But remember, there are not three gods only ONE. 

The Bible has many references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament alone there are 261 passages which refer to the Holy Spirit, a few are as follows: Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son.  Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His (Holy Spirit) who dwells in you."  The Holy Spirit is referred to as a person in scripture.  Isaiah 63:10, "…but they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.  Therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them." And Ephesian, 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."  We can grieve the Holy Spirit (make Him feel sorrow).  Romans 15:30, "Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the (Holy) Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me."  The Holy Spirit is capable of love.  Romans 8:27, "And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the (Holy) Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."  Acts 8:29, "And the Holy Spirit said to Philip, Go up and join this chariot."  Acts 13:2, "And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, set apart for Me (Holy Spirit) Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  The Holy Spirit speaks.

It should be obvious that the Holy Spirit has self-identity, is aware, and is not merely a force because a force doesn't speak, love, grieve, and have a mind.  The cults tend to ignore these verses and tell us that the Spirit is nothing more than some presence or power. 

The Spirit is a presence and a power, but that is not all He is.  He is the one who applies the redemptive work of Christ to the believer.  He is the one who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8), who teaches (John 14:26; 15:26), and who anoints (1 John 2:27).  He is the one who points us to Jesus (John 15:26).   He is the one that brings us into relationship with Jesus.  We should know as much about the Holy Spirit as we do the Father and the Son and we should certainly know more and dedicate more time to the Holy Spirit than to the Catholic Saints and Mary the Mother of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit has all the attributes of God: eternal, having neither beginning nor end (Hebrews 9:14), Omni-potent, having all power (Luke 1:35); Omni-present, being everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:7); and omniscient, understanding all matters (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11).  

When Jesus Christ left the Holy Spirit came in His place. The Holy Spirit is SPIRIT and has never been a bodily being like Christ.  There are some advantages to being just a spirit. The Spirit has no limit of time or space. The Spirit is able to work within minds and through people's activities, in the everyday realm and everywhere, throughout the centuries.  The Holy Spirit does what a bodily being can't do by itself. 

The bond between us and the risen Jesus Christ is a bond sewn by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit won't live in someone who chooses to sin in spite of conscience, or who has no love in them. The Spirit is not found where sin has its way. 

When a Christian speaks of the Spirit indwelling it means being in close relationship, and close relationship demands that you reveal not just will and message, but something of your very self.  Christians believe that the heart, character, and love of God is revealed to us in creation, in the covenant with the Jews, and then definitively in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  Getting us to grasp this is the work of the Holy Spirit.  How can we claim to know God or be a Christian if we do not understand the power and works of the Holy Spirit?

The scripture makes clear the difference between being saved and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  The difference is the degree of relationship we have with God.  When someone comes to Christ they are saved (they have the Spirit), what they choose to do with salvation is another issue.

If for example you received an inheritance, the property and money of an estate becomes yours.  You can either squander the blessing or use it to accomplish more.  In the same way, when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive an eternal inheritance from God, we have the choice, to allow the Holy Spirit to use or not use us.  When we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit we begin to see greater things happen in our lives.  I do not know about you, but I want God to use me in all the ways He desires and I want all the blessing He wants to give me.    

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we become the vehicle in which God accomplishes His work on earth providing we submit to the power of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples after they prayed, they received power to proclaim the word of God with boldness, first they yielded through prayer and then they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  It works the same with us.

Paul warns us in 1^st Thessalonians 5:19 not to quench (extinguish) our relationship with the Holy Spirit, because we harm our relationship with God.  We quench our relationship with God, when we yield to our old nature.   We have a choice, we can choose to yield control or not yield control of our life to the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts (talents) they are found in 1^st Corinthians. 12, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues and POWER!  Who does not want to receive gifts, talents and abilities that can allow them to have a better relationship with God and others?   Better relationships mean greater success in all we do.

Closing thoughts: The Holy Spirit in a messed up world can bring us the peace of Christ.  When we face trials God makes things right through the Holy Spirit.  The Bible tells us to be led by the Holy Spirit and does not tell us to be led by man, church, denominations, religious leaders or saints.  The Holy Spirit enters our life when we receive salvation.  God equips us to do His will through the Holy Spirit.  Learn truth from the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit is never wrong.  The Holy Spirit helps us sustain our peace in times of personal trials.  The Holy Spirit helps us practice self-control.  The Holy Spirit helps us control our tongue.  The Holy Spirit helps us interpret the Bible.  Grace comes from the Father to us through the Holy Spirit.  We cannot obey the Father without the help of the Holy Spirit.   The church without the Holy Spirit is a dead church.  Your church should be teaching the power of the Holy Spirit if it is not I suggest you find another church.  Jesus told the disciples they would be better off when He left and the Holy Spirit came.  We are told to lean on the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit motivates and encourages us.  The Holy Spirit gives us power.  The Holy Spirit gives us talents (fruits of the Spirit).  Don’t ignore and don’t be ignorant of the Holy Spirit.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit should be used every day, in every aspect of life - work, play and worship.  The Holy Spirit helps us to accomplish task that we could not accomplish on our own.

If you do not know the importance of the Holy Spirit to your life I pray you will find out and that what I have stated here may peak your interest to learn more.