Catholics Come Home Commercial

[Clouds]

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

The Roman Catholic Church defines the "Real Presence" as the bread becoming the actual physical body and blood etc. of Christ. This means that it is supposed to become the actual flesh and blood etc. of Christ during your Mass.

An earlier writing in the Bible, which I trust as God's perfect Word, says that "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:,yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more." [ 2 Corinthians 5:16]
This verse speaks strongly and clearly against the "Real Presence" being the actual physical flesh of Christ which the RCC claims and I trust God's Word over any early teachings or writings of any man that you might have found.

[Shonsu]

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

I will obviously be banned for saying this but it is true.

God Bless all Christians and all humanity in these difficult times. Amen

It sounds to me like you are putting the writings of men ahead of the Word of God. I would suggest putting down those other books and studying just God's Word and pray for understanding yourself instead of relying on other men's (evidently faulty) ramblings. Remember, even during the Apostles' time there were wolves creeping in amongst the sheep so you can't really trust anything other than the bible itself.

[Shonsu]

The Roman Catholic Church defines the "Real Presence" as the bread becoming the actual physical body and blood etc. of Christ. This means that it is supposed to become the actual flesh and blood etc. of Christ during your Mass.

An earlier writing in the Bible, which I trust as God's perfect Word, says that "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:,yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more." [ 2 Corinthians 5:16]
This verse speaks strongly and clearly against the "Real Presence" being the actual physical flesh of Christ which the RCC claims and I trust God's Word over any early teachings or writings of any man that you might have found.

And that is just one small example of the huge number of doctrinal issues of the RCC. Just about every facet of their "catechism" goes against the plain teaching of the bible. It just amazes me that anyone truly studying God's Word could actually come to the conclusion that the RCC is the place to go. Satan's deception is so strong.

[Hootmon]

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
(Rom 8:26-27)

[Shonsu]

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
(Rom 8:26-27)

And this:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5)

[Xenosjeff]

Many, many people have gone the same road as you. I was one.

I cannot speak to your experience or upbringing but in your statement I recognized an honest attempt to convey the thought that you had seen this move towards the RCC as a reasoned and enlightened decision. I also believed that at one time.

As I kept pressing in on the issues there was an undeniable pattern of doctrinal origination that I began to see. Like you, I saw many of the arguments and reasonings to be quite logical and proper.

It wasn't until I stepped back from Catholic only sources that I could see past the issue at hand.

On a day to day level, most Catholics are not dealing with the doctrinal and scriptural apologetics that are essential to developing an understanding of fundamental issues. They are doing Catholicism! Attend Mass, partake of the sacrements, be a good witness, do unto others and so on. Following what looks like a well worn and traveled road seems like a good decision. After all they have been ironing out the problems for 1500 years , right? Unfortunatly, no...

Believe me I wish that men could build churches and religions that reflected the truth of Christ, growing in love and faith as one big happy family. That's not reality. Not even close. The fact is that men are corrupt and anything we do is corrupted with our own faults and failing. We all fall short of the glory of God. So why is it that men believe that just by being very old and large that this basic human flaw would be negated? Unfortunatly it only amplifies the problem. Roman Catholicism is no exception.

Shahbajan, I know you must be sincere, so am I. What you are basing your eternity on seems like a solid platform based upon Christianity but Roman Catholicism isn't based upon the solid Rock of Christ any longer. It is a religion based upon works and submission to Rome. It is a religion that has forgotten the simple Gospel of Christ.

As you look at this issue of "who is right", it will require you to read things and learn things that will threaten and scare you. Many times you will wonder if you are being used and deceived. You will question everything you currently feel is fact.

When you break through the other side of the great fogbank of man's religiosity and see the simplicity and perfect power of a Jesus who can save you to the uttermost just because you believe and trust Him, religion will seem like a poor substitute.

Shahbajan, if you were at the foot of the cross seeing Jesus suffer and die could you say, Lord it isn't enough! I must also join a specific church and get baptized and perform pennance. Then after doing it all to the best of my ability I must still pay for sin in purgatory, all of those sins that you didn't pay for on the cross.

Jesus loves you so much that even while you were a sinner He died for you. He PAID the price of your redemption, all of it. He also didn't just open the door of Heaven He IS the way, the only way! there is no religion that can save you.

While you are still breathing and able to choose, do it now, trust in Jesus alone. Don't trust in a formula or the scribblings of a hermit. Recognize, trust in and accept the salvation that He paid for. Repent of your sins and be filled with His Spirit. The day is today.

Jeff

[Shonsu]

Many, many people have gone the same road as you. I was one.

I cannot speak to your experience or upbringing but in your statement I recognized an honest attempt to convey the thought that you had seen this move towards the RCC as a reasoned and enlightened decision. I also believed that at one time.

As I kept pressing in on the issues there was an undeniable pattern of doctrinal origination that I began to see. Like you, I saw many of the arguments and reasonings to be quite logical and proper.

It wasn't until I stepped back from Catholic only sources that I could see past the issue at hand.

On a day to day level, most Catholics are not dealing with the doctrinal and scriptural apologetics that are essential to developing an understanding of fundamental issues. They are doing Catholicism! Attend Mass, partake of the sacrements, be a good witness, do unto others and so on. Following what looks like a well worn and traveled road seems like a good decision. After all they have been ironing out the problems for 1500 years , right? Unfortunatly, no...

Believe me I wish that men could build churches and religions that reflected the truth of Christ, growing in love and faith as one big happy family. That's not reality. Not even close. The fact is that men are corrupt and anything we do is corrupted with our own faults and failing. We all fall short of the glory of God. So why is it that men believe that just by being very old and large that this basic human flaw would be negated? Unfortunatly it only amplifies the problem. Roman Catholicism is no exception.

Shahbajan, I know you must be sincere, so am I. What you are basing your eternity on seems like a solid platform based upon Christianity but Roman Catholicism isn't based upon the solid Rock of Christ any longer. It is a religion based upon works and submission to Rome. It is a religion that has forgotten the simple Gospel of Christ.

As you look at this issue of "who is right", it will require you to read things and learn things that will threaten and scare you. Many times you will wonder if you are being used and deceived. You will question everything you currently feel is fact.

When you break through the other side of the great fogbank of man's religiosity and see the simplicity and perfect power of a Jesus who can save you to the uttermost just because you believe and trust Him, religion will seem like a poor substitute.

Shahbajan, if you were at the foot of the cross seeing Jesus suffer and die could you say, Lord it isn't enough! I must also join a specific church and get baptized and perform pennance. Then after doing it all to the best of my ability I must still pay for sin in purgatory, all of those sins that you didn't pay for on the cross.

Jesus loves you so much that even while you were a sinner He died for you. He PAID the price of your redemption, all of it. He also didn't just open the door of Heaven He IS the way, the only way! there is no religion that can save you.

While you are still breathing and able to choose, do it now, trust in Jesus alone. Don't trust in a formula or the scribblings of a hermit. Recognize, trust in and accept the salvation that He paid for. Repent of your sins and be filled with His Spirit. The day is today.

Jeff

Very well said Jeff.

Shahbajan, I am praying for you.

[Trey]

I can see how Catholics interpret these verses, but exactly what was Jesus saying to Peter here?

To understand the meaning, you need to read the entire passage:

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,b the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,c and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadesd will not overcome it.e 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bef bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will beg loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19

At that moment, Peter was the first person to recognize and state that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. So at that moment, Jesus essentially points at Peter and says, "I tell you that you are Peter," he then essentially points back and himself, and states, "and on this rock I will build my church."

The catholic stance that Peter was the Rock is laughably faulty, as revealed by scripture:

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. Psalm 118:22

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25
The last one always gets me, as if Jesus is saying to "build your house on Peter?"

Jesus is the rock, plain and simple. You really need to either twist scripture, or lie by omission, to get around that one.

[Hootmon]

Very well said Jeff.

Shahbajan, I am praying for you.

+1

[lightseeker*]

Thank you Trey for explaining it so well!

[Daniel1210]

Since I'm on dial up I can't play youtube (link in the OP) so I got curious and searched "Catholics Come Home".
This is rom their What We Do page on their website:

•Only 33 percent of U.S. Catholics attend Mass on a weekly basis. That means approximately 42.7 million U.S. Catholics are not practicing Catholics.1
•The number of Americans identifying themselves as non-religious/secular increased 110 percent from 1990 to 2000! It is now 13.2 percent of the total population.2 Comparing this statistic with the previous one, non-religious, secular individuals outnumber active, Mass-attending Catholics by 58 percent.
•As many as 100,000 baptized Catholics in the U.S. drift away from Church each year

I remember reading that if ex-Catholic was a denomination it would be the third largest. I guess so going by the above.

[Jabez]

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.


I will obviously be banned for saying this but it is true.

God Bless all Christians and all humanity in these difficult times. Amen

I don't think so Junior...

1 Timothy 2 1-7

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity

[Buzzardhut]

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

I will obviously be banned for saying this but it is true.

God Bless all Christians and all humanity in these difficult times. Amen

Sounds like you bought into the beauty and real presence of satan's counterfeit church and missed out on the entire purpose of God's true Christianity through the real Jesus Christ,

the catholic christ is false and not the true path to God,

Romanism is the beautiful side of evil.

Don't trust the Mystics of the early centuries, God's Word prevails!

[Verisimilitude]

Jesus had opportunity to name Peter as pope/leader/His successor, but He didn't.


Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:10-11 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Luke 22:24-26 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.


If Peter was to take over after Jesus and form 'the church', wouldn't Jesus have said so while He was still here?

I once did a study on Peter. For some reason, the Lord made it very clear in the New Testament everywhere that Peter went. Not once, NOT ONCE is Rome ever mentioned as one of the places Peter ever traveled to. On the other hand, Paul was given the gospel of uncircmcision which makes sense, since Paul was an actual citizen of Rome. He is documented as having gone to Rome in the Bible. His epistles (letters) to gentiles fill the New Testament. This includes an epistle titled "Romans".

So what we have is Christ rightly claiming to be "Master", Paul in Rome and other Gentile countries and Peter, a true example of God's patience. Are you aware Shabajan that there came a time when Peter refused to eat with gentiles? Paul had to contend with him to set him back on the right course. An odd thing for someone who is claimed to be the first leader of the roman catholic church:

Galatians 2:11-14 11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

The roman catholic religion is just that, a religion. Religion is man's attempt to reach God. JESUS ALONE is God's attempt to reach man! If you have mass, baptism by sprinkling, communion involving transubstantiation, clergy not allowed to carry out their God given rights to have spouses and a family, purgatory, confession to men and forgiveness through penance and Mary as the mother of the church, congratulations. You have a worthless religion that may make you feel good, but which will send you right into hellfire and eternal condemnation. On the other hand, if you have Jesus, no one will ever be able to snatch you out of His hand. HE ALONE is THE WAY and HE HIMSELF SAID SO!!!!!! HE ALONE is THE TRUTH and HE HIMSELF SAID SO!!!!! HE ALONE is THE LIFE and HE HIMSELF SAID SO!!!!!

Speaking as an ex-catholic I can tell you from experience that my relationship with Jesus my Savior is far more satisfying than anything the rcc ever offered me. He offers me eternal life, they offered me eternal slavery and condemnation. Through the rcc, Mary became my mother which she really wasn't because she doesn't even know me. Through Jesus, the LORD, Creator of all things that exist, including me, became my Father. And by the way, He knows me and I learn more and more about Him daily.

I urge you to stop seeking empty sacraments and start seeking Jesus, while there is still time.

[MartyN]

Yes Veri!


Originally Posted by Shahbajan

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

I will obviously be banned for saying this but it is true.

God Bless all Christians and all humanity in these difficult times. Amen

I don't know what the "writings" are that you claim are the "oldest" and "very earliest" but no "writings" are equal to the scriptures and Catholicism, Roman or Orthodox, conflicts with scripture. So, I advise you to take another look and revise your beliefs and actions in joining the Catholic church. I and many others have admitted their former mistakes and misunderstandings. Failure to be willing to do this can be fatal to one's destiny , I would think.

[OnceWasLost]

After studying The Early Church in fine detail as part of a theology degree I took the bold and difficult step of entering the Catholic Church. And I love it. I know of many that have taken an honest look at the oldest Christian teachings and writings, checked them out comparing them to scripture, and concluded that it is the only honest choice to make.

Others in a similar position have joined one of the Orthodox churches.

The very earliest writings by Christians uphold the Real Presence, asking for the intercession of saints and a Church governed and held together by bishops from region to region.

I will obviously be banned for saying this but it is true.

God Bless all Christians and all humanity in these difficult times. Amen

Too bad this was the last activity for you. I find it fascinating that the "Early Church" did not espouse the structure of the RCC.

There was no writing to support:

The Pope
The Priesthood
Praying to Mary
Praying to saints
The mediation of priests through confession for absolving sin.

Need I go on?

As for the "Early Church" There are catholic churches names after Polycarp, Clement and Ireneus. Did you know all wrote from a Pre Millenniual view. They were Pre Trib in their view to boot. Yet the RCC holds no such view. Funny how they use these people to fit their concocted, "Jesus built the church on Peter" narrative, but deny the clear teaching of the "Early Church"

[billiefan2000]

a lot of catholic churches in omaha do that catholics come "home" stuff a lot.

what is sad, is that catholics, unitarians and JW and Mormon folks have no problem sharing their faith and evangelizing


but when it comes to evangelical christians there are very few doing evangelism work here in my town.

I know this cause I and a few others are the few doing actual evangelism work in omaha.

[MartyN]

A lot of you Rangers did some fine work in this thread-- and it is my favorite area of interest.

It's man's tradition so it HAS to right...right? Even if it contradicts scripture...right?

I really don't see how some beliefs persist despite the evidence.

Neither do I and I would like to add that certain bad theology persisted even through and beyond what is called "the protestant reformation. Have you ever noticed how God's Word in gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John concerning Jesus in His earthly walk are held higher than His words spoken and recorded by Paul - after Christ resurrected and ascended? Could that help explain why men tried to rule over others in what they called "the Kingdom of God on earth" i.e., "Christendom." Scripture reveals that is not God's intent until Christ returns.

I can see how Catholics interpret these verses, but exactly what was Jesus saying to Peter here?

Jesus was saying all that concerning the millennial kingdom on earth
which is still future at this time.

And that is just one small example of the huge number of doctrinal issues of the RCC. Just about every facet of their "catechism" goes against the plain teaching of the bible. It just amazes me that anyone truly studying God's Word could actually come to the conclusion that the RCC is the place to go. Satan's deception is so strong.

Correct! Emphasis mine.

Many, many people have gone the same road as you. I was one.

I cannot speak to your experience or upbringing but in your statement I recognized an honest attempt to convey the thought that you had seen this move towards the RCC as a reasoned and enlightened decision. I also believed that at one time.

As I kept pressing in on the issues there was an undeniable pattern of doctrinal origination that I began to see. Like you, I saw many of the arguments and reasonings to be quite logical and proper.

It wasn't until I stepped back from Catholic only sources that I could see past the issue at hand.

On a day to day level, most Catholics are not dealing with the doctrinal and scriptural apologetics that are essential to developing an understanding of fundamental issues. They are doing Catholicism! Attend Mass, partake of the sacrements, be a good witness, do unto others and so on. Following what looks like a well worn and traveled road seems like a good decision. After all they have been ironing out the problems for 1500 years , right? Unfortunatly, no...

Believe me I wish that men could build churches and religions that reflected the truth of Christ, growing in love and faith as one big happy family. That's not reality. Not even close. The fact is that men are corrupt and anything we do is corrupted with our own faults and failing. We all fall short of the glory of God. So why is it that men believe that just by being very old and large that this basic human flaw would be negated? Unfortunatly it only amplifies the problem. Roman Catholicism is no exception.

Shahbajan, I know you must be sincere, so am I. What you are basing your eternity on seems like a solid platform based upon Christianity but Roman Catholicism isn't based upon the solid Rock of Christ any longer. It is a religion based upon works and submission to Rome. It is a religion that has forgotten the simple Gospel of Christ.

As you look at this issue of "who is right", it will require you to read things and learn things that will threaten and scare you. Many times you will wonder if you are being used and deceived. You will question everything you currently feel is fact.

When you break through the other side of the great fogbank of man's religiosity and see the simplicity and perfect power of a Jesus who can save you to the uttermost just because you believe and trust Him, religion will seem like a poor substitute.

Shahbajan, if you were at the foot of the cross seeing Jesus suffer and die could you say, Lord it isn't enough! I must also join a specific church and get baptized and perform pennance. Then after doing it all to the best of my ability I must still pay for sin in purgatory, all of those sins that you didn't pay for on the cross.

Jesus loves you so much that even while you were a sinner He died for you. He PAID the price of your redemption, all of it. He also didn't just open the door of Heaven He IS the way, the only way! there is no religion that can save you.

While you are still breathing and able to choose, do it now, trust in Jesus alone. Don't trust in a formula or the scribblings of a hermit. Recognize, trust in and accept the salvation that He paid for. Repent of your sins and be filled with His Spirit. The day is today.

Jeff

I pray Shabbajan heeded those wise words.

To understand the meaning, you need to read the entire passage:

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,b the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,c and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadesd will not overcome it.e 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bef bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will beg loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19

At that moment, Peter was the first person to recognize and state that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. So at that moment, Jesus essentially points at Peter and says, "I tell you that you are Peter," he then essentially points back and himself, and states, "and on this rock I will build my church."

The catholic stance that Peter was the Rock is laughably faulty, as revealed by scripture:

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. Psalm 118:22

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25
The last one always gets me, as if Jesus is saying to "build your house on Peter?"

Jesus is the rock, plain and simple. You really need to either twist scripture, or lie by omission, to get around that one.

[Underlines mine] It was an earthly kingdom that was being discussed, not heavenly, not the destination WE are promised by the risen LORD.

[Verisimilitude]

As long as this thread has been bumped up, I thought I'd take an opportunity to show what Peter himself had to say about just who is "the rock".

1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Here Peter is addressing a group of people. He refers to Christ as "a living stone". He refers to the group as "lively stones". Christ did not build His church on all the lively stones, they are what makes up the church, but Christ is the "living stone" that is the foundation of the church. For proof, just read the next passage...

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Can anyone say that if they believe on Peter they shall not be confounded? The answer is no. Can anyone say that if they believe on Christ they will not be confounded? The answer is yes. The Lord layed a chief cornerstone in Sion, elect and precious and that chief cornerstone is our Lord Jesus.

1 Peter 2:7-8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Peter is nowhere refering to himself as the rock in any of these passages. The "He" Peter is refering to is the one the builders rejected but Who became the Chief Cornerstone and a rock of offense. Peter can only be refering to Jesus Christ Himself and no other.

When a church is mistakenly calling Peter the rock on which the church is built, at best, they are showing a total misunderstanding of the scriptures. At worst they are spouting apostasy and heresy. In either case, that church is not following the scriptures and is teaching another Christ. If they are not teaching the True Christ and if they are unwilling to start teaching the True Christ they are to be shunned by believers.

Paul said:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Peter said this of Paul:

2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter agrees that Paul preaches the True Jesus and goes so far as to say that those who are not learned in the scriptures and those who are unstable in the scriptures misinterpret them TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION!!!

Jesus is a steady foundation, a rock and the cornerstone. He is the stable foundation the church is founded upon. Any other foundation or false Christ is unstable and whatever is built upon that false Christ will eventually fall when the unstable foundation gives way.

The early church fathers are Peter, Paul, John, Matthew, Jude and James among others mentioned in the New Testament. The things they wrote are present in the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament and those things are what Christianity follows. If any later church father wrote something that differs from the New Testament which is the Old Testament revealed, that church father was teaching falsely. The True Church of Christ, the Body of Christ is built upon the Jesus of the gospels as the cornerstone and the blueprints are the books of the Holy Bible. Nothing else need be added to refine and strengthen the church. In truth, anything that is added over and above what the Holy Scriptures say only serves to weaken the Church.

Jesus is the Rock and there is no need to look to anyone else. He has born the weight of the Church for 2000 years and He will still be the cornerstone the True Church is built on for eternity to come.

[BBB]

A hearty AMEN Ver!