Richard wrote:
Thank you but please remove my email address from your address book. My faith is committed to Jesus Christ and His bride, the Roman Catholic Church.
Victor wrote back:
Hi Richard,
I have some things to say to you. You say that your “faith is committed to Jesus Christ and His bride, the Roman Catholic Church.”
Many people expect Jesus Christ to return anytime now. “Soon” is the operative word one usually hears. Do you believe that? It is also taught that He comes for a chaste bride, one without spot or blemish. As it is written:
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
Is that an accurate description of your “bride” after nearly two thousand years? Throughout history, the Roman Catholic Church has slaughtered countless numbers of people who did not agree with its doctrines and practices, such as Lutherans, Calvinists, Mennonites, Hutterites, Anabaptists, Waldenses, Albigenses, Montanists, Quakers, Puritans, Methodists, and many, many more. During the “crusades,” the Catholic Church committed wholesale slaughter of countless numbers in the Middle East, including many Jews and Muslims, in the name of redeeming the “holy land.” “Saint” Ignatius Loyola, the “Inquisitor,” hunted down, tortured and killed thousands upon thousands of any who were not devoted to the “bride of Christ,” including many Jews and even other Catholics. (In her madness, the “bride” was even eating herself.) This is historically documented, a matter of record, easily verified by those who are willing to be honest, and who want the truth.
I ask you: “When did the Lord Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures ever command, encourage, or commit any of these atrocities? When did He ever direct persecution?” I tell you, His true servants are persecuted, but they do not ever persecute. They are abused, but they do not abuse. They do not have an organization to promote and protect them in vile sins. His true servants stand against such evils, rather than walk in them.
I ask you, is this “bride” any better today than she was long ago? Has she advanced? Today, for all to see, the Roman Catholic Church is being exposed for its vile corruptions, even and especially in its clergy, its very leaders. Many (not few) priests and higher clergy are found guilty of sexual abominations such as child abuse and homosexuality, the kinds of vile sins they hear confessions about from those they abuse. What spirit is it that inspires your “bride” to commit the things she does, and to protect those of her members that commit them?
We don’t see the tip of the iceberg, because we know, naturally, that many crimes would be hidden from the public. What does the “bride” do about it? Cover it up as much as possible, and failing that, it denies the crimes, pleads not guilty and fights those charges in courts of law run by the world it presumes to teach and to save! And “Papa,” the head of the bride, one who blasphemously and presumptuously claims to be the sole Vicar of Christ on earth, sanctions it all!
I have barely begun to tell the sins of the Roman Church. Richard, if your “bride” is the true bride, befitting of the Lord and Savior, and representing Him, then we have no hope whatsoever; we are at the mercy of vile despots out to destroy and abuse us for their own pleasure. God is then a brutal and deceitful charlatan, a liar and a murderer.
Jesus said:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7: 15-21).
As it is written:
“Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is dirty-minded will still be dirty-minded. But good people will keep on doing right, and God’s people will always be holy” (Revelation 22:11).
Jesus Christ died on the cross to save souls, and to bring a chaste and holy bride unto Himself. After such a remarkable price paid by the only begotten Son of God, His own blood no less, are you trying to tell me that all He deserves is a vicious slut, which claims to be His bride?
Let’s repent of wilful ignorance and wanton worship, Richard, and seek the truth. You, wittingly or otherwise (and I would hope, otherwise), worship “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4), and are destructively faithful to, and a member of, the bride of that “other Jesus.”
I assure you that if you were committed to the true Bride of Christ, you would receive us, because we are His bride, His elect, His brethren, and members of His Body in particular. We come in His Name, and you reject us. How then can your “faith” be committed to Him? Did not the Jews say the same thing to Him in the days of His flesh?
“They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If you were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham (John 8:39).
“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? even because you cannot hear My Word” (John 8:42-43).
Victor Hafichuk