First Corinthians 10:16 tells us the Apostle Paul was a Catholic priest/Bishop. “The cup of benediction that we bless is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ. The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ.” St. Paul provides warnings to “avoid factions”. Galatians 5:21 classifies those who prefer to be in “factions” than in The Church Jesus Founded among “drunkards and fornicators”.
Today’s Reading, from 1 Tm 6:2-12 is another Protestant warning. “Beloved: Teach and urge these things. Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.”
Think about this: Anyone who has read The Bible knows that “The sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” include John 6:53-66, “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood you do not have life in you.” St. Paul is telling us to obey such instructions because they are among the “sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Who in their right mind would ignore St. Paul?
In Today’s Reading, Paul continues to describe, if not condemn, those who do “not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.”
Wow! The mind of the anti-Catholic is able to read St. Paul and quote him approvingly, but not when it describes those in the 43,000 schisms as “conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments.” When they read another Protestant warning like that, those making a living from schisms quickly move to the comparative emptiness of “Believe and be saved!”
Then another Protestant warning: Those who renounce The Church Jesus Founded for some heresy or schism are further described: “From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.”
What a passage! In it we see the prosperous Protestant preachers with their marketing plans, mansions, mega-churches and many, many millions rolling in!
Amazing that those who say “I believe in Jesus and The Bible!” read yet another Protestant warning and either twist the meaning or ignore it altogether.
We compare them with Catholic priests. They are obedient, poor, and celibate. St. Paul describes them, as well: Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.”
That is followed by another warning to Protestants: “Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” Note another warning to Protestants, telling what happens to those who “have strayed from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”
What is a Catholic, especially a Catholic priest, the highest human calling this side of martyrdom, to do? “But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
