ALL FALSE CHURCHES SEPARATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE FALLEN AND ERRED By St. Alphonsus Liguori

The view of St. Peter’s Basilica from the Apostolic Palace.While the Catholic Church has remained firm, the adversaries of the Church have fallen and continued to err more grossly

From St. Alphonsus Against the “Reformers”

“A church which is not one in its doctrine and faith can never be the True Church … Hence, because truth must be one, of all the different churches … only one can be the true one … and out of that Church there is no salvation. Now, in order to determine which is this one true Church … it is necessary to examine which is the Church first founded by Jesus Christ, for, when this is ascertained, it must be confessed that this one alone is the true Church which, having once been the true Church must always have been the true Church and must forever be the true Church. For to this first Church has been made the promise of the Savior that the gates of Hell would never be able to overturn it (Matthew 16:18) … In the entire history of religion, we find that the Roman Catholic Church alone was the first Church, and that the other false and heretical churches afterwards departed and separated from her. This is the Church which was propagated by the Apostles and afterwards governed by pastors whom the Apostles themselves appointed to rule over her … This character can be found only in the Roman Church, whose pastors descend securely by an uninterrupted and legitimate succession from the Apostles of the world (Matthew 28:20)

“The innovators themselves do not deny that the Roman Church was the first which Jesus Christ founded … however, they say … that it was the true Church until the fifth century, or until … it fell away, because it had been corrupted by the Catholics … But how could that Church fall which St. Paul calls the “pillar and ground of truth” (I Timothy 3:15)? … No. The Church has not failed … The truth is … that all the false churches which have separated from the Roman Church have fallen away and erred … To convince all heretical sects of their error, there is no way more certain and safe than to show that our Catholic Church has been the first one founded by Jesus Christ; for, this being established, it is proved beyond all doubt that ours is the only true Church and that all the others which have left it and separated are certainly in error … But, pressed by this argument, the innovators have invented an answer: they say that the visible Church has failed, but not the invisible Church … But these doctrines are diametrically opposed to the Gospel.

“The innovators have been challenged several times to produce a text of Sacred Scripture which would prove the existence of the invisible church they invented, and we are unable to obtain any such text from them. How could they adduce such a text when, addressing His Apostles whom He left as the propagators of His Church, Jesus said: “You cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14)? … Thus He has declared that the Church cannot help but be visible to everyone … The Church has been at all times, and will forever be, necessarily visible, so that each person may always be able to learn from his pastor the true doctrine regarding the dogmas of faith … to receive the Sacraments, to be directed in the way of salvation, and to be enlightened and corrected should he ever fall into error. For, were the Church in any time hidden and invisible, to whom would men have recourse in order to learn what they are to believe and to do? … It was necessary that the Church and her pastors be obvious and visible, principally in order that there might be an infallible judge … to resolve all doubts, and to whose decision everyone should necessarily submit. Otherwise, there would be no sure rule of faith by which Christians could know the true dogmas of faith and the true precepts of morality, and among the faithful there would be endless disputes and controversies … “And Christ gave some apostles, and others pastors and doctors, that henceforth we be no more children tossed to-and-fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:11-14)

“But what faith can we learn from these false teachers when, in consequence of separating from the Church, they have no rule of faith? … How often Calvin changed his opinions! And, during his life, Luther was constantly contradicting himself: on the single article of the Eucharist, he fell into thirty-three contradictions! A single contradiction is enough to show that they did not have the Spirit of God. “He cannot deny Himself” (II Timothy 2:13). In a word, take away the authority of the Church, and neither Divine Revelation nor natural reason itself is of any use, for each of them may be interpreted by every individual according to his own caprice … Do they not see that from this accursed liberty of conscience has arisen the immense variety of heretical and atheistic sects? … I repeat: if you take away obedience to the Church, there is no error which will not be embraced.

Source:ALL FALSE CHURCHES SEPARATED FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE FALLEN AND ERRED By St. Alphonsus Liguori

Lawrence Luna

Refuting the Statement

” The Father will be the one to build the church and NOT THE SON! CHRIST IS PART of the church being its foundation!”

By: Lawrence Carlo Luna

From the website WWW.CONTROVERSYEXTRAORDINARY.COM, Bro Eli Soriano of Members of Church of GOD International had this teaching:

“The Prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:18, being Jesus Christ in reality, will speak the Father’s own words (my words in his mouth). When Christ said, “Upon this rock I will build my church”, it is the “church of GOD” and not his own church- not the church of Christ that others perceived to be. It must be understood that the Father will be the one to build and NOT THE SON! The main reason is that Christ is part of the church being its foundation!”

Bro Eli: The Prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:18, being Jesus Christ in reality, will speak the Father’s own words (my words in his mouth).

Lawrence: The Deuteronomy 18:18 speaks about the prophet to be send by GOD to speak his words. Well, no question for that since Christ testifies to the father because Jesus and the Father are connected to each other. Jesus speaks since he was tasked to proclaimed the kingdom of GOD, to save us through his crucifixion on the cross, and preach the word of GOD through his mouth about the salvation. Just like for example, the secretary will speak in the name/behalf of the president and the secretary will relay to the members the essence of the message of the president for them. This situation is also the same with Jesus since he speaks the truth and follow the will of GOD and proclaimed it to the people.

John 10:30 – My Father and I are one.

John 5:19 – So Jesus answered them, ” I TELL YOU THE TRUTH: THE SON CAN DO NOTHING ON HIS OWN; HE DOES ONLY WHAT HE SEES HIS FATHER DOING. WHAT THE FATHER DOES, THE SON ALSO DOES.

These are the reasons why in Deuteronomy 18:18 said ” I will put my words in his mouth” since he speaks to GOD and not his own but also the Son has the authority which came from the Father.

Connecting the Deuteronomy 18:18 to Matthew 16:18 as said by Bro. Eli ” that the Father and not the Son is the builder of the Church” can’t be applied since Deuteronomy 18:18 does not directly speaks the building and the builder of the church, rather the choosing the prophet to speak the words of GOD.

Deuteronomy 18:18 can be connected only if it talks about the church and its founder but it does not. Therefore, Deuteronomy 18:18 speaks about the prophet chosen by GOD while Matthew 16:18 speaks about the confirmation on the establishment of the church. Take note these verses have different topics being discussed.

Bro Eli: When Christ said, “Upon this rock I will build my church” it is the “Church of GOD” and not his own church- not the church of Christ that others perceived to be.

Lawrence: Matthew 16:18 – And I SAY also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I WILL BUILD UP MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Very clearly seen in this verse that It was Christ who built the church because he said “I WILL BUILD UP MY CHURCH”.

Christ didn’t say ” My Father said that: I will build up my church” or ” He will build up his church”. Christ used the terms “I” and “MY” because he was the founder. It is grammatically, logically, and theologically wrong if you say “I will build up my church” but you are not the founder. If its true that Christ was not the founder, why he used the terms “I” and “MY”? See, you can’t say “I” and “MY” if you don’t claim that such thing or etc. is yours.

Also, the persons involved in that dialogue of Matthew 16:18 were Jesus and Peter. It was only both of them who had the conversation. Take note that there were only 2 persons involved on that conversation.

Also, Jesus was the founder of the church since he told Peter to take care his sheep.

John 21:17 – Jesus said to him “Take care of my sheep”.

See, it was Christ who founded because if he was not the founder, then no reason for him to say “Take care of my sheep” and give the keys to Peter as stated in Matthew 16:18-19 and John 21:17. The founder of course has the authority to give powers to his disciples.

Bro. Eli insisted that it was the father who founded since he connected Deuteronomy 18:18 to Matthew 16:18 plus, the statement mentioned in Matthew 16:16-17.

Matthew 16:16-17 – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living GOD”. “Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven.

We have to remember that the truth about the proclamation of Peter on Jesus came from GOD since it was revealed by GOD and not based on the idea of Peter in his self. The proclamation was all about Christ being Messiah and Son of GOD.

It was also revealed about Jesus as “Messiah and Son of GOD” by the Father since this gives us a guarantee that the Son has the authority and that authority was already stated in Matthew 16:18-19.

Bro. Eli: It must be understood that the father will be the one to build and NOT THE SON!. The main reason is that Christ is part of the church being its foundation!

Lawrence: Here are the other verses that supports Christ was the founder:

Colossians 1:18 – HE IS THE HEAD IF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH; he is the source of the body’s life.

Romans 7:4 – That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the law is concerned, you also have died because YOU ARE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of GOD.

Romans 12:4-5 – We have many parts in ONE BODY, and all these parts have different functions. in the same way, though we are many, WE ARE ONE BODY IN UNION WITH CHRIST, AND WE ARE ALL JOINED TO EACH OTHER AS DIFFERENT PARTS OF ONE BODY.

Romans 16:16 – Greet one another with kiss of peace. All the CHURCHES OF CHRIST send you their greetings.

In Colossians 1:18, it is said he (Christ) is the “HEAD OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH. ” That’s why he is the founder and owner for he is the head of his church which is his body which he owned. it is not written ” Christ is part of the Father’s body, the church”. CHRIST IS THE FOUNDER AND OWNER FOR HE OWNED HIS BODY, THE CHURCH.

Remember a founder owned his group that he founded. It is never happened that a founder didn’t own the association that he founded.

In Romans 7:4, it is said “YOU ARE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST”. Meaning, IT IS US who are part of the body of Christ, not Christ is part of the church being its foundation as said by Bro. Eli Soriano. The body of Christ is the church which Christ is the head, owner and the founder (Col 1:18).

In Romans 12:4-5, it is said “WE ARE ONE BODY IN UNION WITH CHRIST”. Meaning we must be united in that one body or Church in union with with Christ. Bro. Eli will be correct if it is written ” we are one body of GOD in union with Christ”. But it was not written, so therefore, Bro. Eli was wrong.

In Romans 16:16, it is said ” CHURCHES OF CHRIST”, so the owner and founder of the Church is Christ. Bro. Eli will be correct if it is said “Churches of GOD in Christ Jesus”. See, Bro. Eli committed heresies.

Also, the term “Church of GOD” used in Acts 20:28 and 1 Timothy 3:15 is just the same with the term “CHURCHES OF CHRIST” since the term “Church of GOD” really gives us an assurance that the church founded by Christ is of GOD and pleases GOD, not founded by man or any false prophets.

The term “Church of GOD” is not even all capitalized because it is not the exact name of the church, rather, a description of the church which that church is the ground of pillar of truth. Bro. Soriano will be correct if it was written “Church of GOD in Christ Jesus” but it was not written.

Therefore, the founder of the church mentioned in the new testament is Christ and that is why the bible uses the terms “HE IS THE HEAD IF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH”, or “YOU ARE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST”, or “WE ARE ONE BODY IN UNION WITH CHRIST” or ” CHURCHES OF CHRIST” to strongly emphasize that Christ is the founder.

Christ can build the church for he was given an authority by the Father as said in John 5:19-29.

Also, you are pleased in the eyes of the Father when you enter to his Son’s church foe GOD the Father is pleased with Christ (Mark 1:11).

Christ can build a church since he is the fullness of grace and truth (John 1:17).

Source: REFUTING ELI SORIANO IN HIS CLAIM THAT THE FATHER BUILT THE CHURCH AND NOT THE SON By Lawrence Luna

Blessed Trinity (By: Bro Duane)

Here are my answers to your questions.

Answer to Question 1 (Can you explain the truth about the Trinity? If you can illustrate the logical and scientific explanation that would be great, How can one God be three persons? )

If you study neuroscience, you will know that our brain has limited capacity.

These examples are not completely comparable to the Trinity.

First, H2O defines the nature of a substance. H2O can be seen as a liquid (water) a solid (ice) or a gas (vapor or steam), yet in spite of which form H2O takes, it remains H2O. What we are talking about is Divine nature. No matter which form God takes (Father, Son or Spirit), each remains Divine in nature. That Divinity never changes - just the form. Take an ice cube and put it over heat. As it melts and begins to evaporate, all 3 forms are present at once - but all remain H20.

Second, the entire physical universe consists of three and only three aspects…space, time, and matter.

A.) Time consists of past, present, and future—three in one. If you were to take away any of these aspects, you would no longer have time.

B.) Space consists of length, width, and height—three in one. If you were to take away any of these dimensions, you would no longer have space.

C.) Matter consists of energy in motion producing phenomena—three in one. If there were no energy there could be no motion or phenomena. If there were no motion, there would be no energy or phenomena. If there were no phenomena, it would be because there was no energy or motion.

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Answer to Question 2 (The words "trinity", "holy trinity, or "blessed trinity" doesn't appear in the Bible)

Atoms, Molecules and Microbiology are words not found in the Bible either, scripture also does not deny these things.

A.) Atoms and Molecules

When Scripture does talk about things like the human body, or the universe, it uses Hebrew or Greek words which mean things like woven together, enmeshed, joined together, etc. or terms like held together, consists, and terms which mean invisible, unseen. It doesn’t phrase things the way the pagans or Greek philosophers did. It never mentions humors, ethers, or tempers; nor does it deny that there are things the human eye cannot see (invisible can just as easily mean microscopic, as well as unseen).

See: Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 2:19, Colossians 1:16-17

B.) Microbiology

There are plenty of indirect ones, such as the Kosher diet given to Israel. God who knows all knew to keep His people from eating blood, or pork or shellfish that all carry pathogens unless cooked to high internal temperatures. Prior to the invention of ovens, meat thermometers, crock pots and microwaves, cooking meat was an uneven and imperfect science at best. The chances of eating undercooked meat was much more likely back then. As to why quadrupedal, cud-chewing animals were determined by God to be the "clean" ones that were to be sacrificed and eaten, we are not specifically told in Scripture; but it may indeed have two principles behind it. Livestock are considered brute beasts, but are typically coachable, trainable by their master and are dependent on him for their well-being. They are also "kosher" and later once God opened up animals to be eaten, He wanted to keep His people healthy and safe. Beef, lamb, mutton and goat are much safer to eat, especially before there were more modern health and safety procedures for cooking. One can eat rare lamb and almost never get sick, but eating rare pork can be fatal.

Ironically, many historians place a lot of emphasis on Europeans unknowingly spreading plagues (and this is true), yet had they actually read and followed the Bible, which they had (or at least the wealthier and literate did), they would have read that they were to either wash or burn garments which belonged to plague-infected peoples, as in the verses below:

Leviticus 13:52-54 "He shall therefore burn that garment in which is the plague, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, for it is an active leprosy; the garment shall be burned in the fire. "But if the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, "then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the plague; and he shall isolate it another seven days.

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Answer to Question 3 (The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity teaches us that the Son is equal to the father, Jesus said that His Father is GREATER THAN Him - John 14:28)

Christ is the one speaking in John 14:28.

You should understand why the Lord Jesus said that.

First, because he took away his being God and became humble (Philippians 2:5-8).

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross."(Philippians 2:5-8)

Second, He came here not to give glory to Himself but to the Father.

He is not like many people who give glory only to themselves.

"Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God."(John 8:54)

Source: Blessed Trinity

Online Catechesis: Holy Mass in General...

The Fruits and Effects of the Holy Mass

What is the Holy Mass?

- is the unbloody sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ. (Baltimore Catechism no.917)

- is "the source and summit of the Christian life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324)
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Why does the Holy Mass called Sacrifice?

- it is called sacrifice because it has the same effect of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. It is an offering to a Supreme Being who is God. It is an act of propitiation.
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What is the "matter" of the Holy Mass?

- they are the Bread and Wine.
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What is the "form" of the Holy Mass?

- the form of the Mass are the words or the order of the Mass.
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Who instituted the Holy Mass?

- Christ himself who instituted the Mass at the upper room. It was during the Last Supper with his Apostles. (Mat.26:26-28, Mk.14:22-24, Lk.22:19-20)
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Why Christ instituted the Holy Mass?

- it is because the holy sacrifice forgives sins and he commanded it as his remembrance. As He said: "do this in remembrance of me", "which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
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Exposition:

Eucharist is derived from the Greek word "eucharistein" which freely translated as thanksgiving.

The Holy Mass is known in many other terms: Holy Eucharist, Breaking of the Bread and Holy Sacrifice. They are not many but ONLY ONE, TRUE and HOLY SACRIFICE.

The objects (matter) of this sacrifice are the Bread and the Wine which after the words of consecration the SUBSTANCE of the bread and wine will transform into the SUBSTANCE of Christ - Body and Blood WITHOUT changing the appearance of the Bread and Wine.

The effect of the Holy Eucharist has the same effect of the Sacrifice of Christ at the Calvary. Christ's act on the cross is once and for all. Only Christ can do such sacrificial act. And Christ never commanded his Apostles to be crucified in order to forgive sins. Rather, Christ commanded to do in his REMEMBRANCE what he did during the Last Supper.

The Last supper was the moment of its INSTITUTION of the Holy Mass and the INSTITUTION of Holy Orders (priesthood). Christ ordained his Apostles in order for them to CELEBRATE VALIDLY the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist. Only VALID PRIEST can CELEBRATE a VALID MASS.
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Holy Mass in Relation to the other Sacraments:

The Seven Sacraments of the Church are categorized into three (3) namely: Sacrament of Inintiation, Sacrament of Reconciliation and Sacrament of Mission (Vocation).

The sacrament of initiation comprises the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. Confession and Annointing of the Sick belongs to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While the remaining two (2) sacraments Holy Orders and Matirmony belong to the Sacrament of Mission (Vocation).

As we have observed in every celebration of the Seven Sacraments there's always a Communion (Holy Eucharist). For example: in annointing of the sick Communion is given to the sick, in Ordination, Matrimony, Confirmation (if inside the Mass). This means that we are sharing one Bread who is Christ. He draws us to himself so that we might live.

"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to PERPETUATE the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet 'in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1323)
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Deus benedicat vos fratres!

SUMASAMBA BA ANG MGA KATOLIKO SA MGA IMAHEN?

These men venerate the Cross of our Saviour Jesus Christ by kneeling before the image

Balikan natin ang topic na ito: Sumasamba ba ang mga Katoliko sa mga imahen o rebulto???

Sa ikalawang pagpapaliwanag, tunghayan natin ang aklat ni Daniel sa Bibliya. (Daniel 2-3).

Ang sabi  sa talata 3:3-30

"1Si Nabucodonosor na hari ay gumawa ng isang larawang ginto na ang taas ay anim na pung siko, at ang luwang niyao'y anim na siko: kaniyang itinayo sa kapatagan ng Dura, sa lalawigan ng Babilonia. 2Nang magkagayo'y nagsugo si Nabucodonosor na hari upang pisanin ang mga satrapa, ang mga kinatawan, at ang mga gobernador, ang mga hukom, ang mga tagaingat-yaman, ang mga kasangguni, ang mga pinuno, at ang lahat na pinuno sa mga lalawigan upang magsiparoon sa pagtatalaga ng larawan na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari. 3Nang magkagayo'y ang mga satrapa, ang mga kinatawan, at ang mga gobernador, ang mga hukom, ang mga tagaingat-yaman, ang mga kasangguni, ang mga pinuno at lahat ng pinuno sa mga lalawigan, ay nagpisan sa pagtatalaga ng larawan na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari; at sila'y nagsitayo sa harap ng larawan na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor.4Nang magkagayo'y ang tagapagtanyag ay sumigaw ng malakas, Sa inyo'y iniuutos, Oh mga bayan, mga bansa, at mga wika, 5Na sa anomang oras na inyong marinig ang tunog ng korneta, ng plauta, ng alpa, ng sambuko, ng salterio, ng gaita, at ng lahat na sarisaring panugtog, kayo'y mangagpatirapa at magsisamba sa larawang ginto na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari; 6At sinoman na hindi magpatirapa at sumamba sa oras na yaon ay ihahagis sa gitna ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas. 7Kaya't sa oras na yaon, pagkarinig ng buong bayan ng tunog ng korneta, ng plauta, ng alpa, ng sambuko, ng salterio, at ng lahat na sarisaring panugtog, lahat na bayan, mga bansa, at mga wika, ay nangagpatirapa at nagsisamba sa larawang ginto na itinayo ni Nabucodonosor na hari.

8Dahil dito sa oras na yaon ay nagsilapit ang ilang taga Caldea, at nagsumbong laban sa mga Judio. 9Sila'y nagsisagot, at nangagsabi kay Nabucodonosor na hari, Oh hari, mabuhay ka magpakailan man. 10Ikaw, Oh hari, nagpasiya, na bawa't tao na makarinig ng tunog ng korneta, ng plauta, ng alpa, ng sambuko, ng salterio, ng gaita, at ng lahat na sarisaring panugtog, ay magpapatirapa, at sasamba sa larawang ginto. 11At sinomang hindi magpatirapa at sumamba, ihahagis sa gitna ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas. 12May ilang Judio na iyong inihalal sa mga gawain sa lalawigan ng Babilonia na si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego; ang mga lalaking ito, Oh hari, ay hindi ka pinakundanganan: sila'y hindi nangaglilingkod sa iyong mga dios, ni nagsisisamba man sa larawang ginto na iyong itinayo.

13Nang magkagayo'y sa poot at pusok ni Nabucodonosor, ay nagutos na dalhin si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego. Kanila ngang dinala ang mga lalaking ito sa harap ng hari. 14Si Nabucodonosor ay sumagot, at nagsabi sa kanila, Sinasadya nga ba ninyo, Oh Sadrach, Mesach, at Abed-nego, na kayo'y hindi mangaglilingkod sa aking dios, ni magsisisamba man sa larawang ginto na aking itinayo? 15Kung kayo nga'y magsihanda sa panahong inyong marinig ang tunog ng korneta, ng plauta, ng alpa, ng sambuko, ng salterio, ng gaita, at ng lahat na sarisaring panugtog, na mangagpatirapa at magsisamba sa larawan na aking ginawa, mabuti: nguni't kung kayo'y hindi magsisamba, kayo'y ihahagis sa oras ding yaon sa gitna ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas; at sinong dios ang magliligtas sa inyo sa aking kamay?

16Si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego, ay nagsisagot, at nangagsabi sa hari, Oh Nabucodonosor, kami ay walang kailangan na magsisagot sa iyo sa bagay na ito. 17Narito, ang aming Dios na aming pinaglilingkuran ay makapagliligtas sa amin sa mabangis na hurnong nagniningas; at ililigtas niya kami sa iyong kamay, Oh hari. 18Nguni't kung hindi, talastasin mo, Oh hari, na hindi kami mangaglilingkod sa iyong mga dios, ni magsisisamba man sa larawang ginto na iyong itinayo.

19Nang magkagayo'y napuspos ng kapusukan si Nabucodonosor, at ang anyo ng kaniyang mukha ay nagbago laban kay Sadrach, kay Mesach, at kay Abed-nego: kaya't siya'y nagsalita, at nagutos na kanilang paiinitin ang hurno ng makapito na higit kay sa dating pagiinit. 20At kaniyang inutusan ang ilang malakas na lalake na nangasa kaniyang hukbo na gapusin si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego, at sila'y ihagis sa mabangis na hurnong nagniningas. 21Nang magkagayo'y ang mga lalaking ito'y tinalian na may mga suot, may tunika, at may balabal, at may kanilang ibang mga kasuutan, at sila'y inihagis sa gitna ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas. 22Sapagka't ang utos ng hari ay madalian, at ang hurno ay totoong mainit, napatay ng liyab ng apoy ang mga lalaking yaon na nagsibuhat kay Sadrach, kay Mesach, at kay Abed-nego. 23At ang tatlong lalaking ito, si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego, ay nagsibagsak na nagagapos sa gitna ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas.

24Nang magkagayo'y si Nabucodonosor na hari ay nagtaka, at tumindig na madali: siya'y nagsalita at nagsabi sa kaniyang mga kasangguni, Di baga ang ating inihagis ay tatlong gapos na lalake sa gitna ng apoy? Sila'y nagsisagot, at nangagsabi sa hari, Totoo, Oh hari. 25Siya'y sumagot, at nagsabi, Narito, aking nakikita ay apat na lalake na hindi gapos na nagsisilakad sa gitna ng apoy, at sila'y walang paso; at ang anyo ng ikaapat ay kawangis ng isang anak ng mga dios. 26Nang magkagayo'y lumapit si Nabucodonosor sa bunganga ng mabangis na hurnong nagniningas: siya'y nagsalita, at nagsabi, Sadrach, Mesach, at Abed-nego, kayong mga lingkod ng Kataastaasang Dios, kayo'y magsilabas at magsiparito. Nang magkagayo'y si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego, ay nagsilabas mula sa gitna ng apoy. 27At ang mga satrapa, ang mga kinatawan, at ang mga gobernador, at ang mga kasangguni ng hari na nangagkakapisan ay nakakita sa mga lalaking ito, na ang apoy ay hindi tumalab sa kanilang mga katawan, ni ang mga buhok man ng kanilang mga ulo ay nasunog, ni ang kanila mang mga suot ay nabago, ni nagamoy apoy man sila.

28Si Nabucodonosor ay nagsalita at nagsabi, Purihin ang Dios ni Sadrach, ni Mesach, at ni Abed-nego, na nagsugo ng kaniyang anghel, at nagligtas sa kaniyang mga lingkod na nagsitiwala sa kaniya, at binago ang salita ng hari, at ibinigay ang kanilang mga katawan, upang sila'y hindi maglingkod ni sumamba sa kanino mang dios, liban sa kanilang sariling Dios. 29Kaya't nagpapasiya ako, na bawa't bayan, bansa, at wika, na magsalita ng anomang kapulaan laban sa Dios ni Sadrach, ni Mesach, at ni Abed-nego, pagpuputolputulin, at ang kanilang mga bahay ay gagawing dumihan: sapagka't walang ibang dios na makapagliligtas ng ganitong paraan. 30Nang magkagayo'y pinaginhawa ng hari si Sadrach, si Mesach, at si Abed-nego, sa lalawigan ng Babilonia."

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Ang kwento tungkol sa  talatang 3:1-30 ng Daniel ukol sa pagsamba sa mga larawan ay hindi na saklaw ng doktrina ng Iglesia Katolika. Ang kwento kasi na ito ng hari na nagpatayo ng sarili niyang rebulto para sambahin ay hayagan nang kumokontra sa utos ng Diyos. Kailanman ay di sinamba ng mga Katoliko ang mga larawan, bagkus ay kung sino ang nagrerepresenta sa larawan (e.g. Jesus Christ)  at pagbibigay-galang sa mga pinapaging-banal ng simbahan (e.g. Mary and the other Saints)

Muli sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay aking sasabihin na WALANG MGA DOKUMENTO AT DOKTRINA ANG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKA NA SUMASAMBA ANG MGAKATOLIKO SA REBULTO. WALANG-WALA. Ang ating ginagawa ay Veneration o pagbibigay-galang lamang.


MGA KATANUNGAN:

Porke lumuhod lang ba sa rebulto sumamba na?  

SAGOT: Hindi. Mayroong mga talata sa Bibliya na kapag lumuhod/nagpatirapa saisang rebulto o kaban ay pagbibigay-galang. (Joshua 7:6, Daniel 2:46-48 atbp.)

Eto pa:

Genesis 19:1- Lot bowed own in the ground to venerate the two angels in Sodom.

Genesis 42:6- Joseph's brothers bow before Joseph with their faces on the ground.

Psalm 138:2- David bows down before God's holy temple.

Judith 14:7- Achior the Ammonite kneels before Judith, venerating her and praising God.

Ang salitang "pagsamba" ba ay pwede ring gamitin sa "pagbibigay-galang"?

SAGOT: Oo. Ayon na rin sa Catholic Encyclopedia, ang depinisyon ng salitang "worship" ay: 

“The word worship (Saxon weorthscipe, “honour”; from worth, meaning “value”, “dignity”, “price”, and the termination, ship; Latin cultus) in its most general sense is homage paid to a person or a thing. In this sense we may speak of hero-worship, worship of the emperor, of demons, of the angels, even of relics, and especially of the Cross. This article will deal with Christian worship according to the following definition: homage paid to God, to Jesus Christ, to His saints, to the beings or even to the objects which have a special relation to God.

There are several degrees of this worship:

if it is addressed directly to God, it is superior, absolute, supreme worship, or worship of adoration, or, according to the consecrated theological term, a worship of latria. This sovereign worship is due to God alone; addressed to a creature it would become idolatry.

When worship is addressed only indirectly to God, that is, when its object is the veneration ofmartyrs, of angels, or of saints, it is a subordinate worship dependent on the first, and relative, in so far as it honours the creatures of God for their peculiar relations with Him; it is designated by theologians as the worship of dulia, a term denoting servitude, and implying, when used to signify our worship of distinguished servants of God, that their service to Him is their title to our veneration (cf. Chollet, loc. cit., col. 2407, and Bouquillon, Tractatus de virtute religionis, I,Bruges, 1880, 22 sq.).

As the Blessed Virgin has a separate and absolutely supereminent rank among the saints, the worship paid to her is called hyperdulia (for the meaning and history of these terms see Suicer,Thesaurus ecclesiasticus, 1728).

In accordance with these principles it will readily be understood that a certain worship may be offered even to inanimate objects, such as the relics of a martyr, the Cross of Christ, the Crown of Thorns, or even the statue or picture of a saint. There is here no confusion or danger of idolatry, for this worship is subordinate or dependent. The relic of the saint is venerated because of the link which unites it with the person who is adored or venerated; while the statue or picture is regarded as having a conventional relation to a person who has a right to our homage — as being a symbol which reminds us of that person…”

Ano naman ang basehan ng paggamit ng salitang "worship" sa "veneration"?

SAGOT: 

"At sinabi ni David sa buong kapisanan, Ngayo'y purihin ninyo ang Panginoon ninyong Dios. At ang buong kapisanan ay pumuri sa Panginoon, sa Dios ng kanilang mga magulang, at iniyukod ang kanilang mga ulo, atsumamba sa Panginoon, at sa hari."-(1 Cronica 29:20)

"Nang magkagayo'y ang haring Nabucodonosor ay nagpatirapa, at sumamba kay Daniel, at nagutos na sila'y maghandog ng alay at ng may masarap na amoy sa kaniya." (Daniel 2:46 ADB)

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Ngayon, nung nagsiluhod ba ang mga tao at si Daniel ay ibig sabihin sumamba na sila sa Diyos? Hindi. Sapagkat sila ay nagbigay-galang lamang.


MABUHAY ANG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKA!

Source: SUMASAMBA BA ANG MGA KATOLIKO SA MGA IMAHEN?