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as a new Christian, how do I handle a situation with being judged?
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so although i'm a Christian, i was raised Catholic and it's hard letting go of being Catholic because i've been a Catholic way longer than a Christian. there is this one person in my class who is very into ministry and is a strong Christian but once he found out i was still a Catholic it was like he didn't want to be around me anymore, and saying what i believed in was wrong, i have never felt like someone was judging me because of how i was raised,i know God can only judge us, but it hurts knowing someone who was once your friend won't talk to you anymore because of your religion. being a Christian for 2 years now i don't know how to handle this situation.
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I would not necessarily associate that person with judging. The Bible makes it clear we are to judge all people in a sense. That does not mean someone is trying to sit as Christ and judge someones salvation though, nobody can do that.. but from the Bible we are told not to be yoked with unbelievers, expel those among us who believe contrary to the Word of God, and even those who cause dividing of the church. So you have to understand that in order to be a true Christian some sort of judgment must take place, or how could we ever give correction and help people to come to Christ.
I believe there are many good hearted Catholic people out there, but that can also be said for all religions. There are Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses that are good people too.. but when it comes down to false teachings its not easy for Christians to be around them because they could deceive a lot of people.
I dont know how old you are or how much you have studied about the history of Christianity, but after one studies not only the history, but the Bible itself it is hard for me to understand how anyone could stay in the Catholic church. One thing people don't understand is that Catholics aren't Christians they are Roman Catholics. The word Christian came from Greek which means "follower of Christ"
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5
The Bible says there is only 1 that can forgive and cleanse us from our sins.. to accept Catholicism this verse would have to read.. "There are 2 mediators between God and Men, your priest and then Jesus Christ" but it doesn't say that.
it is not just confessing sins to priests and authority of the pope that is foolishness, there are many false teachings of Catholicism.
praying to dead people.. the Bible makes it clear nobody goes to heaven or hell until the 2nd coming of Christ after we are ressurected, Jesus taught how to pray he said. Pray to the Father in the name of the son.
Purgatory.. completely unbiblical and goes along with Islam and what the Muslims believe about burning away sins that haven't been forgiven.. and that is like saying the blood of Christ was not good enough or the wrath that the father crushed upon his son when he hung on the cross was not good enough. Before Christ gave up his spirit he said "it is finished" he defeated sin.
People either put faith in what Christ did for us to forgive us of our sins, or they put their faith in their own works and own deeds trying to earn their way to heaven there is no middle ground.
Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?"
And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
This scripture shows us that many who believe Jesus to be Lord will not enter into heaven because they put their faith in their own works instead of his sacrifice
Sorry that I wrote so much but I just wanted to explain the position of many Christian people when it comes to Catholicism..and it has been this way since 100s of years ago since the Catholic Church was unable to keep people from reading the Bible anymore when the printing presses were invented and people starting seeing that the Catholic teachings contradict scripture. As far as your friend goes he is simply following Christ, you may see it as a personal attack or him passing judgment on you, but he really is going along with what the Bible says
Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
it's ok and i honestly don't agree with praying for the dead, purgatory, or getting to the priest first in order to get to heaven, being Catholic doesn't mean i worship the devil and that's how my friend made me feel when i talked to him, but i really do appreciate you taking the time to write me back, you gave me some really good verses and alot of Catholic churches has changed over the years but even tho i go to a non denominational church i go to a Catholic church as well because i feel comfortable there