“Accipite et Comedite”: How the World Has Been Deceived

Over a billion of Catholics around the world believed in the power of what they called Eucharist or Holy Communion –

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a kind of unleavened bread that they received every time they celebrate their mass. Unlike some Protestant churches that also commemorate the death of the Lord through their own version of the Holy Supper three or four times a year, Catholics have a deep devotion towards this celebration because they believed that this is the summit and the center of Christian life. Hence, Catholics receive the Communion every week or if possible every day according to what their Canon Law states. And unlike the Protestants, Catholics believed that the very bread they received during the mass was transformed into the actual body of the Savior after been consecrated by the priest – a divine process where the bread and the wine transformed completely into the actual body and blood of Christ, “just like Jesus changed the essence of water into wine at Cana”, as some Catholic apologists said. Thus, from simple bread, after the consecration, it becomes a divine substance worthy to be worshiped by all Catholics.

I really admire how often Catholics remember the death of the Lord, but devotion is not enough to please God because there is no other way to please Him but to submit ourselves to His words and righteousness. This also applies to the teaching of how Christians should commemorate Christ’s death. Remembering Him by partaking with the bread and wine is a way to eternal life, and Christ taught us the right way how to partake with it. Unless we adopt the right way, we cannot obtain that glorious promise.

Catholics claim that Christ is in the bread of the Eucharist and that “through the food of the Eucharist, Christ’s eternal life penetrates and flows within human life” and that it is the antidote to death, as John Paul II stated in his encyclical. But the question is, does eternal life connives with acts of idolatry? This is what’s happening today in the Catholic Church. The entire Church recognized the consecrated bread as the real Christ and bow down before it. Said the Cathecism;

Para 1378 Worship of the Eucharist. In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. “The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.

There’s no any biblical record showing that the bread of the Lord’s Supper was laid in a sacred vessel and worshiped, neither apostles consecrated an ordinary bread to be worshiped. And why did the Curia excluded the wine in the service of their Eucharist? They stated that it is not necessary to partake of both species of the Eucharist because the consecrated bread and wine are both the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, and so one is sufficient. The same way they did to the order of the Ten Commandments, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority. So, by the light of the Scriptures, the bread of the Eucharist is rather an object of a mortal sin than a mean of eternal life. The Bread of the eternal life is not in the form of a piece of unleavened bread bought from a baker’s store that when a man eats will “go into the belly and is cast out into the draught”. (Matthew 15:17) What do you think will happen to Him after digestion? Think. Catholic apologists also insist that the bread of the Eucharist is no more an ordinary bread once consecrated by the priest, but like the water of Cana which Christ completely transformed into wine, will transform into the actual body of the Savior. If it is true, then why did the bread still remain in its appearance unlike the water of Cana?

The Bread of life is a LIVING BREAD,  not a lifeless piece of cake. When a man eats this, it will dwell within him forever, for it is written, “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him”. To dwell in Christ and He in us means to let Him live and direct our lives. By accepting His precious sacrifice, His body and His blood, on the cross, our old man also crucified with Him so no more that we are living by ourselves but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us; this is how we partake with the Bread of life. But concerning to the Eucharist, Catholics believed that when the host is digested it no longer has the appearance of bread, it is no longer the body of Christ. The Lord is only present as long as the appearance of bread is present. So look upon those millions of people who are very much devouted in receiving the Communion? As how often people celebrates the mystery of the Eucharist, the world is becoming more wicked. When Christ said, “I am the bread of life”, it doesn’t mean that He’s turning His body into a literal bread, neither transforming the bread of the Supper into His actual existence. The real bread that comes down from heaven is Christ Himself in His actual divine and human state. How we can receive Him or partake with His body and blood? Are we going to chew and swallow Him literally? No. The Bread of heaven is free for everyone. By coming to Him and by believing in His words, we are actually receiving Him in spirit according to His command. Christ said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:36).

The Religion of Stocks and Stones

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them. (Psalms 115: 4-8)

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In the midst of all sufferings, poverty, sicknesses and problems, faith is the only hope that people counts on. It serves as light that shines through a path saturated in darkness and strength that empowers them in order to endure the afflictions of life. It is impossible to measure the depth and height of a man’s faith, neither question the works that come from it. But what if the faith which should bring a man to life, bring him nearest to death? This case happened many times at Quiapo and Tondo, two well-known places at the heart of Manila. Every year some people die and many are being hurt for faith during the celebration of Quiapo’s Feast of the Black Nazarene, while incidents of violence occurred in many places whenever Tondo celebrates its Feast of Santo Nino (or Feast of the Holy Child). According to the news;

MANILA, Philippines – Two people died of heart attack and 46 others were injured during Wednesday’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, police said.At the same time, Police Director Geary Barias, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said they were verifying reports that a child also died during a stampede along Plaza Miranda where thousands of devotees had also converged.Cecilia Fajardo suffered from cardiac arrest after she was crushed by the crowd that tried to touch the black statue of Jesus while Alex Radovan, 44, died as he was on his way to Quiapo Church from where the Nazarene began its procession, said Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, Manila Police District director.Police placed the number of devotees at 2.2 million.Of the injured, nine suffered from hypertension; three from low-blood pressure; five fainted; nine sustained bruises or were crushed by the crowd; and five suffered difficulty in breathing, said Rosales.They were brought either to the Ospital ng Maynila and Philippine General Hospital, he said.Radio reports said 22 people were brought to the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital while another seven devotees were victims of pickpockets.A report on dzBB said at least seven devotees were victimized by pick-pockets during the feast.As of posting time, 16 ambulances are on stand-by, Rosales said.Earlier in the day, 19 private schools in the area cancelled classes while public schools did not, the Department of Education said in an advisory. Source: INQUIRER.net, 01/09/2008.

Every time the Catholic Church celebrates the festivals of her idols, it won’t be happened without marks of violence within the place where it was celebrated. After the whole day of drinking, eating, dancing and all forms of merry making, what comes next is violence or bloodshed, thus, peace keeping officers become more alert during these celebrations. These are the fruits of a kind of faith abominable in the sight of God; faith that deceives the soul and lead man into perdition. The Holy Scriptures declared;

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:21,22-25).

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? (Habacuc 2:18)

Every Sunday, thousands upon thousands of people are flocking in the churches around the world to bow down and worship graven images; images of persons invented from the imaginations of idol makers. They were adorned with fabulous dresses of many colors decked with gold, silvers and several kinds of ornaments. Being carried by their worshipers in processions followed by a battalion of a well-practiced band. People sing praises for them while the door of the church awaits their entrance. But behind the fabulous adornment of these idols lies a certain truth written in the Holy Scriptures;

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. (Psalms 115: 4-7)

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. (Isaiah 44:9,13-17)

In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord said;

Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. (Jeremiah 2:27)

Have you noticed the similarities of this statement with what happens today in the Catholic Church? Worshipers cry before the wood, “Papa Jesus!”, or “Papa Joseph!”, and to the stones of grotto, “Mama Mary!” How come that the stone and stock met together and brought them forth that they call these things “Mama” and “Papa”? That’s so much ridiculous! And they don’t know how absurd it is! These are the consequences of a religion that bow down before an object that was senseless in its nature and without any ability to  comprehend anything surrounding it. It doesn’t even have the ability to save itself , so how it will save its worshipers? In fact, when the floating pagoda sunk in the middle of the Angat River in Bulacan during the 1993 celebration of the river festival of the Holy Cross, the idol remain smiling while 500 people are being drowned in the river. The Bible says;

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. (Jeremiah 10:3-5)

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The system of idolatry in the Catholic Church has gone too far. As the knowledge of man rapidly increase, the knowledge of sin and the forms of idolatry is going more and more vile in the sight of God. Idols made up of plastic, rubber, cloth, and even the simplest materials in earth like wax and paints are now already existing and being bowed down by people. Idolaters will draw a simple cross upon a plain wall and light candles in front of it, then its all ready for worship. And the worst is the they worshiping even the remains of the deceased like skull, bones, teeth and garments. They pray before them and kiss their caskets, with the hope that they will be healed miraculously from their diseases – works that are certainly abominable in the sight of God. The law of Christianity is this;

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (I Peter 4:1-3)

If we are following Christ in truth, we must stop from practicing idolatry in all forms.

“In This Sign, Conquer!”

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“Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light above it, and with it the Greek words “Ἐν Τούτῳ Νίκα” (“by this, win!”, often rendered in the Latin in “hoc signo, vinces”.) ; Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol (the Chi-Rho), and thereafter they were victorious.”

The Battle at the Milvian Bridge was not just a victory for Constantine but much more a victory for the cross, because when Constantine conquered the empire from Maxentius the sign of the cross is also conquering the world for itself. Although the emperor was gone and that his empire was already crumbled, the battle cry “in hoc signo, vinces!” (in this sign, conquer!) is still ringing upon the four corners of the earth with legions of soldiers under its banners – not the pagan Romans but those people who professed to be followers of Christ. In the Vatican, in fact, Constantine’s battle cry became a welcoming reminders to those world leaders who visited the Pope to pay their respect to him;

The phrase also appears prominently placed as a motto on a ribbon unfurled with a passion cross to its left, beneath a window over the Scala Regia, adjacent to the equestrian statue of Emperor Constantine, in the Vatican. Emperors and other monarchs, having paid respects to the Pope, descended the Scala Regia, and would observe the light shining down through the window, with the motto, reminiscent of Constantine’s vision, and be reminded to follow the Cross. They would thence turn right into the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica, ostensibly so inspired. (Wikipedia, “In hoc signo, vinces”)

Both Catholics and Protestants believe that the cross is the sign of the Savior, the emblem of Christianity, and they are using it to

the logo of the World Council of Churches

beautify their churches, altars, and garments. Anywhere we can see the sign of the cross, and was highly regarded by the nominal churches of Christianity. The World Council of Churches states;  “The cross is and will forever be the sign of the church. This is the symbol that we have together, the symbol of what we have together, the symbol of what the churches have to give to the world. From the beginning to the end.”  (Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.) The high regard to the crucifix lies upon the fact that Christ, our Lord, redeemed the world by being crucified. Whenever people see this symbol, it reminds them the love of God that saved them from the bondage of sin and death. For them, the cross is Christ, and Christ is the cross. Hence, many professed Christians does not only looking to it with high respect but even worshiping it as Christ Himself. The Catholic Church states;

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. (Catholic Encyclopedia, art. “Christian Worship”.)

Now, let us try to consider this question: “What if Christ was not executed through the cross“? What if the Roman soldiers executed the Savior by means of “electric chair” or by “strangulating chord“? Is it possible that these objects will appear upon the pulpit, the ceiling, or above the roof of many Churches, even in their logos? Is it possible that if the Savior was killed through an electric chair, Christians in this modern age shall also bow down before an electric chair and adore it? That’s ridiculous! Christians are actually looking upon Christ in a wrong manner. They remembering the death of Christ in a way that is ridiculous and very much uncriptural in its principles. The cross represents the horrible punishment of criminals and wicked persons in the  Roman empire just like how Filipinos regarded electric chair or the lethal injection chamber. There were plenty of people during the Roman age that has been killed through this mean! Many criminals and non-pagan people were hanged upon the cross. Can we say that the cross may also represent them just like how Christ represented by this? Therefore, saying that the cross is the symbol of Christ is absolutely wrong. The cross, where our Lord Jesus Christ has been crucified, was nothing but a Roman cross. It is not the cross of Christ which is being taught in the Holy Scriptures. We should not think that the cross of Christ is a wooden cross where criminals are hanged unto death. Rather, the Bible described the true cross of Christ as a soft and a burden that can be carried easily. The Bible said;

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29,30)

The cross or the yoke of Christ is not a wooden object. The true cross of the Bible was made up of sufferings, perseverance and righteous labors that our dear Savior endured until His death. And in order for us to carry this same cross everyday in our lives, as our Lord commanded us to do, we Christians should learn to look  not upon those things that are seen, but upon those things which are unseen. The cross of Christ is not an object that can be literally seen by our naked eyes, but rather a thing that needs our understanding and faith. We don’t need any object to behold the beauty and righteousness of Him who loved and saved us from sins, but as the gospel teaches;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:18)

How horrible to think that the world today was already conquered, not by the real cross of Christ, but by the cross of Romanism. The more they look upon this object as an emblem of salvation, the more they become distant from the true meaning of the biblical “cross of Christ”, for where their eyes rests, that will be also the limit of their comprehension.

After the defeat of his rivals, (allegedly because of a divine intervention), Constantine still refused to be converted into the religion of Christ, but rather choose to remain pagan at heart and mind. Not even a little change happened in the life of the pagan emperor. Like him, the world also recognized the image of the cross with very high respect and adoration, but the fact remains that the state of human morality becomes more worse than ever. The true badge of Christianity is not an outward sign. Not the wearing of a cross or a crown, but the willingness of the heart to follow the steps of Christ. Peter says;

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (I Peter 4:13-16)

Today, the nominal churches of Christianity is continuing to spread the image of Constantine’s battle cry. By all means, they subjecting the entire world under the alleged symbol of Christ. Christians should be aware about those objects that has been used to replace the genuine religion of Christ. When Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippine archipelago in 1521 and when the cross was planted upon its soil, my beloved country began to experience a form of Christianity that brings darkness upon every soul. A kind of Christianity that for 500 years enslaved the Filipino people by errors and corrupted standard of morality. A kind of Christianity that rich in rituals and outward form of holiness, but devoid of the power from the gospel.