Don't Get Too Personal

One way the Roman Catholic Church tries to keep members from getting too close to Christ (and thus having their eyes opened to the sin of Catholicism) was illustrated in an article by Bishop Anthony Pilla titled, "Golden Anniversary Couples Show God's Love," in the Aug 1 issue of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper, 'The Universe Bulletin.' Pilla wrote:

"God has saved us, not as individuals but as members of a people, in relationship to one another. This first fact speaks to our temptation to become isolated and interested only in our personal salvation through Jesus Christ."

Bishop Pilla here craftily pooh-poohs the idea of a "personal salvation through Jesus Christ," implying that a personal relationship with Christ involves "temptation," and can cause a person to be selfish and "isolated." After all, in Catholic eyes a personal relationship with Christ is one of those things "Protestants" talk about. Just like his predecessors Sanballat and Tobiah (see Nehemiah 4), Bishop Pilla uses ridicule to discourage Catholics from seeking too "personal" a relationship with Christ.

Pilla and his church hate the idea that a person can have a full and complete relationship with Christ, all sins forgiven (Colossians 2:13), apart from the Roman priesthood - because that would mean the Roman priesthood is unnecessary!

A person CANNOT have a relationship with Jesus Christ AND a Roman priest - he has to choose one or the other. Christ and Rome cannot coexist.

May God's Spirit show many Catholics their priesthood is not only unnecessary, but in fact a great hindrance to any relationship with Christ.