Ordain a Lady

[Aunty Jane]

Of course, it doesn't occur to you that the depiction shows her presenting a devotional aid. You are not slipping into the absurd anti-Mary animus, are you?

Does it occur to you that idolatry is being practiced by the leader of your church?
What was the second Commandment?

Exodus 20:4-5 DRA......
“Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them...”

And you base your beliefs on the Bible? This is the Catholic Bible and it condemns your idolatry.

 

[Jude Thaddeus]

Heck, no! I'm not anti-Mary at all. But I don't see her "presenting" the rosary to anyone here. I see her hands together as if in prayer.

Wow! You expect more from statues than Catholics do!
We have a joke about the psychotic obsession over statues.

Statues worshipping statutes!

The fun stops here.
Were the Miracles at Fatima a Satanic deception? Attack dogs think so.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Were the Miracles at Fatima a Satanic deception? Attack dogs think so.

You are an attack dog yourself.....just sayin....but you are a hypocrite if you think that your church in any way resembles what Christ began.... pointing fingers at others when your own church has so much to answer for...

The so called miracles at Fatima are not of divine origin because the miracles ceased with the death of the apostles.....all so called “miracles” after that were from the devil as trickery for the uneducated and gullible.

2 Thess 2:7-12...
“True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who is right now acting as a restraint is out of the way. 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence. 9 But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders 10 and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. 11 That is why God lets a strong delusion mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.”

So the apostasy that Christ foretold was already starting in the first century.....the apostles were restraining it, but after the death of the last apostle John, there was nothing in the way.....nothing to prevent the devil from taking wicked men down a very dark path along with all those who believed them....they had little choice. (Matt 23: 13-15)

The “lying signs and wonders” were exclusively Catholic at first, but even spread to Protestantism as the devil continued to mislead those who failed to accept the truth because they loved things the way they were....’taking pleasure’ in their unrighteous beliefs and practices.

No one condemns the Catholic Church more than God himself in the Scriptures. None of you can furnish any evidence for your beliefs from the Bible, so then you claim that “sola scriptura” is a not to be relied upon as the only source of truth....how convenient.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

Does it occur to you that idolatry is being practiced by the leader of your church?
What was the second Commandment?

Exodus 20:4-5 DRA......
“Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them...”

And you base your beliefs on the Bible? This is the Catholic Bible and it condemns your idolatry.

Regarding the creation of graphic representations of "anything", we all understand that God does not forbid graphic representations for good purposes, like teaching or inspiring people through art. God Himself ordered to make cherubins for the arch, and Ezechiel saw in his vision plants in the temple. No prophet condemned the placement of bronze bulls in Solomon's temple.

So, having understood that the making of a statue or painting is not what God prohibited, not even the placement of such figures in a sacred place, I think we should focus on what is God forbidding: and this comes clear when we read "Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them".

Therefore, before accusing someone of idolatry, we should ask ourselves: What evidence do I have that a person in adoring or serving a painting or sculpture?

Bowing, kissing, hugging a statue, placing gifts or candles at its feet can be an indication.
In certain cultures or for certain individuals, it may be a strong indicator. In other circumstances, it may not.
Still, in my opinion, it is the belief that such statue demands things from me and is capable of doing things for me, things that God would not demand or do, is what constitutes idolatry.

 

[BlessedPeace]

Regarding the creation of graphic representations of "anything", we all understand that God does not forbid graphic representations for good purposes, like teaching or inspiring people through art. God Himself ordered to make cherubins for the arch, and Ezechiel saw in his vision plants in the temple. No prophet condemned the placement of bronze bulls in Solomon's temple.

So, having understood that the making of a statue or painting is not what God prohibited, not even the placement of such figures in a sacred place, I think we should focus on what is God forbidding: and this comes clear when we read "Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them".

Therefore, before accusing someone of idolatry, we should ask ourselves: What evidence do I have that a person in adoring or serving a painting or sculpture?

Bowing, kissing, hugging a statue, placing gifts or candles at its feet can be an indication.
In certain cultures or for certain individuals, it may be a strong indicator. In other circumstances, it may not.
Still, in my opinion, it is the belief that such statue demands things from me and is capable of doing things for me, things that God would not demand or do, is what constitutes idolatry.

You're Baha'i?

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

You're Baha'i?

Yes, BlessedPeace.

 

[BlessedPeace]

Yes, BlessedPeace.

Thank you.

You have then no understanding of our faith. Nor this topic within it.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

Thank you.

You have then no understanding of our faith. Nor this topic within it.

Do you understand your own faith, BlessedPeace?
If you do, you won't have problems to enrich or correct my comments as you consider appropriate.
Please go ahead and tell us how you agree or disagree with the statements I wrote on Post 204.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Regarding the creation of graphic representations of "anything", we all understand that God does not forbid graphic representations for good purposes, like teaching or inspiring people through art. God Himself ordered to make cherubins for the arch, and Ezechiel saw in his vision plants in the temple. No prophet condemned the placement of bronze bulls in Solomon's temple.

So, having understood that the making of a statue or painting is not what God prohibited, not even the placement of such figures in a sacred place, I think we should focus on what is God forbidding: and this comes clear when we read "Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them".

An idol is anything that is adored in a religious way. God forbade the use of “any” images in worship.....that is the difference. These are not decorations, such as were seen in the Temple, but objects of devotion.

The representations that fill the Roman Catholic churches around the world are used in worship.

People pray to Mary as an “mediatrix” when God assigned us only one...Jesus Christ. (1 Tim 2:5-6)
All forms of idolatry require bowing kissing or kneeling before such images......can the RCC deny that they do this...even their leader does this. Yet images of Mary have pride of place, as a queen with a crown. Nowhere in the Bible is Mary called “Queen of Heaven”, nor do we find the other titles that Mary has been given, but we will find them in the titles given to ancient pagan mother goddesses.

Images of Jesus are usually as a either helpless infant, or a dead man hanging from a cross....he is neither. He is depicted as a concpquering King in Revelation with a whole army of angels ready to vindicate his Father as the Sovereign of the Universe......yet the Father rarely rates a mention in Catholicism.

Therefore, before accusing someone of idolatry, we should ask ourselves: What evidence do I have that a person in adoring or serving a painting or sculpture?

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Bowing, kissing, hugging a statue, placing gifts or candles at its feet can be an indication.
In certain cultures or for certain individuals, it may be a strong indicator. In other circumstances, it may not.
Still, in my opinion, it is the belief that such statue demands things from me and is capable of doing things for me, things that God would not demand or do, is what constitutes idolatry.

It’s not just what we believe.....it’s what we practice, and what we tolerate in our worship that makes it acceptable to God.....or not. Just believing something does not make it true....’Those who seek shall find’....but those who stop seeking will never find the diamond in that pile of broken glass.....only God can lead a person to the diamond.....and they will have the company of others of like mind and heart who accept nothing but the truth. The devil has a ‘religion’ for everyone....why do you think there are so many? Even atheism is a belief system. His whole aim is to lead people away from God...The further the better, but even ‘almost truth’ is a deception. We have to prove to ourselves that what we accept as truth, really is the whole truth, not just close enough.....but what if it isn’t.....what then? Where does that leave us?

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

The representations that fill the Roman Catholic churches around the world are used in worship.

I was a devote Catholic during my childhood and I never worshiped images.
I have known many other Catholics who never use representations in worship.

Since the attitude of Catholics towards images varies, we should be careful in making broad statements about our Catholic brothers and sisters.

I agree fully with you, my sister, that some Catholics treat an image as if it were intrinsically sacred. That's an error.
Some Jehova Witnesses also treat blood as if it were intrinsically sacred. That's also an error.
In both cases, they are representations, symbols.
Failing to distinguish between the symbol and the meaning behind the symbol sometimes leads to tragedy.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

A picture is worth a thousand words...

The woman who suffered from hemorrhages could have thought that by just asking Jesus in her mind to be healed, she could have been healed. She could have remained at home, praying with faith

Instead, she thought that by touching the cloak of Jesus, she would be healed. That corresponded to a superstition held by many people at that time (and for many centuries later).

Did Jesus reprend the woman for her superstition? No. Instead, he praised her for her faith.

In Acts 5:15-16, Luke tell us that "believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them."
What if the shadow of Peter didn't fall on them... were they healed or not?
Was this superstition or faith?
In the description of the scene, does Luke make any effort to indicate that those people were wrong in thinking that Peter's shadow was miraculous? Any call to stop idolatry?

Only God knows what is in the heart of a person who kisses a representation of something he/she considers sacred.

 

[Aunty Jane]

I was a devote Catholic during my childhood and I never worshiped images.

Catholic folk are not taught to see it as idolatry....but it plainly is.

I have known many other Catholics who never use representations in worship.

Yet they remain in a church that promotes idolatry....they are still complicit by their support for a church that clearly teaches what the Bible condemns.

Since the attitude of Catholics towards images varies, we should be careful in making broad statements about our Catholic brothers and sisters.

Isn’t it upmto the church tomrectify any discrepancy in beliefs and practice....? After all a Christian is identified by their unity not by their differences. (1 Cor 1:10)

I agree fully with you, my sister, that some Catholics treat an image as if it were intrinsically sacred. That's an error.
Some Jehova Witnesses also treat blood as if it were intrinsically sacred. That's also an error.

How much do you know about blood as it is spoken about in the Bible? True it is representative of life and hence the reason why blood sacrifices were offered in Israel up until the one true sacrifice was made in the death of Christ.
But they were forbidden to eat the blood of any creature because of its sacredness. Three times in different eras God had his pronouncement about blood given to his people.....the first time in Noah’s day when humans were first given permission to eat animal flesh.....secondly in the law God gave to Israel..... and again to the Christians, many of whom were Gentiles.
When a person is unable to be fed by mouth, they are often fed intravenously, so we see no difference between eating blood by mouth or having it transfused directly into your blood steam. You are actually receiving someone else’s DNA. Have you ever considered that?

If you have followed any of the recent techniques used in bloodless surgery all over the world, you would also know that blood transfusions are not regarded as the “life saving” measure they were once thought to be......now medical science is supporting non-blood management of their patients because according to their own research, transfused blood is a major cause of morbidity and death. Did you know that?

It’s a multi million dollar industry and a corrupt health system still uses it and people still die after receiving one....in fact more people die after a blood transfusion than those who refuse one. I don’t suppose you knew that either...? They won’t tell you this.

In both cases, they are representations, symbols.
Failing to distinguish between the symbol and the meaning behind the symbol sometimes leads to tragedy.

The tragedy is in promoted ignorance of facts that are being withheld from the public to their detriment.
Surely you must see the greed exposed in the practice of medicine these days? Who today is not prescribed a plethora of drugs supposedly to save their lives, by doctors who are paid inordinate amounts of money for a 15 minute consultation......when in actual fact no drugs are designed cure anything.....but only to control symptoms, and make them lots of money.....all they want is customers for life.......who is ruling this world? (1 John 5:19) Who is the great deceiver?

 

[Aunty Jane]

The woman who suffered from hemorrhages could have thought that by just asking Jesus in her mind to be healed, she could have been healed. She could have remained at home, praying with faith

Instead, she thought that by touching the cloak of Jesus, she would be healed. That corresponded to a superstition held by many people at that time (and for many centuries later).

Did Jesus reprend the woman for her superstition? No. Instead, he praised her for her faith.

Now we are getting into the miracles....are these miracles still seen today? I believe that the miracles died with the apostles who were the only ones who could lay hands on those who received holy spirit. With the operation of God’s spirit miracles were seen all over the land.

The woman with the flow of blood was desperate for a cure and she had heard about Jesus and felt that perhaps if she just touched his outer garment, she would be cured? A menstruating woman was not allowed out in public or in the Temple for worship, so she was actually breaking God’s law by being out there in the first place......yet Jesus knew her desperation as the condition was worsening, and preventing her from the activities that were important in Jewish life.....of course he was not going to condemn her!

But the interesting thing about this woman’s cure, was the fact that she drew power from Jesus by her faith. Jesus did not cure her.....her faith healed her because she believed. He had compassion and empathy for her situation.

For people to follow blind superstition in today’s world is the fault of a church who still promotes such things. Weeping images of Mary or people lining up to genuflect before such things is sickening.
What miracles performed in the Bible were ever useless?
How many people go to the shrine of Fatima from all over the world, hoping for a cure but who return home disappointed that they were still sick or disabled? They had enough faith to make the journey....so what was missing? No one really knows how much the placebo effect has led to their “cure”?

In Acts 5:15-16, Luke tell us that "believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them."
What if the shadow of Peter didn't fall on them... were they healed or not?
Was this superstition or faith?
In the description of the scene, does Luke make any effort to indicate that those people were wrong in thinking that Peter's shadow was miraculous? Any call to stop idolatry?

We are not in the first century now. There are no genuine miracles today because the Bible says that the gifts given by God would cease, and the need to see miracles was for spiritual infants. (1 Cor 13:8-13)
Those “infants” needed to grow up and exhibit faith based on knowledge and the genuine belief that is built on “faith, hope and love”....not things seen with the eyes. We are to “walk by faith, not by sight”.
The devil is ever ready with his trickery.....which can only work on those misled and spiritually blind. (2 Cor 4:3-4)

Only God knows what is in the heart of a person who kisses a representation of something he/she considers sacred.

Any outward show of worship to any object, is idolatry.
Kissing a photo of an absent loved one is very different to kissing a statue of Mary or the baby Jesus as an act of reverence. How can you not see the difference?

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

But the interesting thing about this woman’s cure, was the fact that she drew power from Jesus by her faith. Jesus did not cure her.....her faith healed her because she believed. He had compassion and empathy for her situation.

Then I beg you to have compassion and empathy for people who do silly things with statues or paintings, just as Jesus had empathy and compassion for a woman who held the silly thought that she should touch the cloak of Jesus to get healed.

God may heal these people not because of any intrinsic power of the object, but because of their faith.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Then I beg you to have compassion and empathy for people who do silly things with statues or paintings, just as Jesus had empathy and compassion for a woman who held the silly thought that she should touch the cloak of Jesus to get healed.

God may heal these people not because of any intrinsic power of the object, but because of their faith.

The question is…”faith in what”? Upon what did this woman base her faith? Two things…..no medical treatment at that time, tried by this woman worked, but only made her worse…..she had heard that Jesus was a miracle worker and that so many were receiving cures from him and from his apostles by the use of his name. So it was on the basis of such first hand experiences that the woman gained some hope that Jesus might be able to cure her….Not the same at all to what you are suggesting. Our faith was not to be blind, nor were miracles to be the basis for it. That was for spiritual babies.

Such was the woman’s desperation, that she risked going out in public and being exposed in her “unclean” state.
Jesus saw that her faith had made her well by drawing power from him without him being aware until he felt it. She was planning to leave quietly but then Jesus drew attention to her by asking “who touched me?” The crowds were pressing in on him, so such a question seemed ridiculous to his apostles, but she came forward and humbly confessed…instead of a rebuke, Jesus praised her faith, and she was able to participate in normal Jewish life again. She no doubt became a disciple.

I’m sorry but I have little compassion for anyone who performs meaningless rituals because someone told them to without them ever asking why the ritual was necessary, or even if it was commanded in Scripture. The “performance” is taught as the means by which someone is saved, or will be rewarded with going to heaven and avoiding hell. It’s a matter of trust and once people become aware that what they were taught was based on lies, and their trust has been betrayed, they will never trust that institution or person again.
The world is full of people who are taught to trust those who do not deserve it…..but they will not gain God’s approval or blessing as long as they adhere to the lies that are told to them without question. (2 Thess 2:9-12) The devil does not want them to question, because the answers will show how deep they are into a pit of lies.
In John 6:44 and 65, two important aspects of Christianity are stressed….Jesus said…
”No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him…..This is why I have said to you, no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

So those who have been “drawn” by the Father are the ones invited to become either earthly citizens or heavenly rulers of his incoming Kingdom….those who love what is not truth will never be drawn by the Father in the first place. The blind unquestioning ‘performers’ will have no place in the Kingdom of God, because their motives are entirely selfish……this is “the time of the end”, where a separating work is being carried out as we speak…..”sheep and goats“ are being separated on the basis of the Christian message which was to be ”preached in all the inhabited earth as a witness to all the nations…and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14; Mark 13:10; Matt 28:19-20)

There are no other categories….all alive at the judgment will be in one category or the other….Jesus is the judge who determines the fate of all……and there are no “fences” to sit on to “wait and see”……now is the time for decisions that will affect our eternal future.

Who we worship and why will be the basis for such judgment….not any label.

 

[BlessedPeace]

God calls whom he will to his grace God calls whom he will to the pulpit and beyond in other service as he will.

Gender bigotry is the sin of man not God.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

The question is…”faith in what”? Upon what did this woman base her faith? Two things…..no medical treatment at that time, tried by this woman worked, but only made her worse…..she had heard that Jesus was a miracle worker and that so many were receiving cures from him and from his apostles by the use of his name. So it was on the basis of such first hand experiences that the woman gained some hope that Jesus might be able to cure her….Not the same at all to what you are suggesting. Our faith was not to be blind, nor were miracles to be the basis for it. That was for spiritual babies.

Good morning, Aunty Jane:

Thanks for such a comprehensive response. I appreciate your time and clarity, which is important not only for me but for all our potential readers.
I fully agree with your view on miracles.

I’m sorry but I have little compassion for anyone who performs meaningless rituals because someone told them to without them ever asking why the ritual was necessary, or even if it was commanded in Scripture.

Thanks for being candid. My invitation for you is to let God help you to develop gradually more compassion for all people.
Continue to be firm against superstition, but more compassionate with those who follow superstitions.

In the same way that Simon (the man who wanted to "buy" with money the gift of God) asked the apostle to pray for him, because he felt unworthy and scared, some Catholics pray to other people who think are holier or in a better position to take their prayers to God.

Since Jesus is Perfect (and for Catholics, He is God) they feel also unworthy in coming directly to Jesus. Popular saints seem more earth-grounded, closer to their experience. Should they abandon that practice? Yes, for sure. But that will take further spiritual discernment. For the time being, we have no reason to feel less compassion to them that the compassion we ask God to have for us.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Good morning, Aunty Jane:

And greetings to you also….

Thanks for such a comprehensive response. I appreciate your time and clarity, which is important not only for me but for all our potential readers.
I fully agree with your view on miracles.

If God and the devil had to compete for miracles, the confusion would be worse than it is now…..
Ceasing the miracles once Christianity had been established, meant that only the devil was engaging in them…yet only serious Bible students (which we are all encouraged to be) would be able to discern this fact, whilst others would agonize over why some are cured of their illnesses while others are not.
Some faith healers are nothing but showmen and if their so called healing doesn’t work, they blame the person for not having enough faith…..that never happened in the first century. On one occasion I can recall, it was the ones performing the miracles who lacked faith, and failed…..not the receiver.

Thanks for being candid. My invitation for you is to let God help you to develop gradually more compassion for all people.
Continue to be firm against superstition, but more compassionate with those who follow superstitions.

I have the same kind of compassion for people as Jesus did….he offered his truth to all but never once chased after anyone pleading with them to listen to him…or else. He allowed all with free will to process what he said and to adjust their thinking accordingly.
If you remember the occasion when he spoke of ‘eating his flesh and drinking his blood’, his Jewish audience were appalled! And many walked away saying that his speech was shocking…..Jesus waited, and asked his apostles ‘are you going to walk away too?’ Their response was….’whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life’. So he explained to them that his sayings were “spirit and life”….meaning that they were not to be taken literally. What about those who walked away? They never waited for the explanation…..he did not chase after them.

In the same way that Simon (the man who wanted to "buy" with money the gift of God) asked the apostle to pray for him, because he felt unworthy and scared, some Catholics pray to other people who think are holier or in a better position to take their prayers to God.

This assumes that these “saints” (including Mary) were alive somewhere to make these intercessions for them. They prayed TO these saints to intercede on their behalf….and yet the Bible clearly states that 1) Jesus is our only mediator…and 2) there is no immortal soul that lives on after death….and that the resurrection of the “saints” (holy ones) would not take place until Christ’s return.
1 Thess 4:15-17…
“For this is what we tell you by Jehovah’s word, that we the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; 16 because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, with an archangel’s voice and with God’s trumpet, and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. 17 Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord.”

So for most of the time that the Catholic church was praying to these saints they were “sleeping” in their graves, awaiting their resurrection….ready to take up their positions as “kings and priests” in the heavenly kingdom. (Rev 20:6) They were praying to dead people, whereas Christ is alive forever.

We have to “know” God and his son (John 17:3) the way the Bible teaches about them.
We have to know what a “soul” is in the Bible, and what it means in both Hebrew and Greek. (Ezek 18:4) It never means a disembodied spirit.
In Genesis, all living creatures are called “souls”. There is no such thing as an immortal soul…..what makes a soul a soul, is the breath in its lungs. Like Adam, who “became a living soul” when God started him breathing. (Gen 2:7) We have no superiority to animals in death. (Eccl 3:19-20) We all end up in the same place.

So Christendom’s beliefs hinge on three things that Jesus never taught….the triune nature of God….the existence of an immortal soul…and heaven or hell as opposite destinations for the souls of man.

Since Jesus is Perfect (and for Catholics, He is God) they feel also unworthy in coming directly to Jesus. Popular saints seem more earth-grounded, closer to their experience. Should they abandon that practice? Yes, for sure. But that will take further spiritual discernment. For the time being, we have no reason to feel less compassion to them that the compassion we ask God to have for us.

This is the reason why Jesus sent his disciples out to preach…..to present Christ’s message to those who would want to know….many in the first century didn’t want to know….many in this century don’t want to know either…and for the same reasons. They are happy with what they want to believe. God will leave them to their delusions. (2 Thess 2:9-12) They will find out soon enough that their many religions were just a sad substitute for the real one. (Matt 7:21-23)

The Jews of Jesus’ day thought he was an apostate fake Messiah and consented to his murder. Did they think for one moment that they were putting “the son of God” to death? (Matt 27:25)
Their religious leaders had convinced them that he was a worthless trouble maker…..and in putting him to death, they would quash any further development….but as Gamaliel, a leader in the Sanhedrin said, when he spoke to the religious leaders who wanted to persecute the Christians….citing other examples of false messiahs he said….
”I say to you, do not meddle with these men, but let them alone. For if this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. Otherwise, you may even be found fighters against God himself.” (Acts 5:34-39)

What does history show? Despite warning of an apostasy in Christianity just as that occurred in Judaism, Christendom continues to expand into a ridiculously vast array of sects……as I like to say…it’s like trying to find a diamond in a pile of broken glass…….only God can lead us to the diamond….(John 6:44, 65)

Can you see why questions such as presented in this thread, pale into insignificance when compared to the very foundational beliefs held by the majority? Jesus plainly said that it won’t be the majority who are saved…(Matt 7:13-14)
The very reason why we are to be preachers is to offer God’s truth in the same way as Jesus taught his first century disciples. (Matt 10:11-14) It is offered, but not forced. We choose what to believe.

 

[Matthias]

“… this is crazy But God just called me.”

She knows it’s crazy.

If God called Paul, he didn’t call this lady.

God called Paul.

 

[Matthias]

“I refuse to kneel to patriarchy’s way” -> Don’t listen to Paul = I refuse to kneel to God’s way.