Roman Catholics Will Still Insist Ash Wednesday is Biblical?
I really go get frustrated during Ash Wednesday evangelism where Roman Catholics who DO NOT really study the Bible and only take a few verses out from it like "judge not and you will not be judged" or "love one another" IGNORING the rest while sticking to a few basics without understanding the whole continue to insist that Ash Wednesday is Biblical. My problem with that? Simple- Lent is nothing more than a manmade system that really has done this:
1.) Rejecting God's Word for the tradition of MEN (Mark 7:8-9).
Jesus warned about the dangers of men's traditions over the traditions given by the Scriptures. In fact, the opponents of Sola Scripture can be as absurd as to even claim that Sola Scriptura is not Scriptural. In the Good News Translation, we read this, "You put aside God's command and obey human teachings! You have a clever way of rejecting God's Law in order to uphold your own teaching." Isn't it what Catholicism does by striking out the SECOND and SPLITTING THE TENTH? By saying that the Council of Trent or whatever councils as the final authority over Scripture, by saying the Pope's word is the final authority is very unscriptural compared to Sola Scriptura which obeys the tradition of Scripture and not man's.
Jesus warned about the dangers of men's traditions over the traditions given by the Scriptures. In fact, the opponents of Sola Scripture can be as absurd as to even claim that Sola Scriptura is not Scriptural. In the Good News Translation, we read this, "You put aside God's command and obey human teachings! You have a clever way of rejecting God's Law in order to uphold your own teaching." Isn't it what Catholicism does by striking out the SECOND and SPLITTING THE TENTH? By saying that the Council of Trent or whatever councils as the final authority over Scripture, by saying the Pope's word is the final authority is very unscriptural compared to Sola Scriptura which obeys the tradition of Scripture and not man's.
2.) Lent as a manmade tradition is part of the fulfillment of 1 Timothy 4:2-3 that also warns that the last days apostasy not only enforces celibacy but also commanding to abstain from meats.
In the Good News Translation used by Roman Catholics if they can REALLY READ IT CLEARLY, 1 Timothy 4:3 even says, "Such people teach that it is WRONG TO MARRY and to EAT CERTAIN FOODS." Lent becomes the time to abstain from meat. The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:16 not to let any man judge you in meat or in drink in any holy day or in the Good News Translation saying, "So let no man MAKE RULES about what you eat or drink or about HOLY DAYS or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath." Also in Colossians 2:18 again from the Good News Translation says, "Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels."
In the Good News Translation used by Roman Catholics if they can REALLY READ IT CLEARLY, 1 Timothy 4:3 even says, "Such people teach that it is WRONG TO MARRY and to EAT CERTAIN FOODS." Lent becomes the time to abstain from meat. The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 2:16 not to let any man judge you in meat or in drink in any holy day or in the Good News Translation saying, "So let no man MAKE RULES about what you eat or drink or about HOLY DAYS or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath." Also in Colossians 2:18 again from the Good News Translation says, "Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels."
An interesting note, it's the year 2013 and Revelation 13:16 saying that the False Prophet is forcing everyone to receive the mark of the Antichrist. Also here's an interesting note from Matthew Henry's complete commentary though I disagree with his views on Revelation 6 on the rider of the white horse to be Jesus or the implication that Mary remained a virgin about the Mark of the Beast:
3.) By disfranchisement allowing none to enjoy natural, civil or municipal rights who will not worship that papal beast that is in the image of the pagan beast. it is made a qualification for buying and selling the rights of nature as well as for places of profit and trust that they have the mark of the beast in their forehead and in their right hand and they have the name of the beast and the number of his name. It is probable that the mark of the beast may all signify the same thing- that they make an open profession of their subjection and obedience to the papacy which is receiving the mark in their forehead and that they oblige themselves to use all their interest, power, and endeavor to promote the papal authority which is receiving the mark in their right hands. We are told that Pope Martin V in his bull added to the Council of Constance prohibits Roman Catholics from suffering any "heretics" to dwell in their countries to make any bargains use any trades or bear any civil offices which is a very clear interpretation of this prophecy.
What is also pretty interesting is that Ash Wednesday had severe penalties on those who refuse to get marked on that day in the Dark Ages. The Unholy Office hunted them down, tortured them and killed them for doing so. In my own experience, I was frowned at by some Roman Catholics as a "heretic" for not receiving the mark on Ash Wednesday aside from the fact I openly ate meat on that day. Even people who ate meat on Lent were persecuted through various means.
It is my sincere hope to win as many people to Jesus Christ. So hate me all you want, I will just love you in the name of the Lord by telling you the truth you need to know and by praying that God will deal with your souls before it's too late!