[Aquila]

CONTINUED...

Wow, then you're a better man than the Apostle Paul. Galatians 1:6-9

I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to corrupt the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse! As we have said before, even now I say again: If anyone is preaching a gospel to you contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!

Before we go any further with your statement here, let's ask ourselves an important question.

What is the Gospel???

Gospel means, "Good News". Generally speaking, the term Gospel is used to describe the entire story of Christ's life. It is also used to denote Christ's teachings. But what is it more specifically according to Paul himself? Let's see...

1 Corinthians 15:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The "Gospel" is how Christ died for our sin, was buried, and that He rose again on the third day. THAT is the Gospel, the "Good News". Now, there are over 41,000 Christian denominations. All who believe in the truth of Scripture will testify that Christ died for our sin, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Where they differ isn't necessarily rooted in some denial of the Gospel, but rather in their application of the Gospel. So, let me ask you this... did Billy Graham believe in and teach that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day? YES! So, Billy didn't believe in another "Gospel", Billy just didn't know how to properly apply that Gospel as the Apostles did. So, the notion that Graham taught "another Gospel" can be dismissed. We can agree on the fact that Billy Graham didn't know how to properly apply that Gospel in its fullness.

Chris, I do believe the Apostle Paul would call you anathema. Because you are teaching another Gospel.

Of course you do, dear brother. In fact, every time I've spoken to you or read your interactions with others, anyone who doesn't agree with you is anathema. lol Therefore, when you make this charge, it kinda loses its meaning.

Here's a question.

Did "Acts 2:38" or the "Apostolic Movement" die for you and me? Was it buried? Did it rise again on the third day according to Scripture? Do we worship a verse of Scripture? Do we sing praises to a movement? NO! It's all about JESUS. Only Jesus died for us, was buried, and arose in the third day. If we teach that anything other than the Gospel being Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, we're teaching another Gospel. Since you dismiss that this work of Christ is the Gospel, holding to the notion that Acts 2:38 is the Gospel, I woefully have to inform you that YOU teach another Gospel.

Paul NEVER taught what you are proposing here?

According to Paul, the Gospel is the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

That you can be flipping rosary beads praying to a statue of what you may believe to be of Jesus?

Does the Bible forbid "prayer journals"? Does it forbid "buildings"? Does the Bible forbid "pews"? Does the Bible forbid "offering plates"? Does the Bible forbid "steeples"? Does the Bible forbid "crosses" upon those steeples? Does the Bible forbid "white collars"? Does the Bible forbid "robes"? No. Those are just modern innovations designed to assist us in regards to our faith in some way, shape, or form. In ancient times the number of illiterate people was quite high. Then add on the fact that many who could read couldn't read Greek or Latin. In addition, Bibles were hand written by Scribes until the printing press, making ownership of a Bible an extremely rare occurrence. As a result, icons, statutes, paintings, etc. depicting Jesus, the Apostles, and events recorded in Scripture, were used to communicate the Gospel. For those who didn't own Bibles, these were as cherished as the Scriptures themselves. Essentially, these images were their Bible. And they felt the same awe, reverence, and ecstasy upon gazing at these things as we do when we saddle up with a cup of coffee and read our Bibles in the morning. We're so blessed. We have Bibles. We can read. We're even allowed to read the Scriptures. And instead of being thankful and humbled by this, having mercy and understanding towards those who related to the faith through images on account of not being so blessed... we condemn them. Now, I will agree with you in that as time progressed these apostate institutions began attributing mythological meaning and near idolatrous veneration of these items. But we'd have to look deep into the heart of every individual venerating such an item. Are they venerating the individual or truth artistically depicted... or are they venerating the actual item? That is where the dividing line between true spiritual reverence and idolatry would lie. Consider for a moment the tapestries of the Tabernacle and how upon those tapestries the Cherubim and Seraphim were depicted. Imagine how there were golden statues of Cherubim crafted upon the mercy seat of the ark itself. Consider how these images appeared upon the walls of the Temple. Artistic depictions of the spiritual realities of our faith are not forbidden. Take a look at children's Bibles and the pictures depicting various Biblical stories and truths are found throughout. I still remember the pictures I reverenced in my most cherished children's Bible when I was a child. Jumping to the accusation of idolatry is important as a cautionary measure. But to do so in blanket condemnation without thorough consideration of circumstance is unwarranted.

Prayer beads... *eye roll*. Ancient Christians recited prayers, much like those recited in synagogues. They felt the need to count those prayers and originally, prayer beads were a means of counting. It was just a tool, like a prayer journal is a tool to help us record, track, and reflect on our prayers today. They also used stones, sticks, and other means to count their prayers. Of course, I believe that this practice evolved into a superstitious observance. But again, many were illiterate. When praying these prayers and approaching a specific bead, they'd reflect on the truth of a given story in Scripture relating to Christ's passion or Christ's life. As alien as it might seem to us who are privileged to own a Bible and be a part of a church that encourages personal prayer... it was a tool to count prayers and to recall the truths of Scripture. While prayer beads are a practice I personally would never engage in... I'm hesitant to offer a blanket condemnation on an ancient people who might have used them. Now, I will condemn the superstition that they've evolved into among those traditional Christians today. The vain repetition of prayer doesn't earn any kind of "points" or "indulgence" as taught by most of these apostate churches. And as a result, I would encourage any Christian alive today to read the Bible and pray from the heart, not from a script or in effort to gain heavenly "points" towards salvation.

So, my position here is nuanced based on my studies on the topic. Icons and prayer beads? Sure, for the illiterate of the early church, fine. But for modern Christians? Unnecessary. To gain points towards heaven? Nope. To venerate any inherent divinity in the icon or statue itself? NOPE. I'd admonish the modern Christian to put away these childish things.

Yet, still make heaven because of some unknown reasons? Sad, Chris your doctrine is false hope.

God's glory and desire to have mercy is not an unknown thing.

TO BE CONTINUED...