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Question 64.
Hello Fr. Christopher,
I don't know if this question will be in your ball park! First I will
give you a little of my back ground so you don't think I am some kind of
crack pot. I had a Roman Catholic grade school education first grade to
the eight from the Sisters of Saint Joseph. I took some course on all
the Great Religions of the world. I have done much reading on Jewish
history from the Bible stand point to just history of the time. I have
read much on the Jesus movement and about the first group in Jerusalem
to the spreading of it and from the beginning how many groups there
were. My way of thinking meaning today people call themselves Christians
meaning the teachings of Jesus of which are very hard to understand,
because only those close to Him did he really explain things to. Many
are called but few are chosen. I believe the Churches today should be
called Pauline. What they preach is Paulineism.
OK to the question. There is this person that lives in Odessa Ukraine he
talks like he had a direct phone line to God. He has a University and
teaches the revolution of the mined. I have seen his kind here in the
States before and the bottom line is dollars. He states that Jesus the
whole story is a Church lie. He states Jesus lived in Odessa died by
fire and is buried there. Now I have heard some things in my life but,
never this. I believe first he is a crack pot and an alarmist when it
comes to world matters. As far as Religion goes what he talks about is
like he came from another world.
Could you please tell me if you have ever heard of a story like this
before or is this some new kind of movement?
Sincerely,
Charley.
God Bless.
Answer to Question 64.
Dear Charley,
It is true that much of what we understand about Christianity came to us
from St. Paul who was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but Paul did not
preach his own gospel but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If his teaching
was not in accord to Christ’s teaching, the Church would never have
accepted his Epistles to be added to the canon of the Bible. You say that
much of Jesus’ teachings are hard to understand because he only
explained what he meant to those close to him, meaning the Apostles, but
he explained to the Apostles precisely so that they could in turn pass
this on to others. Also Christ said that he “will pray to the Father,
and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you
forever. Even the Spirit of Truth” (John 14: 16) and “the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall
teach you all things” (John 14: 26).
The Bible therefore is not complete in teaching us everything that we
need to know. There is also the teaching we received from the Holy
Spirit which is found within the Church and in Holy Tradition which
supplement the Gospels. This of course is only valid if you believe what
Christ said and that the Holy Spirit was sent and guided the Church into
all truth. Do we believe in what Christ said or not? Was the Holy Spirit
sent or wasn’t he? These are questions concerning faith and either we
believe or we don’t. Is it so hard to believe that if the Holy Spirit
was given to the Church, then could not this same Spirit (which is God)
have taught Paul the full meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Even in
the Old Testament before the Spirit was sent into the world, “holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20)
You say that you believe that Churches today should be called Pauline
because what they preach is Paulineism. We call ourselves Christians
because we follow and worship Christ who is God. We would never call
ourselves after a mere man even if he was a Great Apostle. Paul himself
says: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Cor. 4:5)
During Paul’s time there were some who tried to divide themselves into
groups of followers calling themselves by the names of certain apostles.
Paul distinctly told them: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the
name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and
Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.” (1 Cor.
1: 12-15)
As to your question about the person that lives in Odessa Ukraine, I
think you summed it up when you said he is a crackpot. There are many
strange sects around who teach strange and weird things and even claim
to be Christian, but this is the first time I have heard that Jesus
lived in Odessa and that he died there by fire. Many unfounded things
have been said about Christ by people who want to discredit the
Christian faith or want to attract some attention to themselves. We
should not take them seriously and shouldn’t waste our time with their
stupidity, for as St. Paul again tells us: “there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now
again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1: 7-9)
With love in Christ
Fr, Christopher
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