Christianity and Paganism

The Rosary

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"--Galatians 1:8

Despite the many different forms of Christianity that are practiced throughout the world, there are really only two: True biblical Christianity that comes from above and its counterpart that comes from the world.

The true biblical form that comes from above is the faith that Jesus Christ revealed 2,000 years ago and was preached by his disciples and apostles during their journeys throughout the ancient world.

That form clearly teaches us that salvation is a free gift from God that can't be earned, bought or inherited. It must be received by faith. In whom? The Son of God Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul explained it best: "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)

Then there's the worldly form that teaches that salvation and eternal life are predicated upon adherence to man-made religious works, customs, sacraments and traditions. 

That form of Christianity is most commonly promoted and practiced by the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches. 

Unfortunately, that form has been increasingly embraced in recent years by some Protestant and Evangelical churches that have drifted away from the Bible. Evidently, these churches have forgotten what Paul wrote to the early church in Ephesus: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Was Paul's message only meant for the early Ephesian church? No, it was meant for every church that Paul and his fellow apostles visited in Asia Minor and Europe. 

Was that message merely Paul's own opinion on how to obtain salvation and eternal life? No, that was the message that Christ clearly taught during His ministry in ancient Israel. Here's an example: "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Here's another example: "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:23-24)

Historically, the Roman Catholic Church has never believed what Christ taught. Why? Because the Catholic Church embraces a different Jesus Christ who must be repeatedly immolated on Catholic altars for the remission of sin. 

That's the sacrament of the Mass that is unbiblical. The Bible clearly states that Christ was "sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people." (Hebrews 9:28) 

Then why does the Catholic Church teach the opposite? Because the Catholic Church misinterprets a lesson that Christ taught where He used His body and blood as allegorical examples of the word of God (flesh) and the cleansing atonement (blood) that we need to embrace by faith for eternal life. (John 6:53-58) 

Christ never taught that we must literally eat His flesh and drink His blood if we want eternal life. If that was true--and it isn't--then that would direct our faith toward a religious ceremony rather than toward Christ Himself for salvation and eternal life.

Any form of Christianity that denies that faith in Christ alone for His death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection from the dead is absolutely essential for salvation is a counterfeit form that can't save anyone.

And any form of Christianity that teaches that adherence to religious customs and rituals such as praying the rosary, wearing medals and scapulars or chanting ancient prayers are necessary for salvation is a pagan form that can't save anyone.

Just because the Roman Catholic Church has been around for nearly 17 centuries doesn't make it legitimate. In fact, paganism--which Catholicism is a lot closer to than Christianity--has been around since the dawn of history. 

And paganism remains illegitimate to this day in all of its forms. Even its worldly Christian forms.