Over the past two weeks, courtesy of a dear family friend that I believe (sadly) is on the brink of apostasy, I have come to learn about a group (aka sect) that call themselves the Natsarim (or Netzarim).
Basically, those who call themselves Natsarim believe that the true disciples of our Lord Jesus didn’t go on to become the Church – rather they went on to form a group called the Natsarim (from the Hebrew root “nezter" from which we derive "Nazarene”). Basically, they claim that the Lord’s intention was that the people of the New Covenant (or Renewed Covenant as they call it) remain essentially Judaistic in their beliefs and practices; and that the Church is one great big lie because it has Hellenised (and subsequently paganised, as they think) the true religion. In essence, the Natsarim claim that they alone are the true follows of Yeshua (because “Jesus” is a pagan name) because they follow the Torah (i.e. Law of Moses); and that Christianity is basically a deception of Satan.
Needless to say, because I had never heard of this little sect before, I was intrigued by who they were and what they believe. What I subsequently found was that the Natsarim are no better off than the thousands of Protestant denominatons who each claim that their version of the truth is the correct one. Within the scope of Natsarim, there are those who only accept the Hebrew Scriptures (i.e. what we Christians call the Old Testament); there are those who accept the New (or “Renewed”) Testament; there are those who only accept the Gospels; etc. (the list could go on for ages). So basically, they can't agree amongst themselves what is actually true. One would think that if they were the true disciples of “Yeshua” that they would be able to show at least the following two things:
1) A line of succession that stretches all the way back to our Lord and His Apostles; and
2) A uniformity of doctrine
On the first point, no evidence has been provided (as far as I can see); and on the second, well...let’s just say that it seems like everyone does what is right in his/her own eyes (much like Protestant interpretations of Scripture). The difference with Protestants is that even though their anti-Catholic arguments are wrong, they maintain a sense of coherency which is respectable. However, with the Natsarim, they are worse than “proof-texters”.
In summary, the little research I did has caused me to be extremely concerned for our dear friend...and at the same time, I can’t even begin to mention how grateful I am that our Lord has given us Holy Church as the pillar and foundation of truth. It was a reminder to me of the faithfulness of God as He continues, through the centuries, to lead His Church into all truth. And because our Lord is always with us, may we never be ashamed of being Catholic, knowing that we do indeed have the full deposit of Truth.
WAKE UP BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.TIME IS RUNNING OUT.READ/PRAY/LISTEN TO THE SET-APART SPIRIT, NOT MAN.
ReplyDeleteAmen! That's why I am Catholic - because the Church speaks with the voice of Christ and not of men.
ReplyDeleteIronic, coming from the most paganized institution on the face of the earth. Necromancy, idol worship, purgatorial penance, transubstantiation, pedophilia....Remove the beam(s) from your own eye before you try to remove the mote from your brother's. The RCC has killed as many Christians as the Muslims have. So now it's slander rather than the sword?Get off your high horse. The RCC is the Great Whore of Babylon.
ReplyDeleteMtnMan
DeleteI appreciate your alleged concerns - I used to think much of the same things about the Catholic Church.
But, having come "from the other side", I can safely say that your claims that the Church is "the most paganized institution on the face of the earth" is unfounded. The Church does NOT practice necromancy or idol worship.
Purgatorial penance and transubstantiation are wholesome doctrines, which can be proved from Scripture, Church history, and reason.
Paedophilia is certainly a scandal in the Church - but it does not happen to the degree that you (and many think) that it does. The LARGE MAJORITY of priests have never been guilty of paedophilia. And the problem is just as rife outside of the Church as it is within. Of course, this will NEVER excuse the fact that men, who have been called to holiness, should NEVER be engaged is such despicable and terrible acts. In fact, I think this is one reason why the Catholic Church is attacked more than any other institution in this matter - it's because of the Church's high calling to holiness that makes this scandal so terrible.
As for the Catholic Church killing "as many Christians as the Muslims have" - again this in an unfounded statement without historical basis. Sure, Catholics have done bad things in the name of the Church - but that's not uncommon to human nature. Religion is often used as the guise to justify hatred. For example, your post...
The "Whore of Babylon" - that's a reference to an image in the book of Revelation. Unfortunately, you have interpreted Revelation incorrectly and failed to see that it really is a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. The Whore of Babylon is first century Jerusalem, which had apostatised because the crucified their Lord and persecuted His Apostles and His Church. In fact, St. John even tells us in the book that Babylon is a reference to Jerusalem.
Slander rather than the sword? Hardly. I was simply making observations of the Natsarim claims from an outsiders perspective.
Perhaps, rather than making attacks which have NOTHING to do with my original blog post, I suggest that you actually deal with the issues I have raised.
For starters, perhaps you can show me how the Natsarim are able to show at least the following:
1) A line of succession that stretches all the way back to our Lord and His Apostles; and
2) A uniformity of doctrine