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The Catholic News Agency reported the following:

The pope offered Mass on Sunday morning with 11 of the new cardinals created at the ordinary public consistory this weekend.

In his homily, he warned of the dangers of mediocrity, lukewarmness, and indifference in the Christian life.

“Without making an effort to love God daily and awaiting the newness he constantly brings, we become mediocre,  lukewarm, worldly. And this slowly eats away at our faith, for faith is the very opposite of mediocrity:  it is ardent desire for God, a bold effort to change, the courage to love, constant progress,” he said.

“Faith is not water that extinguishes flames, it is fire that burns; it is not a tranquilizer for people under stress, it is a love story for people in love. That is why Jesus above all else detests lukewarmness.” 11/29/20 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-advent-is-the-season-for-remembering-the-closeness-of-god-77281

As far as Jesus detesting lukewarmness, He does as the following words from Jesus demonstrate:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘” (Revelation 3:14-22)

The reality is that most end time Christians are lukewarm and do not recognize it. More about the Laodiceans and their churches can be found in the article: The Laodicean Church Era.

Jesus was telling actual Christians to repent, but most think they are fine where they are and that they do not need to.

They are wrong.

Speaking of being wrong, however, so is Pope Francis. The New Testament points out that “Jesus above all else detests” hypocrisy. Hypocrisy received a greater condemnation from Jesus.

The Church of Rome has that problem as it purports to be the continuation of the original apostolic church, but it is not.

Why?

Well, among other reasons, it does not truly “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Details on the original beliefs of the early Christians can be found in the free online book: Continuing History of the Church of God.

Now, let’s see some of what Jesus taught about hypocrisy:

1 … Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)

1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” — 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:1-9)

Like the Pharisees of old, the Church of Rome reasons around the Ten Commandments, while claiming to keep them all. See also the free online book: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.

Jesus also taught:

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. (Matthew 23:13-14)

Is not the above what the Church of Rome does when it asks for money from widows to pray their deceased husbands from a non-existant place they call Purgatory? See also A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
Did the Early Church Teach Purgatory?

Jesus also taught:

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:26-28)

The Church of Rome has many beautiful tombs full of dead men’s bones.

Of course it is NOT just the Church of Rome that engages in hypocrisy.

Notice also the following:

39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”

41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains. (John 9:39-41)

The above reminds me of Protestants who claim to rely on sola Scriptura, but instead also rely on non-biblical traditions–yet they claim they see the scriptures and follow them. For details, check out the free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.

Now notice a prophecy for this time:

12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13 There is a generation — oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.  (Proverbs 30:12-13)

The above is referring to a hypocritical generation–the one we are now in.

Furthermore, as far as hypocrisy goes, Americans may wish to consider the following prophecy:

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:5-6, KJV)

Yes, the USA is “an hypocritical nation” and will one day be no more (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

Anyway, while Pope Francis is correct that Jesus’ detests lukewarmness, the reality is that Jesus provided greater condemnation of hypocrisy.

We are in a more and more hypocritical age, both religiously and politically.

This will not end well (cf. Matthew 24:21-22).

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2020 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Doctrine.

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