Twitter, World Youth Day & Purgatory‏

Hello Friends!

Have you heard the latest antics protruding from the Church of Rome? Well, please allow me to explain… 

The Vatican is now offering time out of purgatory for those that follow the Pope on Twitter and follow the World Youth Day. Really?

 

As ridiculous as this may sound, Mr. Francis is quite serious. However, nowhere in the Holy Scriptures does one find the idea of Purgatory...

 

Twitter, World Youth Day & Purgatory

The Vatican has taken another step in its efforts to embrace social media by offering "indulgences" to followers of Pope Francis' (@Pontifex) Twitter account. So, how does that work? Great question! The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports that the church will reduce the time Catholics have to spend in purgatory if they follow official Vatican events on TV, radio, and through social media. One such event is the Catholic World Youth Day, which took place in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, July 22nd. 

The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal responsible for issues relating to the forgiveness of sins, will award the privilege to the faithful that follow the event using different forms of media. Pope Francis' followers are not immediately granted an indulgence for tracking the event, with the Apostolic Penitentiary noting that it would hinge on the user having previously confessed and being "truly penitent and contrite." Huh? Indulgences are given out when a Catholic performs an action recommended by the church. They're meant to encourage Catholics to lead a pious life, devoting themselves to charity and generally treating others with a Christian spirit. Is this really "salvation by works?" 

Although one may not be directly buying indulgences per se', one can apparently win them via social media savvy – a type of digital “get out of jail free” card. How clever! However, don’t get too excited just yet! The Vatican says that it doesn't count if you just click the blue follow button and never check back again. You must be an active follower – no cheating!

Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication said:

"What really counts is that the tweets the Pope sends from Brazil or the photos of the Catholic World Youth Day that go up on Pinterest produce authentic spiritual fruit in the hearts of everyone"

Alongside its papal Twitter account, the Vatican offers an online news website and app, a Facebook page, and is currently planning to engage with users on Pinterest – the whole shebang! Even with all this technological outreach, it is quite obvious the Vatican and its Pope are quickly losing credibility more and more – day by day…

Let us not forget, it was the false idea of indulgences that was the very issue that sparked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. In stark protest to this unbiblical practice, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517.

God has a special invitation for His honest, sincere and searching people. The Lord Jesus Christ does not want His people to remain in a fallen state:

Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues – Revelation 18:4

God also shows us through His Word, the Bible, that he wants us to use our intellect to make intelligent, informed choices about who we are to serve and how:

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool – Isaiah 1:18

Prayerfully, this latest silly stunt by the Vatican will cause more Catholics to realize the scam that is the Catholic Church in which they follow, trust and dedicate their eternal souls! May the Lord Jesus Christ open their eyes before it is too late…

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!


We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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