St. Patrick's Day is a holiday were people venerate the patron saint of Ireland. Patricas or Patrick was Roman who was enslaved by Irishmen and who after escaping got the call to evangelize his enemy and thus changed Ireland forever. To many Evangelicals and missionaries it seems like a solid holiday, to venerate a man who decided to "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44). However, veneration in a Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches does not mean the same thing as it does in secular world. To venerate is to revere, but it also boarderlines on worship and requires praying to patron saint. This is heretical, because , "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Timothy 2:5). We are not invoke intermediaries and pray to other believers, but to believe and call on name of Christ. For Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, this is foremost and greatest commandment.." (Matthew 22:37-38). You cannot love the Lord with all your heart and soul if you are making supplication to a saint like Patrick!
The Apostles Peter and John said before Sanherdrain of Jesus, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Patrick appealed to the canonized saints and angels in his prayers, he offered repetitious prayers to angels to get his pray to God, which violates (is wrong according to) important Scriptures, "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words," (Matthew 6:7), "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism (pious self denial), and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous (sense) mind (unspiritual mind)." (Colossians 2:18), and "I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9). St. Patrick also practiced pennace which is entails doing works and sufferings that hurt the body like a hair shirt (Patrick wore one) to earn merit for forgiveness of sin, but this is in violation of Acts 4:12, and The Apostle Paul says, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship (self made religion), their false humility (self abasement) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." (Colossians 2:16-18, 19-23).
Patricas did preform a service to the Savior by going to Irish People, but he also undermined the True Faith by imposing the Roman rites that include the Sacraments (sacrifices to be saved, again a violation of Acts 4:12), Pennace, and accepting paganisms in order to promote the gospel. Like Francis Xavier, Patricas was influenced by the paganisms of the people he witnessed to and defended his church ardently. It is said Patrick heard the cries of the Irish children calling him to save them, but Patrick himself believed erroneous beliefs that we cannot accept because they are in direct conflict with the Scriptures.
There are many camps surrounded St. Patrick, there are those who claim only the Irish should venerate him, other Catholics and Orthodox who believe in canonized sainthood and prayers to the dead, and then there is the group that believes any Christian can celebrate St. Pattie's Day if they believe in sharing the gospel, and missions; "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28;19). While certainly Patricas would be quite vehemented over his veneration, seein the pomp and romp, and especially the drunkenness. But he would have encouraged prayer to him and saints, because he was Roman Catholic, and this is what distubes me. I applaud that Patrick went to proselytize the pagans of Ireland, but I worry he effectively, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." (Matthew 23:15). I worry that while many make the argument Patrick destroyed paganisms and planted the True Faith, I argue that he gave the Irish, "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people," (2 Timothy 3:5) and in long run set them up for antichrist beleifs. Because the problem is that the Irish instead of knowing Immanuel as He is revealed in Bible and in relationship, was taught Roman Rites and Christian Paganisms that are in direct conflict with the Gospel in The New Testament. For Paul when among Greek Pagans said, "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).
St. Patrick may have gone to save the pagans, but in reality he promoted the Roman Church that believes salvation (eternal life) comes from the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist (Communion Meal), Confession, Penance, and prayers to dead (which violates Scripture, "Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense." (Leviticus 20:27 NLT) save people. The Bible, which contains the eyewitness accounts of the apostles who were with Jesus Christ say the opposite of the Roman Church, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved," (Acts 4:12), "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name," (Acts 10:43), "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:24), "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast," (Ephesians 2:8-9), "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him," (Hebrews 9:28), "according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence," (Ephesians 3:11-12), "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," (Hebrews 10:10), "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men." (Titus 3:4-8).
The gospel St. Patrick preached was not Biblical or Apostolic, but Roman. It was another gospel, which Paul mentions, "For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily," (2 Corinthians 11:4), and "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" (Galatians 1;8). The Roman gospel that Patrick preached, and that is still preached today is a gospel based on the Sacraments, Church attendance, and prayers to other intermediaries like saints instead of Christ directly; all of which violate as I have laid out above what the Apostles, and St. Peter himself says! Therefore I must confess that celebrating St. Patrick's Day is ill advised, because the man supported, promoted, and practiced Roman Christianity which believes a person can save themselves through Sacraments of the Catholic Church, when Bible says, "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," (Hebrews 10:10), "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), and "according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:11-12). The verse from Ephesians alone is discouraged in the Roman Catholic Church, which believes you must seek intercessors and intermediaries to approach God for you, namely, Mary (Madonna) and the saints, but the Bible says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5). This is why St. Peter, not St. Paul is highly venerated in Catholic Church, for Paul speaks ardently against those who think anyone other than Christ can save them, mediate for them, and heal them. Even though St. Peter said, ""For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (1 Peter 3:18, and Acts 4:12).
In short, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of a man who believed erroneous teachings of a church that is in direct conflict with The Holy Scripture, The Apostles, and Jesus Christ and His Gospel! Therefore I recommend avoiding St. Patrick's Day, and instead focus on the Savior, and remember His Death and Resurrection this coming week.
St. Patrick may have gone to save the pagans, but in reality he promoted the Roman Church that believes salvation (eternal life) comes from the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist (Communion Meal), Confession, Penance, and prayers to dead (which violates Scripture, "Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense." (Leviticus 20:27 NLT) save people. The Bible, which contains the eyewitness accounts of the apostles who were with Jesus Christ say the opposite of the Roman Church, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved," (Acts 4:12), "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name," (Acts 10:43), "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:24), "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast," (Ephesians 2:8-9), "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him," (Hebrews 9:28), "according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence," (Ephesians 3:11-12), "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," (Hebrews 10:10), "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men." (Titus 3:4-8).
The gospel St. Patrick preached was not Biblical or Apostolic, but Roman. It was another gospel, which Paul mentions, "For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily," (2 Corinthians 11:4), and "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" (Galatians 1;8). The Roman gospel that Patrick preached, and that is still preached today is a gospel based on the Sacraments, Church attendance, and prayers to other intermediaries like saints instead of Christ directly; all of which violate as I have laid out above what the Apostles, and St. Peter himself says! Therefore I must confess that celebrating St. Patrick's Day is ill advised, because the man supported, promoted, and practiced Roman Christianity which believes a person can save themselves through Sacraments of the Catholic Church, when Bible says, "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," (Hebrews 10:10), "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), and "according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:11-12). The verse from Ephesians alone is discouraged in the Roman Catholic Church, which believes you must seek intercessors and intermediaries to approach God for you, namely, Mary (Madonna) and the saints, but the Bible says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5). This is why St. Peter, not St. Paul is highly venerated in Catholic Church, for Paul speaks ardently against those who think anyone other than Christ can save them, mediate for them, and heal them. Even though St. Peter said, ""For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (1 Peter 3:18, and Acts 4:12).
In short, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of a man who believed erroneous teachings of a church that is in direct conflict with The Holy Scripture, The Apostles, and Jesus Christ and His Gospel! Therefore I recommend avoiding St. Patrick's Day, and instead focus on the Savior, and remember His Death and Resurrection this coming week.
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