Brainwash: Bible Verses' Alleged Contradiction (Part 3)

Out of 13 million of the estimated 85 million Catholics (population of Roman Catholics globally is approximately1.2 billion) only about one in every seven Filipinos baptized are church-goers.

Approximately 72 million souls are invisible in masses and other liturgical activities.     

With this statistics, we would not wonder why there is such a number of people who are easily indoctrinated by different sects/religions/atheism because of a weak foundation, which oftentimes result to mocking of Catholicism that Jesus, the Blessed Mary  and the Saints  in general have been established.

Although it’s not an easy task for the Catholic church to reach out to these 72 million with its messengers of about 6,000 priests and 12,000 nuns in the country, laity can be significant to help the church with this insufficiency through social network where 1.23 billion monthly active users could frequently be found.

Let me re-echo what the writer says, “The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about and refuse to investigate.”  In the light of this context, it’s normal to have doubts and ask of something we don’t know, after all no one is self-sufficient when it comes to Scriptural literacy because everything about it cannot be memorized because of man's tendency to be forgetful, although it can be seen in one’s lifestyle when fully appreciated, but parading any literature with the intent to debunk Catholicism/Christianity for personal gain than education and awareness is something that is inhumane.

As continuation of the first and second  part of our study to address the allegations that the Bible is "full of contradictions, provided herewith would confront any doubts that generate disbelief and division to both the atheists and theists communities: 

36).

• Anger by itself is a sin. Matthew 5:22
• But not necessarily. Ephesians 4:26   

This connotes that the angry person pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount is infuriated without just cause. Other Scriptural translations even add the marginal note "without cause" to this verse because this is unmistakably what is implied; if anger itself was constantly errant, Jesus could not have gotten angry at the moneychangers in the Temple. Anger turns to be sinful when it comes from motives other than upright resentment or when it gives way to fury.

37). 

• Ask and it shall be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7-8;Luke 11:9-10 
• Ask and you shall be refused. Seek and you won't find. Knock and you will be refused entrance .Luke 13:24-27

Whether we are answered or whether the door is opened depends upon the disposition with which we try to find. In the former verses, Christ is talking to the faithful, in the latter He is talking to those whose commitment is halfhearted or who are slack on obligations to God.

38).

• Do not judge. Matthew 7:1-2 
• Unless it is necessary of course 1 John 4:1-3    

These are absolutely dissimilar frameworks.  Matthew talks about faithful not being judgmental and condemnatory towards other people, 1 John refers to the need of Christians understanding the difference between good and evil spirits, or known as "discernment of spirits."

39)

• Jesus is thankful that some things are hidden. Matthew 11:25; Mark 4:11-12
• Jesus said that all things should be made known. Mark 4:22

These are two totally different situations. The first verse implies that the truths of the Gospel are impenetrable to the prideful and wise in their own sight; the latter tells the Last Judgment every secret, both the good and the bad, will be revealed. 

The former refers to the manner in which the Gospel is received in this life, the latter to God's judgment at the end of time.

40).

• Jesus said that no sign would be given. Mark 8:12 
• Jesus said that no sign would be given except for that of Jonas. Matthew 12:39; Luke 11:29
• Jesus showed many signs. John 20:30; Acts 2:22 

The verses in Matthew and Luke are more specific explanations of what was summed up in Mark. The "many signs" given were given to those who believed; while the unbelievers did not receive signs, like Chorazin and Bethsaida (Luke 10:13), and King Herod (Luke 23:8) .

41).

• Jesus stated that the law was until heaven and earth ended. Matthew 5:17-19
• Jesus stated that the law was only until the time of John. Luke 16:16 

The moral teachings of the law are constantly legitimate universally, but the ceremonial aspect of the law passed away with the advent of the New Covenant.

42).

• The "Sermon on the Mount" took place on the mountain. Matthew 5:1 
• The "Sermon on the Mount" took place on a plain. Luke 6:17 

Both Matthew and Luke assent that Jesus was on the mountain, except Luke states that Jesus came down and stood on a level place while He conveyed His sermon; it never says He was on a plain. Jesus had spent the night in prayer on the mountain (Luke 6:12); most probably when it was time to preach He came down the mountain somewhat to find a level spot to speak from. 

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References:

1. The New American Bible, http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/_INDEX.HTM
2. Ricardo Saludo, Filipino Catholics: The missing 72 million, http://www.manilatimes.net
3. http://www.unamsanctamcatholicam.com/, Contradictions in the Bible
4. Agence France,  Facts and figures about Facebook on its 10th year, http://www.gmanetwork.com/
5. How many Roman Catholics are there in the world?, http://www.bbc.com/