GATES OF HELL AND HERESY

GATES OF HELL AND HERESY

The Catholic Church under Pope Vigillius in 553 AD during the Second Council of Constantinople has made  it a Dogmatic teaching that the Gates of Hell are the Heresies taught by the heretics. He said in Ex-Cathedra Dogma “We bear in mind what was promised about the Holy Church and Him who said the gates of hell will not prevail against it, by these we understand the death-dealing tongues of heretics”

It has therefore been determined as a Dogma that the gates of hell in the gospel of Matthew 16:18 pertain to HERESIES. 

What then is heresy? Heresy comes from a Greek word that signify a choice; the opinion chosen; and the sect holding the opinion. It is therefore an opinion rendered on account of selfish interest or purpose. Thus a heretic person is one who follows his own self-willed “questions” and comes up with his own opinion and conclusion emanating from himself not from God. Therefore heresies are self-chosen doctrines using scriptural passages interpretations to suit the purposes of the heretic person. In fact Paul ranks heresies as crimes and seditions against the infallible doctrines of the church and against the spirit of the true meaning of the Word of God.

Heresy is an instrument of destruction by division. Thus it is aptly called the gates of hell because anyone who falls into heresy will go straight to hell unless he abjure, disavow, and recant his heresy and go back to the true and unchangeable Doctrines of the one true church, the Catholic Church. Since the church alone is the depository of true faith passed on by Jesus Christ to the Apostles and the Apostles to the Bishops and Priest all must conform to the only one teaching authority, the Magisterium. 

God has completed his revelation and there is nothing more to be revealed as Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished”, Consummatum est. The promised kingdom of God on earth has been set up and established which is the Catholic Church and with it the Holy Spirit that continue to guide and counsel the Church protecting it from errors in fulfillment of the prophetic words of Christ, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. “It” refers to the kingdom of God, the Catholic Church and indeed in spite of so many heresies that confounded the church from the day of its founding, it has flourished, grown and continues to be strong until today.

Since heresy is a doctrine that is objectively contrary to the Catholic teaching, non-Catholics Christians are in effect heretics.  A person who holds something that is contrary to the Catholic Faith is materially or objectively heretic as the person possess the matter of heresy, theological error by association to the heretic sect which has become part of him by virtue of being born to the family of a sect member. Prior to Vatican II, the said person is already guilty of heresy but today he is not judge as guilty of heresy yet because what is termed under Vatican II of the Principle of Invincible Ignorance which the Catholic Church has always recognized as excusing before God. Thus today the church grant them the benefit of the doubt out of charity that their ignorance of the truth is due to their upbringing and they have not yet received the grace to search for the truth thus they are not morally responsible for their ignorance of the truth. After Vatican II in keeping with the Pastoral Charity of the Council, only those who willfully subscribe, embrace, and even go out and teach others what they know to be contrary to the revealed truth are judged as guilty of heresy and is in grave sin one that will bring them to hell outright.

Ignorance however can’t be an excuse for long time when the person has already reached the age that he can already decide on his own and beyond the influence of others. Therefore, ignorance of the law is not an excuse for it is upon the adult person to know the truth and decide for himself.

An example is when you read this and you know that one doctrine is heretical but you refused to be corrected from your theological error, then you are already guilty of heresy and you have no more excuse before God. This is what is known as being obstinate to sin. Even if you know that what you are doing is sinful, you continue living in that state of sinfulness because it’s your choice. Being obstinate means you are in danger of dying in your sin. That is why heresy is dangerous because it opens the gates to hell where you will sure to go if you continue in heresy.

Heresy then leads to apostasy when unchecked. That means you will end-up repudiating all the revealed truth and submit to your heretical doctrines that you embraced. An Apostate person is a lost soul given up to Satan. 

How does one fight heresy? Since heresy is false doctrine, the gates of hell, it means you will be fighting with the devil, the only way to fight it if you are not learned enough to defend your faith is simply to dismiss it right away. DON'T ENGAGE those that will try to plant the seed of heresy on you to a debate, argument or discussion. Excuse yourself and simply go away even if they are close to you. But if you choose to engage them, you must spend time to study the Catholic Faith more seriously. Pray when you are confused and don't ever ever enter into debate or argument with non Catholic preachers, evangelists if you are not well-versed in defending the Catholic doctrines just simply walk away. The best defense is to stay away from so called tongues of the devil. Its like temptation the more you are exposed the more you get infected. Remember that not all can be teachers or preachers or apologists. We all have our own strength and weaknesses if you are confused then consult your confessor priest or join in Catholic bible study group just make sure its Catholic.

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