A fast-growing phenomenon in the Mid-South is the veneration of an entity known as “Santa Muerte” (“Saint Death”). Santa Muerte originates in Mexico. Although a number of Catholics honor the idol, the Catholic church does not recognize Santa Muerte as a saint. Rather, the strange figure is considered to be a part of “folk religion.”
Why would anyone worship death? The answer is that adherents seek to offer prayers, gifts, and sacrifices in order to placate the false deity. The reasoning is that if someone pleases Santa Muerte, death will not visit them. In other words, death is such a feared figure that some desire to “buy death off” with gifts in order to escape its fury. Some go so far as to suggest that Santa Muerte is more powerful than Jesus, which, of course, is simply ridiculous.
Because recently I shared the Gospel with a follower of Santa Muerte, I want to list a few verses that are helpful in sharing with adherents:
I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me (Isaiah 45:5)
12:26 "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? 12:27 "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken." (Mark 12:26-27)
2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 2:11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (Matthew 4:10)
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. (1 Corinthians 10:21)
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (James 2:19)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteElliot said...
ReplyDelete53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:53-56
Thank you for very usefull information..
ReplyDeleteBible Quotes Verses on Honoring Marriage Blessings and Love