Dear friend at the risk of offending you (in order) to help you I asked you that question about the nativity scene. I asked you with purpose. READ: Matthew chapter 2 in your Bible (and you will see) that Jesus was (NOT) a baby when the wise men came, and Jesus was (NOT) in a manger at that time. Jesus was a (young child) and was in a (house) when the wise men came. NOTICE: what (Matthew 2:10-11) says.It says"When the wise men saw the star (again) they rejoiced with exceeding great joy and when they came into (THE HOUSE) they saw the (YOUNG CHILD) with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him and when the wise men had opened their treasures they presented to Him gifts: Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh" Do you see it? The Bible says the wise men came into the house, (NOT) the manger. And in Matthew 2:11-23 God refers to Jesus as the YOUNG CHILD (NOT) the babe (six times) in 13 verses, so that we couldn't get it wrong, yet tradition still has gotten this simple matter wrong. Jesus was around 2 years old (young child), when the wise men came, according to the time that the wise men first saw the star (Matthew 2:16) that's why Herod wanted to kill every child 2 years old and down. My point in telling you this is, the Bible teaches clearly the wise men came to the house (NOT) the stable, so if something (SO SIMPLE) as to where the wise men came, has been mistaken(have gotten that wrong) by the church and by priests relying instead on tradition, how much more are they wrong about? In other words if they can get something this simple wrong, don't you think it's possible, that they have also misunderstood much more complicated things, like the purpose for communion, baptism, and salvation by grace not by works? Of course they could, and they have, because what they teach is tradition, handed down from the fathers, but it is not scripturally correct, I tell you this not because I am bashing any religion, much less the Catholic religion, as I was an altar boy, most of my aunts and uncles are Catholics, but since I began studying the Bible for myself, I have found out, that much of what I've been taught is wrong and contrary to the scriptures. I'll give you just one example(there are many). Proverbs 49:8 says "There is not enough wealth in all the Earth to buy eternal life for just one soul to keep it out of hell" yet we are told, that we can pay money for a mass to pray and get someone out of purgatory. But that's exactly the opposite of what Proverb i49 says OR, 1 Peter 1:18 to 20 which says "Know YE NOT THAT YOU (ARE NOT) REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS LIKE SILVER AND GOLD FROM YOUR AIMLESS CONDUCT RECEIVED (BY TRADITION) FROM YOUR FATHER'S BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST AS A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND SPOT"" And if you think about it, if you could pay for a mass to get someone out of purgatory, why would you need Jesus? Can you see how mixed up this is, AND WHAT A DANGEROUS DOCTRINE caused by relying on tradition instead of what the Bible (actually) says. Didn't you ever notice in the scriptures, Jesus always said to us (according to the scriptures) or Jesus said (have you never read) (did you not know) Jesus always asked (what says the scriptures) ( did the prophets not write?) Jesus always taught us to study the scriptures for ourself, so we wouldn't be deceived, by religion, and church tradition. (2 Timothy 2:15) Says "Study to show (YOURSELF) approved unto God, a Workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth" (Notice) God says we are to study the scriptures(OURSELVES), so that we will not be deceived. And God gives us His Holy Spirit to help usunderstand the scriptures, that's why the Holy Spirit is called our helper. Read (John 16:13). WARNING:realize (on that day) when you face God, you will not be able to say, but that's what the priest told me to do, for you have the scriptures, you have the Holy Spirit to teach you, and it's up to you to study the Bible yourself, to find out for sure what the scriptures really say, and not what your church or tradition teaches. There is much to say, about what the Bible (actually) teaches about communion, baptism, prayer, faith, and the promises of God, that are contrary to WHAT IS TALK TO US by tradition. But I will leave you with these thoughts. If you go to a garage, does that make you an auto mechanic? Of course not. So why do people think that if they belong to a church that makes them a Christian? And as far as good works is concerned, the lion roars because he is a lion, he does not roar to become a lion. In the same way, we do good works because we are already God's children (are already saved) we do (NOT) do good works to be saved, or to become God's children. Ephesians 2: 8-9 says "FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD NOT THE RESULT OF WORK SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST" "Salvation is the(GIFT) of God (NOT) of works" (so that no one can boast). A gift is received it is not worked for. Should a Christian do good works, the answer is yes, but the Christian does good works, because he ( is) a Christian.(he is already saved) he does (NOT) do good works to be saved. There is a big difference between these two. Those who think they can work to earn their salvation,are saying (I CAN DO IT MYSELF) So then what do they need Christ for? It would be good to pray about these things and think long and hard about it, because unlike whether or not the wise men came to the stable or not, that has no effect on your salvation, these things were sharing is the difference between truly being saved, and those who think they can work for their salvation. I hope these things I've written unto you, you find helpful and not offensive. May the Lord bless you, may the Lord, keep you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you. In Jesus name. 🙏