"Maria", a Catholic nun in training, finds that she probably will never become Sister Maria, since she is in love with Mr. Von Trapp. When she makes this surprising discovery, she sings to the Captain:

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood,
Perhaps I had a miserable youth,
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past,
There must have been a moment of truth.

Oh? And why, Maria, do you conclude this?

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

Romanism 101. I did something. God owes me something. So much for grace.

Nothing comes from nothing,
Nothing ever could,
So somewhere in my youth or childhood,
I must have done something good.

Rodgers and Hammerstein didn't think that one up, nor even did Rome, though Rome surely used it. The idea that from nothing, nothing comes originated with Parmenides, Greek philosopher, 5th century B.C. It is devastating to Biblical truth.

Yes, Roman Catholic theology teaches grace, a grace that is gracious enough to allow us to work for our salvation. It is not the Bible's grace . In Christ, grace is a gift that cannot be earned. Ever. To suggest that what I do can equal or help that which Christ did is to spit in His Face, the Face bleeding for our salvation. Salvation results in good works but is not created by them.

Protestants are not much different at times. Ask ten of them how we get to heaven. Answers will look something like this:

1. I don't know, I really don't know. Been in church all these years and never really figured it out. Here's hoping...

2. We can't know. To say we can know is pride and presumption.

But the thief on the cross knew. Jesus told him he would be with Himself in Paradise, that very day! Now if someone had asked him, "Are you sure about your salvation?" he would have responded readily, "Why of course! Jesus just told me!" And that's the point. Jesus' sheep know His Voice. They know they are saved.

3. The scales theory. God has this huge balance scale in Heaven. He weighs out our good vs our bad, and if the good weighs more, we get to go to Heaven. I've been a pretty decent guy, I'll probably make it.

But the Bible says we are born in sin and that there is no good thing in our flesh. What we think is good is only a result of self-deception.

4. I imagine that some know the truth. "By grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." Gifts are not earned, just received. And Jesus will come inside, and speak to you his assurance, and point you to His Word for more assurance...

No, you may have had that miserable childhood, but you didn't do something good enough to earn the love of God's Son. He saw your need and died for you in spite of your sinful self.

And then there was Debby Boone

Remember this classic? The singer has been lonely for so long, but a man comes into her life and lights it up. Truly a common experience, this being swept off one's feet. God delights in legitimate loves. But like the author of this song, so many have been led astray and away from God by a wrong relationship.

So many nights I sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me his song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark but now
You've come along

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song ...

It can't be wrong
When it feels so right
'Cause You ,
You light up my life

What an awful lie. Many things feel good but are terribly wrong. Poison can be tasteless and odorless. We've all made decisions about things that turned out later to be so wrong. Feelings must never lead us, but faith in what God has said.

The cross did not feel good to Jesus.

Paul wasn't feeling too good when he had received 39 whiplashes on his back.

John didn't feel good when he was exiled to an island of prisoners.

On the other hand, many occult religions and heretical cults feel good. For awhile.