Catholicism: Should
We Embrace it?
Part Two of Two
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Prayers for the dead were adopted by the RCC in 300 A.D. However, all of our prayers for the dead avails nothing and cannot alter their condition:
The sale of indulgences began in 1190 A.D. The Pope claimed to have the power to lessen or remit one's sufferings in purgatory. Papal indulgences were exceedingly profitable in the past and were even sold for money. However, only the blood of Christ can pay for our sins, not indulgences:
In the 9-22-99 Ecumenical News International it stated that the RCC issued a new 100-page edition of the Manual of Indulgences. One way to gain an indulgence was to make a pilgrimage to Rome in the year 2000 and visit various historic Catholic sites. Other ways to gain indulgences was to "be pleasant to immigrants, pray at work, and give up alcohol and cigarettes." Expiation of sins The RCC teaches that we can expiate for our sins by our suffering, or trials, and above all by our death, and that we can be cleansed from sin, or sin can be expiated by our good works and our good deeds. Vatican Council II documents, Volume one, p. 68 states:
Vatican Council II documents, Volume one, p. 63 states:
Rome condemns those who oppose indulgences:
Indulgences keep people in bondage to the Catholic church. The explicitly clear teaching of God's Word in the Bible is that Christ Jesus has expiated for our sins completely and fully:
The RCC doctrine of demanding works of expiation in people's lives is totally contrary to the Bible. Purgatory was first proclaimed and established in 593 A.D. by Gregory the Great. It became dogma at the Council of Florence 1439 A.D. Mortal sins and venial sins Roman Catholics are taught that they remain in the life of grace unless they commit a mortal sin. If they die with a mortal sin on their soul, they go to hell. Mortal sins include: immorality, drunkenness, murder, lust, failing to attend Mass at least once a year and excessive gambling. These sins are considered punishable by eternal separation from God unless confessed to a priest. Venial sins are considered less serious. They are sins like minor lying, being disrespectful, cheating, failure to pray daily, being angry with God, and giving in to depression. If they die with venial sins, they believe they go to purgatory. Catholics believe purgatory is a purifying fire, "the final purification," similar to hell where they suffer just as much, except it is a temporal form of punishment (due to a lack of complete cleansing of sin). They pay for past confessed sins as well as unrepented, venial sins. This burden is carried by the entire family as they realize they can shorten the time of their deceased loved one in purgatory by offering up their own good works and sufferings, the Mass being a particularly "effective" offering.
They are taught to pray for the deceased Catholic souls in purgatory. If the soul is in heaven, then all those prayers go into the "spiritual treasury" of the church, and those who are in purgatory and have no one to pray for them, draw out of this "spiritual treasury" and appropriate the prayers of others to themselves. When Catholics have a Mass said for their deceased relatives, they come into a parish and give money. But when you search through the Scriptures, you won't find any purgatory in there. The Scriptures no where say that we can pay for our own sins. We are given a full payment by Jesus Christ.
Purgatory was said to be found in the book of Maccabees where a "sin offering" is offered for dead soldiers who had committed the sin of idolatry. However, to say that 2 Maccabees supports purgatory is contrary to the overall context of God's Word. It says nothing about hell fire in 2 Maccabees, nor souls being tormented therein. Furthermore, according to Catholic dogma, idolatry is a mortal sin that would confine a person to hell, not purgatory. Though a mandatory belief for Catholics today, purgatory is still an official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
The problem with purgatory is that it implies Christ was not able to pay the full penalty for our sins. Yet the Scriptures say in the one- time death of Christ He paid the full ransom for our sins.
Jesus came to save us from our sins:
"What do you have to do in order to get to heaven?" The above question was posed to a random sample of Catholics. Here is how each answered:
In the book, A Catechism for Adults, the question is asked, "What is Necessary to be Saved?" The answer is eight requirements:
The Scripture never speaks of anything like this. Paul stated to the Philippian jailer:
The Roman Catholic gospel is a gospel of works. If salvation is by works, how much work do you have to do? The average Catholic can only hope that he will make it to heaven. This is a hopeless religion, because Catholics do not know where they will go when they die. But the apostle Paul declared:
Catholics have no assurance of salvation. Yet the Scriptures state that we can know that we have eternal life now.
The Bible is clear that when we come to the end of this life we can have assurance that there is a better life beyond the grave.
Purgatory denies true
salvation in Christ and certainty of eternal life, forcing one to work for
their salvation. Saints, Images, Relics & Statutes Prayers directed to Mary and dead saints 600 A.D. Canonization of dead saints first declared by Pope Paul the XV in 995 A.D. Scapulars (a piece of brown cloth with the picture of the Virgin Mary which is superstitiously worn over the shoulders next to the skin for the purpose of protecting the wearer from evil and danger) were introduced by an English monk in 1287 A.D. Veneration of the cross, signing of the cross, images and relics was authorized in 788 A.D. (Relics can be skin, clothing, bone or instruments connected to a martyr.) Relics in the RCC have consisted of:
Attributing supernatural power to such relics is simply another form of idolatry condemned by the Word of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reinforces the doctrine of the Seventh Ecumenical Council of Nicea (A.D. 787) on images:
Catechism of the Council of Trent:
While most everything is holy to a Catholic in his church: pictures, pews, altar, cloth, candles, etc., a unique aspect of Catholic devotion is the veneration of saints and the use of sacred objects, such as statues. There are saints who are said to be much holier than we are, who are in heaven and who can pray for us. Catholics have a list of saints that they use for various situations; e.g., if they lose something, they pray to St. Anthony; if they have a hopeless case in their family, they pray to St. Jude; they pray to St. Joseph for foster fathers and they used to pray to St. Christopher for traveling. Yet the Scriptures, in many places, state that all Christians are saints:
There is no mention in the Bible of the disciples praying to those that had departed. Praying to dead saints undermines Christ's role as sole mediator and makes these saints into gods who can hear thousands of prayers.
The 2nd Commandment The Catholic Church regularly omits the 2nd commandment from Catechisms that says:
Yet Catholics still come up with Ten Commandments because they take the last one on "not to covet" and divided it into two. Nine is now "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" and ten is "Thou should not covet thy neighbor's house, etc." Some former priests have said that they dropped this 2nd commandment, because there is a lot of business in making statutes. The kind of images forbidden in this commandment are obviously those with a religious significance, a person or object believed to have the potential of putting one in touch with the spiritual realm. In regard to praying to dead saints, Catholics are taught that they are to:
The "rosary" or prayer beads were introduced by a man called Peter the hermit which he copied from the Hindus and Mohammedans in the year 1090 A.D. (but not officially sanctioned until the 16th century). It was later popularized by St. Dominic.
The rosary has ten times as many prayers addressed to Mary (150), as are addressed to God the Father (15), with none addressed to Christ. What does the Bible say?
Statutes and shrines are treated as sacred Since the Council of Nice in 787 A.D. images have been adored. It was the Council of Trent which commanded this form of idolatry.
The Bible forbids us to make such images or to bow down to them. This is done in many parts of the world; e.g., Peter's toe has almost been kissed away in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
There are two statues at the French Papal Palace of Avignon, one of Jesus about 20 meters above ground level, and the other an enormous statue of Mary, much larger, grander and higher up than that of Jesus. This gives the greater honor to Mary rather than Jesus. In some places there are a multitude of images quite similar to what you would see in a pagan temple or a Buddhist shrine. Religious shrines are visited by millions of people each year, looking for special blessings and favor. According to the Marian Library, about 80% of Catholic shrines are dedicated to Mary. Author Wilson Ewin (who has researched Catholicism; read the major portion of his book online: Today's Evangelicals Embracing the World's Deadliest Cult) has stated that he only knew of one Roman Catholic Church in the world that was named for Jesus Christ. All others are named for Mary or other saints. Right through the Old Testament and into the N.T. this custom of making idols and graven images was thoroughly detestable before God. In Leviticus 19:4 God says:
A true story was once told of a former Catholic priest who confronted a pagan in Cuba with the question of how he could believe that a plaster idol could help him. The pagan replied that the idol was not expected to help him; "it only represented the power in heaven which could." The startling thing about the reply was that it was almost word-for-word the explanation Roman Catholics give for rendering honour to their statues of saints. These things de-emphasize the work of Jesus Christ for Catholic people. We are to worship God in spirit and truth
Praying to saints turns people away from developing a close fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt, and blessed by a priest was authorized in 850 A.D. Wax candles introduced 320 A.D.
Rituals in the RCC consist of such things as bowing down to statues, praying Catholic prayers (these are memorized prayers), lighting candles, kissing crucifixes, masses, rosaries, making the sign of the cross, sprinkling holy water, burning incense, and adoring images or icons of a Madonna. Sacred oils, gorgeous vestments, priests arrayed in jewels and apparel, chalices, candlesticks, incense with pungent smells, symbolism, music, artistic taste, colorful processions and pomp and pageantry of the RCC is all very captivating, but it is fraught with mysticism and esoteric symbology which is not only unnecessary, but is contrary to the purity and simplicity that Christ demonstrated.
Catholics are taught to go to Jesus through the sacraments, through the saints, through the priest. As a Christian we can personally go to Christ. He has paid the penalty that we could never pay.
We cannot save ourselves. No matter what we do, we are going to fall far short of the perfection that God would expect, but Christ was perfect, so we need to trust in Him and lean entirely on Him alone.
The true loving nature of God is hidden in the RCC and lost behind church dogma and mysteries of the faith, ceremony, empty rituals and prayers that are vain repetition. Catholics don't understand the true Person and work of Jesus Christ. He is our personal Lord and Savior. As a result, there is a vacuum, and the Catholic Church tries to tell its people that this vacuum can be satisfied by participating in the seven sacraments. So instead of a dynamic walk and talk with the Lord Jesus Christ, it's ritual and ceremony.
We come to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, not empty rituals. At the Council of Trent (1545-1563) Rome pronounced 125 anathemas (curses) damning those who do not strictly believe the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
A Summary of the Declaration of the Council of Trent In the past, if a Catholic went to another church outside the RCC and participated (i.e., bowing the head during the prayer, singing, etc.) in that service, it was considered a mortal sin. They couldn't even bring Protestant literature into the home, as they believed it would bring a curse onto the family. Catholics take the word "church" to mean "supreme, teaching authority in all matters of faith and morals" (the magisterium), but the church means "fellowship." We can accept as supreme authority Christ Jesus in the authority of His Word. Rome's understanding of Christ appears Biblical; e.g., they teach that Jesus of Nazareth was the eternal Son of God, that He was virgin born; they promote His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross; they teach His resurrection, His ascension and second coming. But Rome has many faces and is able to appear as an angel of light. What Rome holds about the person and work of Jesus Christ looks good, but under the surface Catholicism teaches that she is the extension of Christ on earth, and that to submit to the RCC is to submit to Christ. To leave the RCC is to leave God and to forsake Christ. Yet Jesus said to come to me and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Peter appointed as head of the church? During the fifth century, Pope Leo I began to use Matthew 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" to say that Peter was appointed by Christ to be the head of the church. The whole structure of the RCC has been built on this assumption. Nevertheless, this verse doesn't have anything to do with the nature of the church; it has to do with the nature of Jesus Christ. Peter sees Christ and acknowledges Him to be God in the flesh (vs. 16). It is interesting to note that while RCC likes to quote the above verse to say that the RCC is founded on St. Peter, in the very same chapter our Lord said to Peter:
If Jesus had already designated Peter as head of the church, the disciples would not have disputed in Mark 9:33-35 as to who should be the greatest. At the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15:13-29, it is the advice of James, not Peter, that is sought and followed. In Matthew 16:18, the Greek word "Peter" is "Petros," masculine, a small piece of rock. The Greek word "rock" is "petra," which refers to bedrock, a mass of immovable rock. It refers to Christ's deity. It was Peter who revealed that Christ is the Stone:
Christ is the Rock.
The one and only foundation is Christ:
The RCC believes that they are the only church where Jesus Christ physically resides and the only church founded by Jesus:
The oath which all converts to the Roman Catholic Church must take:
Signs or characteristics of a religious cult A group with any one or a combination of the following marks may be properly called a cult:
J. Oswald Sanders in his book, Cults and Isms, said:
All cults have a counterfeit and false Jesus--the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Unity, Herbert W. Armstrong's churches. Their concept and understanding of Christ is warped and twisted. These people are experts in falsely interpreting the Scriptures. Thus they deal in half-truths and are masters of deceit and specialize in subtle fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. They all have a different Jesus, a different gospel, and a different spirit. (2 Cor. 11:4) The basic of a cult is to deny even directly, or indirectly, the sufficiency of our Lord's person and work. Every cult, without exception, subjects the Bible to gross, false interpretations of Scripture. The Roman Catholic system has been twisting the Scriptures for centuries.
In catechism classes it has been common not to ask questions but to accept what one is taught. The Church of Rome suppresses the people and controls the minds of the people. It is a religion of fear, superstition and ignorance. Roman Catholicism has more than one God. God really is not worshipped in the RCC. It is the saints, along with Mary. The RCC is worshipped and becomes a very subtle idol. Christ does not have the preeminence.
Every cult represents a satanic force against which the Christian is in a spiritual battle. Those who live a consecrated, separated life, empowered by the Holy Spirit, given to prayer and diligent study of the Scriptures, are qualified to test the spirits of spiritual counterfeit groups.
Roman Catholicism is the most feared and neglected mission field today. They have another Christ and another spirit, because they have another gospel. There is an appalling ignorance of the RCC which has seduced people with a false gospel. Teachings and practices must come under the search light of God's Word, the Bible. If you carefully examine Roman Catholic teaching and dogma in the light of Scripture, you see easily that this ancient church is an ancient cult. Church, falsely so-called Why is it so few Christian organizations and books, magazines and films and tracts fail to identify this church, falsely so-called? Why do so few Bible colleges and seminaries seldom if ever offer a course on this religion? Why are there so few pastors and evangelists teaching the true nature of this religious institution? Many today believe that Roman Catholicism has certain cardinal doctrines characteristic of historical Christianity and, therefore, cannot be called a cult. According to them Romanism is a mere aberrant Christian group. Others feel it has slid from its original biblical position. Some teach that it is a branch of historic Christianity. Some take the position that it is a Christian body with extreme, unique unorthodox practices and peripheral aspects of doctrine. These are Christian experts on the cults saying these things. Why this tolerance? Here are three reasons:
Many Catholics have been indoctrinated with a spurious gospel, and it takes time to undo the false teachings of religious bondage. This is a church that seduces and mesmerizes people because of her wealth, power and longevity. Romanism is more than a religion; it is a political, psychological system. Its universal government seeks to enslave its members through the technique of slow, deliberate "brainwashing." It is geared to promote a religion that does not resemble Biblical Christianity. Its religious practices were not known in the early church but chiefly come from the Roman pagans. The Church of Rome is not a Christian church. The RCC still claims to be the original church. Some of her greatest theologians or authorities have, in the past, said that outside of her there is no salvation. Present day Catholic authorities play down this pronouncement, for it would prove to be a hindrance to uniting all other churches with the Church of Rome, her ultimate ambition. For example, after the 2nd Vatican Council she has been calling Protestants "separated brethren" instead of schismatic. However, unless all churches acquiesce to this movement toward "unity," they remain outside the graces of the Church. Unity means surrender to the "Mother church."
The 2nd Vatican Council changed the position of the church in relationship to non-Christian religions in 1965. It affirmed that people of all religions form one community, and that the church respects the spiritual, moral and cultural values of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Catholic publishers have produced numerous books designed to enrich Catholic spirituality with Eastern religions.
This concept arising in Christendom today that God has revealed Himself in many different ways to different peoples leads to the conclusion that there are "many roads to God." This is nothing but compromise and tolerance. It also contradicts the Scriptures which say that God revealed Himself in only one person, His Son.
Catholics have always believed that Mary has appeared in various apparitions in the world with a message. Beginning in 1981, apparitions of Mary started appearing at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia. In one message she is to have said: "God is not looking for great believers but simply for those who respect their faith and live peacefully. Peace is more important than conversion, fasting, penance or prayer." The RCC uses John 17:20-22 to say all churches need to be in unity (with the RCC):
These verses have nothing to do with ecumenical unity. This prayer of Christ has already been answered. Believers are one in Christ since the church is one body. When we trust Christ, we are put into that body. Christian Leaders Uniting With Roman Catholicism - tape (covers their doctrines, plus the ECT [Evangelicals and Catholics Together] document) Today Rome's great ecumenical propaganda machine is paying off as dead Protestantism allows itself to be seduced by Roman advances.
Truth is the basis for unity, not experience. If you truly love the Christ of the Bible you will not sit under liberal teaching, whether it be Catholic or Protestant. You will avoid the ecumenical and Charismatic churches which emphasize unity at the expense of Biblical truth. You will separate from every form of religious apostasy.
Rome is pushing for ecumenical unity at the expense of God's Word. Has Rome Changed? Many are expressing hope that the RCC is turning toward a scriptural Christianity. Catholics say they have changed because "We read our Bibles now." Modern Catholics have chosen to ignore certain doctrines of the church, which they consider to be out of date. They point to the ever widening Charismatic renewal. In fact, Vatican Radio has reported that the Charismatic Movement embraces at least 80 million Catholics worldwide. Many of the things that the RCC used to consider a sin are no longer a sin. Who changed the definition of sin? If it was a sin before, why isn't it a sin now? Or was it ever a sin? After all, isn't it God who decides what is sin? How can anyone or anything change what God has decided?
It is no longer a
mortal sin to miss Mass on Sundays (now you can go on Saturdays and it will count for Sunday). The Mass was changed from Latin to English and turned the altar around and allow the lay people to come up to the altar and assist in the ritual, even allowing them to handle the "sacred host" (the
Eucharist).
A common misconception is that the 2nd Vatican Council changed many of her dogmas; however, Vatican II made no doctrinal changes. There was a change of image but no change of substance. Most fail to realize that these changes are only superficial, for Rome could never reject the sacrifice of the Mass but only streamlined it enough to keep the truth of its meaning hidden. Pope John XXIII made it clear that his church is bound to all the teachings of the church in its entirety and preciseness, as it still shines forth in the act of the Council of Trent and first Vatican Council. This same ecumenical Pope put Vatican II under the "protection of Mary, the immaculate queen of the church and the mother of unity." He also said, "It is through Mary that we come to Jesus. To love Christ means to love Mary, His mother, and in the light of redemption, our universal mother." Pope John Paul II’s latest encyclical is renewing a call for Roman Catholic Bishops to reject "Scripture only" as the means of God’s revelation to man
The constitution of the RCC makes it abundantly clear that Rome has no intention of revising any of her basic doctrines but only of updating her methods and techniques for more effective administration, and to present a more attractive appearance. This is designed to make it easier for the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches to return to the RCC's fold. Her purpose is not union but absorption. Rome promotes the principle Semper eadem, "always the same." Her basic dogmatic teachings can never change. There has been re-definition and restructuring of Catholic theology, but there has been no radical change of Catholic dogma because that would destroy Roman Catholicism. The Vatican Council II declarations and the New Catholic Catechism of the 1990s reaffirmed the Council of Trent unequivocally. Quotes from The New Catholic Catechism (Proving Rome's dogma has not changed) The RCC has never changed a dogma of faith once it has been declared. Catholics are taught they have to work for their salvation; i.e., keep the Ten Commandments, pray a rosary, go to Mass every Sunday, fast, and use a lot of holy water. They are taught it is a grievous sin to doubt church teachings. The official post Vatican Council II Roman Catholic source, the Code of Canon Law, promulgated by the authority of Pope John Paul II in 1983 in Canon 849 says:
A Catechism for Adults, p. 50, asks the question: "What is necessary to be saved?" The answer given is:
We are not saved by works but for works. We cannot mix law and grace. Salvation by works is not of God, because it is clearly absent from the Bible.
Being born again has nothing to do with good works like getting baptized, joining a church or speaking in tongues:
Catholics like to use the verses in James 2:14-26 to say we are saved by works; however, when we understand how the definition of faith is used by Paul and James in the context of their writings, we see that they are in perfect harmony and are discussing the same subject from different viewpoints. Paul tells us that we are not saved by works of the Law. (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16) James is saying that the faith which saves you will produce works of faith. When Paul speaks of works, it is works of the Law. The Law is a mirror, but it cannot save you. Man cannot be saved by perfect obedience, for he cannot render it and he cannot be saved by imperfect obedience, because God will not accept it. The only solution to this dilemma is the redemption found in Christ Jesus and both Paul and James emphasize that. When James speaks of works, he is talking about works of faith, not the works of law. Paul also wrote about works of faith. ("faith which worketh by love" Gal. 5:6.) Saving faith is alive; professing faith is dead. If you have a living faith, there is going to be fruit in our life. So when we understand how Paul and James use the words faith and works, we see that they are in total agreement on their teaching. (Paraphrased from the edited messages on James 2:14-26 by the late J. Vernon McGee) [emp. ours] Works are not a requirement for salvation, they are a result of salvation.
Salvation is a finished work of Christ, completed, and we need to trust what He did for us, not trust what we are doing for Him.
The form of godliness that the RCC has makes it difficult for a Roman Catholic to see where the real problem is, but each person must determine that the truth is known only by the authority of God's Word. The RCC demands obedience to what they declare or determine. But we are obliged to obey not man but God. The Bible is the supreme authority by which truth is known. The whole salvation message is summarized in one verse:
The Roman Church is not the means by which one is saved, rather it is grace itself, through faith, as expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9:
How Do I Receive Eternal Life? The Catholic way of salvation is a false hope, for it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the N.T. God warns us of those that would come and teach another Jesus, a different spirit and a different gospel.
Salvation is a result of trusting in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. When He cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He was proclaiming that He had made an end of our sins and guilt. He fulfilled all the requirements of God's Law and He fulfilled all the O.T. prophecies concerning His life and resurrection. The work the Father gave Him was finished. Our redemption was paid in full.
Salvation is found only in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Quotes from The New Catholic Catechism (Proving Rome's dogma has not changed) Open Letter to Precious Catholic People [offsite link] Why do some exiters of Armstrongism go into the Roman Catholic Church? |
