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Roman Catholicism
Posted by: Admin on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 02:05 AM |
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Written by Peter Warnes
Over the last two decades there has been a significant growth in ecumenism (the promotion of unity among churches) with some well known vehicles facilitating this coming together, e.g. the Charismatic movement, Promise Keepers, the Toronto Blessing phenomena and Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) to name a few. Promise Keepers in particular were initially very broad in their definition of a Christian Church by including Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses (although they excluded them later). But is it possible to have unity in the Spirit with Roman Catholics?
The New Testament records the Apostle Paul in Romans 15:5 stating "May God ...give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus" and in Ephesians 4:3 he exhorts "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace". It is clear from scripture that we are to work towards a unity but it is one that can only be achieved by God's Holy Spirit as His Word is applied to individuals lives and in coming to a unified belief under our supreme Head and Lord, Jesus Christ.
However scripture also contains several warnings about attempting unity with those who reject the claims of scripture, pollute it's purity by introducing errors, or add to it's statements or demands. For instance 2 Corinthians 6:14 reads "do not be yoked together with unbelievers..." Warning about false teachers 2 Peter 2:1-3 states "They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up."
Following the years of the apostles, the early church suffered severe persecution for about three centuries under many of the Roman Empire's ruling Caesars until Constantine took the throne in A.D. 313. An astute politician and able military commander Constantine was aware that Christians had gained a reputation of being hard working, reliable and faithful employees, they were honest, had a desire to please and they even prayed to their God for the soldiers who so cruelly persecuted them. If all the citizens of the Roman Empire conducted themselves in a similar manner, then clearly the benefits would be enormous; for political reasons Constantine announced that Christianity would be an officially recognised religion of the Empire. The Church was enormously relieved that at last the constant hounding, humiliation, torture and killings were over. The Emperor himself claimed to have converted to Christianity and took upon himself the title Vicarius Christi. The compliant Church honoured him as Bishop of Bishops whilst he steadfastly retained the title of Pontifex Maximus as head of the pagan priesthood and he continued to officiate at their celebrations and to build pagan temples. Thus the Church became paganised and the titles of its head have been passed down to the present Pope.
The Church and civil authorities of the empire became closely entwined with pagan practice growing in numbers, power and influence. Membership of the Church with participation in services and rituals became a necessary step for advancement in all areas of enterprise, commerce, government posts or military service. Later every citizen in the Roman Empire was required to become a Roman Catholic. Nevertheless God had a faithful remnant that refused to bow the knee to this corrupt institution.
Popes were put on the papal throne or removed by armies and Roman mobs. Some were murdered, including more than one executed by a husband who discovered his wife in bed with the Pontiff. Rival factions fought battles in order to install their particular choice of a Pope. The papal throne, the positions of Cardinals and Bishops were bought and sold. Pope Stephen VII (896-7) exhumed the body of Pope Formosus, condemned the corpse after a mock trial but was strangled soon after by Stephens opponents. Theodora, wife of a senior Roman Senator, whose daughter Marozia was the prostitute mistress of Pope Sergius III was quick to manoeuvre two of her own lovers in succession to the papal throne after the death of Sergius. The historian Edward Gibbon in his Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire writes:
"The influence of two prostitutes, Marozia and Theodora, was founded on their wealth and beauty, their political and amorous intrigues. The most strenuous of their lovers were rewarded with the Roman mitre. The bastard son, the grandson and the great grandson of Marozia - a rare genealogy - were seated in the chair of St Peter."
Such history makes a mockery of the claims of papal infallibility, apostolic succession and the vows of celibacy.
History has recorded the Church of Rome forcing its beliefs and doctrines on people throughout the world by the most barbaric means. Canon Llorente, Secretary to the Inquisition in Madrid (1790-92) estimated from archival documents, that in Spain alone the Inquisition condemned over three million people and burnt 300,000 at the stake. Pope Urban II (1088-99) instigater of the first Crusade, commanded his men to torture and kill all heretics i.e. those who resisted Rome's doctrine, promising direct access into heaven, thus avoiding purgatory for any unfortunate enough to die in the cause. Many large protestant and Bible believing movements were wiped out. Well did the apostle John prophesy of a women (false religion) in Revelation 17:6 "drunk with the blood of the martyrs".
Although Roman Catholicism uses scripture and Christian terminology there are significant differences in their beliefs to the plain text of the Bible, some unique interpretations and many unbiblical additions, which form the doctrine and traditions of its faith. Proverbs 30:5-6 states "Every word of God is flawless, he is a shield to those that trust in him: do not add to His word or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar". However Vatican II dictates:
"It is for the bishops, with whom the apostolic doctrine resides, suitably to instruct the faithful entrusted to them in the correct use of the New Testament by giving them translations of the sacred texts which are equipped with necessary and really adequate explanations".
In contrast the bible states that for all who read it is "a lamp for their feet" and "young men are to take note of what it says", (Psalm 119:105,9). Paul writes to all members at the churches he addresses not just leaders or the learned.
The bible's clear teaching that a person is saved through faith alone in Christ alone is in contrast to Rome's doctrine: viz.
"The sacred, infallible and irrevocable decrees of the Council of Trent" state "If anyone says that a sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, let him be anathema". ('Anethma' means cursed or condemned. There are over 100 anathemas from the Council of Trent, which if held are said to be a mortal sin, condemning the offender to an eternity in hell).
Catholicism teaches that it's adherents must do much to help pay for their sins in order to go to heaven. As with baptism, they are to receive all seven sacraments, do penance in this life to help pay for sins and/ or suffer purgatory (a ficticious place of temporary punishment between death and heaven) and be absolved by a priest for every previously unconfessed mortal sin prior to death.
Vatican II declares: "This holy council teaches... that the church is necessary for salvation... Hence, they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it, or to remain in it".
Such a statement binds a catholic to that institution for its claimed ability to get them out of purgatory to heaven.
Some basic fundamental differences between the Roman Catholic faith (red) and biblical Christianity (blue) are:
- Salvation by works: i.e. through Church membership, participation of the various sacraments, rituals, observances and service.
Conversely the Bible states "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.Ephesians 2:8,9. Also in Titus 3:5 "He saved us not because of righteous things we have done but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."
- Spiritual new birth at infant baptism.
The bible makes it clear that the individual must understand and make confession of sin in their lives, their need for a Saviour, repent and accept Jesus Christ's Substitutionary work for us to receive salvation. Therefore infant baptism cannot effect salvation as a baby can have no such understanding. Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." And the words of Jesus Christ in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me."
- Worship of idols: Bowing to and kissing effigies.
An act that is clearly forbidden throughout Scripture.
- Celibacy of the priesthood.
The bible calls the forbidding of marriage in 1 Timothy 4:1 "thing(s) taught by demons." In view of scriptures clear pronouncement on this issue it is therefore not surprising that so many Catholic priests, bound by Rome's ungodly degrees, find themselves unable to suppress the natural desires implanted by their Creator and pervert them into illicit and homosexual activity.
- Confession of sins and absolution by man.
This practice was introduced into the Catholic Church in 1215 AD. 1 John 1:5 "God is light." Verse 9, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confession is to be made to God alone through Christ, and it is he alone who can forgive sin.
- Penance to expiate sins.
Nowhere does the Bible say we can pay, in any measure, for our sins. 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive [by] be the Spirit." Also see John 15:13, Galatians 1:4, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 3:16 and Revelation 1:5.
- Purgatory a place of torment prior to heaven.
This was finally pronounced as a dogma in 1439 but has no biblical basis. In John 14:1-4, Jesus speaks about: "In my fathers house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you... I will come back and take you to be with me."
- Indulgencies and the payment of indulgences. According to The Code of Cannon Law: "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain and definite conditions with the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasury of the satisfaction of Christ and the saints"
Much of Rome's vast wealth is the result of the sale of salvation in some form. Pope Sixtus V (1471-84) who had licensed Rome's brothels for an annual fee and taxed clergy for their mistresses, decided on the lucrative venture of taxing the dead. By making payments to the Church, deceased loved ones time in the tortures of purgatory could be reduced or finalised thus enabling their release into heaven.
- Transubstantiation. As part of the Mass it is claimed that the priest transforms the wafer [and the Wine] into "the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore the whole Christ is truly, really and substantially contained".
But in Christ's recorded word, "...he took bread and broke it and said, 'This is my body which is for you, do this in rememberance of me... This cup is the new covenant in my blood: do this whenever you drink it in rememberance of me." Christ was there in the flesh when they ate and drank and they were commanded to do so as as a reminder in the future. He clearly did not say that these elements would become his body.
- The worship of Mary.
In John's vision in Revelation 17 it is a women riding the beast and not a man. Mary is very prominent in the Catholic faith: prayers, honour, and attention, shrines built and adoration is given to her. Mary is believed to be currently an intercessor. Cardinal de Liguori, a recognised Catholic authority states: "Sinners receive pardon by Mary alone. He falls and is lost who has not recourse to Mary" Her place and powers replace some of those which are Christ's or the Holy Spirit's alone, 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ"
Roman Catholicism is in many of its doctrines and dogmas quite the opposite to Biblical Christianity yet only a few have been considered here.
It is regrettable that world wide there are over one billion people, many who are sincere and good, with a desire to serve God, snared in this false religion. Conversely large numbers in South America have become Christians and left the Catholic faith. The organisation 'Ex-Catholics For Christ' in the USA is large and flourishing. A letter sent from a Christian pastor on a visit to Rome itself, reads:
"I visited a missionary in Rome... I joined this brother in passing out thousands of tracts and bibles at the central bus/train station, and outside the Vatican and the St. Giovanni Basilica. Several salvation responses have already begun to arrive in the mail. As we toured the basilicas and the Vatican (they found) Catholic bookstores throughout Rome refuse to carry or sell Bibles. Multitudes of pagan artefacts and statues are crowned with crosses, saints and keys, Christian altars with occult symbols, idols and pagan crowns. Pilgrims passing through the 'holy' doors and the many participating in the processionals at St. Peter's (and elsewhere) appeared joyless and unmoved, led by passionless priests. Hundreds lined up to kiss the toes of a bronze idol of St. Peter. In another place I observed about hundred pilgrims climbing a long flight of 'holy' stairs on their knees while reciting a portion of the rosary with each painful step. Here were people suffering in ignorance and denial, led astray by the shepherds of a paganised church, toiling to earn the grace of God while denying the suffering of Christ on the cross for their joyful salvation."
Source material: - A Women Rides the Beast - by Dave Hunt.
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