Roman Catholics believe in Christ’s sanctifying shedding of blood on the cross. They do NOT demand that works are a part of salvation. Yes, they have had periods in their past where it appeared they did, and in some countries, works are tied to faith. However, if you read the materials closely, you’ll see that they believe like you. Maybe an over-emphasis at times in works, still, but if you look closely today, you’d be hard-pressed to find many churches still adhering to works as proof. However, you cannot totally separate works from faith, as James says. Show me the works and I shall see their faith, is the gist of James’ message. You cannot separate them in one who has been claiming to be a child of God. After a while, there must be some works that establish the fact that faith has taken place.
The Roman Catholic Church is a sister church. Right now, it is the only church in which I see ANY kind of revival and spiritual awakening. While there are many that I would NOT attend because they preach a social Gospel, that is true of every other denomination, as well. The whole of Christendom is infiltrated by a social gospel that is watering down the True Gospel. We cannot continue this denunciation of a sister church. Remember the message about removing the “log” from one’s own eye? That needs to be remembered. I know many Catholics who I would not consider truly saved, but I know JUST AS MANY who ARE. Maybe more. I would say the same of every other church group I have attended, as well. I do not hear people saying that about the Lutheran church, Methodist, Baptist, or the other denominations, but name one that is not compromised today in some way. There is ONE TRUE CHURCH, made up from members of all the churches that exist.
True faith is defined in a church’s doctrine by what they believe about Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church passes that test. Mormonism does not. I see little condemnation of other churches in this site and yet we post things DAILY from Joel Osteen, who does not seem to know what true faith is. He tries to make every person feel great about whatever they believe. He hedges about what true faith actually is, when challenged. Scripture is explicit about that kind of talk. Let’s be honest and admit that the pre-trib rapture theory that we were raised on has called the RCC the “great harlot” and we have bought into that message, hook line and sinker. It continues to be taught in churches as fact. The Harlot is not the RCC, however, any church that does not teach the whole Truth, and changes the message of the Gospel in ANY way, is associated with the “harlot” in that it is a deceptive message. EVERY denomination has its churches that fall into that category. Don’t single ONE denomination out for rebuke. If you really want to know where the RCC is today, go online and become a subscriber to First Things, Touchstone Magazine and SALVO. These are scholarly magazines that are published by mostly RCC writers, although Touchstone is a compilation of RCC, Anglican, Orthodox, and So. Baptist scholars. They are for those who like scholarly stuff, but one should be able to read them and understand them without difficulty. There are NO OTHER magazines that I know of that compare. And, please remember that it is the RCC that is the leader of the Pro-Life movement. We need to quit giving ANY pastor or so-called Christian writings any relevance who continue to demonize a sister church as demonic. Instead, we need to examine our own hearts and ask ourselves why it is so important to do such a thing. EVery church I have attended I’ve met so-called members whom I would NOT consider true believers. Let’s pray, instead, that the True Church be lifted up...believers in EVERY SINGLE CHURCH...and that Christ be honored in our midst. Remember that the one sin that cannot be forgiven is to attribute to Satan the power that is that of the HS, and vice versa. To say that God cannot hold people in the RCC to salvation and that the HS has failed is wrong. Throughout history, the TRUE CHURCH has always been a remnant. There are MANY who profess faith but are not believers...in every denomination.
This is offensive to me and many others, this preaching that the RCC is not of God. We’d better repent of our judgment of others and ask God to reveal His True followers to us, to give us a heart for the lost, and to pray for one another, regardless of our denomination. BTW, I am NOT a RC, but once I stopped believing the pre-trib rapture theory, my eyes were opened and I could not condemn a sister church any longer. I pray that whoever is continuing to put out this message will have a similar experience, where God, Himself, opens your eyes and fills your heart with love, instead of hatred.
Very well said.
Thanks Shery for you thoughtful post. You sound like a True Christian who love Jesus.
As a former Catholic and now Saved by Faith in Christ Alone I can only ask does your confession of Faith jive with the still in force anathemas of Trent?
I believe to remain in Good Standing as a Catholic you must attend mass every sunday, refrain from sin and must confess to a priest to be forgiven of any sin. You Must believe in ALL that the Church teaches including the various Marian doctrines, Purgatory, and Papal doctrines.
I cannot in good conscience and in light of history submit to this organization.
I believe the anathemas below are still in force,
CANON 9: “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.”
CANON 12: “If any one shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ’s sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified . . . let him be accursed”
Canon 14: “If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.”
Canon 23: “lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified; or, on the other hand, that he is able, during his whole life, to avoid all sins, even those that are venial,—except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard of the Blessed Virgin; let him be anathema.”
Canon 24: “If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.”
Canon 30: “If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.”
Canon 33: “If any one saith, that, by the Catholic doctrine touching Justification, by this holy Synod inset forth in this present decree, the glory of God, or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ are in any way derogated from, and not rather that the truth of our faith, and the glory in fine of God and of Jesus Christ are rendered (more) illustrious; let him be anathema.