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Yes, I can go back and give you the bible verses taught - but that will be an overwhelming task to prove what?

In class we are studying the book of Jeremiah, on Wednesday nights we are studying Revelations. The preacher is currently teaching I and II Thessolonians. Sunday night he was teaching about “seeing what you hear” with explanation how the bible teaches us with pictures formed by the biblical stories. Words alone are just words but when we “see” them in the stories, it reaches our hearts. Examples - David and Goliah, Noah and the Flood and the new covenant of no more destruction by water as shown by the rainbow.

We are extremely fortunate in that we have a member who is an expert on the ancient civilizations and has delved into teaching Revelations through the eyes of the 1st century Christians. He is also teaching it as it would have been interpreted in those times with the meanings of the words and symbols looked at through their traditions, lives.

Of course this is his view and is discussed with the views of the preachers, elders, members. But, very enlightening.
I could not even begin to explain it because much of it goes over my head. His main point is that the book needs to be looked at - not literally - but with eyes seeing the message from God given. And that message is hope. That although Christians will endure persecution even to the point of death, that if they stay true, death can not touch them as they will have eternal life. And, it shows those that suffered so cruelly to the point that some were boiled alive or quartered, that God will take revenge.

There is a difference in listening to a pastor as compared to installing a man on earth to be worshipped and who gives rules.

Now, for me, when I look at the Catholic Church, I see a massive organization that has installed a man on earth to be worshipped and esteemed above all other men. This I do not find in the Bible. The apostles had powers given by Jesus. But those powers were to prove that they were from God to spread His message. The day of miracles by the leaders was over after them - per the Bible.

I also see opulence, pagentry, which we did not see Jesus concerned with.

I visited the Bishop’s Palace in Galveston which is a lavish mansion left to the catholic church. A bishop lived in that lavish luxury for years and even converted a bedroom to be his personal chapel although the church was right across the street.

I could not help but compare this to what Christ put his emphasis on. And wealth, pagentry and opulance were never found bestowed on Him or the apostles. Look at how the apostles lives ended. They all died horrible deaths.

So, I see a church with many wonderful people - but I see a massive power delving out biblical instructions while they amass power and wealth. Service yes, but what you see is the massive wealth.

I could give you so many things that the Catholic Church does that I do not agree with .....

-Praying to Mary. Mary is not God or Jesus.
-Holding services in Latin - delving out biblical instructions as they see fit.
-Establishing saints that people pray to.
-Establishing one man to be elevated above all other men to on earth.

All of those prayers and honor can go directly to Jesus. There is no need of a pope to intercede for us, Jesus intercedes for us with God. We can pray directly to the creator of the universe with simple prayer. Why is there a need to install men to live lives of lavish wealth?