Are We Really Catholic Bashing?

Throughout the last 13 years we have made the Roman Catholic Church our primary mission field. It has been our heart’s desire to see Roman Catholics embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as their all-sufficient Savior and enjoy the salvation He sovereignly secured for all who trust Him alone. Needless to say, we have received thousands of letters, e-mails and phone calls from disgruntled, irate, annoyed, threatening or confused Catholics who tell us we are Catholic bashers and do not know anything about their religion. Some are zealous for God, but without biblical knowledge. Others have an unbending loyalty to the Pope and his teachings. We recently received a letter which covers many issues that are usually brought forth when Catholics are confronted with the biblical Gospel. Following is the letter and my response.

I hope you can open your heart enough to truly hear what I’m about to tell you. First, you were not a "hard-core" Catholic. You are like a lot of people who were raised Catholic, who really did not know or understand their faith. I was like you at one time. I was raised Catholic, but did not practice my faith for years. But thanks to the grace of God, the Holy Spirit, and my devout wife, I rediscovered my Catholic faith as an adult. I love my faith and its glorious tradition handed down from Peter and Paul and the Apostles.

Regarding your belief in the Bible alone, who do you believe compiled the Bible? Before the Protestant Reformation, Catholics wrote the only Bibles in existence. The King James Bible and all Protestant Bibles are based on the Catholic Bible, but many words were changed to justify Protestant beliefs. You see, Catholicism was the only game in town for over a thousand years until the Eastern Orthodox Church split with Rome and the Protestant Reformation further splintered Christians. The doctrines of Catholic faith have not significantly changed in 2000 years! Yet Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:2 those who "hold fast to traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter". In 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul says "Shun any brother who conducts himself not according to tradition they received from us." The Gospel of John 21:25 states that not everything Jesus said was recorded in scripture.

Does being born-again mean that it is open season on Catholics? Is Catholic bashing a requirement for being born-again? Why the constant attacks on Catholicism, an attack on those who receive Christ in the Eucharist on a weekly, or in my case, a daily basis? Do you really believe that if you’re Catholic you’re going to hell? When it was written that early Christians needed to be "born-again", the target audience was those who were not already baptized. Taken in that context, the need to be born-again does not apply to Catholics since Catholics have already been baptized, and are thus reborn.

I would like to address each one of your points. First, the Catholic Church was not even around to compile the Hebrews Scriptures. The Old Testament was closed 400 years before Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Furthermore, it was the apostles and the eyewitnesses to the events of Christ’s first coming who wrote the New Testament, not Catholics. The Roman Catholic Church did not exist in the first century. It can not be the one true church founded by Christ because it does not profess the faith of the apostles. Its teachings and traditions prove, beyond a doubt, that it has departed from the apostolic faith.

Jude warned the early church to contend for the faith against apostates. In verse 4 of his epistle, he wrote, "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only sovereign and Lord." Jude identifies the apostates by certain characteristics that resemble the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics deny Jesus as the only sovereign and Lord by supplanting His authority with an authority of their own. They have turned the grace of God into a commodity that can be bought, bartered or merited through indulgences and sacraments. They have perverted the Gospel of grace into a gospel of faith plus works. They have denied the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ and given His divine attributes and titles to Mary and the Pope. They have denied the sufficiency of the word and work of Christ. These are just some of the characteristics that would convict the Catholic Church of being apostate not apostolic.

The Roman Catholic Church declares itself to be the church that Jesus started 2000 years ago. It further pronounces that the church never changes its dogmatic teachings. With this in mind we, once again, can examine the teachings of the Catholic Church today and prove they do not resemble the first century church. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see:

• Priests offering sacrifices for sins • Indulgences remitting punishment for sins • Prayers for souls in purgatory • Church leaders forbidden to marry • Infallible men • Salvation dispensed through sacraments • Rosaries, scapulars, holy water, crucifixes & statues

You said "the King James Bible and all Protestant Bibles are based on the Catholic Bible, but many words were changed to justify Protestant beliefs." You are incorrect. The King James Bible was translated from the original languages of Scripture (Hebrew and Greek) while the first Roman Catholic Bible, known as the Douay-Rheims Bible was translated from Latin in the 16th century. Needless to say, a translation from the original languages would be much more accurate than a translation from a translation. Furthermore, it is not the King James Bible that departed from the original canon but the Roman Catholic Bible. In 1546 the Council of Trent added the Apocryphal books to the canon in an attempt to justify the doctrine of Purgatory. Jerome rejected them when he was translating the Bible into Latin in 450 because they were never part of the Hebrew canon. The texts include Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Sirach, Baruch, Maccabees I & II, Esdras I & II, additions to the Book of Esther, the Book of Daniel, and the Prayer of Manasseh.

Have you considered the references to tradition in the New Testament appear mostly as warnings against using them to nullify the word of God or to hold people captive (Mark 7:7-13; Col. 2:8-9). Only three times is tradition used in a positive sense. The few references you cited are exhortation for Christians to follow apostolic traditions. Please note the tense. Each reference is given in the past tense, i.e. the tradition which you were taught, (2 Thes. 2:15); which you have heard (2 Tim. 2:2); and, as I [Paul] delivered them to you (1 Cor. 11:2) Man’s tradition, which crept into the church after the apostles, is what we are to earnestly contend against (Jude 3). Followers of Jesus Christ are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith which was delivered to the saints at the time the last apostle went to glory. "The faith" is made up of the Word of God and the traditions which "were taught" by the apostles. We must contend against other traditions because religious leaders and institutions can become corrupt (Mat. 23). The only assurance to genuine faith is from the objective, infallible Word of God (John 17:17).

You noted that the Gospel of John 21:25 states that not everything Jesus said was recorded in scripture. Do you know why John included what he did in his Gospel? He tells us. "These [things] have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31). Have you believed what John wrote? Unfortunately many Roman Catholics would have been indoctrinated to trust their clergy rather than what is written in the divinely inspired Scriptures. Consider what John has written about the Lord Jesus Christ:

• He saves sinners from condemnation (John 3:18, 5:24). • He came to give life to those who are spiritually dead in sin (John 14:6). • He showed the world the only way to the Father because sinners are lost (John 14:6). • He is the personification of truth. To avoid deception we must trust Him (John 14:6). • He testifies to the truth. Those who seek the truth listen to Him (John 18:37).

John also answers your questions on being born-again. He wrote: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). Please note that those who are born-again "believe in His name." Is it possible for a 7-day old infant to believe or have faith in anything? Please also note that those who are born-again are born of God not of any human initiative. You can not be born-again because you were born into a Christian family, or because of self-will or because of your parents’ decision to baptize you. It is God who calls and draws those He has chosen (Eph. 1:4; John 6:44; Rom. 8:30). The Bible teaches that anyone (Catholic or non-Catholic) who has not been born-again will not enter the kingdom of God, but instead suffer everlasting torment in the eternal lake of fire.

I do not know why Catholics so often refer to us as Catholic bashers. If we really wanted to bash Catholics we would ignore them and let them march proudly towards an eternity without Christ. It is our love for Catholics and for our Lord that motivates us to be faithful to the great commission. It is our compassion for Catholics that persuades us to proclaim that Jesus Christ is sufficient to save sinners completely and forever, a doctrine that most Catholics deny. And finally it is our desire to exalt our Lord by exposing any teaching or tradition that robs Him of the glory, honor and praise that He alone deserves. It is my prayer that you will come to Jesus with empty hands of faith, bringing nothing but your sins to the cross! Only then will you know the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.

>>If the Catholic Church was the big bad wolf you think it is there is no way in the world it would still be alive and well 2,000 years after the birth of Christ.<<

Satan is still rather active as well.

>>Jesus established one Church on this earth and he only meant for there to be one Church.<<

And it’s obvious it’s not the RCC since they have directly disobeyed scripture.

>>Before the German drunkard pope Martin Luther<<

Well, so much for your knowledge. Pope ey? See ya.

And before you go, do "other" Born-Again Christians also feel that "It is impossible to please God"? It would explain their [sometimes] gnarly attitudes if so. I've never heard of anything so bleak

FRiend, I read every word of every post to me. I also have been studying the Scriptures for the last 60 years or so. I even went to a Bible College. Your quoted Bible verse didn't reflect the tone of your post. As far as your reference to Jimmy whoever, I'm a pretty smart guy, too. No matter how much explanation, you cannot find purgatory in the Bible. It appears without a foundation in Scripture.

If you will please show me in the Scripture how you can “please God” by doing works for righteousness, I may accept it. But it is clear in the verses I quoted, that WE can do nothing on our own. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which we receive in the new birth. YMMV...

Do you think Jesus has forgotten [put aside] that wretched beating He took? Do you think He wants us to forget about it? I ask because I rarely [actually never] see crucifixes in non-denom churches. Sometimes they don't even have a plain cross.- liz

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John 4: ... 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” ...

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” ... - Jesus

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1 Corinthians 3: 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. ... -Paul

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... 2 Corinthians 7... 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. ... - Paul

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Galatians 3: 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Paul

Of course, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that causes us to please G-d. No one without Christ can do much of anything at all. I thought that was understood from the get-go.... Now that I know I'm talking to an elder, I can understand a little bit more where you are coming from... and Jimmy Akin (not Jimmy "whoever") is highly intelligent in regard to the Catholic faith. I listen to his explanations [in addition to others] and follow the Catholic faith because it is True and keep on following the faith because it brings RESULTS!

I love and benefit greatly from the Holy Mass, Confession, and time spent before the Blessed Sacrament! But most of all, it benefits others, as I pray for all who come to receive Him. And I have made Christ happy today, simply because I have received Him, and know full and well the Eucharist is Living, and provides me with the power [the Love, the patience] to get by in this otherwise topsy-turvy world.

The Cross wasn't the end of it...It was the beginning...

Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen

Jesus is not on the Cross as you portray him...He hasn't been there for two thousand years...The Cross was a curse...It was an embarrassment and a shame for the Son of God...

We are not told to hang crosses everywhere so everyone can see Jesus' shame...

We are told to partake in communion so that when we drink the wine and 'break' and eat the bread, we will remember that horrible day when Jesus died...

That's how we are reminded of the Crucifixion; not by parading his dead body all over the world...

He is risen...My God has risen...

We are told to partake in communion so that when we drink the wine and 'break' and eat the bread, we will remember that horrible day when Jesus died...That's how we are reminded of the Crucifixion; not by parading his dead body all over the world...
So does that mean you partake in communion at your faith's church? And remember Christ's death just at that time, not necessarily during the day otherwise?

And of course, Christ is Risen, I realize that and it is Glorious, but it was his death (and the "way" he died) that should always be remembered by Christians; not just at communion. I would think that's why several saints have received the stigmata. Jesus surely wanted them, and all who they came in contact with, to remember.

And how do any of us really know for sure we wouldn't have partaken in the killing of Jesus? Darn few were at the foot of the Cross. So I think it's necessary to see His Body on the Cross, the bloodier [the more toward factual] the better (there's one in Chicago --dubbed by some as "bloody Jesus"-- at an Hispanic parish that has literally piles of holy cards at its foot, prayer requests, pictures of loved ones, tons of candles, even locks of hair). The crucifix greatly aids the suffering soul too. Who more understands grievous pain than Jesus?

P.S. I didn’t mean to infer that Akin was brighter than YOU; ...

I am sorry, also, about my reply to you. Sometimes, I'm kind of a dim bulb. But it went straight through me, when someone throws me a link to some guy who's supposed to be an expert on the subject. The implication, in my mind, is that the knowledge that will be presented would be sufficient to change my mind.

But, as you claim, I am steadfast in my faith. The differences that we have come from different places. I have no reliance on a church organization, Catholic or otherwise. By Catholic, I make reference to the Roman Catholic Church. You see I do believe that I am a member of the catholic church, the ecclesia. By that Greek word, I am a member in full standing with all believers. We are the universal church. It's headquarters cannot be found on this earth. Its leader isn't sitting on a throne in Rome, but in heaven.

In all of your postings, I see your zeal. I believe you have the desire in your heart, and I am not a judge of your spiritual status. But, despite that statement, I see a reliance on the church and dogma. I see so many practices that you describe that you love, which Scripture tells me are anathema to God. You firmly believe, as you stated, in the power of your saints. But you cannot find any Scripture which will support the idea that some dead guy is knocking on Jesus's door and "say hey, help that person, Jesus, because evidently you can hear those prayers". That, in essence, is what you are saying when you make those prayers and supplications to a Catholic saint.

But, Scripture tells us that God is not a respecter of persons. Scripture tells us that we have direct access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ, not his mother, not some guy who supposedly performed and alleged “ miracle”. All of those things have been instituted policies of your church organization. They have no reference in the holy Scriptures which we have available to us from God.

So, you can send me all the links to people that know about Catholicism, but I know God. He's the expert. His Holy Spirit is the one that I listen to.

Sorry, but you are not a winner this time. Feel free to try again. But, before you come back with another of your church's claims, it must be based on a sound exegesis of God's word, not some tradition of men.

And how do any of us really know for sure we wouldn't have partaken in the killing of Jesus?

I can answer that. We are partakers in the killing of Jesus. It doesn't matter that it was more than 2000 years ago, sin came into the world long before that. John 3: 16 proclaims the verdict. But God was fulfilling his plan. That plan began before the foundations of this earth. Throughout the history we read in the Old Testament, we see the implementation and fulfillment of it. As Calvary, the entire purpose was so the God can prove to us that he loves us and wants us to want him.

But, he gave us free will. He allows us to either take the right fork, or the left, when we are faced with that decision. But he also gives us that are grafted into his family, the indwelling of his Holy Spirit to be our guide and comforter. We don't need some guy in a fancy gown, we don't need candles and incense, we just need to be able to know that we are considered blameless, in spite of our filth.

God has a plan, and in my studies of Scripture, I do not include those doctrines and dogmas implemented by men in room. Too many times, history has shown that they have not got a clue...

God is in control. I'm not worried about where I am headed. I know that where I've been, and all of the broken promises in my life, cannot purchase anything with God. The law has shown me to be absolutely guilty, but like Paul, by faith I can claim my inheritance. I am part of God's family, and heir to righteousness. That righteousness is not from anything that I can do, but it is a gift, an expensive gift, from our father. Jesus gave his life for me and you.

Rome is trying to make you purchase it at a very high price. Their plan of salvation requires works. Jesus presented us with just the opposite. We are told that we can rest. The work is done. He has completed and finished everything needed for our salvation, if we would just believe in Him.

I am 12 hours away from the East Coast, and it's 9:35 PM here in Leyte. My 66th birthday is Sunday, and I am an old man ready for bed. So, goodnight and God bless. I love you even if you are a Roman Catholic. You showed me a zeal for the Lord. But, I think you have placed your organization in front of him in too many ways.

Romans 4: 13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ...

You firmly believe, as you stated, in the power of your saints.
Thank you for your apology, and just a quick explanation of the above. The saints are not powerful, in and of themselves. The miracles that are attributed to them come from Jesus. They are just friends, "team members" if you will, and they are the best friends of Jesus I know, and yes, I've met a saintly person or two in my lifetime; they could have softened your heart [maybe] to the possibility the Eucharist is Real, much like Gemma Galgani must have done so many times in her life (and still does), the saint I posted previously.

You needn't answer me; I understand the "rules." :) God bless you today and forever!

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