My Thoughts On The Religion of Catholicism
Catholicism is Biblical Christianity, isn’t it?
Why, even Billy Graham says that the Mass is “Straight and true to the Gospel” and that his beliefs are basically the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics. Many other well-known evangelicals today have even offered to stand together with Catholics in an ecumenical movement to “evangelize the world.”
My intention in this space had been to write an exhaustive dissertation proving the following Catholic dogmas unbibical: the exaltation of Mary, the veneration of the Pope and the “Saints”, the doctrines of purgatory and transubstantiation, the selling of indulgences, prayers for the dead, salvific efficiency of the sacraments. Perhaps one day I will, but at this time I offer this much more abbreviated version, which perhaps gets to the point more directly.
What does the “Catholic Church” teach? Part of the problem inherent in this question is that, although all Catholic churches are under the authority of a singular governing body (The Vatican), they don’t all practice their religion identically. This causes much confusion and even ignorance among Catholics, many of whom probably think they are worshiping God as he wants, “In Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24).”
A cursory examination and comparison of Vatican-endorsed Catholic statements of faith with God’s Word however, proves otherwise. Consider these excerpts from the “Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent”, drawn up in the mid-1500’s to define church doctrine in the midst of a growing reformation movement:
If anyone denies that by baptism, the guilt of original sin is remitted, or denies that the justice, sanctification and redemption of Jesus Christ is applied both to adults and infants by the sacrament of baptism…let him be anathema.
If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law [i.e., the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church] are not necessary for salvation…and that without them men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification…let him be anathema.
If anyone says that baptism is not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema.
If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out…that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema.
If anyone says that the sacrifice of the Mass…wherein that life-giving victim by which we are reconciled to the Father is daily immolated on the altar by priests…is a mere commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross but not a propitiatory one…offered for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities, let him be anathema.
In case you aren’t aware, the term anathema means “accursed” or “condemned”. Ironically, “anathema” is the very Greek word used by Paul in Gal. 1:8 to describe the consequences upon one who preaches a different gospel!
These then, are harsh words to those disagreeing with Catholic dogmas, yet many Catholics today fear that their church is the one being “bashed”, as it’s teachings come under “undue” scrutiny (which the Bible actually encourages - Acts 17:11).
Is doesn’t require more than an unschooled reading of God’s Word to see that these dogmas run counter to the plain words of Scripture, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Does not the New Testament say that Jesus entered ONCE into the Holy Place, with his own blood, to obtain eternal redemption? (Heb. 9:12) And that it is by grace we are saved, through faith, not of works of our own, lest any man should boast? (Eph.2:8-9) And did not Jesus say to the thief on the cross, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise”? (Luke 23:43) There was obviously no baptism in this man's life.
Ok, so you might be saying, “A lot of water has gone under the bridge in five centuries. The Catholic Church is much more conservative in it’s beliefs today.” Well, shame on the Catholic Church if that is true! For, in 1962, at the opening of The Council of Vatican II in Rome, Pope John XXIII uttered these words: ”I do accept entirely all that has been decided and declared at the Council of Trent.” Furthermore, Vatican II itself proposed again the decrees of the Council of Trent, stating on it’s very first page, “It is through the sacred liturgy, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist that the work of our redemption is accomplished.” The Code of Canon Law and the current Catechism of the Catholic Church also agree concerning the accuracy of Trent’s declarations. To seal the matter, the greatly revered Pope John Paul II remarked concerning the decrees of Trent on its 450th anniversary in 1995: “It’s conclusions maintain all their value.”
So this then, is the official teaching of the Catholic Church: that Jesus Christ’s death on Calvary’s cross alone is not sufficient for salvation. Various other acts and efforts on the part of man are necessary. It is sad that so many untold millions are being led astray by this false gospel which is perpetuated by an institution which professes to infallibly teach the truth.
May each of us, through faith in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross approach God’s throne bowed with humility and with empty hands, freely receiving the grace and mercy he wishes to lavish upon us, knowing there is nothing we could possibly add to what God alone accomplished to secure our salvation. Any other way is a rejection of the biblical gospel, and henceforth a rejection of God.