Are Catholic beliefs and practices Biblical?
Question: "Are Catholic beliefs and practices Biblical?"
This is also from the forum section of my website.
http://www.revelation21.net/index.shtml
Answer: The issue concerning any church and its practices is “Is this scriptural?†(2 Timothy 3:16-17; Isaiah 8:20; note that Jesus defended truth with the phrase “It is written...â€Â). If a teaching is scriptural (taken in context), it should be embraced. If it is not, it should be rejected. As one who is a father now, I will one day (by God’s grace) be able to look at my lineage (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.). I will give me greater delight if they are doing God’s will than if they merely have my genes. Likewise, God is a whole lot more interested in whether someone is doing His will than whether they can trace their “lineage†back to Christ’s time (Matthew 12:48-50). Jesus is very concerned that we do not change our focus from the word of God to following the traditions of men (Mark 7:7). How then does the Word of God compare with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC)? Let’s look at a few issues:
Salvation: The RCC teaches that one is saved by baptismal regeneration and remains saved unless they commit a sinful act that removes them from the state of sanctifying grace (theft of a large amount, failure to attend church and receive the Eucharist for an extended period of time, etc.). The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace which is received through simple faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). And that good works are the result of a change of the heart wrought in salvation (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and the fruit of that new life in Christ (John 15).
Eternal Security: The RCC teaches that one CANNOT know for certain that he is saved and on his way to heaven. 1 John 5:13 states that the letter of 1 John was written just so that one would know for certain that he is saved.
Good Works: The RCC states that we are saved by works (baptismal regeneration) and that we maintain our salvation by good works (receiving communion, church attendance, saying confession, etc.). The Bible states that we are saved apart from works, by grace through faith, and totally apart from works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24).
Baptism: In the New Testament baptism is ALWAYS practices after one places their faith in Christ and is not a means of salvation; it is faith in the gospel that saves (1 Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans 10:13-17). But the RCC teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture. Note: The RCC sometimes notes that the whole household of Cornelius was baptized in Acts 16:33. But you will note how Paul answered the question of how a person is saved in Acts 16:31 and then note that Paul spoke to all of the household in verse 32 and the whole household was believing (verse 34). Thus, this passage only supports the baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.
Prayer: The RCC teaches its members to not only pray to God but also to Mary and to the saints. The RCC goes so far as to state that all prayers must ultimately go through Mary before they get to God! (See the appendix for this statement in their words). Contrary to this, we are only taught in Scripture to pray to God (Matthew 6:9; Luke 18:1-7; etc.).
Priesthood: The RCC teaches that there is a distinction between the clergy and the “lay people.†Whereas the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9).
Sacraments: The RCC teaches that we receive grace when we receive the sacraments of the church. But such teaching is nowhere found in Scripture.
Confession: The RCC teaches that unless we are hindered from doing so by some means beyond our control, the only way to have our sins forgiven is by confessing them to a priest. Contrary to this, scripture teaches that we can confess our sins to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and to also confess our sins one to another so that we can be strengthened in our battle against sin (James 5:16). The RCC uses certain statements of Christ to His disciples to support their practice. See the appendix concerning these statements.
Mary: The RCC teaches, among other things that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven. Whereas in Scripture, she is portrayed as an obedient, believing servant of God, who became the mother of Jesus. None of the other attributes mentioned by the RCC are given to her in scripture and the idea of her being the co-redemptress and another mediator between God and man are not only extra-biblical (found only outside of scripture) but are also unbiblical (contrary to scripture) (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Eucharist: The question here is whether or not to take Christ’s words “this is my body†literally. As a former Catholic, I too once held to the belief that the bread and wine were actually changed into Christ’s body and blood but upon the examination of the context of those statements believe that it is not changed but is a memorial service alone. Again, I encourage you to read on in the appendix for further information.
Looking at church history, you find that there was a group called the Anabaptists who were around before Luther’s lead in the Protestant movement. It is the contention of many that there have always been those who have separated from “the church†because of its refusal to order itself according to the Bible. Sometimes those who separate are wrong, teaching heresy. But sometimes it is not those who remain in the church who are right but those who are thrown out (3 John 9-11)! Paul says that we are to separate from those who walk in error (2 Corinthians 6:14-1Cool, either the error of ungodly living (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6) or the error of ungodly teaching (1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:5; Acts 20:29-30; Romans 16:17). And it is the scripture that is to be the means of us choosing the right path to salvation (Acts 20:31-32; 2 Timothy 3:15).
What does Scripture say (Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30; Acts 17:10)? That is to be our guideline. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the ord of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified†(Acts 20:32 NKJV).
g 7/1,849; cf. Vatican Council I: DS 3057).
