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Saturday, March 18, 2006

The UNHOLY Roman Catholic Church (Part 1)

How does the Catholic Church call itself "holy" when it teaches the opposite of what the Holy Bible teaches?

Catholic Church statements in Bold.
Scripture in itallics.
My comments in red.


1) The Catholic Church teaches its members to call their priests "Father."

Matthew 23:9,10
9. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.


2) The Catholic Church teaches its members to bow down and pray to statues of Mary, the saints, and Jesus (usually depicted on a cross).
Exodus 20:4,5
4. You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5. you shall not bow down to them nor serve them....


3) The Catholic Church teaches that when you take communion the bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Jesus.
Leviticus 17:10
10. And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
Genesis 9:3,4
3. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
4. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
This would be cannibalism. Jesus did not teach cannibalism. Communion is a symbolic act for the spiritual reality of feasting on the life of Christ, who is the Word of God. Communion is meant to be a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus, not something that is required for salvation nor does it make you holy. Question: When taking communion, if a crumb were to fall off of the wafer and onto the ground and a rat were to come and eat it... is the rat holy?


4) The Catholic Church teaches that you cannot take communion until you've gone through their classes.
Luke 22:19
19. And He took the bread, and gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Jesus did not say anything about having to take classes first. Communion is meant to be a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus. This is just a system of control that the Catholic Church uses over people.


5) The Catholic Church teaches that the purpose of taking communion is to get a little bit of Jesus in you.
John 16:7
7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to you advantage the I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I do depart, I will send Him to you.
Question: If I put more of Jesus in me wouldn't that kick out the Holy Spirit?


6) The Catholic Church teaches that the bible alone is not sufficient enough to find salvation....you need a little bit of the bible plus the Catholic teaching.
Mark 7:6-9
6. He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophecy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
7. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctines the commandments of men.'
8. "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the traditions of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
9. He said to them, "All to well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition."


7) The Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is God's representative here on earth. And if you want to understand the Bible you must get your interpretaiton from the priest.
John 16:13-15
13. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but what ever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
John 14:16,17
16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He will abide with you forever-
17. the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE HERE ON EARTH. We dont need the revelation or interpretation of man to understand scripture. All understanding can be given to us by the Holy Spirit who dwells within every born again beleiver. Jeus said that His word is spirit and life. Spiritual things can only be understood and revealed by the Spirit of truth.


8) The Catholic Church teaches that you must confess your sins to a Catholic priest in order to be forgiven; priests having the power to forgive sins.
John 1:29
29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
It is Jesus alone who forgives sin. He has taken away the sin of the world at the cross never to be seen again by God. All sin has already been dealt with and there is no need for more forgiveness. The only sin not paid for is the rejection of the free gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus.
TO BE CONTINUED....

posted by Adam Bomb at 7:09 PM

12 Comments:

  • Oh good. Can't wait what you'll say next. LOL!
    Guess that means you'll never become a Catholic either.

    By Anonymous Sash, at 4:52 AM  

  • Yes Roman Catholicism has many wrong doctrines. Many Protestant denomination also disagree on doctrine. The essentiality of Christianity is the belief in the death/Crucifiction, burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. All other correction will happen at the Parousia in which I am certain many of us Christians will something to answer for and plead the Blood of Jesus in forgiveness.

    By Blogger Theway2k, at 2:39 PM  

  • If we plead the Blood of Jesus now, then what's left to answer for?

    Are you saying Jesus' sacrifice didn't cover ALL of our sins, just some?

    If we HAVE (present tense) REDEMPTION, the forgiveness of sins, then how is it possible to plead for more forgiveness?

    You can only strike the Rock (Jesus) once.

    You want to keep asking for forgivness?

    How many times are you going to put Jesus on the cross?

    Stop asking and start thanking!

    Oh and by the way, Catholics and Protestants can believe all they want, but it's walking by faith (faith-ing) that God requires. Faith= an ACTION based upon a belief, sustained by confidence.

    By Blogger Adam Bomb, at 11:11 PM  

  • You say that Catholics are cannibals, yet isn't cannibalism eating of another person who is dead? I don't think Catholics believe Jesus is dead, but rather alive, b/c of His Ressurrection. Also, from what I remember from looking at the Catholic Catechism, many of your questions, like why do I need to continue to ask for forgiveness, are answered with Scripture. It seems to me that Catholics believe that Jesus only died once for all our sins, yet we continue to sin, at least some of us. So we are the problem, not Catholics, not Jesus, but each one of us. Our choice to sin erodes our relationship with God. When we sin we choose something else besides God, thus original sin is still alive in our lives, baptised or believing in Christ as much as we want to think. Maybe reading parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, then refute its Scripture Base as well as reading from the Didache and other early Christian sources about what the early Christian Church was like and what it was doing.

    So let's take a look at your first post. "Do not call anyone on earth your father;" (Mt 23.9). You have a dad, is he also considered your father? Do you call him Dad, or do you call him something else? When you are trying to live by the 10 commandments, do you honor your father and mother? Besides, Jesus was speaking about superiority in the community, just continue reading "The greatest among you must be your servant" (Mt 23.11ff). Anyway, read the Synoptics, Jesus uses the word "father" to talk about people's dad. Also, you may want to look up how Jesus uses the word "father" in the parable of Lazarus in Luke (16.24). Also, Paul uses the word father when refering to himself (1 Cor 4.14-15). Lastly, do you have any instructors who you call teachers? Definately against verse 10, then, of Mt. 23.

    2nd point - what do you mean by Catholics bowing down to pray to statues of Mary, the saints, and Jesus crucified (which Paul said he was called to preach [cf 1 Cor. 1.23]). Secondly, do you believe Catholics believe these statues to be a god? Seems to me that the Catholics I spoke to say that these statues help them to focus their prayers to God with the help of others who are holy. Seems to me that Catholics belive in a Church both of those living on the earth and those that have gone before them, marked with the sign of faith. Maybe what Ex 20.4,5 is speaking about is the making of objects for worship, not for intercession. Maybe also look at 2 Chronicles 3.10-13 & Ex 25.18 "MAke two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatroy, fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above" seems to be a contrast?

    The Catholic Church actually teaches that when a priest blesses the bread and wine at a certain time, it becomes the body & blood of Jesus - it does not teach that only when you take communion that it becomes the Lord's body and blood. Remember Jesus actual words at the last supper? Here's a hint "take and eat; THIS IS MY BODY...Drin kfrom it, all of you, for THIS IS MY BLOOD of the covenant... (Mt 26.26-28) cf. Mk 14.22-24, Lk 22.19-20, Jn 6.22-71, 1 Cor 11.26-30, Heb 13.10-16, 1 Cor 10.14-17

    What do you do with an individual that does not understand what the Eucharist is all about? Do you teach them so that they can understand what they are about to recieve, i.e. the very author of grace or do you let them sit by without any instruction. When you start a new job, doesn't somebody teach you a little something about the job placement before you start doing things? Seems pretty logical to educate people before they start doing stuff.

    5th point - I think we covered this already with point #3. Also - if, as Christians, we believe that God is one, then no, the Holy Spirit wouldn't get kicked out, this is thinking like a human, not like God.

    6th point - How did Sacred Scripture come about? Was there a scribe next to Jesus the last 3 years of his life to write everything he said down? No. So, since most of St. Paul's letters preceeded the Gospels and his 1st letter, 1 Thess., is the earliest known being written around 54 AD - then how did the Gospel message survive? Orally. Their was a context to what was being written and it was written to a community that had difficulties in certain areas. So if we believe that the Holy Spirit inspired her writers, then it seems clear that not everything could be written down for St. John writes "There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written" (Jn 21.25). Also, look at 2 Thes. 2.15 "hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statemnt or by a letter of ours." 1 Cor. 11.2 - "I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you." Also - where in the Bible does it say "Sola Scriptura?" Also, take note of Jn 5.39-40. So there must be a living tradition for some of these other things - don't you think?

    7th point - So, if the Holy Spirit is alive among us, which I believe it is, then how are we able to discern the Holy Spirit from any other spirit? Also, it sounds like you believe the Spirit works in all Christians, so why not through the office of Peter. Remeber that Jesus gave Peter the power to loose and bind things here on earth, so wouldn't have Peter gave this authority to the next person, who he and his brother apostles thought worthy? - see Mt 16.13-20.

    Point #8 - John 20.23 "whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." cf. Mt 18.18, Mt 16.19, 2 Cor 2.10, 2 Cor 5.18, James 5.15-16, 1 Jn 1.9 (acknowlgement of sins)

    Most of all, though, I would like to know why you are upset with the Catholic Church. Did someone of the Catholic Faith offend you - or you are just passing on hearsay? My prayers will be with you.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:24 PM  

  • Anonymous-

    It's nice to see that you actually have reasons for what you believe (though you never said if you were catholic or not, I'm assuming you are). Although I think you're misguided in your thinking it's good that you've given us something to work with. Your response is very lengthy and brings up a large variety of topics and questions. It would take forever and be inefficient for us to try to respond to all your questions in one response. We will take on these topics on one at a time in our future blog posts for all to see and respond to. I will personally respond to your comments in my next post with a series of questions to bring out more thoughts.

    To be honest, I find the Cahtolic doctrine altogether offensive. What I'm upset about is how it puts people in bondage and distorts the truth. I'm not upset at any catholic, I want catholics to do some critical thinking for themselves and question their useless practices.

    I hope we can continue to engage in some healthy conversation.

    By Blogger Adam Bomb, at 11:22 PM  

  • Why respond that it would take too long to rebut your guest's reply, when you yourself posted eight different objections each needing lengthy explanation?

    The answer to your question "How does..." is authority.

    Have you ever read Isaiah 22 regarding the keys of David and the authority of their possessor? Do you understand the significance of Isaiah 22 when Christ speaks in Matt 16?

    Should you ever understand how Matthew 16 fulfills Isaiah 22, no one would ever be able to keep you from becoming Catholic. You would probably beat me to a front row pew at Mass.

    Listen to what a fundamentalist Baptist minister has to say about those chapters. (Start about 15 minutes in.)

    http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?rafile=jh_13.ra

    God bless...

    - Timothy

    By Blogger Timothy, at 10:57 AM  

  • CATHOLIC CHURCH + ISAIAH 22:25 = REVELATION 17:16 !!!!


    WHORE OF BABYLON!!!!!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:08 PM  

  • HEY! I DIN'T KNOW THIS THING TOLD YOU THE DAY THIS ARTICLE WAS MADE. MAYBE I'LL READ IT!?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:49 PM  

  • Adam bomb - you say that you find the "Catholic doctrine altogether offensive" - why? And besides - what if I find your statements altogether offensive - being narrow minded and that your thinking puts people in bondage to your idea of freedom. After all, is freedom doing what you want (which would inevitably hinder on others' freedom, i.e. doing what they want) or is freedom about doing what is right? Jesus, in his Passion, would rather of had the "cup" pass him by, but he took up what was right - to offer salvation to mankind through his Passion, Death, & Resurrection.

    Also - why don't you respond to the points one of your guests posted - you can't get out of it that easily - unless you concede to that guest's points.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:04 PM  

  • yeah - and why the attack on the Catholic Church? A little study in Christianity and its history may enlighten you.

    Ray

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:07 PM  

  • Okay here's my short answer, lol.......

    "...many of your questions, like why do I need to continue to ask for forgiveness, are answered with Scripture."

    Please give me ONE verse from the New Testament that says "ask for forgiveness". There are none!!!You dont ask for what has already been given to you. Paul says we have already been sanctified and justified (actually rightoues-ified) PAST TENSE (1 Corintians 6:11). Jesus took the sin of the whole world (past, present and future) upon himself and removed them from the eyes of God. When we sin we sin in the flesh which has been crucified with Christ THUS THE MEANING OF BAPTISM. Our sin is not counted against us, read Romans chapters 7 and 8 and Galatians 2:19-21 and 3:10-14 (Just to name a few).

    "So let's take a look at your first post. "Do not call anyone on earth your father;" (Mt 23.9). You have a dad, is he also considered your father? Do you call him Dad, or do you call him something else?"

    Jesus is talking about a spiritual Father. Jesus wasnt making a legalistic statment about earthly father's.... but why does the Pope and priests demand to be called "Father"? One is your Father in heaven, God! Is the Catholic Church just going to ignore this staement of Jesus? Paul never said he was a spiritual father or head (1 Cor. 14-16). He was just making the statement that they came to Christ through his message of grace (being birthed as children to him in christ) and they should imitate him as their example.

    "2nd point - what do you mean by Catholics bowing down to pray to statues of Mary, the saints, and Jesus crucified (which Paul said he was called to preach [cf 1 Cor. 1.23]). Secondly, do you believe Catholics believe these statues to be a god? Seems to me that the Catholics I spoke to say that these statues help them to focus their prayers to God with the help of others who are holy. Seems to me that Catholics belive in a Church both of those living on the earth and those that have gone before them, marked with the sign of faith. Maybe what Ex 20.4,5 is speaking about is the making of objects for worship, not for intercession. Maybe also look at 2 Chronicles 3.10-13 & Ex 25.18 "MAke two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatroy, fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above" seems to be a contrast?"

    Praying to them as a god is probably unlikely and no I'm not saying that...but maybe some do. Why do we need statues to keep our focus? I can pray to my Father in heaven just fine without a statue. The point is that God told his people not to create stautes of anything in the sky, on the earth, or under the sea. CHERIBUM ARE IN HEAVEN. Man isn't going to make statues and worship heavenly creatures because we cant see them. The only person who would ever see this Ark of the Covenant would be the High Priest once a year in the Holiest of Holies. Remeber every thing about the temple worship was either symbolic for something real in heaven or a foreshadowing of Christ, read Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 and Colossians 2:16,17. Yes and again another contrast the catholic church is unwilling to look at!

    "The Catholic Church actually teaches that when a priest blesses the bread and wine at a certain time, it becomes the body & blood of Jesus - it does not teach that only when you take communion that it becomes the Lord's body and blood. Remember Jesus actual words at the last supper? Here's a hint "take and eat; THIS IS MY BODY...Drin kfrom it, all of you, for THIS IS MY BLOOD of the covenant..."

    Question 1: So when the bread becomes christ's body is a piece of His flesh torn off in heaven?

    Question 2: What good is his crucified body if your not partaking in his resurrected body/life?

    Jesus' death doesnt save you. It's His resurrected life that saves you. Dont you see? We are one with Jesus through the Spirit of life. His death was the payment for our sin, but by His life we are born of the Spirit (born-again). You cant have one without the other. The act of communion alone will not save you. Isnt Peter the one you follow-why dont you read his writings(1 Peter 3:21-22). As I was saying before it's throught the resurrection that we are saved- baptism symbolic of our flesh crucified and resurrected by the Spirit of life with Him.

    "What do you do with an individual that does not understand what the Eucharist is all about?"

    Well my personal suggestion would be to teach on it in the service to everyone before anyone partakes, every time you partake of it. It is not required to do it every church service....but neither is there anything wrong with it.

    "Also - if, as Christians, we believe that God is one, then no, the Holy Spirit wouldn't get kicked out, this is thinking like a human, not like God."

    Well then Jesus must not have been God because it was He who said I MUST GO so the Helper (Holy Spirit) will come. Jesus is in heaven seated at the right hand of the Father not inside of you physically or in the form of bread and wine. He is in you through the Spirit, thus being born again, having nothing to do with taking communion.

    "Also - where in the Bible does it say "Sola Scriptura?""

    So are you trying to tell the bible alone is not sufficient? Please tell me where in the New Testament it is lacking to come to Jesus? That would be sad to have Jesus' message, Paul's and Peter writings, and others compiled into one book but still be unable to teach the way of salvation. Is that seriously what youre saying?!

    If the traditions are verbal then how do you know the Catholic traditions are the same traditions Paul practiced at the very beginning of his ministry? I dont think Paul went to confession booths or said "Hail Mary" or interceded with a statue of Stephen.

    "7th point - So, if the Holy Spirit is alive among us, which I believe it is, then how are we able to discern the Holy Spirit from any other spirit?"

    Answer: John 10:3-5 If you seriously have to ask that question then you're probably not one of Jesus sheep. I'm not saying youre not but you better be careful and rethink that. As for me personally, Jesus speaks to me through the Holy Spirit every time I read God's Word. I know His voice. You should be able to know what spirit is of God and what is not....that is, if the Holy Spirt lives in you (1 John 4:1-6).

    "Also, it sounds like you believe the Spirit works in all Christians, so why not through the office of Peter. Remeber that Jesus gave Peter the power to loose and bind things here on earth, so wouldn't have Peter gave this authority to the next person, who he and his brother apostles thought worthy? - see Mt 16.13-20."

    Nowhere in the bible does it speak of an office of Peter or a Pope (Ephesians 4:11-16). If you ACTUALLY read Peter's writings he never claims to be the head of the Church or called Father, never claims to be a rock/stone, but calls Jesus the stone/rock...along with every one who comes to him (1 Peter 2:4-8), also calls everyone in the Body of Christ priests (1 Peter 2:5,9) offering their body as the spiritual sacrifice (Romans 12:1)....no need for confession booths or "Hail Mary". No where in the Bible does it say the disciples saw Peter worthy of being able to have special power. Actually in verse 23 of Matthew 16 Jesus calls Peter "Satan" in front of all the disciples. Peter even admits to having a dificult time in understanding Paul message (2 Peter 3:15,16).

    "Point #8 - John 20.23 "whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." "

    In Acts Peter never dares to forgive ANYONE. Instead throughout the book he teaches people to repent, but never pardons or forgives. How could he? Jesus already offered the forgivness...you dont ask, you receive. Your interpretation is wrong! Scripture must interpret Scripture. Do you have a second verse or example ANYWHERE in the bible to back this up?

    And by the way, people are put in mental bondage when they are told what to think and not allowed understand scripture outside of the Catholic box. I know you disagree but I'm also not here to back up the Protestant Church. The true Church is made up of all those who follow Jesus and put their trust in Him whether Catholic or Protestant. Not all Protestants are Jesus sheep nor are all Catholics, as Jesus taught the parable of wheat among the tares and separating the sheep from the goats. The point is, it's the blood of Jesus that reconciles us to God not our plants (traditions). God would not accept Adam and Eve's plants, He would not accept Cain's plants, and He certainly wont accept yours! Even Peter tells us this in 1 Peter 1:17-19.

    Also read here:

    http://www.bibletruthonline.com/thewayofcain.htm

    By Blogger Adam Bomb, at 11:38 PM  

  • Ray-

    As I have answered before, the only reason why I attack the Catholic Church is that they are the only ones claiming to be perfect, inherently and automatically holy, 100% inerrant, God's representatives on Earth, the only way to Jesus, etc. These claims are just simply not true. Otherwise I could care less. I'm not trying to defend the Protestant Church because I know as well as anyone that it is all becoming more and more Laodicean and full of worldly philosiphies. I dont need to attack the Protestant doctrine though because it doesnt claim perfection and inerrancy. But feel free to "enlighten" me on Christian history, I'm not sure what you're getting at.

    By Blogger Adam Bomb, at 11:51 PM  

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