November 5, 2021 – Click here to listen
I’m still getting blowback from one individual about my comments on Catholics the other day. He wrote this morning: Wow – it would take me months to respond to all of the Catholic/Pope bashing . . . I can’t rewrite history – nor do I know the reason the pope didn’t address the abortion issue with Biden and Pelosi . . . (he didn’t call me looking for advice.. the nerve of him!) but no religion on this earth can claim to be perfect .. I’ll just leave it with the fact that Catholics have fed more people, educated more people, helped more people etc etc than any other organized religion on the face of earth since the beginning of time .. perfect? Far from it – need some changes? Probably . . . Sounds like you need to get out in your boat so you can calm yourself! Ha!!
Ugh . . . I am concerned about this dear friend. He is a devout Catholic and I reluctantly responded and below is a portion of it:
“You have a free will just like I do and can decide for yourself about Catholicism. So can I. The most important thing to any of us is salvation. You can do all the noble things and feed, clothe, provide shelter for people until their bellies are extended, teach them reading writing and arithmetic, and ensure that they are warm as toast from fine clothes and housing, but if they do not hear the word of God boldly preached as the Apostle Paul preached and they don’t follow Jesus and repent, then it is all for naught because they will go to hell and be eternally separated from God.
It will take more than “months” to defend your church’s position, in fact I don’t think it can be done unless the Bible is written off as being untrue. You are mistaken that I am venting or bashing. I have done the study and research and I can give you the Scripture to prove what I have said. In other words, it isn’t me saying it but God’s word. The truth does not “bash” anyone, it is simply the truth. As for me I believe the Bible in its entirety as the truth, every word. I don’t apologize for that. You might put more faith in your church and the men that run it than the actual word of God, the Holy Bible; I don’t.
You are entirely correct in saying I am stubborn especially when it comes to salvation issues and what the Bible says about it and our relationship with God. I’m deeply concerned about the lost and work hard towards leading people to Christ. I am not merely concerned about obtaining salvation for me, my family, and friends, but the entire world. I’ve spent a large portion of my life going into prisons to minister to inmates, rehab facilities, churches, etc. to offer testimony. I have spent tens of thousands of hours writing and founding churches and the global initiative The Jesus alliance etc. for one singular reason, to lead the lost towards Christ’s redemption. I believe that this heavy burden in my heart for the lost comes directly from Jesus and evangelism is the most important thing He has commissioned us to do. It was the last commandment given by Jesus in all four Gospels and most anyone should realize its vital importance.
I don’t give a flip about denominations or whatever, I just want to see Christ’s church involved in evangelism. We have been given a brain and should be able to objectively decide where truth lies. I don’t harbor ill will towards Catholics, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness, Hindus, atheists, agnostics, the witches of Wicca, or whatever. I want to see all people repent and accept Jesus as their Savior before the curtain closes.
Some seem to think that having a large following is important. The Bible states that we should “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it”. Basically, this tells me that a dumb idea, even if it is believed by a billion and a half people is still a dumb idea. The people of Noah’s day found out the hard way that safety does not reside in numbers but through every word spoken by Christ. They laughed at him and his family and derisively mocked him, but in the end, they were destroyed, and Noah was saved.
Alas I fear this is all for naught, and I don’t think I will ever have an influence on you because your mind is already made up, so I will just leave it there.”
As I thought about this I decided to give just an example of what I’m talking about concerning the Catholic faith. Read it and the Scripture and decide for yourself.
The issue concerning any church and its practices should be “Is this biblical?” If a teaching is Biblical (taken in context), it should be embraced. If it is not, it should be rejected. Jesus was very concerned about abandoning the Word of God to follow the traditions of men. Traditions are not inherently invalid . . . there are some good and valuable traditions. Again, the issue must be whether a doctrine, practice, or tradition is Biblical. How then does the Roman Catholic Church compare with the teachings of the Word of God?
Salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation is by baptismal regeneration and is maintained through the Catholic sacraments unless a willful act of sin is committed that breaks the state of sanctifying grace. 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).
Assurance of salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured. 1 John 5:13 states that the letter of 1 John was written for the purpose of assuring believers of the CERTAINTY of their salvation.
Good Works: The Roman Catholic Church states that Christians are saved by meritorious works (beginning with baptism) and that salvation is maintained by good works (receiving the sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.) The Bible states that Christians are saved by grace through faith, 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 practiced AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith in the Gospel that saves (1 Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans 10:13-17). The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture. The only possible hint of infant baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions infants. Acts 16:31 declares that salvation is by faith. Paul spoke to all of the household in verse 32, and the whole household believed (verse 34). This passage only supports the baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.
Prayer: The Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God, but also to petition Mary and the saints for their prayers. Contrary to this, we are taught in Scripture to only pray to God (Matthew 6:9; Luke 18:1-7).
Priesthood: The Roman Catholic Church 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 Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer is infused with grace upon reception of the sacraments. Such teaching is nowhere found in Scripture.
Confession: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that unless a believer is hindered, the only way to receive the forgiveness of sins is by confessing them to a priest. Contrary to this, Scripture teaches that confession of sins is to be made to God (1 John 1:9).
Mary: The Roman Catholic Church teaches, among other things, that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, a perpetual virgin, and the co-redemptress who ascended into heaven. 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 Roman Catholic Church have any basis in the Bible. The idea of Mary being the co-redemptress and another mediator between God and man is not only extra-biblical (found only outside of Scripture), but is also unbiblical (contrary to Scripture). Acts 4:12 declares that Jesus is the only redeemer. 1 Timothy 2:5 proclaims that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men.
There are many more examples, but this is already far too long.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!