Why Catholicism is not Christianity

[Bread_of_Life]

I have had lots of arguments with my sister, who is a bit more liberal in her interpretation of what falls within and outwith any particular faith grouping, about what constitutes a "Christian". She believes that Catholics, for example, are Christians, and I disagree. Since Catholicism is currently the hot topic of debate, I'll give you guys my 10 pence worth on the subject:

1. Papal infallibility denies the fallen nature of man, and the singular divinity of Christ

The Catholic Church insists that the pope is "incapable of error in expounding doctrine on faith or morals" - that is that he is infallible on matters of faith or morality, he cannot be wrong on these matters. The church justifies this by saying that each Pope is a direct spiritual descendant of St Peter, the rock on which Jesus was to found his church.

The bible insists something different. Firstly, the Pope is not a direct descendant of Peter physically or spiritually - rather he is elected by a conclave of Cardinals. According to the bible, the Pope and all the Cardinals are part of a fallen race (human beings) - each of whom is sinful, and each of whom has fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The only person whose decisions were free from the influence of sin was Jesus, therefore each decision of each Cardinal is subject to their sinful nature - and the same goes for their elected representative, the Pope. The doctrine that the Pope and Cardinals are always right on any decision is a denial of the sinful nature of man, and of the singular nature of Christ's perfection.

Secondly, even if the Pope were a direct spiritual descendant of St Peter, there is no suggestion in the bible that Peter was infallible on matters of faith or morality. In fact, quite is opposite in demonstrated, when Peter lies and denies knowledge of Jesus (John 18:15-18, 25-27) even though he was his disciple. This clearly demonstrates that Peter erred, was fallen in sin like the rest of us, and could make fundamental mistakes morally and on matters of faith. To insist on Papal infallibility is to deny the authority of the biblical narrative of the life of Jesus (at a particularly fundamental point, near the crucifixion) and therefore to discredit the authority of the church generally and Christianity as a whole.

Lastly, a contextual reading of the biblical narrative, where Jesus pronounces Peter the head of the Church, puts a different light on the Catholic interpretation:

Matthew 16:18 says:

"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Here Jesus clearly gives Peter some authority to go and build a church, but notice that there is no mention of Peter being perfect, of a papal lineage, or of any succession or future in the church. Catholics often point out the fact that Jesus handed the "Keys of Heaven" to Peter, and that therefore Peter as Pope will literally let people into heaven or block their way, but this interpretation jars with the rest of the biblical manuscript, more on this later.

2. Mariolatry, Queen of Heaven, Co-Redemptrix all deny salvation through Christ alone

The Catholic church believes that Mary, being causally involved in the creation of Jesus and his birth and therefore necessary for the process of salvation, is a Co-redemptrix, that is that she is as responsible for the redemption of man as Jesus, or shares responsibility. The church also believes that she is the "Queen of Heaven", and that by revering and praying to her we are actually praying to Jesus, so close are their hearts.

An obvious counter argument is that Pontius Pilate was as causally responsible for our salvation as Mary was. Indeed, the fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus represented required a whole tapestry of characters and events as prophecised in the Old Testament, each of whom was necessary for Jesus to fulfill his role as messiah. Yet, we cannot count the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross as co-Redemptors, or as responsible for salvation and redemption as Jesus, nor can we revere them. The bible makes is clear that salvation is through Jesus alone (John 14:6, John 3:16), Mary is a bit part character, mentioned only at the beginning and end of Jesus' life. She is given importance as a virginal mother, and in the miracle of Jesus' birth, and as a caring and loyal parent at his death - but she is given no special importance in the salvation of man, nor does Jesus stress her importance in salvation anywhere in the biblical manuscript.

Secondly, the church calling Mary the "Queen of Heaven" is in contrivance to Old Testament teachings about taking other Gods and Goddesses as partners in the worship of God. Jeremiah 7 and 44 clearly refers to the practice of worshipping a false Goddess refered to as the "Queen of Heaven", and that practicioners of such incurred God's wrath and anger - in accordance with the first commandment and the covenant with Moses. Therefore this belief is in open contradiction to God's instruction through the prophet Jeremiah, and can therefore be seen as openly in defiance of the religion of Jesus (Christianity).

3. Salvation through works and the Catholic Church contradict the biblical account of Salvation

The bible gives a simple formula for the salvation of man. Give your life to Jesus. Repent of your sin and Jesus name, and accept his sacrifice for you on the cross, and invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, and you will be saved. The references to this salvation theology in the bible are numerous.

However, the Catholic church insists that there is no salvation outside of the church, and that confession and other rituals are necessary for salvation. Arguing for this belief, they point to James 2:26 "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

A proper reading of this passage reveals what James was really saying:

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

James is addressing the question of what is meant by "belief" in Christ, in terms of salvation. He says that the demons believe there is one God, but are not saved - and that therefore that simple intellectual belief is not enough for salvation. Rather, you need to surrender yourself to God, as Abraham did:

22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

There is no suggestion that each of us needs to offer our firstborn sons as Abraham did on the alter - but rather than our belief in Jesus is not just an intellectual artefact, but a living reality in our lives, and that our actions are guided by faith and the holy spirit. This is a sign of the indwelling of the holy spirit, and our faith, made possible through intellectual belief, is made complete through surrender and obedience to God.

NOWHERE in the bible is there any suggestion that a priest can absolve or Forgive sin, or that by counting off Rosary beads or saying a certain number of "Our Fathers" that one can be saved. Salvation is through the living Christ, who has already forgiven us if we are truly sorry for what we do, and hand our sins over to him. He will then send the Holy Spirit into our lives to start to mend our hearts, and this will be CONFIRMED by our actions, which will complete our faith.

4. "No salvation outside the Catholic Church" contradicts the Bible

The Catholic Church insists that there will be no salvation outside of the Church. They says that since Peter was handed the key to the kingdom of heaven, that he and his church (which they trace their roots to) will be the eternal keepers to the kingdom of heaven.

Trivially speaking, they are right. Since the Church is the body of believers in Christ (not any one organisation or building), you do need to be in the Church to be saved - because belief in Christ is necessary for salvation. However, they are referring not to membership of the body of Christ, but membership of their particular organisation, and attendence in their buildings. This is unbiblical. Jesus says that where two or more are gathered in his name that he is there.

Where Jesus refers to handing Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, he is clearly in context of the rest of scripture referring to the evangelical challenge facing the church. Peter had the responsibility to preach Christ crucified and set up a church to do so. His knowledge of the Christ and of the gospel (the good news) empowered him with the keys to the kingdom, just as EVERY Christian is empowered with the keys to the kingdom of heaven. By evangelising the good news of Jesus' coming, he would be opening Zion to the masses, and that is what his ministry set out to do. The fact that the current Catholic church has deviated from that ministry is a sad fact - but Peter's evangelical tradition carries on in other Christian organisations.

5. The fruits of the Catholic Church are anti-Christian

Matthew 7:15-16:

[Constant]

For once I agree with SA on something.

Note to Catholics:

When an atheist can read the Bible and tell you that Catholicism is not chrisitanity, it ought to wake you up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A note to you, Christians are no better than Catholics. Just my two sense.

[Leonard]

SA: You have mistaken what some Catholics may believe the Catholic church teaches, for what it actually teaches. You are wrong almost completely in all five areas.

[Gerioke]

I can't believe it.

I've seen 2 threads today were athiests were being uncharacteristically un athiest?

fog called that guy a troll now SA bashing RCC as indifferent to christianity?

Now we just need Blind Guardian to testify

[serotta]

I can't believe it.

I've seen 2 threads today were athiests were being uncharacteristically un athiest?

fog called that guy a troll now SA bashing RCC as indifferent to christianity?

Now we just need Blind Guardian to testify

So atheists attacking a seeker and other Christians is now a good thing?

Until they profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior they're still just tilting at windmills.

[serotta]

Very uplifting thread!

NOT!!!

[Ovedya]

Notwistanding the original poster's shocking "revelation" I think there are far too many anti-Catholic threads on the boards lately. I will begin shutting new posts down that contain anti-Catholic material. Stick with the ones we already have going, please.