Charis Has Been Banned

Status
Not open for further replies.
Euphemia said:
Let's get down to brass tacks...

Question: "Are Catholic beliefs and practices biblical?"

Answer: 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. God is more interested in whether a church is doing His will and obeying His Word than whether it can trace a line of succession back to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus was very concerned about abandoning the Word of God to follow the traditions of men (Mark 7:7). 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.

Many other examples could be given. These issues alone clearly identify the Catholic Church as being unbiblical. Every Christian denomination has traditions and practices that are not explicitly based on Scripture. That is why Scripture must be the standard of Christian faith and practice. The Word of God is always true and reliable. The same cannot be said of church tradition. Our guideline is to be: “What does Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3; Galatians 4:30; Acts 17:11). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Catholic-Biblical.html#ixzz38KfKMqCb
Click to expand...

I'm afraid this isn't getting down to brass tactics. This is just restating every criticism of the Church. And to be honest, much of this is wrong because as a Catholics, I don't hold to much of this, and nor does the Church.

Let's do one thing at a time.
 
LysanderShapiro said:
I'm afraid this isn't getting down to brass tactics. This is just restating every criticism of the Church. And to be honest, much of this is wrong because as a Catholics, I don't hold to much of this, and nor does the Church.

Let's do one thing at a time.
Click to expand...

Actually it is the Church's position, based on the word.
 
LysanderShapiro said:
I'm afraid this isn't getting down to brass tactics. This is just restating every criticism of the Church. And to be honest, much of this is wrong because as a Catholics, I don't hold to much of this, and nor does the Church.

Let's do one thing at a time.
Click to expand...
I think if I were to ever have a band I'd want to call it Brass Tactics.
 
Before we move on, we need to really establish two things...

1) Let's not ask questions with the attempt to corner and trap. Let's ask out of curiosity and clarify. A lot of questions are flying around with the intention to twist words and manipulate in order to make the other person appear wrong. This is a waste of time.

2) If we are curious about certain things, we should go to the source, not assumptions or biased criteria. This applies to both sides.
 
Euphemia said:
It is a site dedicated to giving good information about faith in Jesus Christ. No bias there but the truth.
Click to expand...

"We are Christian, Protestant, conservative, evangelical, fundamental, and non-denominational." From the website's About section. There is a specific position they hold. Would it be fair for me to go to a Catholic page that talks about Protestantism, or would it be right to go to a Protestant website to talk about Protestantism?

I'm not claiming the website is wrong, but there is a bias. I suspect I agree with a lot of what they say -- possibly even most.
 
LysanderShapiro said:
"We are Christian, Protestant, conservative, evangelical, fundamental, and non-denominational." From the website's About section. There is a specific position they hold. Would it be fair for me to go to a Catholic page that talks about Protestantism, or would it be right to go to a Protestant website to talk about Protestantism?
Click to expand...

Go to the word, just like they do. Then we'll be on even ground.
 
So what Euphemia posted about Catholics is wrong? I've heard some of these things. Plus I've seen church groups on TV pray to Mary and the angel Michael. Unless they're misrepresenting the catholic church.
 
Patricia Dalmadge said:
So what Euphemia posted about Catholics is wrong? I've heard some of these things. Plus I've seen church groups on TV pray to Mary and the angel Michael. Unless they're misrepresenting the catholic church.
Click to expand...
Yes. Euphemia is wrong. But she's not the only one - fundamentalist pastors have been preaching anti-Catholicism from the pulpits for centuries. Those people you see on TV aren't praying TO Mary, they are asking Mary to pray FOR them which is called intercessory prayer, and it is no different than asking a family member or friend to pray for you.
 
Euphemia said:
Go to the word, just like they do. Then we'll be on even ground.
Click to expand...

It's not just a matter of going to Scriptures, because you and I read the same passages, you hold a different interpretation than I do. Wouldn't it be silly for me to say to you "You don't believe in transubstantiation? Go to the Bible and see for yourself!" You'd argue back that I am misinterpreting the text.

So we have to go further than that and figure out what the text means and who is right and who is wrong.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top