|
In the Bible:
Catholic Religion Proven by Protestant Bible
This booklet recalls how Christ's Church existed 350 years before the New Testament was under one cover and over 1400 years before it could be printed; which completely refutes the "Bible Only" theory of today's 33,800 sects. Meanwhile the Protestant Bible itself proves the marks, attributes and basic doctrines of the ancient one-faith-fold-shepherd Church of Christ - as shown herein.
Did Our Lord write anypart of the New Testament or command His Apostles to do so? Our Lord Himselfnever wrote a line, nor is there any record that He ordered his Apostles towrite; He did command them to teach and to preach. Also He to Whom all powerwas given in Heaven and on earth (
Matt. 28-18
) promised to give them theHoly Spirit (
John 14-26
) and to be with them Himself till the end of theworld (
Mat. 28-20
).
COMMENT: If reading theBible were a necessary means of salvation, Our Lord would have made thatstatement and also provided the necessary means for his followers.
TWO
How many of the Apostlesor others actually wrote what is now in the New Testament? A Few of theApostles wrote part of Our Lord's teachings, as they themselves expresslystated; i.e., Peter, Paul, James, John, Jude, Matthew, also Sts. Mark and Luke.None of the others wrote anything, so far as is recorded.
COMMENT: If the Bibleprivately interpreted was to be a Divine rule of Faith, the apostles would havebeen derelict in their duty when instead, some of them adopted preaching only.
THREE
Was it a teaching or aBible-reading Church that Christ founded? The Protestant Bible expressly statesthat Christ founded a teaching Church, which existed before any of the NewTestament books were written.
Rom. 10-17
: So thenfaith cometh by HEARING, and hearing by the word of God.
Matt. 28-19
: Go yetherefore and TEACH all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, andof the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Mark. 16-20
: Andthey went forth, and PREACHED everywhere the Lord working with them, andconfirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Mark 16-15
: And hesaid unto them, Go ye into all the world and PREACH the gospel to everycreature.
COMMENT: Thus falls theentire basis of the "Bible-only" theory.
FOUR
Was there any drasticdifference between what Our Lord commanded the Apostles to teach and what theNew Testament contains? Our Lord commanded his Apostles to teach all thingswhatsoever He had commanded; (
Matt. 28-20
); His Church must necessarilyteach everything; (
John 14-26
); however, the Protestant Bible itselfteaches that the Bible does not contain all of Our Lord's doctrines:
John 20-30
: Andmany other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which arenot written in this book, etc.
John 21-25
: Andthere are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should bewritten every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain thebooks that should be written. Amen.
COMMENT: How would it havebeen possible for second century Christians to practice Our Lord's religion, ifprivate interpretation of an
unavailable
and only
partial account
of Christ's teaching were indispensable?
FIVE
Does the New Testamentexpressly refer to Christ's "unwritten word"? The New Testament itself teachesthat it does not contain all that Our Lord did or, consequently, all that Hetaught.
John 20-30
: Andmany other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which arenot written in this book, etc.
John 21-25
: Andthere are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should bewritten everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain thebooks that should be written Amen.
COMMENT: Since the Bibleis incomplete, it needs something else to supplement it; i.e., the spoken orhistorically recorded word which we call Tradition.
SIX
What became of theunwritten truths which Our Lord and the Apostles taught? The Church hascarefully conserved this "word of mouth" teaching by historical records calledTradition. Even the Protestant Bible teaches that many Christian truths were tobe handed down by word of mouth.
2 Thes. 2-15
:Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have beentaught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Tim. 2-2
: And thethings that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou tofaithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
COMMENT: Hence not onlyScripture but other sources of information must be consulted to get the wholeof Christ's teaching. Religions founded on "the Bible only" are thereforenecessarily incomplete.
SEVEN
Between what years werethe first and last books of the New Testament written? This first book, St.Matthew's Gospel, was not written until about ten years after Our Lord'sAscension. St. John's fourth gospel and Apocalypse or Book of Revelations werenot written until about 100 A. D.
COMMENT: Imagine how thepresent-day privately interpreted "Bible-only" theory would have appeared at atime when the books of the New Testament were not only unavailable, but most ofthem had not yet been written.
EIGHT
When was the New Testamentplaced under one cover? In 397 A. D. by the Council of Carthage, from which itfollows that non-Catholics have derived their New Testament from the CatholicChurch; no other source was available.
COMMENT: Up to 397 A. D.,some of the Christians had access to part of the New Testament; into thissituation, how would the "Bible-only privately interpreted" theory have fitted?
NINE
Why so much delay incompiling the New Testament? Prior to 397 A. D., the various books of the NewTestament were not under one cover, but were in the custody of different groupsor congregations. The persecutions against the Church, which had gained newintensity, prevented these New Testament books from being properlyauthenticated and placed under one cover. However, this important work wasbegun after Constantine gave peace to Christianity in 313 A.D., allowing it tobe practiced in the Roman Empire.
COMMENT: This again showshow utterly impossible was the "Bible-only" theory, at least up to 400 A. D.
TEN
What other problemconfronted those who wished to determine the contents of the New Testament?Before the inspired books were recognized as such, many other books had beenwritten and by many were thought to be inspired; hence the Catholic Church madea thorough examination of the whole question; biblical scholars spent years inthe Holy Land studying the original languages of New Testament writings.
COMMENT: According to thepresent-day "Bible-only" theory, in the above circumstances, it would also havebeen necessary for early Christians to read all the doubtful books and, byinterior illumination, judge which were and which were not divinely inspired.
ELEVEN
Who finally did decidewhich books were inspired and therefore belonged to the New Testament? Shortlybefore 400 A. D. a General Council of the Catholic Church, using the infallibleauthority which Christ had given to His own divine institution, finally decidedwhich books really belonged to the New Testament and which did not.
Eitherthe Church at this General Council was infallible, or it was not.
If the Church wasinfallible then, why is it not infallible now? If the Church was not infalliblethen, in that case the New Testament is not worth the paper it is written on,because internal evidences of authenticity and inspiration are inconclusive andbecause the work of this Council cannot now be rechecked; this is obvious fromreply to next question.
COMMENT: In view of thesehistorical facts, it is difficult to see how non-Catholics can deny that it wasfrom the (Roman) Catholic Church that they received the New Testament.
TWELVE
Why is it impossible formodern non-Catholics to check over the work done by the Church previous to 400.A. D.? The original writings were on frail material called papyrus, which hadbut temporary enduring qualities. While the books judged to be inspired by theCatholic Church were carefully copied by her monks, those rejected at that timewere allowed to disintegrate, for lack of further interest in them.
COMMENT. What then is leftfor non-Catholics, except to trust the Catholic Church to have acted underdivine inspiration; if at that time, why not now?
THIRTEEN
Would the theory ofprivate interpretation of the New Testament have been possible for the year 400A. D.? No, because, as already stated, no New Testament as such was inexistence.
COMMENT: If ournon-Catholic brethren today had no Bibles, how could they even imaginefollowing the "Bible-only privately interpreted" theory; but before 400 A. D.,New Testaments were altogether unavailable.
FOURTEEN
Would the privateinterpretation theory have been possible between 400 A. D. and 1440 A. D., whenprinting was invented? No, the cost of individual Bibles written by hand wasprohibitive; moreover, due to the scarcity of books, and other reasons, theability to read was limited to a small minority. The Church used art, drama andother means to convey Biblical messages.
COMMENT: To have proposedthe "Bible-only" theory during the above period would obviously have beenimpracticable and irrational.
FIFTEEN
Who copied and conservedthe Bible during the interval between 400 A. D. and 1440 A. D.? The Catholicmonks; in many cases these spent their entire lives to give the worldpersonally-penned copies of the Scriptures, before printing was invented.
COMMENT: In spite of this,the Catholic Church is accused of having tried to destroy the Bible; had shedesired to do this, she had 1500 years within which to do so.
SIXTEEN
Who gave the Reformers theauthority to change over from the one Faith, one Fold and one Shepherd program,to that of the "Bible-only theory"? St. Paul seems to answer the above when hesaid: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto youthan that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (
Galations 1-8- Protestant version
).
COMMENT: If in 300 years,one-third of Christianity was split into at least 300 sects, how many sectswould three-thirds of Christianity have produced in 1900 years? (Answer is5700).
SEVENTEEN
Since Luther, whatconsequences have followed from the use of the "Bible-only" theory and itspersonal interpretation? Just what St. Paul foretold when he said: "For thetime will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their ownlusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears."
2 Timothy4-3 (Protestant edition).
According to the World Christian Encyclopediaand other sources, there are 73 different organizations of Methodists, 55 kindsof Baptists, 10 branches of Presbyterians, 17 organizations of Mennonites, 128of Lutherans and thousands of other denominations.
COMMENT: The "Bible-only"theory may indeed cater to the self-exaltation of the individual, but itcertainly does not conduce to the acquisition of Divine truth.
EIGHTEEN
In Christ's system, whatimportant part has the Bible? The Bible is one precious source of religioustruth; other sources are historical records (Tradition) and the abidingpresence of the Holy Spirit.
COMMENT: Elimination ofany one of the three elements in the equation of Christ's true Church would befatal to its claims to be such.
NINETEEN
Now that the New Testamentis complete and available, what insolvable problem remains? The impossibilityof the Bible to explain itself and the consequent multiplicity of errors whichindividuals make by their theory of private interpretation. Hence it isindisputable that the Bible must have an authorized interpreter.
2 Peter 1-20
:Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any privateinterpretation.
2 Peter 3-16
: Asalso in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are somethings hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Acts 8-30
: AndPhilip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaias, and said,understandest thou what thou readest?
31
. And he said, How can I exceptsome men should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sitwith him.
COMMENT: Only by going onthe supposition that falsehood is as acceptable to God as is truth, can the"Bible-only" theory be defended.
TWENTY
Who is the officialexpounder of the Scriptures? The Holy Spirit, acting through and within theChurch which Christ founded nineteen centuries ago; the Bible teaches throughwhom in the Church come the official interpretations of; God's law and God'sword.
Luke 10-16
: He thatheareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he thatdespiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matt. 16-18
: And Isay also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build mychurch; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mal. 2-7
: For thepriest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth:for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
COMMENT: Formerly atleast, it was commonly held that when individuals read their Bibles carefullyand prayerfully, the Holy Spirit would guide each individual to a knowledge ofthe truth. This is much more than the Catholic Church claims for even the Popehimself. Only after extended consultation and study, with much fervent prayer,does he rarely and solemnly make such a decision.
TWENTY-ONE
What are the effects ofthe Catholic use of the Bible? Regardless of what persons may think about theCatholic Church, they must admit that her system gets results in the way ofunity of rule and unity of faith; otherwise stated, one Faith, one Fold and oneShepherd.
COMMENT: If many millionsof non-Catholics in all nations, by reading their Bible carefully andprayerfully, had exactly the same faith, reached the same conclusions, thenthis theory might deserve the serious consideration of intelligent,well-disposed persons-but not otherwise.
TWENTY-TWO
Why are these so manynon-Catholic Churches? Because there is so much different interpretation of theBible; there is so much different interpretation of the Bible because there isso much wrong interpretation; there is so much wrong interpretation because thesystem of interpreting is radically wrong. You cannot have one Fold and oneShepherd, one Faith and one Baptism, by allowing every man and every woman todistort and pervert the Scriptures to suit his or her own pet theories.
COMMENT: To say that Biblereading is an intensely Christian practice, is to enunciate a beautiful truth;to say that Bible reading is the sole source of religious faith, is to make asadly erroneous statement.
TWENTY-THREE
Without Divine aid, couldthe Catholic Church have maintained her one Faith, one Fold, and one Shepherd?Not any more than the non-Catholic sects have done; they are a proof of whathappens when, without Divine aid, groups strive to do the humanly impossible.
COMMENT: Catholics love,venerate, use the Bible; but they also know that the Bible alone is notChrist's system but only a precious book, a means, an aid by which the Churchcarries on her mission to "preach the Gospel to every living creature" and tokeep on preaching it "to the end of time."
TWENTY-FOUR
Were there any printedBibles before Luther? When printing was invented about 1440, one of the first,if not the earliest printed book, was an edition of the Catholic Bible printedby John Gutenberg. It is reliably maintained that 626 editions of the CatholicBible, or portions thereof, had come from the press through the agency of theChurch, in countries where her influence prevailed, before Luther's Germanversion appeared in 1534. Of these, many were in various European languages.Hence Luther's "discovery" of the supposedly unknown Bible at Erfurt in 1503 isone of those strange, wild calumnies with which anti-Catholic literatureabounds.
COMMENT: Today parts ofthe Bible are read in the vernacular from every Catholic altar every Sunday.The Church grants a spiritual premium or indulgence to those who read theBible; every Catholic family has, or is supposed to have, a Bible in the home.Millions of Catholic Bibles are sold annually.
TWENTY-FIVE
During the Middle Ages,did the Catholic Church manifest hostility to the Bible as her adversariesclaim? Under stress of special circumstances, various regulations were made bythe Church to protect the people from being spiritually poisoned by thecorrupted and distorted translations of the Bible; hence opposition to theWaldensians, Albigensians, Wycliff and Tyndale.
COMMENT: Individualchurchmen may at times have gone too far in their zeal, not to belittle theBible, but to protect it. There is no human agency in which authority is alwaysexercised blamelessly.
Part 2
ORIGINOF CHRIST'S CHURCH
The Bible teaches that thetrue Church began with Christ over 1900 years ago, not with men or women 15 to19 centuries later. It was founded when Our Lord spoke the following and othersimilar words:
Matt. 28, 18-20
:And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me inheaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore. and teach all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them toobserve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with youalways, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
COMMENT: History provesthat the First Protestant Church was the Lutheran, founded in 1517 by theex-priest Martin Luther; all other of the some 33,800 sects have been createdsince then.
AUTHORITY OF CHRIST'S CHURCH
The Bible teaches that therulers of Christ's Church have authority which must be obeyed in matters ofreligion.
Heb. 13, 17
: Obeythem that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for yoursouls as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and notwith grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Matt 18-17
: And ifhe shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the church: but if he neglect tohear the church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Luke 10-16
: He thatheareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he thatdespiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Matt. 16-19
: And Iwill give unto thee (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoeverthou (Peter) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou(Peter) shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
COMMENT: The apostlesrepeatedly claimed this authority:
Gal. 1-8
;
John 1-10
;
Acts 15,23 and 28
. Hence the laws or precepts of the true Church are foundedupon the same authority as the commandments of God. For the Church of Christhas authority to act in his Name.
THE INFALLIBILITY OF CHRIST'S CHURCH AND
THAT IT CANNOT ERR IN TEACHING CHRIST'S RELIGION
ONE
The Bible teaches that notthe Bible itself, but the Holy Ghost was the teacher of the Apostles.
John 14-26
: But theComforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, heshall teach you all things. and bring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16-13
: How beit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth . ..
Acts 1-8
: But yeshall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shallbe witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, andunto the uttermost parts of the earth.
COMMENT: In consequence,the true Church was necessarily infallible, being as St. Paul said (l Timothy5-15) "the pillar and ground of the truth."
TWO
The Bible teaches that theChurch has Christ always WITH IT and the Holy Ghost always to guide it-not onlyduring the first century but during all future ages.
Matt. 28-20
:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, Iam with you ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END of the world. Amen.
John 14-16
: And Iwill pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abidewith you FOREVER.
COMMENT: Hence it is aninsult to Christ and the Holy Spirit to say that God's Church fell into errorand had to be reformed by Luther, Calvin and other men or women.
PERPETUITY OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH
The Bible teaches that thevisible Church of Christ has had and will ever have uninterrupted existence.
Matt. 28, 19-20
: Goye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost . . . lo, I am with you always, even untothe end of the world.
Matt. 16-18
: . . .and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
COMMENT: Hence the theorythat Christ's Church, which began with Christ, failed - became non-existent for1000 or more years - and then was revived by either Luther, Calvin, Knox orsome other man or woman, is ridiculous and untrue.
VISIBLE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
The Bible teaches thatChrist ascribed to his Church qualities and gave to it the names that proved itto be a VISIBLE organization with VISIBLE UNITY among its followers.
Romans 12-5
: So we,being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Eph. 4-3 to 5-3
:Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4
.There is ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT even as ye are called in one hope of yourcalling.
5
. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, etc.
John 10-16
: Andother sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, andthey shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Rom. 12, 4-5
: Foras we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office,etc.
John 17-21
: Thatthey may be one, as thou Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may beone in us; that (as a consequence) the world may believe that Thou hast sentme.
In many places ofscripture, Christ's Church is compared to a house, a body, a city built on amountain, a sheepfold, etc.; but these are all visible things. Hence Christ'sChurch besides being one spirit is also "One Body." The Catholic Church alonehas this two-fold unity. The "invisible" theory is therefore false on the faceof it.
COMMENT: Contrast theunity of Faith, Fold and Shepherd in the Catholic Church with the dissenting,contradictory tenets of 33,800 Protestant organizations and the divinity of theformer becomes obvious and certain.
SINNERS AND CHRIST'S CHURCH
ONE
The Bible teaches thatChrist died for all men, both saints and sinners; and not merely for the "savedor predestined."
II Cor. 5-15
: Andthat he died for ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live untothemselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Rom. 5, 6-21
: Forwhen we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,etc.
I John 2-2
: And heis the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sinsof the whole world.
I Tim. 2-4
: Whowill have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
COMMENT: Hence to theCatholic Church the soul of the condemned criminal on the scaffold is an objectof tender solicitude even as, to Our Lord, was the thief on the cross.
TWO
The Bible teaches that notonly the just but sinners will always claim external membership in the trueChurch.
Matt. 22-2
: Theparable of the king who made a marriage for his son.
Matt.13-24
: Theparable of the field in which grew both grain and cockle.
II Tim. 2-20
: Butin a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also ofwood and of earth: and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
Matt. 18-15
:Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee. go and tell him his faultbetween thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thybrother.
Matt. 13-47
:Parable of the net that was cast into the sea, and gathered every kind of fish,savory and unsavory.
COMMENT: Hence thatungodly persons call themselves Catholic, but are so in name only, is noreflection upon the Church itself. It is rather a verification of Christ'sprophecies.
CATHOLICITY OF THE CHURCH
The Bible teaches thatfrom the beginning and in every age the true Church of Christ is all over theworld or universal; the Greek word used is "Katholikos," from which the Englishword "Catholic" is derived.
Matt. 28, 19
: Go yetherefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, andof the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Mark 16-15
: And hesaid unto them, Go ye into ALL THE WORLD, and preach the gospel to everycreature.
Acts 1-8
: But yeshall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shallbe witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea; and in Samaria, andunto the UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
Rom. 10-18
: But Isay, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, andtheir words unto the ends of the world.
COMMENT: Except theCatholic Church, what Christian organization has even a remote claim touniversality, in point of place and in point of time? But this is what theessential nature of Christ's Church demands.
APOSTOLICTY
The Bible teaches that theApostles appointed lawful successors to carry on their work.
Titus, 1-5
: Forthis cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the thingsthat was wanting, and ordain elders (i. e. priests) in every city, as I hadappointed thee.
Acts, 13, 2 and 3
:As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate meBarnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have recalled them.
3
. Andwhen they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent themaway.
COMMENT: Saul or St. Paulhad been selected by Christ Himself; yet he was later ordained by Apostolicauthority. By what right then does a Dowie, Eddy, Russel, Calvin, Knox,Campbell, or their agents assume the role of ruler, teacher, founder of a"Christian" Church?
THE FIRST POPE
The Bible teaches the one(and only one) Church which Christ founded had Simon Bar-Jona or Peter for itshead. (Our Lord had changed his name from Simon Bar Jona to Peter.)
Matt. 16, 18-19
:And I say also unto Thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will buildmy church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will giveunto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, etc.
Later Our Lord madeSimon-Peter pastor of both the lambs and the sheep, that is His whole flock.
John 21, 15 to 17
:So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovestthou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I lovethee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16
He saith to him again thesecond time. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him. Feed my sheep.
17
. Hesaith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter wasgrieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he saidunto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesussaith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Our Lord promised thatPeter would confirm the faith of the other Apostles:
Luke 22-32
: But Ihave prayed for thee (Peter) that thy faith fail not: and when thou artconverted, strengthen thy brethren.
COMMENT: Hence only theChurch having Peter and his lawful successors for its head can logically claimto be the Church of Christ.
BAPTISM
ONE
The Bible teaches that inapostolic times whole families were baptized.
Acts 16-33
: And hetook them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and wasbaptized, he and all his, straightway.
I Cor. 1-16
: And Ibaptized also the household of Stephanas: besides I know not whether I baptizedany other.
Acts 16-15
: Andwhen she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye havejudged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. Andshe constrained us.
COMMENT: Unquestionablythere were children in these families. Moreover, the earliest records of theChurch prove that children were baptized a few days after birth.
TWO
The Bible teaches that(for grown persons to whom the Gospel can be preached) faith is a necessarycondition for baptism.
Mark 16-16
: He thatbelieveth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall bedamned.
Matt. 28-19
: Go yetherefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, andof the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
COMMENT: In this textthere is no question of children, to whom the Gospel could not be preached andwho therefore could not believe. For them not faith but only baptism isrequired, that original sin may be washed away and supernatural grace impartedto them.
THREE
The Bible teaches that noone at all (hence not even an infant) can enter the Kingdom of God withoutbaptism.
John 3-5
: Jesusanswered. Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water and ofthe Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
COMMENT: The expression "aman" or "tis" in Greek means any one at all. Hence this text applies to bothbabes and adults.
CONFIRMATION
The Bible teaches thatthere is such a Christian ordinance or Sacrament as confirmation or "the layingon of hands" by which we receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8. 14-15 and 17
:Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had receivedthe word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15
. Who, when theywere come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
17
.Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19-6
: And whenPaul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spakewith tongues, and prophesied.
Heb. 6-2
: Of thedoctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead,and of eternal judgment.
COMMENT: In the earlyChurch, the Sacrament of "the laying on of hands" was often attended withvisible miraculous effects, which is not now usually the case. But theSacrament itself remains the same when conferred by a lawfully consecratedBishop as a successor of the Apostles.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST: CHRIST ACTUALLY PRESENT THERE IN
ONE
The Bible teaches thatwhen making his last will and testament Christ gave to us his own Body andBlood.
Mark 14, 22-24
: Andas they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them,and said, Take, eat: This is my body.
23
. And he took the cup, and whenhe had given thanks. he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24
.And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed formany.
COMMENT: Christ havingsaid "this is my body," who shall deny it and say "this is not your body."Christ having said "this is my blood," who shall deny and say, "this is notyour blood."
TWO
The Bible teaches that OurLord solemnly claimed that his Eucharist was superior to the miraculous food (
John6-11 to 13
) and to the manna (
Exodus 16-15
).
John 6, 26
: Jesusanswered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you; ye seek me, not becauseye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27
.Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth untoeverlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. etc.
31
, Ourfathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread fromheaven to eat.
32
. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say untoyou, Moses gave not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the truebread from heaven.
COMMENT: But if the HolyEucharist were only bread and wine and not the Body and Blood of Christ, thesestatements would constitute gross deception.
THREE
The Bible teaches thatChrist's Holy Eucharist actually came down from Heaven; in other words that itwas really his own very self.
John 6, 33
: For thebread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto theworld.
35
. . . I am the bread of life ...
38
.... For I came downfrom heaven, etc.
41
. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said Iam the bread which came down from heaven, etc.
48
. I am that bread oflife.
49
. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50
.This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,and not die.
51
. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: ifany man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and the bread that I willgive is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
COMMENT: Here Our Lordsums up and confirms what He had said in Parts One and Two above; reflect alsothat mere bread and wine does not come down from Heaven. Nor is it Christ'sflesh as He expressly states of his Holy Eucharist.
FOUR
The Bible teaches thatupon hearing Our Lord's claim about the Holy Eucharist, many Jews becameProtestors or Protestants.
John 6, 52
: TheJews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us hisflesh to eat?
COMMENT: If they had said,how can this God do this, there would have been no difficulty, for God can doall things.
FIVE
The Bible teaches that inspite of the Jews' most strenuous objections-Christ did not correct or modifyhis statement (which he would have done had there been a misunderstanding); butinsisted the more upon the reality of his presence in the Eucharist.
John 6, 53
: ThenJesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the fleshof the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54
. Whosoeateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise himup at the last day.
55
. For my flesh is meat indeed, and by blood isdrink indeed.
56
. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blooddwelleth in me, and I in him.
57
. As the living Father hath sent me, andI live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58
.This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers did eatmanna and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.
COMMENT: Even taken as anisolated proof, this is unassailable, but taken as a part of a chain of proofs,it becomes as impregnable as a wall of solid granite.
SIX
The Bible teaches thatJesus allowed many of his disciples to abandon Him, rather than to substitutethe Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist, for what He had given.
John 6-60
: Manytherefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is an hardsaying; who can hear it?
66
. From that time many of his disciples wentback, and walked no more with him.
COMMENT: What a strangeconcept one must have of Christ to imagine that He would have acted in thismanner if the disciples had really misunderstood Him. (See also
John 3, 3 to 7
and
John 8, 56-9
).
SEVEN
The Bible teaches thatJesus would have allowed his twelve Apostles also to abandon Him rather than togive them the Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist.
John 6, 67
: Thensaid Jesus unto the twelve. Will ye also go away?
68
. Then Simon Peteranswered him. Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69
.And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the livingGod.
COMMENT: Peter as usualhad the correct view. He believed and knew that Christ was God, therefore heaccepted his divine word, difficult to understand, though it may have been.Catholics lovingly do the same.
EIGHT
Saint Paul teaches thatthe unworthy reception of Holy Communion constitutes a desecration of the Bodyand Blood of Christ and is the cause of damnation.
I Cor. 11, 27
:Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord,unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
I Cor. 11, 29
. Forhe that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation tohimself, not discerning the Lord's body.
COMMENT: Let unbelieversin the truth of our Lord's real presence endeavor to show how the taking of amere piece of bread or a sip of wine could be a desecration of Christ himselfand a crime worthy of damnation.
PUBLIC WORSHIP IN THE TRUE CHURCH
The Bible teaches thatthere is a sacrifice and a priesthood in the new law.
Mal. 1, 11
: Forfrom the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shallbe great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto myname, and a pure offering.
Heb. 13, 10
: Wehave an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle (ofthe Jewish temple).
COMMENT: The usualProtestant communion service is not intended to be a sacrificial act which theprophet's word "altar" connotes. Where today except in the Catholic Church dowe find among Christians an altar of sacrifice and a pure offering, i. e., thesacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ under the appearance of bread andwine?
CONFESSION
ONE
The Bible teaches that theconfessing of sins is a usual requisite for obtaining forgiveness.
Numbers 5, 6-7
:Speak unto the children of Israel. When a man or woman shall commit any sinthat men commit . . . Then they shall confess their sin which they have done,etc.
Proverbs 28, 13
: Hethat covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsakeththem shall have mercy.
II Samuel 12, 13
:After David confessed his sins to the prophet Nathan he was given assurance ofpardon.
Luke 23, 43
: Whenthe thief on the cross confessed, our Lord promised him paradise.
I John 1, 9
: If weconfess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and tocleanse us from all unrighteousness, etc.
Matt. 3, 5-6
: Thenwent out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round aboutJordan. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Acts 19, 18
: Andmany that believed came (to the Apostles), and confessed, and shewed theirdeeds.
COMMENT: Privateconfession is necessarily contained in the double power which Christ gave tothe Church-the power to forgive or retain sins as the circumstances require. Todo so prudently-the "minister of reconciliation" must have the requiredinformation, which the penitent supplies by confession.
TWO
The Bible teaches thatChrist gave to the validly ordained ministers of his own Church the power toforgive sins.
2 Cor. 5, 20
: Nowthen we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; wepray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
John 20-21
: Thensaid Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even soI send you. 23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: Andwhose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt. 18, 18
:Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever yeshall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
2 Cor. 5, 18, 20
:And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,and hath given to us the Ministry of reconciliation.
COMMENT: All purelyspiritual powers which Christ conferred upon his Church were given to itperpetually except where no need of such a power remained. But who will saythere is no longer any need of the power to forgive sin, that sin is no longera live problem upon earth?
EXTREME UNCTION
The Bible teaches that theanointing of the sick with oil and prayer by the priests of the Church (calledExtreme Unction) may obtain forgiveness of sins and even refreshment Of body.
James 5, 14-16
: Isany sick among you? let him call for the elders (i. e., priests) of the church;and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15
.And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up,and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
COMMENT: As all suchspiritual ordinances derived from Christ and the Apostles were of their verynature perpetual, there is absolutely no reason for saying that Extreme Unctionas here described was but a temporary institution.
HOLY ORDERS
ONE
The Bible teaches thatChrist has ambassadors or agents (his bishops and priests) who represent Him inthis world.
2 Cor. 5-20
: Nowthen we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us: we prayyou in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I Cor. 4, l
: Let aman so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of themysteries of God.
John 20, 21
: Thensaid Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even sosend I you .
COMMENT: No wonder thatthe Catholic Church imposes such serious obligations upon her priests. The factthat an occasional individual may be faithless to his obligations provesnothing against Christ or his Church. The fact that many slander and vilify thepriests, only makes them so much the more like their Divine Master.
TWO
The Bible teaches that theoffice of the bishop, priests, etc., in the true Church comes by divineappointment; i. e., God gives individuals a special vocation to this calling.
Heb. 5, 4
: And noman taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb. 5, 1
: Forevery high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertainingto God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
John 15, 16
: Yehave not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should goand bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain- that whatsoever yeshall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 20-21
: Thensaid Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even sosend I you.
COMMENT: Mostunscriptural, therefore, is the practice of congregations ordaining,commissioning their ministers to preach the gospel to them. This authoritycomes from Christ, through the Apostles and their lawful successors.
THREE
The Bible teaches that theApostles actually appointed lawful assistants and successors to carry on theirwork.
Titus 1-5
: For thiscause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things thatare wanting, and ordain elders (i. e., priests) in every city, as I hadappointed thee.
Acts 13, 2 and 3
:As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate meBarnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3
. And whenthey had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
COMMENT: Holy Orders is aspecial sacrament which transmits the Apostolic power and authority downthrough the centuries.
WOMEN AS MINISTERS
The Bible teaches that itis unlawful to have women ministers who speak or preach in the Churches.
I Cor. 14, 34
: Letyour women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them tospeak, etc.
COMMENT: In view of this,it is difficult to see how any one can take it upon himself to nullify the wordof God, by having women preachers, ministers or evangelists.
MATRIMONY AND DIVORCE
ONE
The Bible teaches thatlawful marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power.
Matt. 19, 6
:Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joinedtogether, let no man put asunder.
COMMENT: This doctrine ismaintained at a great price by the Catholic Church. Of old it cost her nearlythe whole of England. Today she loses thousands every year because of heruncompromising stand upon this subject. But did she do otherwise, she wouldcease to be the true Church of Christ.
TWO
The Bible teaches thatremarriage (during the lifetime of the former consort) is adultery.
I Cor. 7, 10-11
:And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wifedepart from her husband; but and if she depart let her remain unmarried, or bereconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
Mark 10, 11-12
: Andhe saith unto them, whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another,committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, andbe married to another she committeth adultery.
Luke 16-18
:Whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth another, committeth adultery andwhosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
COMMENT: If one partycommits adultery the other party may, under certain circumstances, liveseparate from guilty party; but may not remarry during the former consort'slifetime. This is the real meaning of
Matt. 19, 9
.
PURGATORY
The Bible teaches (a) thatsome sins are forgiven in the next world; (b) that some souls are saved in thenext world "by fire"; (c) that it is useful and beneficial to pray for thedead.
Matt. 12-32
: Andwhosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him: butwhosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him,neither in this world, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME. (Some sins can thereforebe forgiven after death.)
I Cor. 3, 13 and 15
:Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, becauseit shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every man's work of whatsort it is.
15
. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss;but he himself shall be saved, YET SO AS BY FIRE.
2 Machabees, 12-46
:(This is one of the Old Testament books omitted from the Protestant Bible). Itis therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may beloosed from their sins.
COMMENT: As nothingdefiled can enter Heaven (
Rev. 21-27
), there must necessarily exist astate of cleansing or purgation usually called "purgatory."
PICTURES AND STATUES
The Bible teaches that God approves
the use and veneration of sacred pictures and images to stimulatereligious fervor.
Exod. 25-18
: Andthou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, inthe two ends of the mercy seat.
Numbers 21, 8-9
:And the Lord said unto Moses. Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon apole, and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he lookethupon it, shall live.
John 3, 14
: And asMoses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man belifted up.
I Kings 6-29
: Andhe carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures ofcherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without. (Also see
verses32 and 35
).
COMMENT: Hence men are notforbidden "to make to thyself a graven image," except when this is to be set upand adored as a god.
ASHES ON ASH WEDNESDAY
The Bible teaches theutility of ashes as a sign of penance.
Job. 42, 6
:Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Jonah 3, 6
: Forword came unto the king of Nineveh and he arose from his throne, and he laidhis robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth and sat in ashes.
COMMENT: Hence criticismof blessed ashes and similar Catholic sacramentals is irreverent andirreligious.
VESTMENTS AT MASS
The Bible teaches thatspecial vestments are worn by those exercising sacred functions.
Exod. 28-4
: Andthese are the garments which they shall make; a breast plate, and an ephod, anda robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre and a girdle, and they shall make holygarments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me inthe priest's office.
COMMENT: Hence Catholicvestments are by no means "superstitious," but conformable to Bible precedent.
HOLY WATER
The Bible teaches thatalready in ancient times, God not only permitted but commanded the use of HolyWater.
Numbers 5-17
: Andthe priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and of the dust that isin the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into thewater.
COMMENT: Hence theCatholic Church should be commended, not blamed, for following SacredScripture.
RELICS OF SAINTS
The Bible teaches that itis proper and beneficial to venerate the relics of sacred personages or things.
2 King, 2, 8-14
:The mantle of Elijah.
Exodus 7, 10
: Therod of Aaron.
Matt 9, 20-21
: Also
Matt.14-36
: The hem of our Lord's garment.
Acts 19, 12
: Sothat from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs. or aprons, andthe diseases departed from them, and the evil spirit went out of them.
Acts 5, 15-16
:Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them onbeds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by mightovershadow some of them
COMMENT: Hence while theCatholic Church forbids her children to pray TO relics of Christ and theSaints, or to act towards them as if they had any power IN THEMSELVES; sherightly teaches us to honor the relics for what they represent. Similarly,Americans honor the flag because of its symbolism.
USE OF INCENSE
The Bible teaches thatincense symbolizing prayer can be used in churches when offering praise andworship to God.
Rev. 8, 3
: Andanother angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and therewas given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers ofall saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Psalm 141-2
: Let myprayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands asthe evening sacrifice.
COMMENT: Hence Catholicceremonies, the use of incense, etc., all have Scriptural basis.
HERESIES
The Bible teaches thatthose who reject willingly the true faith are to be classified with hereticsand lost souls.
Titus 3-10
: A manthat is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject.
Gal. 1-8
: Butthough we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than thatwhich we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal. 1-9
: As wesaid before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto youthan that which ye have received let him be accursed.
Rom. 16-17
: Now Ibeseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary tothe doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
2 John 10
: If therecome any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into yourhouse, neither bid him God speed.
COMMENT: Thereforeaccording to the Bible, one religion is not as good as the other. It is thetrue religion that God demands of men and which men are bound to practice inorder to save their souls.
NECESSITY OF GOOD WORKS
The Bible teaches thatboth faith and good works are necessary for salvation.
James 2, 22-26
:Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith madeperfect? etc.... so faith without works is dead also.
I Cor. 13, 1-3
:Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels . . and though I have allfaith, so that I could remove mountains . . . and have not charity, itprofiteth me nothing.
Matt. 7-21:
Notevery one that saith unto me, Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mark 16-16:
He thatbelieveth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall bedamned.
COMMENT: Hence thefutility of saying, "I am a Christian, I am a Catholic," unless one earnestlystrives to serve God. Hence the egregious error of maintaining that the mereacceptation of Christ as one's Personal Savior is all that is required. Christis, will be our personal Savior only if we exercise that necessary faith andgood works. Hence also the folly of saying: "It makes no difference what youbelieve."
HONORING MARY
The Bible teaches that Godmade Mary the earthly mother of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity; thattrue Christians of every age MUST honor her: Read
Luke 1, 26-35,
Luke 1-48
: . . .,for, behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
COMMENT: Since God honoredMary more than other angelic or human beings, are we not allowed, EVEN OBLIGED,to do the same? But where outside the Catholic Church is this precept, thisprophecy fulfilled?
HONORING ANGELS AND SAINTS
The Bible teaches that thecitizens of heaven take an active interest and (within limitations) intervenein the affairs of men.
Eph. 2-19: Now thereforeye are no more strangers and foreigners but FELLOW-CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS andof the household of God.
Acts 12-7: And behold theangel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison; and he smotePeter on the side, and raised him up, saying: Arise up quickly. And his chainsfell from his hands.
Heb. 1-14: Are they notall ministering spirits, set forth to minister for them who shall be heirs ofsalvation?
Luke 15-10: Likewise I sayunto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinnerthat repenteth.
COMMENT: Hence theCatholic Church is most consistent in enumerating angels among men'sprotectors, patrons, well-wishers. The same may be said of God's saints inHeaven.
|
Catholic Doctrine Is Derived From These Four Sources:
1.
What the Bible explicitly or implicitly teaches.
2.
Available Bible material is clarified or complemented or confirmed by truths derived fromhistorical records (tradition) such as the writings of the Fathers,inscriptions in the Catacombs, early rules and regulations of the Church.
3.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit, Whom Christ promised to His Church
(John 14-16 and26)
.
4.
Our Lord's own presence in the Church, according to His specific promise.
(Matt.28-20)
.
|
Why There Are So Many Churches
Today there are so manyProtestant churches because there is so much different interpretation of theBible; there is so much different interpretation of the Bible because there isso much wrong interpretation of the Bible. And there is so much wronginterpretation because the system of interpreting it is radically wrong. Youcannot have one fold and one shepherd, one faith and one baptism by lettingevery man and every woman distort and pervert the Scriptures to suit their ownpet theories.
In our day, there is nowhim, fad or fancy that some one does not claim to prove from the Bible. Almostany man or woman is conceited enough to set himself up as a competentinterpreter of the word of God. "I think the Bible means this, therefore itdoes mean this," is their modest position. These men and women want itthoroughly understood that our forefathers in the faith were all fools that forthe last nineteen hundred years, the Christian world was in inky darkness. Withthem, however, light has come into the world.
VARIOUS INSTANCES
Some, like the earlyheretics, will prove from the Bible that Christ is only God and not man.Others, like modern Unitarians, will prove from the Bible that Christ is onlyman and not God.
Some denominations willprove from the Bible that in the New Law, Christ shared his priesthood with NOONE. Others will prove from the Bible that in the New Law, even the women arepriests; hence the name Presbyters or priests, from which "Presbyterian" isderived.
One sect will prove fromthe Bible that baptism is unnecessary for children, but is necessary foradults. Others will prove from the Bible that baptism is necessary for no one;that it is only a ceremony, an initiation such as is required when one joins alodge.
Campbellites or "FirstChristians" will prove from the Bible that to be really baptized, one must betotally immersed in water. Others prove from the Bible that the whole thing isunnecessary and ought to be abandoned.
Russellites prove from theBible that there is going to be a millennium, a thousand years when every onewill get a second trial. Calvinists prove from the Bible that a large part ofmankind do not even get a first trial, but are predestined to damnationirrespective of their merits.
BIBLE IS MISTREATED
Some sects prove from theBible that eternal punishment is going to be meted out to nearly every one, butthe little handful of their particular false sect is going to escape. Butothers prove from the Bible that everyone is going to be saved. To evenmurderers, adulterers, and those who rob widows and orphans-and neverrepent-will Christ hold out His arms and say: "Come, Blessed of My Father, andpossess the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Reduced to practice theirtheory means this: Read the Bible and believe as you like; if you like MartinLuther's theory, follow it; if you prefer John Calvin's Christianity, embraceit. If you think that Campbell, or Dowie, or Mrs. Eddy, or the Adventists have"discovered" the truth, have succeeded in doing what Christ must have failed todo, then take them as your guide. If the theory of none of these persons suitsyou, make up one yourself.
RECENT FALLACIES
Mrs. Eddy will prove fromthe Bible that man is all soul, the body is practically a delusion, and doesnot really exist, "Bible Students" will prove from the Bible that the soul isall delusion you really have none When you die, your soul knows not anything:the soul which God gave Adam was only air and nothing more
In the Bible, we are toldto serve the Lord in fear and trembling and so we have the shakers, themourners and the weepers. Again in the Bible, we are told to rejoice in theLord always, again I say rejoice. And so we have the singers and the jumpersand the rollers. Surely you would think that there is a sufficient variety tosuit every one, but it seems not, for new sects are springing up constantly.
All these claim to provetheir version of Christianity from the Bible; all these are willing to swearthat their little handful are the only ones who are right and that every oneelse is wrong. Christ's Church for nineteen hundred years was a completefailure, but fortunately they have finally come to set it aright. Meanwhile theBible itself warns us:
"For the time will comewhen they will not endure sound doctrine. but . . . shall heap to themselvesteachers, having itching ears."
(2 Tim. 4-3)
.
Again, referring to theepistle of St. Paul, the Prince of the Apostles tells us:
"As also in all hisepistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to beunderstood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do alsoother scriptures, unto their own destruction."
(2 Peter. 3-16)
.
CHRIST'S TRUTHS CHANGELESS
For whosoever preaches anyother but the accepted Christian faith of past centuries, by that very factproves himself to be a false teacher, a false prophet, who as Christ says,"Comes in the garb of a shepherd, but inwardly is a ravening wolf." The truefaith must be and necessarily has been believed, as St. Augustine puts it:"Semper et ubique;" i.e. always and all over - by at least the vast majority ofChristians. Of that accepted Christian faith, therefore, we can say what St.Paul did of his own teachings: "Though an angel from heaven preach to you adifferent doctrine, let him be accursed."
Here are ten children.Give them all the same simple problem in arithmetic. Imagine that each givesyou a different answer. Of these ten answers, you know that at least nine arewrong. Perhaps also the tenth. Here are 33,800 sects. Ask them all to solve theproblem, "What does the Bible teach?" Each gives you a different answer. Butyou know that only one can really be correct. All the rest are wrong. Two andtwo are always four. There are a thousand wrong answers to every problem, butonly one correct reply.
Copiesof this article available from:
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
4016Preston Hwy. Louisville, KY 40213
Phone(502) 468-9736 from 7AM to 9PM EST
|