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Is
Roman Catholicism True Christianity? Are Catholics
true Christians?
I feel
that it is time for me to speak out about Roman
Catholicism. The more I have found out about
Roman Catholicism, the more convinced I’ve
become that it is a false religious system that
can not save its followers. I am even more
disturbed because an increasing number of Evangelical
leaders, and even some Messianic Jewish leaders,
are accepting Roman Catholicism as a valid system
that brings salvation (even though it does not).
Why do
I believe that Roman Catholicism is a false religious
system? Let me offer several reasons: it does
not preach the pure Gospel - the simple Message
that placing our trust in Yeshua the Messiah will
save us. It contradicts the plain teaching of
Scripture, that we are saved by God’s grace,
not through any of our own human efforts, when
we put our faith in Messiah Yeshua alone (see
Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, it has substituted
an adulterated system of sacraments, man-made
traditions and human efforts through which salvation
is allegedly dispensed.
In addition,
the Roman Catholic Church has arrogantly declared
the bishop of Rome to be the infallible leader
of the entirety of Messiah’s Holy Community
of Jews and Gentiles (the entire Church). For
centuries the Roman Catholic Church persecuted
the true Christians, engaged in systematic and
deliberate torture, murder, and even genocide.
For centuries it was the most anti-Semitic institution
on Earth. It has added to the Word of God by acknowledging
the Apocrypha as part of the Holy Scriptures.
It has added to the Word of God by elevating Catholic
tradition, laws and decrees to the same status
as the Word of God!
There
is no Scriptural support for traditions and practices
such as the sacrifice of the mass, purgatory,
transubstantiation, prayers and masses and other
rituals for the dead, indulgences, the worship
of Mary, prayers to the saints, the use of images
in worship, holy water, rosary beads and scapulars,
a Roman Catholic priesthood, the demand of celibacy
from these priests and nuns, and confession to
priests to obtain absolution. Far from being
supported by the Scriptures, these religious distortions
are condemned by the Word of God! The Son of God,
who is the Supreme Authority on all matters, especially
those of the Faith, warned us that it is hypocritical
and deadly to “neglect the commandments of
God while holding to the traditions of men,”
and that it is possible to “vainly worship
God by teaching as doctrine the precepts of men”
(Mark 7:6-7).
All this
adds up to “Another Gospel” -
a Gospel that is foreign, even hostile to the
simple Message about having saving faith in the
Jewish Messiah. Rabbi Paul, the great apostle
to the Gentiles, warned us that if anyone brings
“Another Gospel,” they are “accursed”
(see Galatians 1:6-9).
Are
there Catholics who are born-again? There may
be those to whom the Spirit of God reveals the
Truth and, for a time, they may remain within
the Roman Catholic Sacramental-Works-System; but
if they are genuinely spiritually reborn, they
will share the pure Message about the need to
have faith in Messiah alone, and acceptance of
the Word of God alone. They will inevitably find
themselves at odds with the deadly errors in Roman
Catholicism. If they speak out against these errors,
they will find themselves unwelcome, and forced
to leave.
Does all this mean that I am
“Catholic-bashing?” Does this mean that I hate my Catholic
friends? No - not at all! Not if one understands that “the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful, but the wounds of a friend are
faithful.” The enemy is the false friend who remains silent
when his friend is headed toward disaster. The true friend is the
one who warns those who are trusting in popes, priests, sacraments,
good works, and man-made traditions, rather than trusting in the
salvation graciously and freely provided by God for those who have
faith in Messiah Yeshua alone. Speaking the truth in love can never
be wrong!
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