Catholic Church Add-ons
To begin, I am not a Catholic, nor really a Protestant (at least theologically speaking). On too many issues I'm not entirely sure where I stand, but I can say this: I am seeking the truth through the Word and the Spirit.
Further, I would like to express my extreme appreciation and gratitude to the writers and maintainers of this site. I still have much to read, yet already Mario Derksens "Defense of the Most Blessed Trinity" has cleared up MANY questions I had on the Doctrine of the Trinity. All of that said:
I have often wondered at the Authority which the Catholic Church alleges. I can find no reference in the Bible which supports the maintinence of a specific sect of Christianity, giving it the Authority to add on certain rituals, observations, and Rules which are an extension from actualy Biblical rules. I'll cite an example below, as responded by Bro. Ignatius:
*****There in only ONE Mass and to characterize a Mass as charistmatic is really improper, especially when the peculiar "charasmatics" elements are ILLEGAL to do during Mass. One is NOT to pray in tongues during Mass outloud or collectively, play folks songs, clap and sway with the music, prophecy, lay on hands, etc. etc. These are ALL abuses of the Mass, a rebellion against Church discipline. ********
I cannot conclude that there is only ONE Mass from any scripture in the Bible, and further, which charismatic elements would be "ILLEGAL" during it. I think what frightens me most about this statement is the "rebellion against Church discipline." These "disciplines" you speak of, I can only assume, are additions to the disciplines given to us in the Word. The real danger here is that disciplines and rules beyond scriptural reference are extremely detrimental to the Body of Christ. The Pharisees were guilty of the same during the time of Our Lord, as Jesus said, "ty[ing] up heavy loads and put[ting]them upon men's shoulders."(Mt. 23:4 NIV)I can point to several references where He dilliberately disobeyed their "disciplines" (such as not washing his hands when eating) - but the one that comes to mind is the scripture where Christ's disciples are picking grain on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees say to Him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."(Mt. 12:2 NIV) Christ chastises them and proclaims himself the "Lord of the Sabbath."(Mt. 12:8 NIV) The reason I use this example of discipline overdone, is beacause it specifically deals with "Mass" so to speak.
One thing I find in the four gospels is that Christ concerns himself always with the Spirit of the Law. The procedure of Mass, along with several other Catholic practices concern me, since they are nowhere mention within scripture, and they seem to detriment the very purpose of Mass, which is to exalt the lord as well as edify the body.
Please clarify some of these points for me if you will.
Thank you,
QUESTION from Howard on November 14, 2003
J. Howard
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on November 20, 2003
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Dear Howard: I praise God that you are in search of the Truth. If you continue to search and let yourself be open to the facts and the truths revealed by God through history, you will find the Truth and the Catholic Church, which is the pillar and foundation of Truth according to 1 Tim 3:15 The first item you need to address is the notion of Sola Scriptura (the Bible Alone). Your questions are based on the unbiblical notion that all teachings and all disciplines are recorded in the Bible. This is not true and is evidenced by the Scripture itself, by history, and by common sense. The Bible tells us in John 21:25 that not all the teachings of Jesus are even recorded in the Scripture. 1 Cor 11:2 tells us to hold fast to traditions and 2 Thess 2:15 further clarifies to hold fast to traditions whether handed down orally or in writing. 2 Thess 3:14 tells us we are to SHUN people who do not act in accord with tradition. I should add that the Bible is Tradition. Tradition is merely "teaching handed down from generation to generation". But, as the bible itself says, not all tradition is recorded in the Bible, no can it be. As St. Paul says himself that in order to record all the teachings it would take all the books in the world to contain it. Here we are taking about Tradition with a capital "T". This is SACRED TRADITION. Tradition with a small "t" refers to customs. SACRED TRADITION never changes. This is the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles as recorded in the Bible AND as taught by the Teaching Magisterium of the Church. BOTH are God's Word. Customs, however, change all the time from age-to-age. ALL faith groups have traditions (customs) that are not mentioned in the Bible. For example: the Church building. Church buildings are not in the Bible. The Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, Sunday School is not in the Bible, the term "Reverend" for a minister is not in the Bible, a platform with a pulpit front and center is not in the Bible, an "altar" at the front of the Church with the Cross hanging on the wall is not in the Bible. In addition, no where in the Bible does the Bible give the list of which books are to be in the Bible. The Bible does not and cannot authenticate itself. The fact is that God has ALWAYS dealt with his people through a magisterial authority -- a Pope -- even in Old Testament times. Moses was a Pope and those who sat in the "chair of Moses" (Matt 23:2) were to be obeyed. With each covenant God made with His people, He appointed a "Prime Minister" who had the authority delegated to him by the King to be a father to the nation, to lock and unlock with the keys (a symbol of authority to make decisions), and to speak on behalf of the Lord. This is not a new concept; this is a concept that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. There has NEVER been a time God's economy was not done in this way. When the new covenant was made, God placed a new chair of authority in Peter. All of this is TOTALLY scriptural and is proven from Scripture (see Matt 16 and Isa 22:21-23). This topic, however, is way too involved to go into detail. I would suggest that you visit the following two websites that should answer most all your questions: Catholic Answers: this site has many pamphlets are various topics such as the papacy, the Crusades, the Inquisition, etc. that should answer your questions on the various topics found there. Biblical Evidence for Catholicism: This site goes into detail of how the Catholic Church is the only true Biblical Church. In addition to this I would advise that you read the Church Fathers. There are many places on the Net to look up the writings of the early Church Fathers. Click Here for one such place. As one convert to Catholicism stated: "To immerse oneself in history is to cease to be Protestant". History PROVES that the Catholic Church IS the Church that Jesus founded. The writings of the early Church Fathers prove that the first Christians were, in fact, Catholic. The apostles teach us that there is one faith, one baptism and that one faith is Catholic. All others are offshoots that went astray in some fashion. The Catholic Church is the ONLY Church who has actually NOT added anything to doctrine. Customs and disciplines change according to the needs of the times, but the essential dogmas of the faith never change. The Catholic Church has NEVER changed dogma. ALL other faith groups have changed one dogma or another. Look to these resources I mentioned. They will get you far down the road of finding the truth. We will be praying for you.
God Bless, |