Roman Rejection
Sharing the Gospel brings many Christians to question why catholics seem to quickly become angry and refuse to view Biblical facts. Since they also say they believe the Bible is the Word of God anger and disbelief on their part seems most confusing. Perhaps this will help explain some of the issues many Protestants don’t realize catholics deal with. This information applies to Roman catholics specifically but many points also apply to orthodox and other branches.
In a catholic home children grow up with the concept they will go to Heaven as long as they follow the rules of the church. The Bible is held as God’s Word. It differs from Protestant versions in that it contains more books.
Their version of the Bible is comprised of 72 books (73 if Lamentations is separate from Jeremiah). The Old Testament has 45 (or 46) books and the New Testament has 27. A standard Protestant Bible contains 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Books included in both versions essentially agree with each other.
Specific prayers are memorized and recited. Some will be repeated throughout adulthood. Questions about God may be answered by other church members. Parents are expected to teach church doctrine to the children and encourage them to ask the local priest(s) questions as well as family who are catholic. Asking a priest a matter of doctrine is considered going to a divine authority. Whatever the priest says comes from God and is fact.
Catholic schools include doctrinal teaching from the start and play a big part in introducing children to the sacraments and traditions. If children don’t attend a parochial school they are expected to be included in regular instructional classes by the church as early as appropriate for their age.
Adult converts to catholicism undergo rather intensive education in church doctrine prior to becoming members in good standing. Much emphasis is placed on the belief catholicism is the first and only true church which Jesus started. Papal authority also is stressed along with the authority of the priests in matters of doctrine.
To question the accuracy of a priest’s explanation of doctrine just isn’t done. By the time a catholic child matures or an adult finishes classes to become a catholic they basically accept anything a priest says. Rejecting church teaching seems in the mind of a catholic the same as rejecting a word from God. The priest is seen as God’s representative on Earth and his words carry Godly authority.
Historical documents from “saints” and “church fathers” approved through the years by church experts and ecumenical councils bear the same weight as Scripture. Church traditions and ceremonies hence are accepted as sacred and almost as acts of God when performed or followed. Participation in a rite procures blessings for those involved.
When a Christian confronts a catholic with the Bible the defense presented most often points to some church tradition and/or teaching. This seems plausible to them since they hold those beliefs as facts. Since they also claim to believe the Bible Protestants expect them to hold the Biblical teachings as final truths.
The problem with them accepting the Bible over their doctrines lies with what they believe Protestants falsely believe. They think catholic doctrine is on par with the Word of God. Protestants believe in what catholics often call the doctrine of Sol Scriptura. Basically it’s a Latinized way of saying, only Scripture. They fault Protestants for believing only what’s in the Bible.
Since they claim to also believe the Bible they become frustrated when the Scripture contradicts a principle or practice of their doctrine. When that happens they generally say something about Sol Scriptura being a false doctrine. Next they try to change the subject rather than deal with the fact the Scripture they claim to believe contradicts the belief being discussed. The only other place they can go is to the research from the catholic church, by the catholic church and approved by the catholic church to prove the accuracy of the catholic church.
Try to be patient with catholics and keep sharing the Bible. Remember to share in love. God promises: Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Sharing the Gospel brings many Christians to question why catholics seem to quickly become angry and refuse to view Biblical facts. Since they also say they believe the Bible is the Word of God anger and disbelief on their part seems most confusing. Perhaps this will help explain some of the issues many Protestants don’t realize catholics deal with. This information applies to Roman catholics specifically but many points also apply to orthodox and other branches.
In a catholic home children grow up with the concept they will go to Heaven as long as they follow the rules of the church. The Bible is held as God’s Word. It differs from Protestant versions in that it contains more books.
Their version of the Bible is comprised of 72 books (73 if Lamentations is separate from Jeremiah). The Old Testament has 45 (or 46) books and the New Testament has 27. A standard Protestant Bible contains 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Books included in both versions essentially agree with each other.
Specific prayers are memorized and recited. Some will be repeated throughout adulthood. Questions about God may be answered by other church members. Parents are expected to teach church doctrine to the children and encourage them to ask the local priest(s) questions as well as family who are catholic. Asking a priest a matter of doctrine is considered going to a divine authority. Whatever the priest says comes from God and is fact.
Catholic schools include doctrinal teaching from the start and play a big part in introducing children to the sacraments and traditions. If children don’t attend a parochial school they are expected to be included in regular instructional classes by the church as early as appropriate for their age.
Adult converts to catholicism undergo rather intensive education in church doctrine prior to becoming members in good standing. Much emphasis is placed on the belief catholicism is the first and only true church which Jesus started. Papal authority also is stressed along with the authority of the priests in matters of doctrine.
To question the accuracy of a priest’s explanation of doctrine just isn’t done. By the time a catholic child matures or an adult finishes classes to become a catholic they basically accept anything a priest says. Rejecting church teaching seems in the mind of a catholic the same as rejecting a word from God. The priest is seen as God’s representative on Earth and his words carry Godly authority.
Historical documents from “saints” and “church fathers” approved through the years by church experts and ecumenical councils bear the same weight as Scripture. Church traditions and ceremonies hence are accepted as sacred and almost as acts of God when performed or followed. Participation in a rite procures blessings for those involved.
When a Christian confronts a catholic with the Bible the defense presented most often points to some church tradition and/or teaching. This seems plausible to them since they hold those beliefs as facts. Since they also claim to believe the Bible Protestants expect them to hold the Biblical teachings as final truths.
The problem with them accepting the Bible over their doctrines lies with what they believe Protestants falsely believe. They think catholic doctrine is on par with the Word of God. Protestants believe in what catholics often call the doctrine of Sol Scriptura. Basically it’s a Latinized way of saying, only Scripture. They fault Protestants for believing only what’s in the Bible.
Since they claim to also believe the Bible they become frustrated when the Scripture contradicts a principle or practice of their doctrine. When that happens they generally say something about Sol Scriptura being a false doctrine. Next they try to change the subject rather than deal with the fact the Scripture they claim to believe contradicts the belief being discussed. The only other place they can go is to the research from the catholic church, by the catholic church and approved by the catholic church to prove the accuracy of the catholic church.
Try to be patient with catholics and keep sharing the Bible. Remember to share in love. God promises: Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Roman Rejection
Sharing the Gospel brings many Christians to question why catholics seem to quickly become angry and refuse to view Biblical facts. Since they also say they believe the Bible is the Word of God anger and disbelief on their part seems most confusing. Perhaps this will help explain some of the issues many Protestants don’t realize catholics deal with. This information applies to Roman catholics specifically but many points also apply to orthodox and other branches.
In a catholic home children grow up with the concept they will go to Heaven as long as they follow the rules of the church. The Bible is held as God’s Word. It differs from Protestant versions in that it contains more books.
Their version of the Bible is comprised of 72 books (73 if Lamentations is separate from Jeremiah). The Old Testament has 45 (or 46) books and the New Testament has 27. A standard Protestant Bible contains 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Books included in both versions essentially agree with each other.
Specific prayers are memorized and recited. Some will be repeated throughout adulthood. Questions about God may be answered by other church members. Parents are expected to teach church doctrine to the children and encourage them to ask the local priest(s) questions as well as family who are catholic. Asking a priest a matter of doctrine is considered going to a divine authority. Whatever the priest says comes from God and is fact.
Catholic schools include doctrinal teaching from the start and play a big part in introducing children to the sacraments and traditions. If children don’t attend a parochial school they are expected to be included in regular instructional classes by the church as early as appropriate for their age.
Adult converts to catholicism undergo rather intensive education in church doctrine prior to becoming members in good standing. Much emphasis is placed on the belief catholicism is the first and only true church which Jesus started. Papal authority also is stressed along with the authority of the priests in matters of doctrine.
To question the accuracy of a priest’s explanation of doctrine just isn’t done. By the time a catholic child matures or an adult finishes classes to become a catholic they basically accept anything a priest says. Rejecting church teaching seems in the mind of a catholic the same as rejecting a word from God. The priest is seen as God’s representative on Earth and his words carry Godly authority.
Historical documents from “saints” and “church fathers” approved through the years by church experts and ecumenical councils bear the same weight as Scripture. Church traditions and ceremonies hence are accepted as sacred and almost as acts of God when performed or followed. Participation in a rite procures blessings for those involved.
When a Christian confronts a catholic with the Bible the defense presented most often points to some church tradition and/or teaching. This seems plausible to them since they hold those beliefs as facts. Since they also claim to believe the Bible Protestants expect them to hold the Biblical teachings as final truths.
The problem with them accepting the Bible over their doctrines lies with what they believe Protestants falsely believe. They think catholic doctrine is on par with the Word of God. Protestants believe in what catholics often call the doctrine of Sol Scriptura. Basically it’s a Latinized way of saying, only Scripture. They fault Protestants for believing only what’s in the Bible.
Since they claim to also believe the Bible they become frustrated when the Scripture contradicts a principle or practice of their doctrine. When that happens they generally say something about Sol Scriptura being a false doctrine. Next they try to change the subject rather than deal with the fact the Scripture they claim to believe contradicts the belief being discussed. The only other place they can go is to the research from the catholic church, by the catholic church and approved by the catholic church to prove the accuracy of the catholic church.
Try to be patient with catholics and keep sharing the Bible. Remember to share in love. God promises: Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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