Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics

Ron Rhodes

Description

Anyone interested in sharing the gospel with Catholic friends or understanding where members of that denomination stand on important points of theology will appreciate this thorough yet easy-to-use reference. Using the simple, step-by-step format applauded by readers in Rhodes' previous books, Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics covers many theological issues that divide Protestants and Catholics, including:purgatory and indulgencesthe reverence of Mary, mother of Jesuspapal infallibilityCatholic traditionsand much moreEach chapter examines a single Catholic belief or practice as taught in the Catholic Catechism and other major Catholic sources, provides biblical responses, and offers questions to help Catholics examine their church's readings. Pastors, teachers, and lay leaders will find this insightful guide a must-have tool for sharing the good news of salvation by faith alone with Catholic friends and family members.

Sujets

• Catholic Church
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2000
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736932226
• Langue: English

Extrait

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Unless otherwise indicated Scripture quotations in this book are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society.
Verses from the Apocrypha are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

By Ron Rhodes
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Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah s Witnesses
Reasoning from the Scriptures with Masons
Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Jehovah s Witness
The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon
Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics
Copyright 2000 by Ron Rhodes
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Rhodes, Ron.
Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics / Ron Rhodes.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-0-7369-0208-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-3222-6 (eBook)
1. Catholic Church Controversial literature. 2. Evangelistic work. I. Title.
BX1765.2.R52 2000
282-dc21
99-43335
CIP
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
Dedication
To the friends and supporters of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to a number of individuals whose books and articles have been of great benefit in the researching and writing of this book: Norman Geisler, Ralph MacKenzie, John Ankerberg, John Weldon, James White, James McCarthy, and Ken Samples. I am very appreciative of the work these individuals have done in this field-and I highly recommend their books (see the Bibliography).
Thanks also to Tom Ulrich, a former Catholic, who went through part of the manuscript prior to publication. I appreciate his suggestions.
My wife, Kerri, and two children, David and Kylie, deserve special mention. Thank you for your support and encouragement. As has always been true, my work of ministry would be impossible without you.
Contact the Author
If you run into witnessing trouble, feel free to contact
Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries.
We will help you if we can.
Ron Rhodes
Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries
P.O. Box 80087
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
www.ronrhodes.org
Free newsletter available upon request.
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Contact the Author
Preface
Introduction: Evangelizing Catholics
1. Dialoguing with Roman Catholics
2. The Apocrypha-Does It Belong in the Bible?
3. Sola Scriptura Versus Tradition-Part 1
4. Sola Scriptura Versus Tradition-Part 2
5. Papal Infallibility and the Teaching Authority of the Church-Part 1
6. Papal Infallibility and the Teaching Authority of the Church-Part 2
7. Forensic Justification Versus Meritorious Justification-Part 1
8. Forensic Justification Versus Meritorious Justification-Part 2
9. Forensic Justification Versus Meritorious Justification-Part 3
10. Sacramentalism-Part 1
11. Sacramentalism-Part 2
12. Sin and the Sacrament of Penance
13. Purgatory and Indulgences
14. The Exaltation of Mary-Part 1
15. The Exaltation of Mary-Part 2
16. The Exaltation of Mary-Part 3
17. The Exaltation of Mary-Part 4
18. The Dos and Don ts of Dialoguing with Catholics
Appendix A: Infant Salvation
Appendix B: Ecumenism in the Roman Catholic Church
Appendix C: The Veneration of Relics
Appendix D: Understanding Sanctification
Notes
Bibliography
Subject Index
Scripture Index
Preface
The subject of witnessing to Catholics is one that is close to my own heart since I have friends and family who are members of the Roman Catholic Church. In view of that, I want to say right up front that I don t attack Roman Catholics in this book. Rather, it is my compassionate and heartfelt desire to help Catholics truly understand the wonderful gospel of God s grace.
To be sure, this book contains strong biblical arguments against a variety of Roman Catholic doctrines. But the motivation behind these arguments is one of love. Like you, I want to see my Roman Catholic friends and family members in heaven.
Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics was written to provide helpful information that will enable you to witness effectively to Roman Catholics. My prayer is that God would use this book for His glory and for the extension of His kingdom.
Evangelizing Catholics
Abounding grace is the hope of mankind. 1
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
V atican City is an ecclesiastical state. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Within the walls of this city in Italy is a miniature nation that was built during the fourth century and rebuilt during the sixteenth century.
The city has its own banking system and coinage, its own stores, pharmacy, telephone system, radio station, and post office, as well as an army of over 100 Swiss Guards. The most imposing building within the walls of the city is St. Peter s Basilica, which is said to cover the shrine of St. Peter the apostle. The city also includes the Sistine Chapel, the Pauline Chapel, the pope s palace, five museums of antiquities, libraries, the archives of the Roman Catholic Church, and two art galleries. The city publishes its own newspaper, L Osservatore Romano . Various utilities and supplies-water, food, gas, electricity, and the like-are imported from outside the city.
The pope exercises sovereign control over Vatican City. He has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers within its walls. He also appoints the members of the Vatican s governmental organs. From this city the pope also rules over the Roman Catholic Church, said by Roman Catholics to be the one true church on earth. It was allegedly established by Christ through Peter as the first visible head of the church. * The governance of the church is said to continue generation after generation via Peter s successors, the popes.
Throughout history, under the leadership of various popes, many of the distinctive Roman Catholic doctrines emerged far after the first century. Here are a few notable dates:
- A.D . 593-belief in purgatory
- A.D . 600-prayer to Mary and the saints
- A.D . 709-the practice of kissing the pope s foot
- A.D . 995-the canonization of dead saints
- A.D . 1079-celibacy of the priesthood
- A.D . 1090-praying the rosary
- A.D . 1215-transubstantiation and confessing sins to a priest
- A.D . 1439-belief in the seven sacraments. 2
Protestants, who believe the Bible alone is the final authority and source of divine revelation ( not tradition, and not the ex cathedra pronouncements of the popes), hold that such doctrines are human inventions and go against the teachings of Scripture. This will be demonstrated throughout the rest of the book.
Salvation and the Roman Catholic Church
Previous to Vatican Council II , those who held beliefs akin to those of modern Evangelical Protestants-such as salvation through grace alone by faith alone -were considered anathema, in the words of the Council of Trent. * And indeed, throughout its history a major emphasis of Roman Catholicism has been that union with the Roman Catholic Church is essential to salvation. Cyprian (circa A.D . 200-258) said: No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother. 3 In the twelfth century the Fourth Lateran Council affirmed: There is only one universal Church of the faithful, outside which none will be saved. 4 This was reaffirmed by Pope Boniface VIII s Bull, Unam Sanctam , in 1302. 5 Then in 1854, Pope Pius IX declared: It is to be held as a matter of faith that no one can be saved outside the Apostolic Roman Church. It is the only ark of salvation and anyone who does not enter it must sink in the flood. 6
This one true church is said to be the dispenser of the seven sacraments, which are necessary for salvation. We can immediately understand, then, why many Roman Catholics have historically said that to be faithful to God one must necessarily be faithful to God s one true church-the Roman Catholic Church. 7
Since Vatican Council II, however, all who are named Christian (including non-Catholics) are viewed as part of God s family. Non-Catholics are now considered to be separated brethren. Vatican II concluded that the church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but who do not however profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity which unites them to Christ. 8
These separated brethren, however, are not in the most advantageous position-for, as n