MUSINGS OF A FORMER ROMAN CATHOLIC

(Recently, a deacon at Community Baptist Church wrote an article that reflects his own change of understanding concerning the gospel. He was raised under the teachings of Roman Catholicism, but came to understand truths from God’s word that changed his thinking and life. Seeing recent changes in the Roman Catholic church led him to record the following comments that I thought might be helpful to some who may be giving a sympathetic ear to the new Pope. So, while the following words do not come from my pen (except for some minor editing), I thought that they would be beneficial to others. ~Kyle White - Pastor, Community Baptist Church) -- Contact Me As a former Catholic I recently read with interest that the new Pope changed his view on the status of "non-Catholic Christian faiths." As a Cardinal responsible for Catholic doctrine, Pope Benedict previously declared that other "faiths" were not really churches because of certain "defects," and claimed that only Catholics are assured of their salvation. I wondered what made the new Pope now leave this principled stand to accept other faiths. Perhaps he began to read his Bible as I did 22 years ago and discovered the defects rampant in Catholicism. At the core of these defects is the nature of salvation. Maybe he read Ephesians 2:8-9 and found that salvation is by God's grace alone and not our works. We don't need to wonder if we are good enough because we know Jesus is without sin and we are justified in Him! He might have stumbled on Hebrews 1:3 which clearly proclaims that Jesus by Himself purged our sins, meaning that there is no need for a place called purgatory to perfect us because the work is done. Hebrews 10:14 says that by one offering Jesus perfected believers forever. Praise God He finished the work! Could he have been awakened by 1 Peter 1:18-19 which tells us that our only indulgence for sin comes from the blood of Jesus, not silver and gold? We don't need to be rich so we can buy forgiveness of our sins because Jesus paid it all! 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us Jesus is the only mediator between God and man, not Mary, not saints. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus saves us to the uttermost (completely) and ever lives to make intercession for us. We don't need to petition dead saints when we can go directly to the perfect Son of God who prays for us to His Father! Luke 1:46-47 tells us Mary needed a Saviour like all fallen humans; she was not born without sin. Additionally Matthew 13:55-56 tells us that Mary had at least 7 children making claims that she was ever a virgin completely false. Mary was blessed among women, but only God is to be adored and worshipped! Hebrews 6:6 corrects those who would crucify afresh the Son of God and put Him to an open shame. The Catholic mass is a weekly sacrifice of our Saviour and the crucifix leaves Him in perpetual shame. Hebrews 10:12 says that Jesus made one sacrifice for sins forever. Jesus sits in glory today at the right hand of the Father (Matthew 26:64)! No, it is not likely that the new pope was awakened to the truth of Scripture so soon after assuming his elected position of "infallibility." More likely the Catholic church is continuing its age-old strategy of assimilating other faiths for growth. Unlike the changing “dogma” of Catholicism, we must commit ourselves to God's unchanging truth revealed in Scripture. True unity must begin with a proper understanding of the way of salvation God established. From that point we seek unity in the truths revealed by God through His Word. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 12-13 gives the purpose for the local church: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Community Baptist Church seeks to equip believers to live lives glorifying to God and to reach out to others with the true Gospel of salvation by grace through faith. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. We continue to seek to grow up as a local body of believers to the point of full maturity in Jesus Christ. There are not many Lords, faiths or baptisms. Our goal is not to lower the standard of truth to the lowest common denominator so that the greatest number might be included. Our goal is full submission to the revelation of Jesus Christ and His truth recorded in His word, the Bible.

John Turack, Deacon
August, 2005

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