Dear Shiela,
Because I'll be mentioning some books you can read and tapes you can
listen to, I'll be quite brief in this treatment of certain specific
accusations made against us.
First, is the Catholic Church an apostate church? The Mormons and
Jehovah's Witnesses tell us ALL Christian churches are apostate, so
you see Dave Hunt and his ilk are really pretty conservative. If
they would become Witnesses, they could send everybody off to hell.
But kidding aside, let's look at some Scripture.
Our Lord intended to found a church (Matt. 16:18). Announcing his
intention, he promised that the gates of Hell would never overcome
his Church (ibid.) He fulfilled his promise of founding the Church,
because it shows up again and again in the New Testament from Acts
to Revelation. It is often called "the Church of God" (Acts 20:28;
1st Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; 1st Tim. 3:15).
Christ is the Head of the Church (Eph. 5:23), and the Church is His
Body (Col. 1:18, 24). He bought this Church for himself at enormous
cost, his own life's blood (Acts 20:28). So dear is the Church, the
whole people, to him that Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is
his Bride. Of this Bridegroom and his Bride, St. Paul inspired by
the Holy Spirit writes: "The two shall become one flesh. This is a
great mystery - I speak of Christ and the Church" (Eph. 5:31-32).
The union of Christ with his Church is thus unbreakable. He has
promised us, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you"
(John 14:18). "Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the
world" (Matt. 28:20). His presence with us assures of the presence
and activity of his Holy Spirit. This Spirit is with the Church
always, remaining in us as the Spirit of Truth, who will guide us to
all truth and remind us of all Christ has told us (John 14:16-18,
26; 16:13).
We believe in Jesus Christ, in his power and his promises. If the
Church has gone apostate, then Jesus Christ is not the Truth that he
said he was. But if he is powerful to keep his promises, then the
Church remains what he founded it to be. Hunt, MacArthur and others
who attack the Catholic Church should know that we are aware of
certain biblical warnings that put us on our guard against them:
"Savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the
flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting
the truth TO DRAW THE DISCIPLES AWAY AFTER THEM. So, be vigilant"
(Acts 20:29-31. Cf. also 2nd Tim. 3:5-9).
Secondly, are faithful Catholic "unsaved", and are we going to Hell?
Well, Romans 10:9 ff. says: "If you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead you will be saved...No one who believes in him will be put to
shame...For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved." By this test of salvation, Catholics qualify -- provided we
give due weight to all the rest of the teachings of Christ, which we
can do by hearing the teachings of his Church. For she is --- and
let no one ever forget this --- "the pillar and foundation of truth"
(1st Tim 3:15).
Whether our religion is a carryover from pre-Christian paganism is a
really broad topic. Therefore, I leave it to you, Shiela, and other
readers to investigate using some of the following resources.
1) Karl Keating. Catholicism and Fundamentalism*
2) Father Mateo. Refuting the Attack on Mary*
3) Robert Fox. Protestant Fundamentalism & the Born Again Catholic*
4) James Drummey Catholic Replies*
5) Catechism of the Catholic Church*
6) THIS ROCK, the stellar magazine of apologetics, put out by
Catholic Answers. Catholic Answers Tracts & Newsletter*
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
Sysop note: Father requested reruns of "listen to the Church" to
follow this message. I will also rerun: The Christmas
tree is pagan?
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