Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide men of the first century A.D. into “all truth” (John 16:13). In that century, the faith “was once for all delivered to the saints,” not progressively developed over centuries (Jude 3). God said the Scriptures give us everything we need for life and godliness, to be complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3), so we do not need additional spiritual instruction beyond God’s Word, and we must not add to His Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). In fact, binding unauthorized religious requirements on others is what caused the Galatians and others to be lost in the first century A.D. (Galatians 1:6-9; 5:1-6). Catholicism has gone beyond God’s authority and created its own system of religion, like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time on earth (Mark 7:7-9; Romans 10:1-3). Not only do they add commands, but they also completely contradict the Scriptures in many ways. The following are some of the unscriptural inventions of Catholicism:
• Papal supremacy and infallibility, including the claim that Peter was the first pope and that the church is built upon him – no mere human is presented in the Scriptures as an infallible head over the universal church; Christ alone is the faultless foundation and Chief Shepherd, and Peter himself was a married apostle and fellow elder who was publicly rebuked; the church is built upon the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not upon Peter (Matthew 8:14; 16:16-18; Acts 8:37; 10:25-26; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 9:5; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Galatians 2:11-14; Colossians 1:18).
• Exalting Mary beyond what the Bible teaches – they claim she was “preserved from all sin,” was bodily taken into Heaven, and should receive special religious devotion, but no passage teaches such things. The Bible presents her as a faithful and blessed servant who needed a Savior (Luke 1:46-47; Romans 3:23; Acts 1:14; 1 Timothy 2:5).
• Praying to Mary or departed “saints” – Christians are taught to pray to the Father through Christ, not to deceased believers (Matthew 6:9; John 16:23; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). All faithful Christians are saints (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:19).
• The rosary and repetitious prayers – Jesus warned against vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7; Ecclesiastes 5:2).
• The use of images in worship (statues, icons, bowing before them) – condemned in God’s Word (Exodus 20:4-5; Acts 17:29; 1 John 5:21).
• Transubstantiation (the bread and cup becoming the literal body and blood of Christ) – contradicts the figurative language and memorial nature of the Lord’s Supper, and conflicts with the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ (Matthew 26:26-29; John 10:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 6:63; Hebrews 10:10-14, 19-20).
• A separate “clergy priesthood” distinct from ordinary Christians – the New Testament teaches a priesthood of all Christians, not a separate class of men (1 Peter 2:5-9; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23-28; Revelation 1:6).
• Confession of sins to a Catholic priest for forgiveness – Christians are taught to confess sins to God and to one another; God forgives through Christ, our only Mediator and High Priest (1 John 1:9; James 5:16; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25).
• Celibacy required for church leaders – God requires the opposite—marriage for bishops/elders, and He warned of those who would “forbid to marry,” calling it a “doctrine of demons” (1 Timothy 3:2; 4:1-3; Titus 1:6; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Hebrews 13:4).
• Infant “baptism” – baptism in the Bible is immersion preceded by faith, repentance, and confession (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
• Purgatory – no passage teaches a post-death purification before judgment; God’s Word presents death as followed by judgment, with eternal destinies fixed (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:27).
• Observance of Ash Wednesday, Lent, and other holy days not authorized in the New Testament – Christians are not bound to man-made religious days, and binding what God has not authorized is sinful; Jesus warned against outward displays of fasting, and neither He nor His apostles established an annual season of fasting or repentance (Luke 9:23; Galatians 1:6-9; 5:1-4; Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelation 22:18-19; Matthew 6:16-18; 4:1-2).
• The Mass as a continuing sacrificial offering of Christ in worship – The Bible teaches that Christ was offered once for all and does not continue to be offered (Hebrews 9:25-28; 10:10-14; John 19:30).
• Exalting church tradition as equal to the Holy Scriptures – God’s Word alone is the standard of authority (Mark 7:7-9; John 16:13; Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3; Jude 3).
Excellent points and teaching, brother Jason.