Josiah Concept Ministries

I really didn’t want to be an anti-Catholic apologist. To that end, I have studied the New Age phenomenon, Scientology, and a broad overview of heresies. But, God has prepared me to speak against the Catholic dogmas by giving me a love of the Church, concern for its members, and a desire to keep abreast of the activities therein. My entire family is Catholic, I was raised Catholic, and I have received four of the seven sacraments in a Catholic Church (one sacrament I received in a Protestant church on the happiest day of my life: May 30, 2005).

I don’t want an anti-Catholic apologetics ministry. But it isn’t about what I want, it is about what God has prepared for me, and He has prepared this for me. Therefore, I will do it with glee, and I will pray that He is glorified by my doing it.

But, I digress. The real reason I’m writing is a comment offered on Jimmy Akin’s blog by a reader named Brian John Schuettler on this article. Brian writes:

Yes, I understand that we are free to believe that Mary died or didn’t die and I did not imply that the Church teaches definitively either one or the other. Also, I have great respect for JP2 and also respect his opinion in this regard. However, he was not speaking ex cathedra and so I am free to hold my own opinion in this matter, as do all Catholics. As far as I am concerned, it is more logically, in light of the Genesis account of the meaning of physical death being a direct result of original sin, to believe that Mary did not die in that sense. I am just one of a vast number of Christians who have accepted this down through the centuries. [emphasis added]

This is a very scary quote, and it exemplifies the modern Protestent viewpoint that the Catholic Church is simply the world’s largest cult. This quote implies what is taught in Catholicism: that if Rome hasn’t spoken on the issue, then you, the Catholic are entitled to your own opinion. Of course, if Rome has spoken, you have no option. You must believe what she declares.

This is hardly a biblical position. Paul is the single most quoted apostle in Catholicism. He had things to say about being led by the nose in this fashion. Most notably, he said “Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while others think that all days are the same. We each should firmly make up our own minds” (Rom 14:5)

The Matthew Henry Concise Commentary says of Romans 14:1-6:

Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would be hypocritical and of no avail. Attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless. Let not Christian fellowship be disturbed with strifes of words. It will be good for us to ask ourselves, when tempted to disdain and blame our brethren; Has not God owned them? and if he has, dare I disown them? Let not the Christian who uses his liberty, despise his weak brother as ignorant and superstitious. Let not the scrupulous believer find fault with his brother, for God accepted him, without regarding the distinctions of meats. We usurp the place of God, when we take upon us thus to judge the thoughts and intentions of others, which are out of our view. The case as to the observance of days was much the same. Those who knew that all these things were done away by Christ’s coming, took no notice of the festivals of the Jews. But it is not enough that our consciences consent to what we do; it is necessary that it be certified from the word of God. Take heed of acting against a doubting conscience. We are all apt to make our own views the standard of truth, to deem things certain which to others appear doubtful. Thus Christians often despise or condemn each other, about doubtful matters of no moment. A thankful regard to God, the Author and Giver of all our mercies, sanctifies and sweetens them.

Remember that Paul thought that we should judge for ourselves the validity of what he said (1Cor 10:15). Submission to earthly authority is biblical (cf. Rom 14:1-6, esp. verses 1 & 5). But it is not biblical to receive absolute and infallible faith and moral teaching from anyone other than God.

What about a governing body that declares Holy Days of Obligation, feast days of saitns, etc? Paul also had something to say about that: “So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath. All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ” (Col 2:16, 17).

My prayer is that Catholics who read this will be shown the truth by God, and that they will stop blindly accepting what Rome teaches them. I pray they will check all such teachings by the Word of God.