Problems With Catholicism

 A brief overview of problems concerning the Roman Catholic religion.

Dead Faith, Dead Works

While Catholicism does profess the trinity of God and important aspects of the gospel, it promotes some of the very sins that Jesus died for. It is dangerously contradictory. 

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) It is not enough to merely claim to believe in God and Jesus if that faith is dead. As James also wrote, faith without works is dead because someone who has true faith will do the works of Christ as a result. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20) They have rosaries with crucifixes and large statue crucifixes in the churches, but they completely miss the PURPOSE of Christ’s death. Jesus died to DELIVER us from sin and the very heart problem that leads us to it, but Catholicism PROMOTES SIN. It does not preach the gospel that produces saving faith, regeneration and sanctification. But for a true believer, the person dies in spiritual baptism meaning they put off the sins of the flesh, then they come alive in love for God and His commandments. Someone who loves God (which is the first and great commandment) will obey His word. 

            One of the biggest errors of Catholicism is their many dogmas and false doctrines, most of which have slight basis in the Bible. (The worst lies have some basis or element of truth in them, but enough falsehood to be fatal.) Twisting the scriptures to fit a manmade doctrine IS SIN. It is FALSEHOOD. And the book of Revelation informs us that everyone who loves and makes a lie will have their part in the lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8, 22:15) The leaders of this religion are most responsible for creating and teaching their false doctrines, but many regular folk believe it not knowing better.

Here's a helpful reference of the differences between the true gospel and what's written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

from FOJC Radio: https://www.fojcradio.com/home/hot-topics/catholic-belief-information/

Warning

Jesus also prophesied in the gospels that many people, namely the religious, will come to Him in the last day but He will say to them, DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Iniquity is lawlessness. Catholicism not only breaks God’s laws, it has gone so far as to remove and change some of them! While it is not our good works that save us because justification is by faith only, we must know that Christ wants us to do the will of the Father.

False Representation 

Another major problem with Catholicism is how it falsely represents the true worship of God by spreading the idea or impression that the faith of Christ/the Bible endorses its ways. Through the false doctrines, repetitious prayers, graven images, ritualistic traditions and superstitious customs, they make the gospel seem like a man-centered carnal religion that is hypocritical and confusing. Having grown up in the Catholic church myself I know that's how it appeared to me, and I never learned the gospel and true worship of God. I did not know that Christ came to reconcile us to God to have a relationship with Him. And besides how all that affects unbelievers, it also makes it tremendously difficult for Catholics themselves to escape this prideful religion and see God any other way than through their idolatrous images and rituals. It imprints in a person’s mind what Jesus and God look like, and it draws them so far away from spiritual worship that they end up thinking they know God but actually don’t know Him at all. The scriptures say that if a person claims to know God but doesn’t obey His commandments, they are a liar and don’t know Him at all!

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4)

             What everyone needs to know is that God has nothing to do with Catholic operations, and we know this because if anything goes against the Bible then it goes against God Himself. Catholicism does not represent the truth—it distorts it and is the biggest counterfeit of the truth in existence. It has enough to appear Christian on the surface, but if anyone is in relationship with God and knows His Word they will understand that this religion is not glorifying Him at all whatsoever (the imagery and statues in the Vatican are very telling all by themselves), it is rather a mockery.  There’s nothing like lifting up a crucifix depicting Jesus’ death while partaking of the many sins that HE DIED FOR. He died to REMOVE those sins and take them away. But Catholicism lifts up the crucifix while doing the very things He suffered to atone for. It’s the biggest slap in the face one could imagine. 

The cross of Christ is a lesson that all sin is worthy of the wrath of God; the good news is that we can escape that wrath by genuine faith in Jesus. God hates sin vehemently and we should too. John the Baptist said every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.

“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10)

What Catholics need to do is put their full and entire faith in Jesus Christ and the cross ALONE—not the pope, not religious works, not the church and its traditions. When someone places true faith in the blood of Christ and prays for forgiveness from God, they will be justified and forgiven of all sin at that moment. They also need to renounce the deceptions and sins of Catholicism, repent for partaking in it and pray genuine heartfelt prayers to God for cleansing. This is not a flesh battle, it’s a spiritual one. There are powerful spirits behind this religion and that’s why we need to first and foremost place our faith in the TRUE GOSPEL and then learn God’s word which is our sword of defense. 

God truly loves us and that’s why He wants us to depart from lies so we can be as close to Him as we possibly can.