Page 567 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the 13:13; Ep. 1:1; Ph. 1:1; Col. 1:2, 4; Phile. 7; He. 6:10;
commandments of men” (Mt. 15:3-9). 13:24). Even the carnal Christians at Corinth were
Error # 11—Prayers to the “saints” called saints (2 Co. 1:1). Christians are not saints
The Roman Catholic Church has a list of people who because they are special; they are saints because they
have been officially proclaimed saints. The process of have a special Saviour and He has removed their sin
“sainting” someone is called “canonization,” and the list before God (Re. 1:5-6; 1 Pe. 2:9-10).
is called “the Roman Martyrology.” Catholics are Rome and the Charismatic Movement
encouraged to own images of these saints and to pray to Since 1967, when the first Catholics in America
them. began speaking in tongues and experiencing other
“A canonization is a solemn pronouncement by which charismatic phenomena, the so-called Catholic
the Supreme Pontiff declares that a particular person, “renewal” has grown by leaps and bounds and has
while on earth, practised Christian virtue in a heroic spread throughout the world. It is clear, though, that
degree, and may now be honoured by the faithful as a this “renewal” is not a revival of biblical truth, but is a
saint. A canonization is the outcome of a long and renewal of devotion to Catholic error. The Catholic
exacting examination bearing on the words and deeds charismatic movement is not leading people to the
of the servant of God and on the reality of at least four truth, but into a deeper, more dedicated relationship
miracles attributed to his intercession. patron saints. with the errors of Rome. Consider some statements by
They are in heaven, and very close to God, and very
powerful with Him. ... A saint is not only a protector to key leaders in the “renewal” movement:
invoke but also a model to imitate” (Joseph Segers, “Unanimously, people [Roman Catholics who have had
Any Questions?, pp. 79,80,84). charismatic experiences] report a greater appreciation
Bible Answer: of the sacraments, especially the Mass as meaningful
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator encounters with Christ, the Real Presence [in the mass]
and the role of Mary” (John V. McHale, The Furrow,
between God and men (1 Ti. 2:5-6). “One mediator” May 1973).
means ONE, not two or three or seventy. Mary nor any “Catholic charismatics are placing more emphasis on
other person can mediate between God and men, and their church identity and heritage than ever before.
there is no support in the New Testament for a mediator Wherever I go ... Catholic charismatics are
between the individual and Christ. rediscovering the meaning of traditional Catholic
2. The Bible nowhere teaches Christians to seek help beliefs and practices, including the sacraments, the
from the dead. The only support for this doctrine is rosary, the Virgin Mary and the saints. ... For years I’ve
found in an apocryphal book, II Maccabees. In the entry been telling Pentecostals that the Catholic Church was
on the Apocrypha we have shown that these writings de-emphasizing devotion to Mary. Now I hear it’s all
coming back, with the charismatics leading the
are not inspired Scripture and should not therefore be way” (Nick Cavnar, “Why Are Catholic Charismatics
used to support doctrinal beliefs. Getting So Catholic?” Charisma, April 1985; Cavnar is
3. To make images of men, then bow before them executive editor of the Catholic publication New
and pray to them is idolatry. Even the angels would not Covenant).
allow men to bow before them (Re. 19:10; 22:8-9). “Anyone who has become a genuine Charismatic, to my
4. The Bible teaches men to pray to God in the name knowledge, has become a better Catholic” (Cardinal
of Jesus Christ, not to dead men or in the name of dead Manning of Los Angeles, quoted by Priest Finbarr
men. There is not one New Testament example of God’s Devine, Charismatic Renewal for Catholics, 1976, p.
48).
people praying to the dead or approaching God through
any mediator other than Jesus Christ, the Son. The only “There is, however, another option and this is the way
that has been followed by the millions of happy
way to God is through the sacrifice of and the name of Catholics who are active in charismatic renewal. They
Jesus Christ (He. 10:19-22). The blood of Jesus Christ have experienced a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit
brings us into the very holiest of holies in heaven, into in answer to expectant prayer, and they are content to
the very presence of Almighty God. What unbiblical refer to this as ‘being baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ ...
nonsense, then, is the Roman doctrine of the Also, very strikingly, they have found themselves
intercession of “the saints.” No one who has Jesus Christ drawn more deeply into their Catholic faith and
needs a Catholic saint! practice. The Mass and the sacraments have become
5. Rome’s dogma of “sainthood” is unscriptural. In more meaningful and fruitful. Quite simply, they have
become more Catholic (Derek Lance, “The Dilemma of
the N.T. the term “saint” is applied to all true Christians, Being a Catholic Charismatic,” Chariscenter USA
not merely to those who have unusual qualities (Ac. Newsletter, March-April 1990; Lance is a Catholic priest
9:13, 32, 41; 26:10; Ro. 8:27; 12:13; 15:25, 31; of Northampton, England).
16:2,15; 1 Co. 6:1-2; 14:33; 16:1,15; 2 Co. 8:4; 9:1, 12;

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 567