Roman Catholicism and the Protestant Reformation
The Roman Catholic church is the largest “Christian” organization in the world and the largest single religious group on the planet with over 1.2 billion adherents.
Untold articles have been authored on this organization, pro, and con, over the centuries. As of 2020, There are approximately 700 million Pentecostals worldwide, 1.1 billion Muslims, so this puts the 1.2 billion Catholics into perspective.
From the 1400s, Catholic priests like Wycliff, Luther, Huss & Calvin started the Protestant revolution after they carefully read the New Testament and discovered many of the teachings of the Catholic Church appeared to contradict the New Testament. (Some of the concerns that they had are listed below).
I have personally known many God-fearing, born again Catholics who are dedicated servants of God.
Oracle Ministry – Healing Through Deliverance has a special deliverance program designed especially for Catholics. We attempt to assist them whenever possible. I have seen many Catholics delivered from demons and healed. The previously mentioned list of Protestant concerns simply reflects areas of confusion between the doctrines of the two religious bodies and does not represent a criticism of the Catholic religion. Greater clarification of the doctrines of the two entities, from our perspective, will lead to greater understanding and goodwill between the groups.
Ps Maurice Chapman
What are some of the concerns that the Protestant Reformers had?
1. Popes, Bishops, Cardinals and Priests are usually forbidden to marry in the Catholic church. This causes confusion among Protestants because Peter was married (Mark. 1: 29-31). In addition, the Priest Zacharias was married (Luke. 1: 5,13). Bishops are permitted to marry (1 Timothy 3:2) as are Deacons (1 Timothy 3:11).
2. Popes, Bishops, Cardinals and Priests are usually forbidden to marry in the Catholic church. This causes confusion among Protestants because Peter was married (Mark. 1: 29-31). In addition, the Priest Zacharias was married (Luke. 1: 5,13). Bishops are permitted to marry (1 Timothy 3:2) as are Deacons (1 Timothy 3:11).
3. Catholics commonly bow in front of statues in church. Some Protestants are confused over this practice because of the admonition in Exodus 20:3-5.3. During Mass, it is taught that a Priest can forgive someone’s sins. The NT teaches only God can forgive sins (Mark. 2:7).
4. Catholics call some of their spiritual leaders “Father.” This is a concern to some Protestants because Jesus recommend against this practice (Matthew 23:9).
5. Some Catholics ask Mother Mary or a deceased person, to act as a go-between for them to God. This practice confuses many Protestants because the concept of a mediator between living Christians and God appears to have been reserved ONLY for Jesus & the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 2:5-6, 1 John 2:1-3, Acts 4:10, 12, John 14:6, Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, 7:25, Romans 8:26-27, 34).
6. Purgatory confuses many Protestants because of its absence in the 4 gospels and in any of the teachings of Paul or John in Revelation. Additional confusion was generated in December 2005 when the concept of “Limbo” was removed in the Catholic tradition after being taught by Pope’s for over 8 centuries. It affected over 6 billion dead souls. The Bible appears to teach that when a person dies, they either go to directly to Hell or Heaven (Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:41,46, Hebrews 9:27). The “Limbo of the Innocents” and removal of “original sin” causes confusion because it has no New Testament scriptural foundation.6.
Purgatory confuses many Protestants because of its absence in the 4 gospels and in any of the teachings of Paul or John in Revelation. Additional confusion was generated in December 2005 when the concept of “Limbo” was removed in the Catholic tradition after being taught by Pope’s for over 8 centuries. It affected over 6 billion dead souls. The Bible appears to teach that when a person dies, they either go to directly to Hell or Heaven (Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:41,46, Hebrews 9:27). The “Limbo of the Innocents” and removal of “original sin” causes confusion because it has no New Testament scriptural foundation.
7. The concept of Mother Mary has caused much confusion in Protestantism. Some Catholics worship her and others do not. Some see her as divine and others do not. Some see her as a co-mediator of humanity an others do not. The new Testament describes her in a very positive light but does not seem to give her any special spiritual status beyond being the devoted mother of Jesus (Luke11:27-28, Ephesians 4:4-6). Jesus specifically noted that any born again Christian had the same spiritual status as his mother. We do know Mary (Greek. “Maria” or “Miriam”) was a Pentecostal (Acts 2), had other children (Matthew 13:55) and called God her “saviour” (Luke 1:47), which seems to indicate her need for remission of sins. Other doctrines regarding Mary which confuse Protestants are “perpetual virginity” (Matthew. 1:25), bleeding Mary statues, her being born without original sin (Romans 3:23) & apparitions of her (Our Lady of Fátima-Portugal, in clouds, etc.), none of which have any foundations in the New Testament
8. Catholics ascribe the word “Saint” to a special class of deceased Christians. Protestants are confused over this designation because all born again believers, dead or alive (1Corinthians 1:2, 6:1-2, Ephesians 5:3, Philippians 1:1, 4:22, Jude 1:14, Revelation 13:7, 20:9) receive this designation in the New Testement, and
9. The concept of Catholic food and marriage restrictions is confusing to protestants in light of 1Timothy 4:1-3.
