Let’s Talk About Catholicism

by Stephanie Mayberry

I recently had an interaction online with a staunch Catholic who responded angrily to a post I wrote. There is some merit here in the post, his irritation, and my answer, so I will share it here (sans the names, of course).

The Post that started it all:

My current gripe. Just really tired of this.
You see people who have decided that they are “experts” in this or that. They elevate themselves to a status that isn’t real.
But the very WORST are the “Google Christians” who are listening to every crackpot on the internet and weaving all that misinformation into a theology that is far from biblical. There’s no Holy Ghost, no Torah, no separation from the world, disrespect of God’s anointed, and NO reverence for God.
STOP being a Google Christian, or worse, a YouTube Christian!
When you listen to every voice that comes into your space without discerning biblical validity, you become a babbling tower and God is not in you.
You begin to reflect the WORLD instead of the GOD you are supposed to be serving.

Facebook Post by Stephanie Mayberry

The Catholic’s Comment:

I’m a Catholic Christian, the religion that was established by Christ through Peter. I get tired of folks criticizing my religion, my faith. I believe everything my Catholic religion teaches me. You do realize other forms of the Christian church are off shoots from the Catholic faith? Doug Blacklock is correct in his post. I’ll listen to my priest before I listen to other folks spouting off their beliefs on this platform.

My Response:

Well, I did not specifically mention Catholicism, but since you opened that door…

There is no scriptural evidence to support your claim that Catholicism was established by Jesus through Peter.

1 John 2:6 specifically says that if we abide in Him then we walk as He walked.

That isn’t happening in the Catholic church – or in the vast majority of modern churches, to be fair.

In Matthew 5:18 Jesus said that no portion of scripture is to be changed, yet the Catholic faith (as well as numerous others) has taken great liberties in rewriting scripture to support their own unscriptural beliefs.

Catholics rewrote the Ten Commandments so that they would not have to deal with the issue of graven images. That’s pretty easy to confirm.

I have no issue with Catholics. A good chunk of my family is Catholic and I love them dearly. There are some very good Catholic people.

But being a good person does not mean that you are walking as He walked – and it definitely does not mean that you are walking according to scripture.

History tells us of many changes made to scripture and religious practices. Many, if not most, come from the Catholic church.

Catholics invented the trinity. It is not biblical. The truth is, Jesus is God. The invention of the trinity is documented in historical documents that you can access at your local library.

Catholics also changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.

They also invented Christmas and wove that story into their faith even though it has been terribly skewed and it has been proven that Jesus was born during Sukkot – a Fall Feast of the Lord.

And yes, you are absolutely correct. The majority of modern churches are indeed Roman Catholic – but that isn’t necessarily a good thing because they have strayed so far from scripture.

They celebrate the pagan holidays, worship idols, change scripture to suit their own agendas, worship on a day other than the appointed Sabbath of the Lord – the list goes on.

They not only deny the Feast Days and do not keep them, they REJECT them and put pagan traditions in their place.

So yes, most modern churches are Catholic at their roots.

I am not asking you to change. What you believe is your business.

But I am asking you to research what you believe. Study scripture and work out your own salvation, don’t just jump on board with what a priest has told you.

We are First Century Christians which is indeed the faith that Jesus established and it is right in line with 1 John 2:6. We keep the Apostle’s Doctrine and follow the model of the Acts church. We have returned to the roots, returned to Jesus and what He taught when He walked among us.

I encourage you to search the scriptures with an open heart and an open mind.

Deception has run rampant throughout all religions. We have to stop idolizing our religion, worshipping it, and putting it above God, a get back to what it really means to live biblically.

Also, please understand, I am not telling you to listen to me. I am not your pastor.

I am asking you to study it out for yourself before believing what ANYONE is teaching you.

That’s what scripture tells us in Philippians 2:12 and 1 John 4:1.

Study to show YOURSELF approved (2 Timothy 2:15).

The Catholic’s Response:

And this is why I said end of discussion. There is nothing I can say that will change your stance or what you say about Catholicism. Catholicism is the religion all others like to beat up, and that’s fine. Fact of the matter is most other religions broke off from the Catholic faith to form their own religions. It is what it is. Peter is the founder of the Church, and the Bible clearly quotes Jesus as saying he would build his church on Peter, who was the first Bishop/Pope. I believe everything the Roman Catholic Church teaches.

My Response:

 And that is your right to believe as you want.

But you must understand that coming onto my posts and making assertions that cannot be found in scripture is like coming into my home or our church and doing it.

And when these things happen, I must respond because my responsibility is to uphold what is scriptural without any additions or omissions.

So you can say, “end of discussion,” but in my home, in my church, I’m sorry, you do not have the final word. I am trying to be as kind as possible, but my obligation is to my Creator and no one else.

It is not my nature to tickle ears. I teach truth. And when things are brought in here that do not line up with scripture, it is my responsibility to correct them. After all, this is my arena, and this is a teaching page.

I have a responsibility to uphold scriptural truth, no matter what.

All I am doing is encouraging you to study it out.

You may be surprised at what you find. On judgment day you will answer for what you sought out in the books (OT and NT). You won’t be asked what your parents, priest, or anyone else told you.

Only what you studied out in His word on your own.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:12

I pray you find peace.