Scriptural Authority for the Catholic Church

I have recently been quite taken back by Catholic apologists who try to claim that the foundation of their faith, traditions, and dogma is the Bible. In fact, I have seen these Catholics challenge others to prove that their religion is not based on God's Word. Yet it takes only a casual look at the facts to see that they are not built upon the doctrines and practices outlined in the Scriptures and that the official Catholic Church doesn't pretend to be.

“Thus it comes about that the Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal feelings of devotion and reverence” (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Chap. 2, 9, p. 682).

Questions For Our Catholic Friends

• Where in the Bible do we find Peter assuming and exercising the role of a Catholic pope?
• Where does the Bible say the early churches treated Peter in a papal fashion?
• Where does the Bible say that one man is the head of all churches?
• Where does Bible say God established a special priesthood for the churches that is separate from the priesthood of the believers?
• Where does the Bible describe the office of such priests in the early churches?
• Where does the Bible say that New Testament priests are ordained after the order of Melchizedek?
• Where in the Bible do we find a requirement that pastors be celibate?
• Where does the Bible say the apostles passed on their authority through a succession?
• Where does the Bible give standards for apostolic succession? There are standards for pastors and deacons, but where are the standards for an ongoing apostleship?
• Where does the Bible describe nuns in the early churches?
• Where in the Bible do we find anyone praying to Mary or to any other person other than God?
• Where does the Bible call Mary the Mother of God?
• Where does the Bible say that Mary is the Queen of Heaven?
• Where in the Bible do we find the teaching that Mary is sinless?
• Where in the Bible do we find the baptism of an infant who is too young to believe in Christ?
• Where does the Bible teach us that the church can identify dead people as saints and can then pray to them?
• Where does the Bible teach that a dead person can intercede for the living?
• Where does the Bible teach about purgatory?
• Where does the Bible teach that churches should use the bones of dead men in any type of religious manner?
• Where does the Bible teach that the churches used indulgences?
• Where in the Bible do we find even one example of a Catholic mass being conducted or even described? If Christ established the mass and if it is central to the Christian faith as Rome claims, why is there not one example of it in the book of Acts and the New Testament epistles?
• Where in the Bible do we find Christians taking the Lord’s supper by partaking of the bread alone without the wine or grape juice?
• Where in the Bible does Paul or any of the early church leaders teach that there are seven sacraments?
• Where in the Bible do we find the churches practicing the sacrament of confirmation?
• Where in the Bible do we find the churches practicing any sort of extreme unction or last rites as a sacrament?
• Where in the Bible do we find the prayer of the rosary?
• Where in the Bible do we find that New Testament churches are to conduct elaborate rituals and ceremonies after the fashion of Rome?
• Where in the Bible do we find that the headquarters for the church is to be in Rome?

A Challenge to Return to a Biblical Faith in Christ

Consider one other question. I recently wrote an article entitled "The Blood-Bath of the Catholic Inquisition" in which I posed an incredibly practical question. For hundreds of years, the Catholic Church officially sponsored the execution of anyone who didn't adhere to their belief and practice. Yet today, the Catholic church proudly totes the idea that other religions are simply alternative paths to heaven. Who was right, the church then or now?

These are two mutually exclusive ideologies and yet both have been claimed by the Catholic Church at different periods throughout history. It is most likely, in fact, that this type of dogma was a direct result of the political and civil power that the church has been able to exact over its followers. When they were able, they executed infidels. When they were not in the ruling power, they talk of peace and brotherhood. Were these doctrines created out of political expediency? Very likely. Were they created as a divine revelation from God? Very unlikely.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” ~1 John 5:12-13

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” ~Ephesians 2:8,9

If you are a Catholic, I don't hate you, dislike you or have any negative feelings toward you. And although I may come across as hard-hitting and straightforward, I am not trying to be 'hateful.' I am simply trying to elevate and promote the truth. I am so firm about these truths because I want you to see the errors in the Catholic Church and turn to a Biblical faith in Christ.


For His Glory,

Nick