Hello Adam,

My name is Graig, and I wanted to make some observations about your website about the Roman Catholic Church. Since you have encouraged people to write, I’m sure you won’t mind in taking a few minutes reading in defense of what you have written.

So you know, I am not a catholic, nor am I a member of any church. However, I have done my share of studies with theology and the bible, and of the various so-called Christian churches.

First, don’t you go completely against the teaching of Christ by judging so harshly, and by only presenting not a scholarly attitude of your opinions, but a very offensive and arrogant tone in your writing?

Two, how can you possibly put so much faith in the Bible? I can only assume that you, like the Lutherans, the Calvinists, Bible Churches, ect. Have fallen into the same trap of the simple fact that… the Bible was written almost 300 years after Christ’s death. And even though that a Bible did exist, the printing press hadn’t been invented for the mass production of it until well over a thousand years later, so ALL Christians, even during the reformation of Martin Luther had to rely on oral tradition. If you read the bible, and I mean read a correct translation of it, not the King James version, It clearly states in it that the new Christians were to rely on the oral teachings and traditions of the apostles and their descendants. I am not going to mention any quotations from the Bible, because I am not as insecure as you seem to be needing to grasp onto the Bible for any security and proof, if you are truly intelligent enough than you will know to what I refer. You also seem to fall into the trap as many of the protestants (protestant meaning Protest-ants which is where you get all of those churches) do of holding onto to the Bible for any thoughts or traditions. All of the icons and practices that the Catholic church incorporates is not in the Bible because they are mostly all traditions that came into being to keep the faith up and the reminder of Christ and what he went through for everyone before a Bible even existed in a sense that ANYONE could have easy access to it. I think that you also take the scriptures of the Apostles too literal. It is proven archaeologically that the Apostles were not even named that they are in the Bible and they didn’t even write their own works. Also, are the people the Church? The only reason that there is reformation is because all they that found the need to reform saw the people as the church, instead of the church as the simple faith. The Catholic church is correct for not believing in sola scriptura because of the fact that the Bible is not God, it is a book. Written by imperfect hands, and imperfect translations. Even if the Holy Spirit communicated through a man to write the Bible, it is still an earthly commodity just like all the earthly reminders to the Catholics of the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary. Focusing so much on written words, and not your faith is enough to prove yourself wrong. The only ones that have changed the scriptures to fit their beliefs are the protestants. The catholic church has been around for 2000 years, and has evolved as it has needed to to keep up the faith of its members. There is nowhere where it says that anything the Catholics due is required. They believe in the sacrifice at the mass as the remembrance of Christ so I don’t know where you get your proof on that you say they are recreating it. Try talking to a Catholic openly face to face, go to a Mass, read some of their traditions and tell me how they are not holy and good. I’ve never met or heard of a Catholic that judged others so highly, nor do they condemn ANYONE to hell. They will always say that they are not the ones to decide such things, only God. Use the Bible yes, but don’t rely on the Bible as you do to that extent, it gets in the way too much of your true faith and love for God. Instead try to open your mind and your heart, and let God speak to you. And remember, all Christians, protestant or catholic use some kind of symbol as remembrance of Christ and God. Do you have a cross, around your neck, on your wall? Do you have a fish with a cross on it? Do you have a picture of Jesus? Where does it say in the Bible to have such an icon? Just believe and let others believe. I look forward to any correspondence you might have for me.

Thanks for your time.

Graig

Graig,
I appreciate your evaluation of my site and your comments about the Bible. Even though you say you are not catholic you certainly seem to know a lot about their doctrine and teaching. Unfortunately you are so mis-informed that all of your studying seems to be amiss.
First, you cite me for judging and you are partially right, I do judge but only according to the Biblical principle that allows for it. I never judge anyone on a personal basis because that is only for God to do so, but I have every right to judge a doctrine or teaching against what the Bible says. In fact we are commanded to do so by those that gave their life to pen those words that you put such little stock in.
Your information about the Bible is very much in error and if you truly have done the study you proclaim you would never make such statements. You obviously overlooked the Dead Sea Scrolls, and you have never heard of Parchments or the Codex Sinactus. You have also failed to study how that the Jewish Scribes meticulously recopied every scroll and how each scroll was re-inspected twice by different scribes each time to ensure accuracy.
You also seem to have overlooked any study of the disciples and the writers of the New Testament that you proclaim never wrote any of their books for 300 years. It has been proven that James wrote his book as early as 60 AD and Paul wrote to the Thessalonians as early as 70 AD. The last of the books written in the New Testament was found to be written no later in the time range of 90 -110 AD. That is quite a big difference from 300 AD. Even a scholar such as yourself should have seen this.
You also make an absurd statement about the printing press not being available and that those during the Reformation had to rely on oral tradition. Try explaining that to William Tyndale who was persecuted and put to death for distributing Bibles from a printing press that he had made! I am sure you are aware that Tyndale was persecuted before Luther even started the so called reformation.
You also make a comment about the correct Bible and state that it is not the King James Version. I would like to know which version that would be then, since the KJV has been verified to be accurate when compared to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Of course you already knew that being the scholar you are.
It would also be hard to explain a more accurate version since all other versions derived from the KJV with the exception of the Tyndale and the Jerusalem Bible. It would also be hard to pick one of the two mentioned since they both corroborate with the KJV.
You also seem to be ignorant of the fact that Paul, (who wrote most of the New Testament) wrote letters which are the books that we have in the New Testament and they were circulated throughout the Christian world at the time.
You state that I put too much focus on the words and not my faith, well the Word is what builds my faith and it is the guide by which I have my faith and know how to live my spiritual life. It is also the guide by which I can Judge any doctrine that does not agree with it. I do not judge persons but if they follow a false doctrine according to the Bible then the judgment is already made, I am not making it but simply relaying what the Word says. For example, I can say with assurance and as a matter of fact that anyone that does not accept the price that Jesus paid and make Him Lord of their life will end up in Hell. I did not make up that judgment, the Bible says that, I simply relay that judgment.
As for the icons, I do not kiss or pray to any icons. Do I have a cross, yes, in fact I have a twelve foot cross in my front yard and it is lighted at night. Why do I have it? To worship it? NO, but so that all those that drive by my house night or day will see it and think about what it represents. There is a big difference in the way catholics look at and adore their relics as to what is done by protestants. I don't need Rosary beads, I don't need statues of Mary in my yard, and I don't even need a cross in my yard if I ever thought it was becoming and icon that was worshiped instead of a symbol for what it is.
I am not sure if you just wanted someone to argue with or if you truly believe the things you said. If you do truly believe the things you said then I can only suggest that you do some serious study again, but first of all that you ask Jesus to take control of your life. You will never see the truth without Jesus in your heart and in control of your life. It is obvious by your letter that you have some deep roots with catholicism for you to defend it the way you did. If so that is part of the reason for your blindness and unwillingness to see the truth. Jesus can break all of that if you will just give Him control.
Thanks for your time, Adam

Hello my name is Chris and I was raised in a Protestant church thankfully. I married a catholic girl she has since left the catholic faith and attends a reformed church with me. We have three kids and are leaving to become full time missionaries in northern Mexico. My wife's family was OK with her leaving the catholic church until they found out that we are going to me missionaries in northern Mexico a predominantly catholic society. There exact words were that were going to convert Catholics to Christians. That is definitely true but they are now criticizing us for doing this. is there any advice you can give for dealing with a 83 year old grandmother. Thanks in advance Chris

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