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A Biblical Evaluation of the Roman Catholic Church and Her TraditionsThe Catholic Church claims to be the one true Church established by Jesus Christ for the salvation of all mankind (Rev. John A. O'Brien, The Faith of Millions , 46). The Bible says the church is the pillar of truth. This means You must teach what is in accord with the word, sound doctrine (the apostle Paul's instructions to Titus, (2:1). We are not to go beyond what is written. On this the Roman church disqualifies itself. The Roman Church has been one of the most powerful secular and religious influences in the history of all civilization ...." today with over 800 million plus members, some Say over a billion they hold their destiny in their hands of power.
Roman Catholics evaluate their own church on the basis of their churches
teaching, not biblical teaching. Even their own theologian Augustine (353-430 writes: "Faith in Scriptures is the most Catholic mark of all."(sermon 14, De Verbo Apost.)But this cannot be practiced when Traditions are contrary, challenging the Word in the Way it was written. Regardless of what may seem as substantial changes that have occurred in the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II, such as they have encouraged its members to read the Bible (when they in the past Had forbidden this). Many who are not Catholic, that are Christian still do not understand what Roman Catholicism really believes and practices. This ignorance has led many to be in unity with them and ignore giving them the Bibles gospel. What Does it matter if you read it And listen to their magisterium to interpret it ALL FOR YOU? The most serious issue to any one that is biblical literate is that Roman Catholicism is unwilling to accept the Word as their biblical authority, as the final arbiter of Christian faith and practice. This is not is not only a denial' of the truth, that is God’s eternal word but thy add` traditions calling these the truth over centuries that claimed to be APOSTOLIC, that leads one to departure from the word. No catholic knows if they are going to heaven, not even mother Theresa nor the pope, AS SOMEONE IN the Vatican (the pope?) must endorse their entry as a saint. Everything must pass through the church. Catholic Tradition is their means of divine revelation, any biblically correct teachings they have in the Church are nullified by these traditions they accept as truths, equal with God’s word. Their traditions are easily disproven because their 1 traditions came hundreds after the apostles wrote and completed the Word. The canon was completed before any of their church councils (before nicea in 325), which means they did not give the world the bible, they endorsed it. But by adding their traditions they invented later, they were teaching that the Bible is not a sufficient rule of faith, it needs 3 traditions they invented afterward. Having all these additional 2 traditions to be practiced as IF THEY WERE WRITTEN by the apostles (instead WTITTEN BY THEM as NOT FOUND IN THE WORD) they are saying the bible was not sufficient. This made their church have equal authority to the Holy Spirit who inspired the Word, each tradition thy added condemns the former Catholics, because they did not know of it to obey and practice it. Paul explains, “how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the 10 traditions of my fathers.”After he is saved he says the same thing that Jesus said of the traditions in Judaism that was taught by the Pharisees, being not only not biblical they lead ONE AWAY FROM FOLLOWING AND SERVING Christ. Calling it "leaven of the Pharisees” Jesus taught that the religious traditions lead people away from God, numerous of times, in various ways. Matt 15:3You “transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition” And in v:6 “you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” Prov.30:5 “Every word of God is pure, it does not teach the same for traditions. instead the apostles Peter and Paul predicted and warned that in the later times "false teachers" would rise within the Church, They are also called "manmade traditions" - "doctrines of men". Since every word of the Bible is said to be God's word, pure, unadulterated, the Bible is without error. So If one Has doctrines not plainly found in the word, the are in error. John the apostle writes to all,1 John 4:6 “He who knows God hears us( apostles words that are written); he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” They have the spirit of error not the Spirit of truth. The Apostle Paul warns Christians: "Beware lest any man spoil [ruin] you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not of Christ.” The Religious teachers tried to retain the traditions and rituals of Judaism, bringing them into the grace of God. (Gal.2:16,3:2, :4.) Paul says in 2 Thess. 2:15-16 “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.(Meaning the teachings from the word, what is written. which is exactly what he taught elsewhere, saying not to go beyond the word. Their traditions added were n different than the Pharisees that Lead the people away God’s word. The Pharisees had developed hundreds of traditions regarding they more often elevated their traditions to be equal with the word, as the law of God, thy Reinterpreted the law given through Moses the "correct" observance of. We are told by the apostles “Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15 Douay Rheims Trans.).The Word is called the truth, not traditions. p.2 Thy word is truth- the competing nature of man- made traditions
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