Are Catholic beliefs and practices biblical?

Answer

The question regarding any church and its practices should be, “Is this biblical?” If a teaching is biblical (considered in context), it should be accepted. If it is not, it should be rejected. God is more concerned with whether a church is following His will and obeying His Word than with its ability to trace a lineage back to Jesus’ apostles. Jesus was particularly worried about forsaking the Word of God to adhere to human traditions “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”, (Mark 7:7). Traditions are not inherently wrong; some traditions are good and valuable. Once again, the crucial point is whether a doctrine, practice, or tradition aligns with the Bible. So, how does the Roman Catholic Church compare to the teachings of the Word of God?

Salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation comes through baptismal regeneration and is sustained through the Catholic sacraments unless a deliberate sin is committed that disrupts the state of sanctifying grace. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace received through simple faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that good works are the outcome of a transformed heart resulting from salvation (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17) and the product of that new life in Christ (John 15).

Assurance of salvation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that salvation cannot be guaranteed or assured. However, 1 John 5:13 affirms that the purpose of the letter of 1 John was to provide believers with the certainty of their salvation.

Good Works: The Roman Catholic Church asserts that Christians are saved by meritorious works (starting with baptism) and that salvation is mai

Maintained by good works (receiving the sacraments, confession of sin to a priest, etc.), the Bible states that Christians are saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:10-11; Romans 3:19-24).

Baptism: In the New Testament, baptism is ALWAYS practiced AFTER saving faith in Christ. Baptism is not the means of salvation; it is faith in the Gospel that saves (1 Corinthians 1:14-18; Romans 10:13-17). The Roman Catholic Church teaches baptismal regeneration of infants, a practice never found in Scripture. The only possible hint of infant baptism in the Bible that the Roman Catholic Church can point to is that the whole household of the Philippian jailer was baptized in Acts 16:33. However, the context nowhere mentions infants. Acts 16:31 declares that salvation is by faith. Paul spoke to all of the household in verse 32, and the whole household believed (verse 34). This passage only supports the baptism of those who have already believed, not of infants.

Prayer: The Roman Catholic Church teaches Catholics to not only pray to God but also to petition Mary and the saints for their prayers. Contrary to this, we are taught in Scripture to only pray to God (Matthew 6:9; Luke 18:1-7).

Priesthood: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a distinction between the clergy and the “lay people,” whereas the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers «But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: »,

(1 Peter 2:9).

Sacraments: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a believer receives grace through the sacraments. However, this teaching is not supported by Scripture.

Confession: The Roman Catholic Church teaches that believers must confess their sins to a priest to receive forgiveness, unless hindered. In contrast, Scripture instructs believers to confess their sins to God, as stated in “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”, (1 John 1:9).

Mary: The Roman Catholic Church teaches various doctrines about Mary, including her role as the Queen of Heaven, perpetual virginity, and co-redemptrix who ascended into heaven. However, in Scripture, Mary is depicted as a faithful servant of God who became the mother of Jesus. The additional attributes assigned to Mary by the Roman Catholic Church lack biblical support. The concept of Mary as co-redemptrix and mediator conflicts with Scripture. Acts 4:12 affirms Jesus as the sole redeemer, and 1 Timothy 2:5 states that Jesus is the only mediator between God and humanity.

Numerous other examples could be cited. These discrepancies clearly highlight the unbiblical nature of certain teachings within the Catholic Church. While all Christian denominations have traditions not explicitly grounded in Scripture, it is essential for Scripture to serve as the foundation of Christian faith and practice. The Word of God is consistently true and trustworthy, unlike church traditions. Our guiding principle should be: “What does Scripture say?” (Romans 4:3;Galatians 4:30;Acts 17:11). 2 Timothy 3:16-17 asserts, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”