by David J. Stewart | June 2002
This
was the question presented to me by a Catholic gentleman which I recently
witnessed to. He listened attentively as I shared the Gospel
of Jesus Christ with him. He told me he had been a Catholic his
entire life. As we conversed, I realized that he had high views of
the Catholic church. I tried to explain to him the errors and
blasphemies of Catholicism.
Then he defended Catholicism by asking, “There's so many problems in the world, why criticize religion?” I thought upon his sincere question for a brief moment and then gave him the following reasoning. “Yes, the world is in a mess! Who could argue with that fact? 'Tis true, mankind has never been able to govern himself. However, who doesn't know that? To expose the troubles of the world is like stating that the sky is blue. On the other hand, false religion is deceitful. The Devil tries to counterfeit the truth with his lies and Satanic doctrines as best as he possibly can. The average person knows what is wrong with homosexuality, it is common sense. However, religion comes to us in the name of Jesus, deceitfully appearing as true Christianity. It is for this critical reason that I root out and expose false doctrines and heretics.”
Satan is a master counterfeiter. We read in God's Word . . .
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2nd Corinthians 11:13-15)
Question: Who are these imposters? If you listen to folks like Paul Harvey or Oprah Winfrey, you'd think all roads lead to Heaven—a big lie of the Devil. My friend, all flights do not lead to Dallas, Texas. We must be careful about adopting silly reasoning based on human reasoning.
I once met a man who believed in reincarnation, simply because he learned that a caterpillar transforms from one form into another (a butterfly). He is basing his eternal soul's destiny on foolishness. You had better sit down with a King James Bible and decide for yourself whether or not YOU believe it is God's Word. I made my decision years ago that the King James Bible IS WITHOUT A DOUBT the eternally preserved, inerrant, infallible, inspired, holy Word of God! There is NO other Final Authority than God's Word, and I believe it to be the King James Bible for the English-speaking world.
I cannot make you believe the Bible, you MUST (and will) decide that for yourself. Every person, no matter who, MUST decide what the Bible means to them. You can either reject God's Word and live your life destitute of the truth, sealing your own doom; or else you can believe the Bible and obey it, pleasing God. The Bible has never been disproved! Take the challenge, if you dare. Science, history and archeology all support the Holy Bible.
Why do I criticize religion? Because it influences people to turn away from the Living God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh, how wicked are those priests and false prophets who lead people into damnation with their manmade traditions. God's batting average is pretty good friend, He hasn't had a strike out yet. You'd be wise to stick with God. Unfortunately, the Catholic gentleman I witnessed to did not get saved. He is still too enamored with the almighty Catholic church to see the truth about it. Unless he repents of his unbelief, he will die in his self-righteousness and have to pay for his own sins in Hell forever.
You see friend, Catholicism is extremely dangerous (as are ALL false religions). Pope Paul VI, November 21, 1962 (Vatican II) said that the Catholic church is the only way to salvation. He said that baptism is the “door” into the church (the Catholic Church exclusively). He said that a person could not be saved apart from the Catholic Church. This is blasphemy!!! John 10:9 makes clear that ONLY Jesus is the DOOR into Heaven. There is not one Scripture in all the Bible telling us to trust the church—not one! Pope Paul VI is a fool! Trusting the church, any church, is a sure road to destruction.
Water baptism is NOT a door! Getting baptized will just get you wet. The Bible proclaims, “YE MUST BE BORN-AGAIN” (John 3:3-7). You won't hear the Pope mention being “born-again.” The Catholic Church arrogantly teaches that it is the door to Heaven. This is a wicked Satanic lie of the Devil! The Pope claims to be infallible on all matters of faith and morals. This is another lie! The Bible says, “For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Apart from Jesus Christ, the Pope is a dope and he has no hope! If this offends you, so be it. How dare him claim to be infallible! The Catholic Church cannot save anyone, not even itself. ONLY Jesus Christ can save!
Please don't be a fool. If you think you're going to get to Heaven through a religious organization, then you are mightily mistaken. The Pope is NOT saved, he knows not the Lord. Only apostate ministers and reprobate men praise the Pope. If the Pope were a genuine Christian, then he surely would not claim to be God upon the earth.
The bottom line is that many Catholics choose to remain willfully ignorant of the truth. The same was true of the unbelieving Jews in Jesus' time. Jesus said to them in Mark 7:9, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” The truth is obvious, but their hearts are stone cold because of their loyalty to family tradition, et cetera. Billions of Catholic souls are headed for Hell if they don't stop trusting in their own self-righteousness for salvation.
Hey, ask the Pope to show you the scars in his hands and feet where he died on a cross for you. Ask the priest to show you the scars on his brow from the crown of thorns laid upon his head, and then driven in. Ask a Catholic Cardinal to show you his nail-scarred feet. They can't, because they didn't pay for your sins—Jesus did!
Why do I criticize religion? Because it sends people to Hell. Catholicism is sending people to Hell. In Luke 11:44 Jesus said to the Jewish religious leaders, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.” Only through the Truth of God's Word will people's darkened eyes be opened. I criticize religion because most people are woefully ignorant of the Holy Scriptures and fail to recognize the truth. There are thousands religions, and not one of them can take you to Heaven. Salvation is NOT found in any religion, it is found in a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ! Religion didn't pay for our sins, Jesus did!
Also, the Catholic religion has taken Jesus' sweet mother, Mary, and morphed her into a monstrosity. Catholics teach three distinct heresies concerning Mary which are not taught in the Scriptures:
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The Immaculate Conception (the heresy that Mary was born without a sin-nature and never sinned)
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The Perpetual Virginity of Mary (the heresy that Mary never had sex nor children after Christ's birth)
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The Assumption of Mary (the heresy that Mary was bodily taken into Heaven without an earthly death)
At first glance, the Catholic Church may look real and seem legitimate; but at it's core it is Satanic in belief and practice. I believe most Catholics are sincere, but so were all the passengers aboard the Hindenburg blimp that went down in flames on May 6, 1937. If you've never acknowledged your guilt of sin and have never come to the Heavenly Father by way of the cross of Jesus Christ for forgiveness, then you need to be saved friend. Eternal life is a free gift. Salvation is receiving, not giving. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.
