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Home , Catholic Bible, Five solae, Impeccability, Soli Deo gloria

Catholic for a Reason #4

Engaging with Protestants Game Plan for the Evening

• Prayer for Christian Unity • Aren’t we all just Christians, why bother? • Significant Common Ground and Significant Differences – Common Ground – The : Scriptural Basis, , – Scripture and – Faith and Works: , , and Grace – The : The Eucharist, Confession • Common misunderstandings that you can clarify: – Mary – – Priesthood of the Baptized • What does it mean for us to be “one” as desired? Prayer for Christian Unity Lord Jesus , at your Last Supper you prayed to the Father that all should be one. Send your Holy Spirit upon all who bear your name and seek to serve you. Strengthen our faith in you, and lead us to love one another in humility. May we who have been reborn in one be united in one faith under one Shepherd.

Amen. What’s the point?

• Jesus prayed for this! – I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are…“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one” –John 17:9-11, 20-22 • The Scandal of Disunity • Confusion • Evangelization and unified Christian witness Who are we talking to? Who are we talking to? The Basics and The • The Absolute Supremacy of God’s Word • The Absolute Supremacy of the Grace of Christ • The General Priesthood of Believers

• – By Grace Alone • – By Faith Alone • – In Christ Alone • – By Scripture Alone • – For God’s Glory Alone Common Ground

• We all believe in the • We believe the to be the Word of God • The Incarnation and Historical Details of the Christian Faith – Christ is the Son of God – He came to save us from and death – He really lived in history and worked miracles – He really was crucified, died, was buried, rose on the third day, and ascended into heaven • Baptism – With water and the Trinitarian formula – The import of mutually recognized baptism is that we Catholics are members of the Body of Christ with our Protestant brothers and sisters. Common Ground

• Sola Gratia – We both believe that it is through the grace of Christ that salvation is achieved • Desire to evangelize • Care for the poor and marginalized • Care for the environment • A belief that the human person is created in the image and likeness of God • Depending on the your friend or family member is a part of, there may be more agreement on issues than you think. Differences

• The Magisterium • Scripture and Tradition • The Sacraments: The Eucharist • Justification, Salvation, and Grace • Morality What’s with the ? The issue of the Magisterium • When Christ established his , he set up a living, continuing, authority to teach, govern, and sanctify in his name. • This authority is called “Apostolic” because it began with the 12 Apostles, starting with Peter, and continued with their successors. • It was this Apostolic authority that would preserve and authentically interpret the revelation of Jesus Christ. What’s with the Pope? The issue of the Magisterium • OT: We see God’s design to provide a living, continuing authority in the Mosaic Priesthood (2 Chronicles 19:11; 2:7) • Scriptural Basis: Matthew 16:13-19 – “…And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” • Why would Jesus give this authority to Peter and not intend for it to be passed on? If the early Christians needed an authoritative leader, later Christians would as well. • Scriptural Basis: Acts 15 – The – Paul requests a council to decide whether Gentiles had to follow the Mosaic law as well as the law of Christ. – It is after Peter speaks that the discussion ends. What’s with the Pope? The issue of the Magisterium • Historical Basis – Evidence from the early Church – St. Clement of Rome ( to the Corinthians, 80 A.D.) – (, 110 A.D.) – Hermas (Vision circa 140 A.D.) – Dionysius (Epistle to Soter [ of Rome], between 166-174 A.D.) – (Against Heresies, between 180-190 A.D.) • Irenaeus was taught by St. who was a of St. ) – (Epistle to Cornelius [Bishop of Rome], 252 A.D.) – Optatus ( The Schism of the Donatists, 367 A.D.) • Apostolic Succession: – Traceable line of all from Peter to What’s with the Pope? The issue of the Magisterium • – Infallibility vs. Impeccability – The Church has never taught that the Pope is incapable of sinning. – Infallibility is not magic – Infallibility does not solely belong to the Pope, but to the body of as well, when in unity with the Pope. (Luke 10:16, Matthew 18:18) What’s with the Pope? The issue of the Magisterium • Vatican II and Infallibility – When bishops, maintaining the bond of unity among themselves and with Peter’s successor, and while teaching authentically on a matter of faith or morals, concur in a single viewpoint as the as the one which must be held conclusively. This authority is even more clearly verified when, gathered together in an , they are teachers and judges of faith and morals for the universal Church. Their definitions must then be adhered to with the submission of faith. (Lumen Gentium 25) • Infallibility belongs to the Pope by virtue of his office when he proclaims by a definitive act some doctrine of faith or morals. Scripture and Tradition Scripture and Tradition: The Links in the Chain of Succession • of Caesarea (150 A.D.) • Irenaeus (189 A.D.) • (208 A.D.) • (225 A.D.) • Cyprian of Carthage (253 A.D.) • Athanasius (330 A.D.) • Basil the Great (375 A.D.) • Augustine (400 A.D.) • (402 A.D.) Faith and Works: Justification, Salvation, and Grace • Scripture: Romans 5:1 • What is justification anyway? – “not only a remission of but also the and renewal of the inward man.” – • Lutherans and Catholics can basically agree on this now after the Joint Declaration of 1999 but the basic disagreement still exists between Catholics and many other ecclesial communities. – Through “faith alone”? What about works? • We are saved by Faith + Hope + Charity • Assurance of salvation: “Once saved, always saved”…or are you? • Grace…it’s not magic. The Sacraments

• Catholic understanding – Visible signs which produce invisible grace and realities • Protestant understanding – Signs of something sacred that do not cause anything • The Eucharist • Confession The Sacraments: The Eucharist

• Scriptural Passages – John 6 / 1 Corinthians 10:15-18 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 • Catholic and Protestant understandings – (Catholic) – Consubstantiation (Lutheran) – Reformed (Calvinists) – Memorialism (Ulrich Zwingli – Swiss Reformer) • Early Christians on the Eucharist The Sacraments: Confession

• Is confession in Scripture? – – • Defending the of Confession – Why do we go to a priest? – Doesn’t confession imply that Christ’s work was insufficient, i.e., “I was not saved”? – Wasn’t confession invented in 1215 at the 4th Lateran Council? • Early Church Fathers on Confession Common Misunderstandings

• Mary • Prayer “to” the Saints • Priesthood of the Baptized and the Ministerial Priesthood Mary and the Saints

• Prayer “through” not “prayer “to” • Honor is not Worship – Dulia – Saints – Hyperdulia – Mary – Latria – God Priesthood of all Believers and the Ministerial Priesthood • One Priesthood of Jesus Christ: Heb 7:22-25 – Participation in Jesus’ priesthood: 1 Peter 2:5-9, Exodus 19:6 • Ministerial Priesthood – Hiereus – Romans 15:15-16 – Universal and Ministerial Priesthood are not mutually exclusive • 1 Peter 2:5-9 and Exodus 19:6 – Either/Or vs Both/And • I EITHER go to the priest OR I go directly to God • I go BOTH to the priest AND to God – Two Definitive Texts • John:21-23 • Matthew 16:18-19 What will it mean to be “one”?

• Engaging in authentic ecumenical dialogue – Recognizes the truth present – Does not turn a blind eye to or dismiss real doctrinal differences – Seeks unity in Christ • Recognize that the story of division among Christians is a tragedy • Unity in charity is what Christ desires: – Charity “binds everything together in perfect harmony” • Just because we are Catholic does not mean we possess this unity in charity. – Visible Bonds: Profession of one faith received from the apostles, common celebration of divine worship, sacramental life, and apostolic succession through . Resources

• The Light of Christ: Fr. Thomas Joseph White O.P. • Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/ • : Critical Reflections of an Ecumenical Catholic: Amazon.com • http://www.scotthahn.com/recommended- apologetics-reading • …yeah, go figure right? QUESTIONS or LIGHTNING ROUND Questions to ask our Protestant friends and family? • Where did the Bible come from? Who compiled it? • Is there one Church which Christ founded? If not, what evidence is there for that? If yes, how can there be so many churches, all called “Christian”, with teachings that are not merely different in emphasis, but totally contradictory? How can you reconcile this reality with Christ’s prayer for unity? • Who determined the canon of Scripture? • Which came first, Tradition or Scripture? • After the apostles died, who or what lead or acted as the authority for ? • At what point did the Church become fully corrupt? How did you determine that? Is it a personal determination or did you accept it on the basis of some authority? • What was the Holy Spirit doing for 1500 years? Flying around looking for and just leaving the Church to Herself despite Christ’s promise that he would always be with the Church? Miscellaneous Questions – Lightning Round • Why the difference in books in the Bible? • “Call no man father”? • Statue worship? • Constantine and Paganism • Mass as a sacrifice? • Baptism: Merely Symbolic? • Why baptize infants? • Saved by Faith Alone? • Insufficiency of Redemption / Assurance of Salvation? • Tradition Condemned? • Changing Doctrines? Why are Protestant and Catholic different? • Catholic Bible: 73 Books – 46 Old Testament Books – 27 New Testament Books • : 66 Books – 39 Old Testament Books – 27 New Testament Books • Why? Why do you call priests “Father”?

• The Critique: Jesus commands us in Matthew 23:9 to “call no man father.”

• The Response: – Throughout the Bible men are called fathers and teachers. In fact, St. Paul refers to himself as “father” to the Church in Corinth. (1 Cor 4:14-15) – St. Paul is a spiritual father because he cooperates with God to give the Church in Corinth spiritual life. Catholics call their priests “father” because priests also bring spiritual life to the through their preaching and bringing them the sacraments. Why do Catholics worship statues in violation of Exodus 20:4-5? • Critique: Catholics worship statues and images and only God is to be worshipped.

• Response: – Catholics do not worship statues or images. Catholics use statues and other images to call to mind the holy people or events they represent: Jesus, the angels, and the saints. Didn’t the become pagan after Constantine became Emperor? • Critique: Christianity’s adoption by the Emperor Constantine was the birth of Catholicism – a perversion of real Christianity. • Lorraine Boettner (Reformed Writer): “[I]n the fourth century the emperor Constantine, who was the ruler in the west, began to favor Christianity, and then in the year 324, after he had become ruler of all the Empire, made Christianity the official religion. The result was that thousands of people who were still pagans pressed into the church in order to gain the special advantages that went with such membership. . . . Gradually, through the neglect of the Bible and the ignorance of the people, more and more heathen ideas were introduced until the church became more heathen than Christian” (Roman Catholicism[1962]) 11).

• Response: STUDY. YOUR. HISTORY. Is the Mass really a sacrifice?

• Critique: Jesus is sacrificed over and over again at every Mass. This breaks with the Scriptures that say Jesus was only sacrificed once. (Hebrews 9:22,25,28, 10:11-12)

• Response: Christ is not re-sacrificed at each Mass; rather the Mass re-presents, i.e., it makes present again, the one sacrifice of Calvary. The one, all- sufficient, bloody sacrifice of Calvary is made present at each Mass in an unbloody manner. Does Baptism regenerate, or is it only a symbolic washing? • Critique: Baptism does not regenerate, it is only a symbolic ordinance.

• Response: Jesus makes baptism a condition for heaven (baptism is not only by water). • Response: Why are there so many differing and contradictory positions on Baptism amongst the different denominations? Why do Catholics baptize infants?

• Critique: If baptism is a symbolic washing signifying that a person has accepted Jesus as his/her Lord and Savior, then why baptize a baby who cannot accept Jesus because the child does not have the use of reason?

• Response: Jesus requires baptism, St. Paul tells us that all are born with Adam’s sin (Rom 5:18-19) – we all need baptism. – The early Church fathers do make clear that was a practice that came from the apostles. In the Old Testament, a child became a part of the Old Covenant through circumcision 8 days after their birth, long before the child could choose for him or herself. Aren’t we saved by faith alone as St. Paul says in Romans 3:28? • “For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Rom 3:28) – Paul is teaching that the works of the OT Mosaic law, such as circumcision, could not bring salvation. In the NT, it is faith that brings salvation, provided it is faith made alive in charity. A saving faith is active, it is “faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6) Can you lose your salvation once you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? • “Once saved, always saved” – where does this come from? – “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Isn’t tradition condemned in the Bible? Why does the Church base some of her doctrines on tradition instead of Scripture?

• Where does the critique come from? – Matthew 15:3 – “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” – Mark 7:8-9 – “You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!” – Colossians 2:8 – Paul says to beware of false reasoning “according to human tradition.” • Difference between – Small “t” traditions (human traditions) – Capital “T” Traditions (Deposit of divine truths that Jesus orally entrusted to the Apostles. • 2 Thessalonians 15: “Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.” Hasn’t the Catholic Church changed its doctrines through the years? • Critique: The Church has changed its doctrines over the years.

• Response: The Church has certainly changed some of her disciplines and it is very important to distinguish between Doctrines, whose truths do not change, and Disciplines which can change.

• Terms: – Doctrine (Teaching): An unchanging truth revealed by God, e.g., the , Birth, the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the reality of to name a few. – Discipline: A changeable regulation, e.g., calendar changes, changing fasting rules, certain liturgical changes, etc. Does denomination matter?

• Short answer: – Yeah…it does. If Jesus did establish ONE Church, then the reality of there being so many different Christian denominations is pretty confusing? Which Church did Jesus institute in history and give authority to? • Aside: Myth Buster – There are NOT over 33,000 Christian denominations – Ephesians 4:4-6 • “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Which Church did Jesus found?

• Some make the point that the Church went into apostasy (fell away from the faith of Christ) at some point. • When that historical point was varies denomination to denomination… • Scripture – Ephesians 1:22-23 • Please see comments box below for further explanation Purgatory

• It IS a doctrine of the Church, i.e., not something a Catholic can deny. Have difficulties with the teaching? Yes. Deny? No. • While there is not a wealth of scriptural evidence, there is still some scriptural evidence. • The irony of purgatory in Postmodern Christianity – How funny that those who accuse the Catholic Church of being too “black and white” are the ones who take issue with purgatory?