catholicsphere

A recent comment called into question several Catholic doctrines.  These issues (and those that underlie them) have all been dealt with before by many apologists — including me.  But, I want to take the time to answer these statements.

Most Protestants agree that Catholic doctrine preaches salvation by faith in Yeshua HaMashiach. Indeed, the vast majority of the TRINITARIAN Protestant churches use the Nicean creed and many other doctrines originated by the Catholic church and its forebears. However, there are some real differences. One is how the Catholic Bible and the Protestant Bible differ in their translation of John 3:16. We translate “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish”; you say that whosoever believeth in him MAY not perish”, with the difference being that Catholics stress salvation and/or justification at least in part on works…

The commenter is basically correct in the statement that “Catholics stress salvation and/or justification at least in part on works…” Now, I can already hear some readers saying, “But Matt, the Catholic Church doesn’t teach salvation by works”, and that also is absolutely correct.

However, we need to look at this as more than just the translation of a single word, because when we flush out the traditional Protestant notion of salvation, we find that works is right there with belief — very, very similarly to the Catholic position. There is actually additional dialog that could occur based on the stipulation made by this commenter, but we will leave that for another time. Allow me to focus, for a moment, on the facts of salvation according to Catholic teaching in relation to the commenter’s point.

Catholic teaching is expressed most clearly in the words of James 1:23-24 “For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like“, which is also echoed in the writings of Paul, in Romans 2:6-8,10 “For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury…but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good;”

If we look at the fuller body of Paul’s writings we will come upon passages where he is exhorting people to do good works; and, in fact, if they are not “rich in good works” they better check their faith.  2 Cor 5:10  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” Titus 3:8  “I want you to insist on these points, that those who have believed in God be careful to devote themselves to good works…” 1 Cor 7:19  “Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God’s commandments.”

Catholic teaching does put primary emphasis on doing good, but does so only in light of faith.  I have written a short Q&A on this to provide some additional explanation: Faith Alone or Faith and Works?.

Perhaps more importantly, there is the issue of the infallibility of the pope based on Peter’s being the vicar of Christ. Protestants view Matthew 16:18’s “upon this rock” as the church being built on faith, not Peter, who certainly proved to be quite fallible even after Christ’s ascencion when he mistreated the Roman and Greek Christians when they came to his house and needed to be rebuked by Paul for his grievous error. Protestants view Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) as the head and Ruach Hakadosh (Holy Spirit) as the guide of the church, and thereby scripture only as infallible, and all men and the tradition, ex cathedra, and dogma emanating from man as fallible.

The first thing to point out here is the misunderstanding of the doctrine of infallibility, because the comments here call into question that doctrine because of some of Peter’s personal actions.  But, the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility does not mean that a pope will never error or sin in his day-to-day life or ordinary conversation or even ordinary teaching.  Yet, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, he is guided by the Holy Spirit not to teach error.  So, that is how Peter’s actions are not subject to the charism of infallibility or criticism thereof.

And, for a more in-depth look at Matthew 16:18, I submit my commentary on Matthew 16:17-19 as an exegetical look at the passage.

For a very thorough treatment of the doctrines and history related to the Papacy, I highly recommend Steve Ray’s book, Upon this Rock from Ignatius Press.

Though there is more questions from the commenter, but I would like to leave those for another post, in order to give them the attention due them — as well as for the benefit of visitors to CatholicSphere.

[tags]apologetics, protestant, catholic, pope, church, faith, sola fide, grace, faith alone, bible, Jesus, infallibility, catholicsphere[/tags]