The Roman Church
(A sincere examination)
“But even if we [the apostles] or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel
contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed!” (Gal 1:8,9, ESV).
“...Teach what is consistent with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).
Tell me, is the Roman Catholic Church the true Church on Earth, and,
Does any pope who heads the Roman church, in our Saviour's stead stand?
Based on the following comments, what conclusions will you come to,
That is, believing that the Word of God is trustworthy and true?
Let’s begin...
Q. Is the Church founded on Peter? No, as God’s Word can clearly show,
For it says Christ is the foundation of the Church on Earth below.
Yes, Christ is the Rock, we’re told, and not Peter, for such couldn’t be,
As Christ wouldn’t go building His Church on fallen humanity.
Think of how Peter denied his Lord three times, (very cowardly),
And how he once spoke words that our Saviour rebuked very sternly.
And even Peter realized he was very human — unworthy —
For he told Cornelius not to worship him like deity.
Q. Are priests forbidden to marry? Our God established marriage, and,
Marriage for those who are priests, pastors and elders, He never banned.
Incidentally, Peter was married, thus acting in harmony,
Because priests, pastors and elders — (all one and the same) — can marry.
Q. Who is the “Holy Father?” Going by Scripture, it is God, thus,
Such a divine title can never refer to any of us.
Therefore, any such usage by man would amount to blasphemy,
For after all, there is no one on earth who is truly holy.
Q. Can we confess our sins to a priest? No, such God cannot condone,
For we’ve been told that we're to confess all our sins to Him alone.
Only God can pardon, forgive us, only He can offer grace,
Therefore, there isn’t a man on earth who can stand in His place.
Q. Is there such a place as Purgatory? No, not Scripturally,
But simply the “lake of fire” that destroys the wicked — instantly!
That being, after our Lord's Judgment is over, and He has returned,
As there’s no place in-between, no Hell where folk are burning, or burned.
You see, when we die — that’s it — not a thing happens in-between, no,
As our fate is sealed — eternal life or death — God’s Word says so.
Metaphorically speaking, we sleep, we don’t go anywhere,
And thus not to some purgatory or Hell — no, we remain here.
Not only do the Scriptures not speak of some purgatory,
They also don't endorse monks and nuns, and nor a monastery.
In fact, God's Word condemns such ascetic behaviour, and strongly,
For Christians are to be in the world, and not of the world, you see.
After all, how can Christians witness by hiding themselves away
On some exclusive perfection trip that's somewhere out-of-the-way.
Plus, we grow by being challenged, by interaction, (regularly),
Thereby learning to live with others who see things differently.
Q. Is Mary Christ’s heavenly mother? No, for she’s mortal, you see,
A sinner like us, still in her grave — plus, Christ pre-dates humanity.
Mary was just Christ’s earthly mother, (and that is all we know), thus,
Unlike Christ, (or His Father), she’s not due any glory — nor us.
Hence Mary certainly isn’t the queen of Heaven, and clearly
Is never to be worshipped, prayed to, or treated as deity.
No, the Scriptures forbid such, for there's no human that is worthy,
And even angels aren’t to be bowed to, despite their being holy.
The long and short of all this is, that we can’t petition Mary,
As first we’re forbidden, and secondly, such contact cannot be.
For only God can respond, forgive, and supply our every need,
And therefore, only to Him, should each Christian kneel in prayer and plead.
Q. And what about idols, (statues, images — call them what you will)?
God’s second Commandment says: Don’t bow to such, revere, make, buy, sell.
In God’s eyes, such are offensive, even an abomination,
And are simply nothing more than a foolish pagan creation.
Would a crucifix that is hanging from our neck offend the Lord?
Well, certainly statues of Mary will offend Him, and defraud.
Defraud? Yes, steal glory that He’s due, turning the focus to things,
Thus mimicking those objects of worship to which a pagan clings.
Q. Saved in part by our good works? Once again, no, as one cannot be,
For it's via grace alone that we’re saved — this, we’re told repeatedly.
We cannot add to what Christ did, for His grace is gifted — it’s free,
Yes, it’s all about surrender, what Christ did, and not about ME.
Thus, flagellation, penance, and certain ascetic behaviour
Will only serve to offend and dismay our dear Lord and Saviour.
There’s nothing that we can do that will earn us some Brownie points, no,
Besides, wouldn’t some folk boast, and only the strong to Heaven go?
Q. The Mass — Christ literally re-sacrificed again and again?
No, such is far from biblical, just the errant teachings of men.
Fancy Christ being re-crucified. Once, was one time far too many!
But at every Mass? Where is the sense in that? There isn’t any.
No, Christ died but once, and that once was sufficient, Scripture declares,
And then He sat down at the right hand of His Father, it also shares.
Therefore, Christ’s in Heaven, and will remain there until He returns;
Oh, by the way, transubstantiation also, a wise Christian spurns.
(Transubstantiation? Transformation of one substance into another)
The wafer and wine, (when blessed), don’t become Christ’s actual body,
No, such is imaginary too, and in fact, is heresy.
Heresy? Yes, for it’s contrary to Scripture, hence it has to be,
And therefore, it shouldn’t be embraced by Christianity.
No, the Bible teaches none of these things, I’m very glad to say,
For they are simply the product of something that has gone astray.
Yet, sadly so, such is believed, and thereby, many are deceived,
And as a result, Christ who died to save us, is belittled and grieved.
Yes, such makes a mockery of salvation, and distorts God’s grace,
For it meddles with Calvary, and slaps our Saviour in the face.
Rather than accepting what Jesus has done, it seeks to add to,
Like the Pharisees adding to God’s Law, which now, I’ll cover too.
Q. Sunday worship in place of the Saturday Sabbath — the seventh day?
Neither Christ nor the apostles made such a change, and nor would they.
But the Roman church did, (which it clearly admits) — unlawfully,
That is, without God’s approval, thus acting un-scripturally.
You see, such was introduced as Church law by the Bishop of Rome;
And this date of change?
AD 336. Found when through books we comb.
Yes, at the Council of Laodicea such was introduced,
And the rest is history, as they say, for Sunday, most seduced.
By Lance Landall
“Then He said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandments
of God in order to keep your tradition’ “ (Mark 7:9).
Mysterious apparitions? Just devilish trickery, designed to ensnare.
“And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon [Satan], from the
mouth of the beast [a past church/state power (Dan 7:25)], and from the mouth of the false prophet
[a second power that effectively creates an image (copy) of that past power (Rev chap 13)]. These
are demonic spirits, performing signs [supernatural manifestations via various human agencies
to authenticate the new religious union], who go abroad to the kings [political powers] of the whole
world [to get them on their side], to assemble them for battle [the religious conflict]
on the great day of God the Almighty” (Rev 16:13,14).
“The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs,
lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing,
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved...” (2 Thess 2:9-11).
“ ‘For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead
astray, if possible, even the elect [committed followers and studiers of the Word]’ ” (Matt 24:24).
Note also 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim 4:1; 2:10; 2 Tim 4:3,4; 3:7; 2 Peter 3:16; Eph 4:14.
You might like to read my poem "Mary, Mother of Jesus".
