Is the Jesus of the Roman Catholic
Church the biblical Jesus? Knowing and believing the real Jesus is critical because
Jesus said, "If you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you
will indeed die in your sins" (John 8:24). A different
Jesus is preached by many deceivers (2 Corinthians
11:3-4) who deny His finished work of redemption.
As John
Martignoni often says, Catholics have no problem at all with what those
verses say, though we might take issue with Gendron’s personal interpretation
of them. In this case, as he so often does, he is inferring in that last line
that this is what the Catholic Church does, but by the end of this article
you’ll see that that is anything but the case.
The Mormons preach Jesus is the
brother of Lucifer and was a man who became God. The Jehovah Witnesses preach
Jesus was not God but claim he was Michael the arch angel.
This of course is irrelevant to his topic
here. Catholics too recognize these two positions as heretical errors. What
this actually is, is Gendron seeking to make the Catholic faith guilty by
association, when in fact no such authentic association exists. The Catholic
Church condemned the Arian heresy in its day and continues to refute it in
its modern revival by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Church has also condemned the errors of
Mormonism and does not accept their Baptisms as Christian, citing that although
they baptize using a Trinitarian formula, their definition of the Trinity is
not at all in accord with the authentic Christian doctrine.
Roman Catholicism preaches a Jesus that was
unable to purge all sin or pay the complete penalty for sin.
Here is where Gendron begins his attack on
Catholic doctrine, but let’s see if this is really a true statement. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches it this way. (Quoted Catholic documents will be bolded for emphasis.)
Christ's death is the unique and
definitive sacrifice
613
Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the
definitive redemption of men, through "the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world",439 and the sacrifice of the New
Covenant, which restores man to communion with God by reconciling him to
God through the "blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins".440
614 This
sacrifice of Christ is unique; it completes and surpasses all other
sacrifices.441 First, it is a gift from God the Father himself,
for the Father handed his Son over to sinners in order to reconcile us with
himself. At the same time it is the offering of the Son of God made man, who
in freedom and love offered his life to his Father through the Holy Spirit in
reparation for our disobedience.442
Jesus
substitutes his obedience for our disobedience
615
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one
man's obedience many will be made righteous."443 By his
obedience unto death, Jesus accomplished the substitution of the suffering
Servant, who "makes himself an offering for sin", when
"he bore the sin of many", and who "shall make many to be
accounted righteous", for "he shall bear their iniquities".444
Jesus atoned for our faults and made satisfaction for our sins to the Father.445
Jesus
consummates his sacrifice on the cross
616 It is
love "to the end"446 that confers on Christ's sacrifice
its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He
knew and loved us all when he offered his life.447 Now "the
love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for
all; therefore all have died."448 No man, not even the
holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer
himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person
of the Son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons, and
constitutes himself as the Head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive
sacrifice for all.
617 The
Council of Trent emphasizes the unique character of Christ's sacrifice as
"the source of eternal salvation"449 and teaches that
"his most holy Passion on the wood of the cross merited justification
for us."450 And the Church venerates his cross as she sings:
"Hail, O Cross, our only hope."451
Our
participation in Christ's sacrifice
618 The
cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God
and men".452 But because in his incarnate divine person he
has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being
made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered
to all men.453 He calls his disciples to "take up [their]
cross and follow [him]",454 for "Christ also suffered
for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his
steps."455 In fact Jesus desires to associate with his
redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.456
This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more
intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.457
Apart
from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.458
Scripture references from its footnotes
439 Jn
1:29; cf. 8:34-36; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 1:19.
440 Mt 26:28; cf. Ex 24:8; Lev
16:15-16; 1 Cor 11:25.
441 Cf. Heb 10:10.
442 Cf. Jn 10:17-18; 15:13; Heb 9:14; 1 Jn
4:10.
443 Rom 5:19.
444 Isa 53:10-12.
446 Jn 13:1.
447 Cf. Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2, 25.
448 2 Cor 5:14.
449 Heb 5:9.
452 1 Tim 2:5.
454 Mt 16:24.
455 1 Pet 2:21.
456 Cf Mk 10:39; Jn 21:18-19; Col
1:24.
457 Cf. Lk 2:35.
The Biblical Jesus assures
Christians they have been saved from condemnation. "Now that we have
been justified by His blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be
saved by Him from God's wrath" (Roman 5:9). The one time, perfect and
all sufficient sacrifice of Jesus completely satisfied the wrath of God (1 John 2:2).
Ah, but is
this true based on the above citation of authentic Catholic teaching? We Catholics
certainly agree with what the two cited verses above say, but let’s look at the
context of Gendron’s 2nd citation for context, okay?
[2] and he is
the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of
the whole world. [3] And by this we may be sure that we know him, if
we keep his commandments. [4] He who says "I know him" but
disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; [5]
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this
we may be sure that we are in him: [6] he who says he abides in him
ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
So…it would
seem that Mr. Gendron has a problem with his theology vs what the New Testament
actually says. He will say that we Catholics practice a works based salvation,
which is not true, but we are obedient to the context of his cited passage in
1st John 2 as anyone can plainly see.
Roman Catholicism denies this
fundamental teaching and deceives its people into believing that the
sacrifice of the Mass satisfied God's wrath not only for the sins of the
living but also for the sins of the dead (Canon 3, Council of Trent).
Let’s have a
look at his citation for its context. First. Gendron does his readers a
disservice in his citation in that the Canon he referenced is actually in Chapter
9, and it states…
CANON
III.--If any one saith, that the sacrifice of the mass is only a sacrifice of
praise and of thanksgiving; or, that it is a bare commemoration of the
sacrifice consummated on the cross, but not a propitiatory sacrifice; or,
that it profits him only who receives; and that it ought not to be offered
for the living and the dead for sins, pains, satisfactions, and other
necessities; let him be anathema.
What he’s
doing here is deceiving you by alleging something that the Church does not
actually teach. This Canon is not saying that the Mass is the only sacrifice,
or that it replaces the death of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary and again,
you can see that from my citation of the Catechism above. Further from the
Catechism…
1032 This
teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already
mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made
atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609
From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered
prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that,
thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The
Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken
on behalf of the dead:
Let us
help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's
sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some
consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our
prayers for them.611
609 2 Macc
12:46.
610 Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274):DS 856.
611 St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41,5:PG
61,361; cf. Job 1:5.
Now,
we Catholics readily profess that the Mass is a miraculous re-presentation of
that same timeless sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, but that’s not the point here (and if you
want to see more on that then see my article The
Eucharist IS Scriptural).
Catholics are cursed with anathema by their
church if they claim they are saved from God's wrath, (Canon 30, Council of
Trent).
Again, let’s
go find the actual Canon for context.
CANON
XXX.-If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been
received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of
eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any
debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the
next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened
(to him); let him be anathema.
Here again,
Gendron misrepresents what the Church is saying here. Notice how he phrases
it. Yet look at what the catechism teaches us.
2822 Our Father "desires all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."95 He
"is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish."96
His commandment is "that you love one another; even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another."97 This commandment
summarizes all the others and expresses his entire will.
2823 "He has made known to us the
mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in
Christ . . . to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and
things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been
destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things
according to his counsel and will."98 We ask insistently for
this loving plan to be fully realized on earth as it is already in heaven.
2824 In Christ, and through his human will,
the will of the Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all. Jesus said
on entering into this world: "Lo, I have come to do your will, O
God."99 Only Jesus can say: "I always do what is
pleasing to him."100 In the prayer of his agony, he consents
totally to this will: "not my will, but yours be done."101
For this reason Jesus "gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the
present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father."102
"And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all."103
95 1 Tim
2:3-4.
96 2 Pet 3:9; cf. Mt 18:14.
97 Jn 13:34; cf. 1 Jn 3; 4; Lk
10:25-37.
98 Eph 1:9-11.
99 Heb 10:7; Ps 40:7.
100 Jn 8:29.
101 Lk 22:42; cf. Jn 4:34; 5:30; 6:38.
102 Gal 1:4.
103 Heb 10:10.
Catholics know Jesus only as a
"gate opener" to heaven. For Catholics to go through the gates of
heaven they must save themselves through the Mass and sacraments.
Yet is
this true based upon my citations of authentic Catholic teaching? No…it is
not.
The Jesus of the Bible expiates sin.
"Through His blood, God made Him the means of the expiation for all who
believe" (Roman 3:25). Yet the Catholic Church teaches Catholics must
expiate their own sins. "This may be done through the sorrows, miseries
and trials of this life and, above all, through death. Otherwise the
expiation must be made in the next life through fire and torments of
purifying punishments" (Vatican Council II).
Now,
as usual, my first question to you all as my Catholic brothers and sisters is,
"Is this true?" Has Mr Gendron accurately stated the doctrines of
the Catholic Church and its councils? It's easy to check. I just copied his
quote, "This may be done through the sorrows, miseries and trials of
this life and, above all, through death. Otherwise the expiation must be made
in the next life through fire and torments of purifying punishments"
which he attributes to Vatican Council II, yet I searched through every
document from Vatican II on the Vatican's own site and got not one single hit
in any of them. See for yourselves by doing the same at The Holy See - Archive -
Documents of the II Vatican Council I also searched the Catechism for it, and again...not a
single hit. So...one wonders just where Gendron took his quote from.
After much digging, using my hardcopy of the Vatican II documents, (and
discovering that our "buddies" at CARM also use this quote in an
article on Purgatory) I did finally find this quote In Pope Paul VI's INDULGENTIARUM DOCTRINA on the Vatican website. However, as we all know context is everything, right?
So look here at what the section of the document actually says, and notice
what it is actually talking about, okay?
2. It is a divinely revealed truth that sins
bring punishments inflicted by God's sanctity and justice. These must be
expiated either on this earth through the sorrows, miseries and calamities
of this life and above all through death,(3) or else in the life beyond through
fire and torments or "purifying" punishments.(4) Therefore it has
always been the conviction of the faithful that the paths of evil are
fraught with many stumbling blocks and bring adversities, bitterness and
harm to those who follow them.(5)
These punishments are imposed by the just
and merciful judgment of God for the purification of souls, the defense of
the sanctity of the moral order and the restoration of the glory of God to
its full majesty. Every sin in fact causes a perturbation in the universal
order established by God in His ineffable wisdom and infinite charity, and
the destruction of immense values with respect to the sinner himself and to
the human community. Christians throughout history have always regarded sin
not only as a transgression of divine law but also—though not always in a
direct and evident way—as contempt for or disregard of the friendship
between God and man, (6) just as they have regarded it as a real and
unfathomable offense against God and indeed an ungrateful rejection of the
love of God shown us through Jesus Christ, who called his disciples friends
and not servants. (7)
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So...does
the church teach what Gendron (and CARM) allege they do?
In fact, have you ever encountered a Christian who would not be able
to agree with this as stated in its context? The fact is that it correctly
states what the Bible teaches; that all sin has a price (See Romans
6:23)
The Jesus of the Bible is the only
mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:15), yet
the Roman Catholic Church offers Mary as the mediator. Pope Pius IX
proclaimed that "God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good
things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every
hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will: that we obtain
everything through Mary."
This is a
common attack that has no merit because it’s not based on fact. Look again at
what the Catechism specifically says about who is our mediator.
In communion with the holy Mother of God
2673 In prayer the Holy Spirit unites us to
the person of the only Son, in his glorified humanity, through which and in
which our filial prayer unites us in the Church with the Mother of Jesus.27
2674 Mary gave her consent in faith at the
Annunciation and maintained it without hesitation at the foot of the Cross.
Ever since, her motherhood has extended to the brothers and sisters of her
Son "who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and
difficulties."28 Jesus, the only mediator, is the way of our
prayer; Mary, his mother and ours, is wholly transparent to him: she
"shows the way" (hodigitria), and is herself "the
Sign" of the way, according to the traditional iconography of East and
West.
2675 Beginning with Mary's unique cooperation
with the working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to
the holy Mother of God, centering it on the person of Christ manifested in
his mysteries. In countless hymns and antiphons expressing this prayer, two
movements usually alternate with one another: the first "magnifies"
the Lord for the "great things" he did for his lowly servant and
through her for all human beings29 the second entrusts the
supplications and praises of the children of God to the Mother of Jesus,
because she now knows the humanity which, in her, the Son of God espoused.
So, did Mr.
Gendron tell the truth about Catholic teaching on our mediator? Furthermore, look at the context
from which he takes his citation.
The foundation of all Our
confidence, as you know well, Venerable Brethren, is found in the Blessed
Virgin Mary. For, God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things,
in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope,
every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain
everything through Mary.[3]
The fact is
that this encyclical has nothing at all to do with our mediator and nowhere
even mentions it. It is merely
speaking of the Biblical fact that all we have received from God in Christ’s
Incarnation came to us through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Furthermore,
although there has been some discussion of Mary as “Mediatrix of all graces”,
that is not a teaching of the Catholic Church. Some folks need to get clear
on the fact that though many things may be discussed,, it does not mean that
they are Catholic beliefs or ever will be. As John Martignoni has said,
Catholics have no problem with people arguing against what we believe, but
they need to make sure that it’s actually something we do believe.
The Jesus of the Bible claimed He
was the only way to the heavenly Father (John 14:6). Vatican II
denies this by stating, "the plan of salvation also includes those who
acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst who are the
Moslems."
Vatican II actually denies no such thing, and you’ll notice that Gendron
does not offer a citation for his allegation. His quote is sort of from the
Catechism, but as always, let’s have a look at this in its context.
Fact is, Gendron can’t even get his quote right, because the word “Moslems” is
nowhere found in it, nor is there any such word as he spelled it. Adherents to
Islam are called Muslims.
The Church and non-Christians
839
"Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of
God in various ways."325
The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When
she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New
Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,326 "the
first to hear the Word of God."327 The Jewish faith, unlike
other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in
the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the
covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them
belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the
Christ",328 "for the gifts and the call of God are
irrevocable."329
840 And
when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new
People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the
return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and
rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits
the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time;
and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of
misunderstanding Christ Jesus.
841 The
Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also
includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom
are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together
with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last
day."330
842 The
Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the
common origin and end of the human race:
All
nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one
stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all
share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and
saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered
together in the holy city. . .331
843 The
Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and
images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath
and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all
goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the
Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have
life."332
844 In
their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors
that disfigure the image of God in them:
Very
often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings,
and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather
than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they
are exposed to ultimate despair.333
845 To reunite
all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call
the whole of humanity together into his Son's Church. The Church is the place
where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is
"the world reconciled." She is that bark which "in the full
sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely
in this world." According to another image dear to the Church Fathers,
she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood.334
325
LG 16.
326 Cf. NA 4.
327 Roman Missal, Good Friday 13:General
Intercessions,VI.
328 Rom 9:4-5.
329 Rom 11:29.
330 LG 16; cf. NA 3.
331 NA 1.
332 LG 16; cf. NA 2; EN 53.
333 LG 16; cf. Rom 1:21, 25.
The key
phrase here, (that Gendron does not want people to see, lest they fail to
damn the Catholic Church!) is these
profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore
the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.
It’s
important to read what’s actually there, not what one might wish was there.
It is a fact, that the Muslims do indeed profess what the Church states here.
Whether, upon closer scrutiny we Catholics agree with their doctrines is
another matter altogether.
So why does the Roman Catholic
Church hide the real Jesus from its followers? Because the real Jesus sets
people free! In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church maintains control of its
people through legalistic rituals, sacraments and threats of anathema's. The
biblical Jesus saves believers from the bondage of sin, deception and
religion.
The better question might be, “Why do so many people pay
Mike Gendron’s salary in order to be fed his inaccurate and often specious
anti-Catholic propaganda instead of doing what his “ministry” is called and
really “Proclaiming the Gospel?
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