21 'Tough' Questions for a 'Roman' Catholic Part 2 of 3

Colossians Two Ministries (C2M) put up 21 'tough' questions for Catholics, which were just begging for answers. I guess they didn't get any of the memos that the Catholic Church is the Church Christ founded, upon the Rock of Peter, that has preserved the Truth. Someone should get them one of those memos, like this one from Cardinal Ratzinger.

Well, let's answer the  'tough' questions 10-16, shall we?

10. The Bible teaches that there is only one Mediator, Jesus Christ, why then is there a need for Catholics to pray through Mary and the saints? 1 John 2:1

The verse that C2M quotes does not refer to the 'one mediator between God and man' that is being alluded to. Let's look at that verse, 1 Timothy 2:5, which says "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." If Catholics violate this verse, then so do Protestants who ask others to pray for them! St. Paul says in verse 1 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people." Why does St. Paul ask for us to pray for others (he even asks us to intercede for others!), if Christ is the only one that should mediate between us and G-d?

This is because Christ is the one mediator, but he shares his mediation with us and allows us to participate in it with Him. I pray to Saints, asking them to pray for me, just as I ask my friends to pray for me. They participate in the one mediation of Christ.

The question may arise whether the Body of Christ that is in Heaven (we on earth are also part of the Body of Christ, by-the-way) can hear our prayers. Well, Hebrews tells us that "we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). If we are surrounded by these witnesses, then theoretically they could hear our prayers and pray for us. One can also look at Revelation 5:8 which tells us that the angels bring our prayers to G-d: "the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people." (Revelation 5:8, emphasis added) If you still have questions, you can check out this article.


11. The Bible teaches that Baptism means immersion, not sprinkling, why doesn’t the Catholic church? (Romans 6:3-7)

First, the Catholic Church does not believe in 'sprinkling' (aspersion). Instead, the Catholic Church believes that water must flow across the head in some manner (for example, 'pouring' (affusion) or immersion)

Secondly, the Bible is rather silent on the means of Baptism. Romans 6:3-7, which was given by C2M, in no way mentions immersion. One may say that being buried with Him (Jesus) alludes to immersion, but that's pushing it and putting our preconceived ideas onto the verse. After all, the language is obviously being used metaphorically (are are not literally buried with Christ, but rather spiritually).
The early Church practiced affusion (read the Didache, which was written in the first century!). So affusion was a practice during the very life time of some of the Apostles and, certainly, during the life time of those that interacted personally with the Apostles.


12. The Bible teaches that Baptism is for those who can repent (Acts 2:38), believe (Acts 16:31), and confess Jesus (Romans 10:9). How exactly does an infant fit any of these requirements for baptism?

Acts 2:38- Peter is speaking to adults, so the circumstances would not have warranted him to speak about infants. Acts 16:31- This verse says that if the jailer believes in the L-rd Jesus, then he and his household will be saved. It says nothing that if he has infants, they too must believe or not be saved. In fact, his entire household was Baptized, which would include he and his family (and any infants he might have), and his servants (and any infants they might have). Romans 10:9 doesn't even deal with Baptism!

What we do have is infant circumcision in the Old Testament (which was a foreshadowing of Baptism!) If infants in the Old Testament were circumcised before being able to choose it, then why is that not the case with Baptism in the New Testament?

There's also common sense. In the early Church, there were very few births into the Church, because most of the members consisted of adult converts. Over time, more and more people were born into the early Church.

Here is a post specifically on Scripture verses in support of infant Baptism.


13. Ephesians 2:8,9 teaches that it is by grace you are saved through faith, why is there a need to add sacramental requirements?

Because Christ stated that they are necessary! Baptism: John 3:5 "Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." Eucharist: John 6:53 "Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." To just name two!

Besides, the Sacraments are grace! The Sacraments are not our works of our own accord and merit, but they are a partaking of the Graces that Christ offers us.

Besides, we can just look one verse over and see that we are supposed to do good works. "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We are supposed to do good works, and if we don't then we go against G-d and Christ (which, by-the-way, would be that we would be disobeying G-d). If we disobey G-d, we are no longer 'saved', which means works are important because not to do them means we disobey G-d.


14. Galatian 1:6-9 has Paul warning the Christians about following another Gospel from the one preached to them before even if Paul himself or an angel were to be the one preaching it. Paul says whoever does so will be accursed. How can you trust the Catholic gospel which as you have seen briefly here has freely added to and taken away from the Gospel that Paul preached.

What we have seen is that Colossians 2 Ministries, not the Catholic Church, has added to and taken away from the Gospel.  The 'Catholic gospel' is the Gospel of Christ! The Catholic Church, founded by Christ upon the Rock of Peter (Matthew 16:8), preaches the True Gospel, in the Gospel's fullness.


15. The Catholic church offers the sacrifice of Jesus on a weekly basis through the Mass. The Bible says that the sacrifice of Christ was: Hebrews 9:11-15 – Once for all. Hebrews 9:26 – Once to remove sin. 9:28 – Offered once. 10:10 Once for all. 10:11-12 One sacrifice for sins. 10:14 – One offering 10:15-20 – No longer any need for a sacrificial offering. Why do the Catholics continue to offer to God that which He calls unnecessary?

G-d does not call the Sacrifice of Christ unnecessary! The Eucharist is not a new sacrifice; instead, the Eucharist is celebration in that one sacrifice. There is no new sacrifice, but the same sacrifice of Christ that we participate in, across time, that is the sacrifice of Christ. So to call what Catholics offer to G-d unnecessary is to call the one sacrifice of Christ unnecessary.


16. The Bible mentions God’s providing apostles, prophets, preachers and teachers why is there no mention of Sacramental priests?

Um, well, it does. First there are Apostles, who have the Sacramental priesthood. Secondly, there are the elders (presbyteros, from which we get the English word priest). These two have a specific function that is set apart from the actions of the laity. They are Sacramental priests.

Part I, Part II, Part III