Catholics and Reprobate Work

Catholics and Reprobate Works

       Some works that make reprobate are idolatry and sexual sins such as adultery, fornication, and homosexuality. Though Catholics do emphasize that we must bear fruit as Christians through love and social works like benevolence, and they emphatically reject faith only, they have not placed emphasis on  works that make reprobate. 

       Among Catholics continued sin without repentance is prevalent even among priests. It is true all denominations have sinners but it isn’t institutionalized. In some cases there is even endorsement by leadership of sin.

One survey of Catholic priests in Canada found that over 40% of the respondents acknowledged homosexual orientations.

Though all sins can be forgiven, continued  sin may not be forgiven if Christ chooses not to forgive. Priests claim they have the power to forgive but I doubt such power is given to the immoral.  It also effects how the rest of the church is led in a moral sense. Parishioners don't see sinning as a long-term problem if the priest will forgive. 

       Certainly homosexuality and drunkenness are prominent among Catholic priests. Plus the priests receive payment to issue forgiveness, it is common for parishioners to give money so priests will burn candles and pray in their behalf. Some priests even die as millionaires. Covetousness is therefore an issue, forgiving parishioners so that they can make more income.

Presbyters have to meet several requirements that covetous, drunken, or sexually immoral priests do not meet, and having a predominant priesthood with such tendencies gradually leads to moral decline church wide and society wide. The idea that priests cannot be removed from sacrament powers is really just an anomaly, since the apostles never restricted power to baptize or lead the Lord’s Supper to presbyters. In argueing priests can be removed from sacramental  power is to admit they have such restricted power in the first place. There isn’t a Christian class set aside to be the official baptizers, restricting all others from officiating.

Paul was not sent to baptize but he had the power to baptize, he did not need to be appointed by the church to a special class to teach or baptize, thus the priesthood of all Christians. All Christians are empowered to share their faith and offer defenses for their faith. Always be ready to give an answer was Peter's admonition, I Peter 3:15.

1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Just a cursory look at these requirements shows that they lack the “gravity” with which leaders must approach life.  Homosexuality and drunkenness are deviant behaviors versus good behavior. More and more are even seeking same sex partnerships or marriages. Though Rome does not encourage or endorse such behaviors, evangelists such as Timothy had to reject men with on-going and unrepented sins. In other words, just saying we do not endorse this behavior is not the same as actually denying priesthood or removing priests.

Paul said you could address sinful presbyters with two or three witnesses.

The other issue is twisting God’s word to allow such activities. This is much like Satan changing the use of scripture at Christ’s temptation. Catholics in their usage of scripture have clearly twisted passages. They have even changed scriptures and have changed locations of problematic passages so that those opposing them can’t find them.

An example is Psalms 69:7-9 (Psalms 68 in Catholic), a passage that challenges the ever-virginity of Mary. It is a passage that is within a messianic psalm and is a reference to Christ. Catholics left the passage in their modern translations but have moved it to a different psalm to avoid any link to Christ’s mother. It portrays his mother with children.

Psa 69:7  Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

Psa 69:8  I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

Psa 69:9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Moving passages to make them harder to locate is just one issue. Catholics teach they are authorized interpreters of the Bible. Catholics say scripture is of no private interpretation to dismiss other groups rights to write commentaries and teach, they view popes and other magisterium as interpreters, not as private but institutional. They certainly interpret passages in creative ways. Scripture is of no private interpretation simply means to me that the Holy Spirit gave scripture not man.

Yet Catholics twist this to say others cannot even understand the passages while they are the official interpreters, but Paul said we could understand what was written for us. Paul had the mystery delivered by revelation vs formulating his own interpretation of Old Testament passages, but the message he delivered in writing was understandable for those with a proper background and a stable personality that were seeking truth.

Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph 3:4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Thus the statement of Peter

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

It is a reference to Old Testament prophets, the Holy Spirit revealing the interpretation through the Apostles. Christ breathed on them and gave them the power to understand.

Of no private interpretation includes the Pope. After the apostles interpreted by the Holy Spirit we could understand their words.

Because the Catholics have twisted scripture Peter’s final paragraph may have been about them.

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Twisting the scriptures to allow changes in hierarchy and ultimately changes in behavior and salvation leaves destruction. A list of wrested passages could include.

1.       Moving or changing passages like psalms 69.

2.       Using John 3:13-15 to introduce idols and relics. If I be lifted up isn’t lifting an image but exalting Christ himself. God chose by the foolishness of preaching. There is nothing in the verse saying to make an image even though Moses made a serpent. We are to look up to Jesus not an image of Jesus. You find nowhere in the apostles teaching where they instructed anyone to build a relic and look or pray towards it. (Catholics tried to say relics were just reminders, but to use the example of Moses and the serpent we would have to look to the relic in faith, and they do)

Catholics argue many have been brought to Christ by relics, but just have many have turned to Islam because they are offended by the relics, thus disobeying Paul’s command to give no offense to those inside or outside the church. Catholics are responsible for millions being offended and turning from Christianity. I Corinthians 10:32

3.       Using the word for child to be restricted to infants in Matthew 18:2 and Luke 18:15, this they use to justify infant baptism. The same root used in Matthew 18 was used of Jesus at age 12 in Luke 2:43 and the same word as Luke 18:15 was used for a learning aged child in II Timothy 3:15.

4.       Assuming receiving a little child infers baptism when baptism isn’t specifically mentioned.

5.       Assuming Peter was the rock of the church and his authority was passed to Rome, there is no passage hinting at passing authority to Rome even if Peter was the rock instead of Christ. This tradition seems to come from Rome herself, thus empowering herself to rule without scriptural support.

There are many other passages we could add to this list.

The point is that repentance is required according to Christ.

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

A condition of forgiveness is repentance and conversion to Christ, the priesthood as of yet has not repented of converted.