APOLOGETICS

Problem: Catholic Idolatry

Catholics bow down to and worship idols. They have statues of saints and Mary, and these things are worshiped as if they are gods.

Exodus 20:4-5

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

Answer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K9yGNPaIcA

Problem: Works

Catholics teach that you have to do works in order to be saved, and you can never be sure if you actually are saved or not. Works are big in the church, but you can never know if you’ve worked enough to get to heaven.

1 John 5: 13

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Answer:

https://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/FAWORKS.htm

Problem: Repetitive Prayer

The Catholic Church teaches repetitive prayers like the Hail Mary and the Rosary. Jesus says we shouldn’t pray like this.

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard for their many words.

Answer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlegxTFTyWY

Problem: "Father"

Catholics call their priests “Father”. Jesus says we shouldn’t do that.

Matthew 23: 9

And do not call anyone on earth ‘Father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Answer:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/call-no-man-father

Problem: Communion/Eucharist

How did people in the early church celebrate communion? What did they say about it and what did they think? Does it seem more like they were acting like Catholics or acting like Protestants?

Answer:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html