To my grandparents: Please realize I share this with you out of concern and love for you both.
This clip by John MacArthur explains what Catholicism really teaches and the Biblical reasons for why it doesn't match up with the Bible and the true gospel.
This video is called, "John Macarthur Johnny Mac what real Catholics believe" and you can find it at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qt25xnk6gfM .
Andy
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Greetings! Saw your post in Google Blogsearch and came to read/listen. While the post is intended for your grandparents, I have some comments.
John starts off with a fairly accurate Catholic theology of grace, but then throws in a number of half-truths.
>MacArthur: "They operate under fear." (1:00)
This would be the same fear that motivates Protestants to get "saved"?
>MacArthur: "Most Catholics don't know these nuances." (1:30)
John has no proof of this claim. I'd say that most Catholics do know the difference and nuances of venial and mortal sins (1 John 5:14-21) and how they effect infused grace.
>MacArthur: "...working real hard hoping they can get to heaven."
Ah, slow subtle poison. While John doesn't say that Catholics have a theology of salvation of works, John insinuates that at this point. Regardless, Catholics believe and teach that salvation is by God's grace, thus the well developed theology of how God uses grace towards our salvation.
>MacArthur: "...invent a place ... after 4 or 400 years you get purged..." (1:50)
Close but no cigar. There's no invented place. Also there's no 3 to 400 years in final purification ("purgatory"). There's just the process of God making our souls pure as described in 1 Corinthians 3:15.
Also, purgatory doesn't come from the word "purge", but they do share the same Latin root word purgare.
>MacArthur: "Roman Cathoics believe God justifies only the righteous."
Half-truth. God justifies sinners and the justification culminates in righteousness (purity of the soul).
>MacArthur: "My Bible says God justifies sinners."
Amen. Catholics believe that 100% and our Bibles also include that verse. There seems to be semantic differences between how John defines terms like "justification" and "righteousness" and how the Church defines those terms.
John claims that justification occurs in a single instant, yet the Bible says otherwise. "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)" Are we justified in a single instant? No. We are justified by what we do. Catholic doctrine on justification as a process is 100% biblical.
John seems to be teaching contrary to the Bible. If so, that would make him anti-Christ, a false prophet.
>MacArthur: "Its a system of works."
Another half-truth. Again salvation is by grace, but God judges us by our works (2 Corinthians 5:10). The Bible says that faith without works is ead. (James 2:14-26)
There are no less than 29 biblical passages about judgment where only works and not faith are mentioned.
>MacArthur: "He doesn't impute their sins." (4:25)
Well if John just wants God to "impute" his sins and declare him righteous, that's fine by me. But isn't God making one righteous the greaterr gift over being declared righteous?
Again, I know that you intend with the best of intentions to "save" you grandparents from Catholicism via John MacArthur. Your charity is real.
But what is the truth and where does it reside. The Bible says that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. (1Timothy 3:15). The Bible makes no assurances or guarantees about John MacArthur. You follow Pope John and his opinions at your own eternal peril.
(Personally, I'd listen to your older ans wiser grandparents)
God bless...
+Timothy
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