Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics Book

That was a LOT to read. I also read James White's book "The Roman Catholic Controversy" around the same time. Let's get this Roman Catholic insanity figured out.

I'm not Catholic, I've never been Catholic. I've barely even known any Catholics who actually went to Church more than twice a year. Yet this keeps getting thrust forth as the majority of world Christianity. So is it? In numbers - possibly. In widespread old church buildings - most likely. But in people's theological dedication - I seriously doubt it. Most Catholics I seem to come across are endlessly superstitious and prefer somewhat Pagan Voodoo (beads) and Goddess worship (Holy Mary) to the Biblical Jesus and all He did. Sure, sure, everyone loves Jesus - But some just prefer to emphasize Mother Mary, the Pope, a few old dead Saints, and a dry cookie wafer that allows them to chomp on their saviour. We won't even get into crying statues and stigmata nonsense.

The ultimate question:
Are Roman Catholics saved? Are they even Christians? Well, there's a chance. From my experience very few Christians have deep Biblical theology or a serious study of God's Game Plan, Church and Salvation. So none of us can get too proud. But there's a point (Like Islam) where your Jesus simply is not the Holy Son of the Trinity that died to save the world from their sins and rose to an eternal Kingship as ruler of all existence. Which always reminds me of all the Mafia guys that movies would show murdering people on Saturday Night and being with their religious Grandma at Saint Luke's Cathedral the next day. Yes, you must live out your salvation. (which should never be confused with living FOR your salvation. That's a big issue covered nicely in this book).

I recall thinking - If an uneducated Jesus follower goes into a Mormon church, is there a point where they've gone too far from Apostolic teachings and are no longer saved? Does the same apply to Roman Catholics? Yes actually. It would most likely mean they were never saved. They couldn't tell one Jesus from another. Hint: once you seriously find the REAL Biblical Jesus - you can easily spot an imposter.

So what does this book teach us:
Well, we jump into the Apocrypha and faulty Bible books.
Then we deal with the HUGE Sola Scriptura verses tradition issue.
But then we laughingly bounce through the Papal Infallibility comedy (this should stop anyone from seriously getting too deep into this sludge). But it doesn't.
Over to Sacramentalism.
Everyone's favorite Purgatory and indulgences debacle.
Many many chapters on the Exaltation of mary. Part 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.

You get the idea. This is basically bordering on being a Cult where the leaders determine your every action and thought.

Here's why i'm not a Catholic. Because I start reading the Bible at Genesis 1:1
No reason to be a Catholic Pope-honoring, Mary Worshiping, crumb-licking, Babbler to Saints in that verse. So on to verse 2 of Genesis 1. Nope. Nothing in that verse about Popes. Onto verse 3 ---- still nothing. Next thing you know I'm at Revelation 22:21. Zero mentions of Popes, or Purgatory, or Indulgences, or even anything seriously about Mary after the Gospels... No reason to be a Roman Catholic at all.

Sure, sure, there's lots of things about the Church and the Bible and Christian Faith. But nothing that demands I have anything to do with the Vatican or its historical insanity. And if you think that you MUST have these things before or during or after Christ -- then you most likely have the wrong Jesus.

Just to be sure, read this book. It goes through these issues verse by verse and drudges up some Catholic apologists to spank about.

Here's my fun thought on the Pope in the Bible: Matthew 16

15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Are these verses about the Pope? No they are all about Jesus. How the Holy Spirit revealed this information to Normal Clueless Peter (who goes on after this to continually prove he is still often Normal Clueless Peter). The Rock they are talking about is JESUS. Read the entire Bible. Jesus is the cornerstone (*which is a ROCK/STONE). Who has the keys to heaven: JESUS! He's most likely speaking about Himself ---- YES, the entire freakin' Bible is about Jesus.

and after that there's really no mention of Popes or Rome or a Vatican or One Man ruling them all...

God have us the Holy Spirit and a Bible: we don't need a Pope and stupidity.

If you want: Listen to my podcast: The Bible Outlaw (here's my Christmas edition)