4 Reasons for the Protestant's Rejection of the Catholic Faith
with an Emphasis on the Protestants concept of Christ’s Church
and that of the Holy Bible

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church, which is, of course, quite a different thing." Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
My friend, after 10 years of communicating with Protestants, I have come to the conclusion that Protestants misunderstand or misconstrue 70% of what the Catholic Faith actually teaches. (It is no wonder they reject it). I preface this letter with one request, whatever ever you believe the Catholic Faith to teach; I promise you that most likely 70% of your understanding of it is incorrect. With this in mind, please do not reject Catholic theology outright, for what you are rejecting is not what the Catholic Faith really teaches. I just want to believe as the Apostles taught Christ's early Church, no matter where it leads me and no matter what it costs me. I hope you feel the same way. I will attempt to present to you many verses not underlined in your Bible in hopes that you understand the differences between the Protestant and the Biblical understanding of Christ's Church. My goal is this endeavor is to fulfill the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ that all Christians believe the same thing, that they all believe His One Gospel.
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
Why Protestants reject Catholic Theology:
A. Because they have been taught that the Catholic Church teaches unbiblical and anti-Biblical doctrines and has departed from the teachings of the Apostles and Christ's early Church. Even if one could show the Biblicism of each and every Catholic doctrine, the Protestant would still believe it to be apostate. Even though it was commissioned by Jesus Christ Himself (Matt 16:16-19) and was the only Christian faith in the 1st 1000+ years of Christianity, Protestants still consider it apostate because unfortunately, they have not been taught the Biblical verses that define Christ’s Church and its divine commission and authority.
B. Because they have been taught that the Catholic Church's structure is an institutional hierarchy and not like that of the Christ's early Church.
Why Protestants embrace any of the 1000s of Protestant theologies:
C. Because in their mind, their 21st century personal interpretation (or their pastors personal interpretation) of the Holy Bible, (2000 years, 3 languages and a multitude of cultures removed),,,is somehow the thoughts and minds of what the Apostles taught in 1st century Palestine. Therefore they are convinced they are believing "What the Bible Says." or as many say: the "Clear teachings of Scripture" just because they "r ead it in the Bible." (Context). An exhaustive list of unbiblical ideas and doctrines embraced by Christians who believe they are "Bible Only" is found at: http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/unbiblical.html It is of note that all of these unbiblical beliefs embraced by Protestants are actually the result of the methodology described in the following paragraph.
D. Protestants embrace any of the Protestant theologies by simple default. Because they have never researched the authors and origins of these Protestant theologies to see if what they are told is "Biblical," was really taught by the Apostles to Christ's early Church, or taught by their own Protestant reformers or any other Christian before the Renaissance era! Because they have failed to search for historical Christian precedent for their pastor's ideas, they by default, believe these ideas are Apostolic and thus Biblical. For anyone and everyone can say anything is "Biblical," yet the real question is: "Did the Apostles teaches it to Christ's early Church and can you prove any Christian believed these ideas in early Christianity?? (Context). Protestantism and Protestant ideas date no further back in history than 400+ years. To say a new or modern Protestant idea is Apostolic or "taught by the Apostles," is like saying the Apostles "wrote Scripture by electric lights". Both of which are impossible because something new cannot be at the same time old.
Protestants are forced to accept "Just Reading the Bible" or "Bible Alone" ( Sola Scriptura ) as true because they have an unhistorical , unbiblical and even anti-Biblical understanding of Christ's Church : what it is, what it's for, why Christ commissioned it and how its job is to spread the Gospel of Christ and keep his fold from drifting into heresy or preaching "other gospels." Catholic theology comprises the verses not taught in Protestant circles or underlined in the Protestant's Bible. Because of this Protestants are ignorant of much of Bible's teachings on how His Church, the "Bride of Christ" (Ephesians 5:32)) was given Christ's infallible authority and power to "Bind and Loose in Heaven and on earth" Matt 16:16-19, Mt 18:17-18 to ensure that Christians are not preaching or embracing "strange teachings" Hebrews 13:8-9 or "other gospels" Gal 1:8-9 not of the Apostles. For Christ said he would be with his Church to guide it and protect it from error in its teachings (in matters of faith or morals) until the "end of the World." Matt 28:20 It is the Church the Holy Bible calls: "The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15 .
Matt 16:16-19 . "And I say that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gat es of Hell will not prevail against it, I give you the keys to kingdom of Heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and what ever you loosen on earth will be loosened in Heaven."
Mt 18:17-18 "If he refus es to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Hebrews 13:8-9 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings."
Galatians 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"
Christ commanded his Church to teach all nations and he would personally be with it until the end of the world. Since the Apostles would not live forever he has kept this promise to his Church.
"Teach them to observe all I have taught you and behold I am with you always until the end of the world" Matt 28:20.
So what is the Protestant understanding of "a church" and what is the historical Christian Biblical understanding of " Christ's Church?"
The Protestant's church is a gathering place, a building or space which provides religious services for its believers. Whether Protestants realize it or not, it is an institution in itself because it is set up with a defined hierarchy (Senior Pastor, associate/asst. Pastors, elders, staff, volunteers, security, maintenance, etc.) that provide spiritual guidance and functionality for the institution. All of these qualities are Biblical and they also resemble the early Church. Except the Apostles and the early Church's hierarchy ordained it's future clergy with "laying on of hands" (1 Tim. 5:32,1 Tim. 4:14), and gave three offices of ordination: Bishop, Priest and Deacon as the Bible speaks of.
Bishops (episcopoi) (1 Tim. 5:19-22; 2 Tim. 4:5; Titus 1:5).
Priests (presbuteroi) (1 Tim. 5:17; Jas. 5:14-15).
Deacons (diakonoi) (Acts 6:1-6).
No Protestant church can trace the ordination orders of its clergy back to an Apostle. Yet every Catholic Bishop and Priest, by a lineage of "laying on of hands" can do this by name back 2000 year to a specific Apostle. The Holy Bible tells us that this and only this makes the ordination orders of the clergy valid, Biblical and Apostolic.
See: Click here: Bishop, Priest, and Deacon in the Holy Bible and in Christ's early Churchhttp://www.catholic.com/library/Bishop_Priest_and_Deacon.asp
Yet the Protestants understanding of a church departs from historical Christianity and the Holy Bible in 3 ways:
This analogy demonstrates the differences in perspectives when Catholics and Protestants speak of a church verse "The Church".
Christ's Church has but One Body, One fold, One Faith. "There is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God." (Eph 4:4)
"And he is the head of the body, the church" Colossians 1:18 (Also Colossians 1:18, Eph 1:22)
Galatians 1:8-9 "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"
"There is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God." ( Eph 4:4)
2. THE SECOND WAY the Protestant concept of "a church" differs from Apostolic teachings and the Holy Bible is in their acceptance of multiple Protestant gospels/sa lvati on messages or "statements of faith." This open acceptance of a plurality of gospels is in dire contradiction to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures of one and only one faith. The Holy Bible teaches there is One Faith-One Gospel, which is embraced by Christ's Universal Church, started in 33AD. This One Faith is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and is used by over 1 Billion Catholics worldwide and has been believed since the Apostles taught it 2000 years ago.
As early as 110AD we find written evidence of Christ's Universal Church being called the Catholic Church (Universal in Greek). Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Apostle and wrote in 110AD:
"Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 110]).
"There is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God." ( Eph 4:4)
"As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed." Gal 1:8-9
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:8-9
"Teach them to observe all I have taught you and behold I am with you always until the end of the world" Matt 28:20.
Click here: The Great Heresies in Christian History http://www.catholic.com/library/Great_Heresies.asp
Click here: "Who is the Bride of Christ? What does the Holy Bible say? http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bride.html
3. The 3rd way the Protestant's view of a church departs from historical teachings of the Apostles and that of the Holy Bible is in the belief that "The Church," the "Bride of Christ," Christ’s own “Body” is NOT protected by the Holy Spirit from teaching error in matters of faith or morals." This is believed by the Protestant because they have not been taught certain verses of the Holy Bible on Christ’s Church or because they simply discount them as they do various other teachings of their current pastor. For the Protestant, nothing is “Binding” and no church has any authority over him whatsoever. These modern beliefs are in gross contradiction to the teachings of the Apostles and the Sacred Scriptures.
=>The Catholic Faith, Christ's Holy Church, His Body-His Bride, cannot error in matters of faith or morals. Christ himself proclaimed this when he stated “the Gates of Hell” will never prevail against his Church.
"And I say that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it, I give you the keys to kingdom of Heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and what ever you loosen on earth will be loosened in Heaven." Matt 16:16-19. Or do Protestants contend (contrary to the Sacred Scriptures) that the Gates of Hell DID prevail over Christ’s Church and that in itself justifies the Protestant theologies?
=>His last words on earth were a commandment to His Church to teach all nations and that he would be with His Church until the end of the world. Since the Apostles would not live forever this promise was to his Holy Church, the Church Hell can never prevail against:
"Teach them to observe all I have taught you and behold I am with you always until the end of the world" Matt 28:20. Is it the contention of the Protestant that Christ is NOT with his Church “until the end of the world” and that necessitated the rejection of the Church of Christ?
=>The Holy Bible, the inspired Word of God calls his Bride-His Church, the "Pillar and foundation of Truth."
"The Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15."
The Holy Bible does not call the only Christian Faith in the first 1000+ years of Christianity the "the pillar and foundation of lies" or "The Apostate Church of the Living God" it is the " pillar and foundation of truth" and Our Lord said he would send his Spirit to guide it to ALL truth.
=>Christ said he would send the "the spirit of truth to guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13) for his Church to "Teach all nations" (Matt 28:20)
=>In Matt 18:17 Christ commands his followers to "hear his Church." Why would Protestants reject the Church Christ himself started if Christ tells us to hear this very Church? And *what* verse in the "soon to be written" New Testament instructs Christians to "no longer hear" Christ's Church or that it is optional or that it has no authority?
Mt 18:17-18 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refus es to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
=> Christ calls his Church, his Body, his Bride. (Ephesians 5:32) Since Christ is Holy his Body is Holy.
"And he is the head of the body, the church" Colossians 1:18 and
"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." Colossians 1:24
To reject His Church is to reject the very Body of Christ.
=>And Christ gave authority to his Church by giving His Chief Apostle, St Peter, the "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven with power to Bind and Loose." Protestants disavow all authority given to Christ's Church. They disavow its power to "Bind and Loose" (to infallibly declare doctrine) and they disavow Christ's promise to protect his Church from doctrinal error against the "Gat es of hell" themselves . (Matt 16:16-19) If Protestants believe what the Bible teaches in (Matt 16:16-19) why do they protest against the Church Christ created? The Church that he promised would prevail against the "Gates of Hell." Why would any sober Christian reject the "Body of Christ?" "And he is the head of the body, the church" Colossians 1:18 (Also Colossians 1:18, Eph 1:22)
=>Since the Church is HIS Body, when you hear his Church, you hear Christ, and when you reject his Church you reject Christ. "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me" (Luke 10:16).
=>Christ said he would send: "the spirit of truth to guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13). He was not speaking of anyone and everyone to believe anything and everything they wanted; he was speaking to his Church. And he did send HIS Spirit on Pentecost in the Upper Room as "Tongues of Fire." Acts 2:2-4. Clearly Holy Scripture is replete with Christ himself giving direct commands of Authority for his Church and he charges all Christians to "Hear this Church," (Matt 18:17) the "Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth." (1 Tim 3:15) Either this Apostolic Church is the "pillar and foundation of Truth" or it isn't? Either he sent "the spirit of truth to guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13) or he didn't. Do we believe what the Holy Bible says? Or are we more interested in remaining in a certain denomination/nondenominational or belief system? Either we believe the Holy words of Scripture or we don't. Either we "hear his Church" or we reject it. "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me" (Luke 10:16).
? Where does the Holy Bible instruct or permit Protestants to ignore, reject or disavow Christ’s Church? What verse gives Protestantism its mandate to “protest” the "The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15 and start new churches with new theologies and gospels unheard of before the Renaissance era? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:8-9 Christ’s Gospel does not change over time. How did it change for your pastor?
Christian reader.
If you reject Christ's historical Church, (the only Christian Faith that dates back to 33AD), if you reject this Church as the "Pillar and Foundation of Truth," what Biblical command or what Biblical basis are you using to justify this?
Or is this rejection Unbiblical, and you are simply embracing a "tradition of man" from the Renaissance era. Yes, the Renaissance era philosopher chose to reject Christ's Church to justify his new theology (ies). That theology being that the Bible is the SOLE or ONLY infallible rule of faith, all by itself. And the Authority that Christ gave his Church as illustrated above does not exist. I.e., the Renaissance era doctrine of "Sola Scriptura" or the "Bible Alone." This idea frees the Protestant to believe *anything he wants* about the Gospel of Christ for there is no one to stop him. Hence the 1000s and 1000s of Protestant denominations and NONdenominations present today. Look up the word "church" in your yellow pages for an illustration. Search the Holy Bible, and find just One verse that teaches the “Sola” or the “Bible ONLY” idea, which mandates a rejection of the authority of Christ's Church. A rejection of the one "Bride of Christ." In 1000 AD there was ONE Belief system for all of Christianity, one Christian Church, just as there was in 500 AD and 100 AD and in 33 AD., One Faith, the Universal (Catholic in Greek) Church. The Church Christ started in Matt 16:16-19. Christ's Church, the one "Bride of Christ."
St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch and direct student of St. John the Apostles wrote in 110 AD.
"Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2 [A.D. 110]).
For more quotes on what "Catholic" means and how the Church was called Catholic since the 1st century
Click here: What "Catholic" Means http://www.catholic.com/library/What_Catholic_Means.asp
My friend, please reflect on the Biblical verses above in support for the Authority of Christ's Church, the Authority the Bible speaks of, the Authority needed to "Teach all nations" with Christ's blessing for he will be with this Church "Until the end of the World" and the "Gates of Hell will never prevail against it." And contrast this with the absence of *any* verse teaching the SOLA in Sola Scripture. The absence of *any* verse stating or even implying that the Bible by itself is the SOLE or SUPREME infallible rule of faith.
What else is there, what else has Christ's Infallibly Authority??? The Holy Bible tells us that before the NT Bible was even written, there was: "The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15.
The Church AND the Bible is the Authority you seek. Just as the Bible tells us. For this Church is the institution that actually wrote and preserved the Bible. I know you have been taught the opposite for many years. But just because one has believed something for years on end, doesn't mean it's true.
I hope you agree. It's what the Bible tells us and what Christianity has taught for 2000 years.
"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us." 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Jesus Christ does not change and neither does his Gospel. That is the reason for his ONE Church, to spread his ONE Gospel. Yet instead of embracing the teachings of the Apostles as written in the Holy Bible and even embraced by his own Protestants reformers, the modern Protestant will cling to the Unbiblical and Anti-Biblical idea of "many faiths" or the "body of believers" and justify his present church's theology as somehow echoing the true teachings of the Apostles. When the fact is, many of his pastor's “strange teachings” Hebrews 13:8-9 were not even embraced by his own first Protestants in the 16th century. This is the quintessential example of Protestants believing what their pastor tells them is "just the Bible" rather than believing what the Apostles taught to include the whole of orthodox Christianity to include the first Protestant reformers.
Only when Bible Believing Protestants accept the Bible's example and teachings of Christ's Church and His Authority he bestowed on it, -- only then will Protestants reject the illogical, unhistorical, unbiblical and even anti-biblical idea of "just reading the Bible" for their complete knowledge of Christ's Gospel. Only then will they embrace:
"The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15 .
Christ does not change, so how did his Gospel change for your pastor?
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings." Hebrews 13:8-9
God Bless you and all you do, Daniel
Please email me with your concerns and questions at: INRI33AD@aol.com
Suggested readings:
Catholic Answers: "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" A compendium of basic Catholic beliefs and the Biblicism behind these beliefs. http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp
1.The Bible Only?
Click Here: 25 Protestant Practices and Doctrines not found in the Holy Bible. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/unbiblical.html
2. THE ORIGINS & AUTHORS OF THE PROTESTANT THEOLOGIES.
Do you know who authored Protestantism's distinctive beliefs and in what century? You might be surprised. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/dates.html
3. "The 7 Stages of Christian Spiritual Development."
What stage you are in? http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/7stages.html
4. Faith Alone (Sola Fide): It is a Catholic position!
Has your pastor taught you that Catholics must work their way to Heaven? Another misunderstanding of Catholic theology. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/faithalone.html
5. "Who is the Bride of Christ?
What does the Holy Bible say? http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bride.html
6. Protestants often ask: "WHAT ELSE IS THERE?"
"What else has Christ's Infallible Authority besides the Holy Scriptures?"
Read the verses most likely not underlined in your Bible nor taught in Protestant seminaries or churches. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/whatelse.html
7. Is Sola Scriptura or the "Bible Only theory" even Biblical?
Where does the Bible teach the "SOLA" in Sola Scriptura?
Click here to read what the Bible says about God's word and how it is to be taught. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/ss.html
8. Did the Bereans "Search the Scriptures" and thereby follow the "Bible Only" theory?
Many claim they did, but not if you read the whole chapter, i.e., the verses not taught in Protestant churches. Read the story again and then decide. http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/bereans.html
9. The 3rd Unanswered Challenge for Protestant Theology: Is the Catholic Faith Apostolic?
Name just one Catholic doctrine that isn't. Name one doctrine the early Church believed,,,, that the Catholic Faith *no longer does*.
Why can't the Protestant theologies make the same bold claim? http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/3challenge.html
10. Biblically, did the "official teachings or doctrines" of the Catholic Church become corrupt or apostate? Are there verses in the Holy Scriptures that forbid this? What does the Holy Bible really say about: "The Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" 1 Tim 3:15? http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/gatesofhell.html
11. Is Praying to Saints Biblical? Is the "Hail Mary" prayer Biblical? (Read the Verses not underlined in your Pastor's Bible.) http://www.angelfire.com/home/protestantchallenges/saints.html