Friday, March 19, 2010

Is The Bible The Only Rule Of Faith? - Part 1

Today, I'll talk about why Catholics stick to their doctrines and dogmas instead of yielding to pressure to renounce some of their doctrines that Protestants claim have no biblical basis.

Catholics are often accused of believing in “man-made rules” (doctrines and dogmas), instead of what the Bible says. In order to answer the question satisfactorily, we must first prove that the Catholic Church, as the Church founded directly by Christ, has full authority to teach what has been handed down to her both in writing or letters (Scriptures), by word of mouth and by revelation (Tradition). In other words, she has full authority to teach with or without the Bible.

Let us examine the various sources from which the Catholic Church derives her authority to teach other nations and other sects, to interpret Scriptures and to declare Christian doctrines without error.

Divine promise to St. Peter and his successors

The invisible head of the Catholic Church is its founder – Christ, while the visible head is the pope – the direct successor of St. Peter, whom Jesus directly elected as the first leader of his Church and handed the reigns of leadership of his Church:

“I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against
it.” (Matt 16:18)

St. Peter ruled the Church till his death. And since the time of St. Peter to the present day, the Catholic Church has had an unbroken chain of leadership. There is no doubt then that the pope is today the true successor to St. Peter who was given the firm promise:

“I 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.” (Matt 16:19)

This awesome promise made to St. Peter and the authority to “bind” and “loose” granted him did not die with him, but has remained with the popes down to the present pope. The pope, therefore, rightly exercises this authority to “bind” and “loose” on earth by making certain proclamations where he states divine truths as revealed by the Holy Spirit to the Church.

Divine charge to teach others

The Church also derives her authority to teach divine truths from Christ himself:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven
and on earth have been given to me. Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with
you always, to the close of the age.’” (Matt 28:18-20)

This is a divine mandate that empowers the Magisterium of the Catholic Church to teach other Christians, interpret the Scriptures and to declare truths as may be revealed by the Holy Spirit. The Church has been carrying out this mandate with the help of Christ who promised to be with his Church “to the close of the age,” and by sending them the Holy Spirit, who would bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them as well as declare new truths or doctrines.

Divine promise to send the Holy Spirit

The Catholic Church also derives her authority to teach from the firm promise of Jesus to his apostles to send them the Holy Spirit:

“I have yet many things to say to you but you cannot bear
them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide
you into the truth … and he will declare to you the things
that are to come.” (John 16:12-13)

“But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to
your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

True to his word, the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:1-4). Therefore, the true representatives of the apostles are not teaching on their own authority, but with the mandate and assistance of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Specifically, the Holy Spirit would “bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them,” which they might forget and to reveal to them “the things that are to come.”

Ok, I'll conclude the topic tomorrow. Then I'll talk about Tradition.

Meantine, you may visit http://www.DefendYourCatholicFaith.com for more topics.