Brother who reads these lines, I have wanted to take this occasion to share with you a little of my experience and the reasons why I have reaffirmed myself each day more strongly in my Catholic faith.
There was a time when I devoted myself to studying the doctrines of the non-Catholic Churches, partly out of curiosity, partly for general culture, partly to better understand our brethren. I must also confess that it was because I had no way to tune in to a Catholic radio station at work (I actually could, but back then, being a novice, I did not know how) and I settled for “taking whatever I could get,” devoting myself to listening to the sermons of the evangelical pastors on the radio that I did know how to tune in to over the Internet while I worked.
At the same time I devoted myself to delving ever more deeply into the study of the Bible, and I realized several things in today’s evangelical Christianity that were not in accord with that same word, despite their claiming to be governed by it alone.
I begin by saying that it seemed very strange to me that on the same station, while I listened to the 11:00 a.m. program, I would hear one pastor say categorically that salvation cannot be lost, that it is faith alone and works are worth nothing, and curiously, on the same station in another program by another pastor, this one would say not only that it can indeed be lost but that faith and works cannot be separated. Going deeper, the contradictions did not stop there: Some affirmed, with biblical grounding, that it is indispensable to baptize infants (the Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists, for example) and others affirmed categorically that only adults should be baptized. Some preached that Christ is present in the breaking of the bread or the Lord’s Supper (Lutherans, Anglicans) and others that it is only a symbol (Baptists and Presbyterians). Some even denied the doctrine of the Trinity and affirmed that it is an invention of Constantine, and others affirmed that whoever did not believe in the Trinity could not really be a Christian. In short, after I obtained the confessions of faith of some of the most important denominations (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.) I realized that what some condemned, others affirmed.
These are a few examples out of dozens; there are currently more than 28.000 different denominations with different doctrines, each one basing itself only on what the Bible says but understanding the opposite of it.
Even going back into history, I saw that at the very beginning, in the times of the Reformation, Luther already could not come to an agreement with Zwingli (both Protestant reformers) on such elementary matters as baptism and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and after the much-talked-about Colloquy of Marburg in 1925 they ended up irreconcilable.
Analyzing all this in the light of the Bible, I saw that there is a problem. The Bible says:
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, exhort you to lead a life worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another in love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One Body and one Spirit, as one is the hope to which you have been called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6
When Paul speaks of one faith he is referring to doctrine (since he was addressing believers in Christ); he is referring to being united in one and the same creed and mindset, because the faith is only one:
“I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but rather that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10
The preceding passage is very clear: “let there be no divisions among you” Is that fulfilled with the 28.000 denominations of today?
It also makes clear what that unity is like: a doctrinal unity: “you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
When the Church of Christ divides doctrinally it is an indication that it is straying from the truth, because the truth is only one; it cannot be true according to the Lutherans that infants must be baptized and at the same time not so according to the Baptists. It is not possible to say that Christ is not God and at the same time that He is. Two opposing positions cannot both be right, because only one is the truth.
I realized that the origin of all this division lies in the foundation on which Protestantism is built, which is the disregarding of the authority that Christ has legitimately established, and that is why Paul said:
“Therefore, let men regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1
Many might argue that there are stewards who have not been faithful to their vocation, but Paul, knowing this, added immediately afterward:
“Now then, what is ultimately required of stewards is that they be found faithful. Yet for my part it matters very little to me to be judged by you or by any human tribunal. I do not even judge myself! True, my conscience reproaches me with nothing; but I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me. So then, do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the secrets of darkness and will make manifest the designs of hearts. Then each one will receive from the Lord the praise that corresponds to him.” 1 Corinthians 4:2-5
Even Christ, despite tearing into the Pharisees, commanded that they be obeyed when they spoke from the chair, because their authority was legitimate and derived from that which God granted to Moses:
“and he said to them: «On the chair of Moses are seated the scribes and the Pharisees. Do therefore and observe everything they tell you; but do not imitate their conduct, for they say and do not do.” Matthew 23:2-3
Christ was clear in his reproach, but he says: “Do and observe everything they tell you,” and clarifying “do not imitate their conduct, for they say and do not do”
In every Church there will be false shepherds, and if someone leaves the Church for this reason he will leave the next one and the next, because in none is it “without sinners”; and if there were one, the moment he entered it would cease to be so, because he too is a sinner.
In this sense Martin Luther’s argument that he did not have to obey the Church but only the Bible failed at its root, since it disregarded the very command that the Bible gives on the matter, which is that Christ has legitimately established stewards of his mysteries and commands that they be obeyed as his representatives:
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account of them, so that they may do it with joy and not lamenting, which would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17
“«Whoever listens to you listens to me; and whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.»” Luke 10:16
“Jesus said to them again: «Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I also send you.» “John 20:21
And by tearing down that pillar of authority which the Bible teaches, he brought it about that afterward no one respected his authority either (after all, he taught that everyone should obey the Bible, but since everyone understood something different, an exponential fragmentation of the body of Christ took place).
Luther realized this too late and ended up writing:
“This one will not listen about baptism, that one denies the sacrament, another puts a world of difference between this and the last day: Some teach that Christ is not God, others teach this and those that: there are as many sects and creeds as there are heads. No boor is so rude as when he has dreams and fantasies, and believes himself to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and to be a prophet.” (De Wette III, 61. Cited in O’Hare, The Facts About Luther, 208.)
“If the world lasts a long time, it will be necessary once again, taking into account the different interpretations of Scripture that now exist, to preserve the unity of the faith which we received from the Councils and decrees [of the Catholic Church] and to fly to them as a refuge” Martin Luther (Letter to Zwingli).
For the world has indeed lasted a long time, and although the Lutheran Church tries to return to its roots and the ecumenical dialogues with the Catholic Church are advancing (in 1999 the official joint Catholic-Lutheran agreement was signed), many new churches arising from the Reformation do not recognize those agreements and even brand these evangelical Churches, older than the ones they dream of having, as “pseudo-evangelical.”
I realized that Christ has instituted an authority, someone to whom he has entrusted his keys:
“To you I will give 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.»” Matthew 16:19
The meaning of the keys is clear: to be the steward of the kingdom. The minister who held the keys was the right hand of the king with authority over the rest of the ministers, and he was the one charged with legislating in the name of the king:
“That day I will call my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your tunic, with your sash I will fasten him, your authority I will place in his hand, and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; he will open, and no one will shut; he will shut, and no one will open. I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father. There they will hang everything of value of his father’s house – his descendants and his posterity -, all the small ware, all the cups and pitchers. That day – oracle of Yahweh Sabaoth – the peg driven in a firm place will be removed, it will give way and fall, and the weight it held will be smashed to pieces, because Yahweh has spoken” Isaiah 22:20-25
And here I saw another great contradiction: Many say they obey only Christ but they do not really obey what Christ said. If Christ handed the keys to Peter, who are we to say that we do not have to obey him? Have you seen a worker who does not obey the head of the department, claiming to obey only the manager? A soldier who does not obey his captain but only the general?
Authority was always respected. Do you not remember what happened when Miriam and Aaron murmured against the authority of Moses? They said:
“They said: «Has Yahweh spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us too?» And Yahweh heard it.” Numbers 12:2
And it then happened that Miriam was punished with leprosy:
“… Why then have you dared to speak against my servant Moses?» And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against them. When he departed, and the Cloud withdrew from over the Tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, white as snow.” Numbers 12:8-10
And to Dathan and Abiram themselves, who wanted to override authority, what happened to them?
“Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, grew proud, and rose up against Moses together with 250 Israelites, leaders of the community, distinguished in the assembly, famous men.” Numbers 16:1-2
What happened to them?
“Sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. These Dathan and Abiram were famous in the community and rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the company of Korah, when it rebelled against Yahweh. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and Korah, when the fire devoured 250 men, so that they might serve as a warning.” Numbers 26:9-10
The sin was to disregard the authority that God had instituted, since, being instituted by God, it implied disregarding God himself.
Even when the person with authority was not always just, this was no excuse to disregard him. Do you remember when David could have killed Saul, who had sinned enormously? Do you remember how he responded?
“May Yahweh keep me from raising my hand against the anointed of Yahweh.” 1 Samuel 26:11
Even Paul is careful to speak with respect when addressing the high priest, even though he was already under the new covenant:
“But those who were at his side said to him: «Do you insult the High Priest of God?» Paul answered: «I did not know, brethren, that he was the High Priest; for it is written: = You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.» =” Acts 23:4-5
Despite this, I have met people who call themselves Christians and do not hesitate to brand the Pope as “antichrist” and the Church as “prostitute.” Which is evidently absurd, since even if they do not profess obedience to the Pope as the representative of Christ, is it fitting for a Christian to defame someone in that way?
I realized that those attitudes were not from God; only the enemy can unleash so much hatred among Christians themselves, and although many are not like that, the doctrine of private judgment exposes them to error and fragmentation:
“But, above all, keep in mind that no prophecy of Scripture can be interpreted on one’s own account; for no prophecy ever came by human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit have spoken on behalf of God” 2 Peter 1:20-21
What do you think Peter was referring to by this? This must be pondered with the heart.
I, for my part, stand very firm and do not intend to be swept along by every wind of doctrine, by any “personal” interpretation of any man, however charismatic he may be.
“So that we may no longer be children, tossed adrift and shaken by every wind of doctrine, at the mercy of human malice and of the cunning that deceitfully leads into error,” Ephesians 4:14
It is not without reason that the Bible says:
“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you have learned from us, by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15
And I thank God for having kept me firm and for not having lost myself in that disorderly universe of disparate interpretations, without order, without unity and without cohesion.
Each of the topics on which the Church is usually attacked I studied thoroughly, and I can say that on every topic where a Church has a doctrine different from that of the Catholic Church it is mistaken, and it is only right when it agrees with her. The only way a Catholic can be drawn away is when he does not know his faith thoroughly, when he has not had a personal encounter with Christ, when he is virtually a nominal Catholic.
I have met people who left the Church over arguments as absurd as “They imposed a lot of requirements on me when I got married, whereas in the evangelical Church the pastor asked me if I loved her and that was it!” The problem with this kind of person, who changes religion as soon as something gets difficult, is that after the Pastor asks him for the tithe he is going to run off to the Adventists; when these tell him he must be a vegetarian he will run to the Mormons; when these tell him he cannot drink coffee he will run to the Jehovah’s Witnesses; when these tell him he has to preach door to door and sell Watchtowers he will return to the Catholic Church, and he will again be a nominal Catholic until God gives him a stroke of grace and he decides to truly live his faith.
Others never knew what the Church teaches, and anyone who reads them Exodus 20:4 ends up making them think they were a true idolater and that by having an image they already considered it God. These people who do not know their faith are easy prey for proselytism, and once converted they are not able, despite having been Catholics, to compare Catholic doctrine with the one they now profess, because they never knew it.
Brother, you who have taken the trouble to read these lines. My intention is not to offend you, much less to doubt your faith. I consider you a true and authentic believer, but Christ calls us to unity, and this unity is necessary so that the world may believe:
“I pray not only for these, but also for those who, through their word, will believe in me, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, and the world may know that you have sent me and that you have loved them as you have loved me.” John 19:20-23
My intention is to invite you to reflect, to realize that the true unity which the Gospel demands can only be found in the one Church that Christ founded, the only one with legitimate authority. There will be many Churches with very good things, but that is logical: they have part of the patrimony that has been handed on to the Church that is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC.
Author: Eng. José M. Arráiz
