Expert: Edward Bode - 7/1/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Edward,
I have recently been saved (a born again Christian) since the 30th January when i accepted Christ as my saviour and that he bore all my sin on the tree at calvary and that in my believing i go free.
I have been going out with a catholic girlfriend now for almost 4 years and am astounded at what it is taught in a chapel i would really appreciate it if you can show my were Catholicism is scripturally correct at all.
from what i have read i have yet to come across a verse that mentions purgatory,
further more i can't find anywhere in my holy bible that mentions ever having to go to a confessional with a priest, the only person i need to confess my sins to is Jesus Christ.
i would also like it if you could show me anywhere in the bible were infant baptism is supported, as far as i can read and make out baptism is done after a person has been saved and it is of their own accord.
probably my biggest question to you is why do catholics exalt Mary above god Mary was never ever the mother of god, my dear friend the very first words in the bible are this "in the beginning god" you see god was always there Mary was born a sinner just as every one else though she is blessed indeed as god choose her to bear his son Jesus Christ, she is not the mother of god and why catholics idolize Mary and other saints is beyond me we should be worshipping god only, what is in the commandments? thou shalt have now other gods before, do not worship idols to me worshipping Mary is idolatry, my dear friend i may be young in Christ but i cannot see how Catholicism is supported by the word of god anywhere in the bible to me it is total paganism if you feel you can prove to me otherwise through nothing but the word of god i would be pleased to take it on board.

yours in Christian love

John Robinson

ANSWER: Nice of you, John, to seek explanations of Catholic beliefs and practices.
Purgatory:  Two passages of scripture are relavent: 1 Peter 1:7 and 2 Maccabbees 12:46.  The second reference is to a book of the Old Testament that had been traditionally in the Christian list of books in the bible [written lists of the books go back to the 4th century].  In the 16th century, Protestant reformers found the 2 Mac passage a problem; so they decided to use the Jewish list of books of the Old Testament.  Thus, they eliminated this book plus six others.  Moreover, Catholics refer not only to scripture but also to tradition.  I would think that all Christians would have to accept some tradition, namely, what books belong in the bible, since the bible itself does not tell us what books were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Infant baptism:  Baptism of infants may be implied in the accounts of Acts where whole families became Christians and were baptized.  However, based on the teachings of Paul, especially in Romans and Galatians, Christians had seen the need for infants to be baptized -- explicitly in writings from the 2nd century and part of official teaching in later centuries.  So, we have both scripture and tradition speaking about infant baptism.
Mary:  To understand a biblical teaching, one needs to look at all the texts that refer to the subject.  Basically, the special honor [not worship or idolatry] to Mary comes from her willing acceptance to be the mother of the Messiah -- Lk 1:26-55.  The angel called her "favored" by God and Mary in prayer acknowledged that "all generattions would call me blessed."  At the cross, Jesus gave his mother to all in the person of John [Jn19:27].  Christians from the early centuries have honored Mary as a model, as a person specially graced by God, and as a person to whom many prayers have been answered.
Your questions, John, really deserve more than I have summarized here.  So, I would ask that you read some paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is available on line at:
nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.htm.  
The relevant paragraphs are: purgatory -- 1030-32; baptism of infants -- 403,1231,1233,1250-52; veneration of Mary -- 487,971,2675-79.
If you would like for me to expand on my answers, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes, John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hey Edward thanks for reply i could not get into site you gave me (nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/index.htm.) is there anything missing from  the site title?

have read 1st peter though were you say purgatory is found though to me it is using gold as an illustration here that is being tried by fire to me that is our faith being tried while we live our lives on earth it does not mention dying then going to purgatory.
infant baptism in the acts were whole families were baptized were baptized when they got saved not before they got saved, first salvation then baptism not the other way around.
baptism is a symbol of a Christian being put to       as a sinner and being risen again in Christ, so we get saved then we live a life for god surely an infant cannot make this decision, (please note this is not something i see only in the catholic church but also in many protestant churches). when an infant is baptized his god parents in the catholic church stand for them to take their sins. how can 1 man take another mans sins, if that be the case the Christ died for nothing! Christ died for the sins of the world and believing we go free, that is all is required of us, so why the confessional box to a priest? they only one we need to confess our sins to is Jesus Christ who died for us.
Mary though very blessed i believe is exalted higher than you say in the catholic church as in the chapel we sing about Mary being the mother of god this is untrue and in actual fact blasphemy their is none before god no not one.
god alone answers our prayers so why do we need to pray to so many different saints who cannot answer prayer. (thou shalt have no other gods before me) a commandment  from god so none should be before him we should go directly to him.
Why do we use relics? is not this an graven image which god commands us not to do.

is my faith in believing that Jesus died for me and rose again, is my faith not enough to get me into heaven, what more does god require me to do to get into heaven??

Christian love

John!  

Answer
I apologize for giving you an outdated website.  I just checked to get the current site:  usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
I used the address and got to the site OK.
Re purgatory:  The most important place are the verses in  2 Mac.  That is the passage that became famous in the 16th century controversies.
Re infant baptism:  The main testimony comes from ancient writings dating back to the second century AD.  There was no question about the practice from the fourth century for more than a 1000 years.  If baptism is necessary for salvation, why not give infants the benefit?  Godparents do not take on sins of an infant, they are ones who are to help with the spiritual rearing of the infant as helpers to the parents.
Re mother of God:  Whether the title is appropriate was  debated in the early Church.  Finally, in the fifth century [Council of Ephesus], the decision was made to use the term since Mary bore Jesus [He had a human and a divine nature; but was only one person, Son of God; we speak of mothers as mothers of persons].  See the catechism, paragraphs 466, 495,509.
Re Saints: We are not required to pray to Saints.  However, the experience of centuries is that such prayer does produce positive results, a sign that God is not opposed but pleased.  One should pray directly to God for spiritual needs.  Relics, pictures, and statues are reminders of Saints, persons who excelled in believing and doing things in accord with the will of God.  Only a purely natural level, I have many reminders of my family -- I cherish the reminders.  The graven image controvery was settled about the seventh century -- we pay respect to the images not in themselves but as symbols and reminders of the person represented.
Re salvation:  God wills the salvation of all and their coming to the truth.  Jesus asks that we believe and that we act in accord with His commands -- faith and good works.  We need to seek the truth, the whole truth.  We need to cooperate with God's grace.  We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling [Phil 2:12].  So, we need to ask God to give us the grace to know and to do His complete will.  I join my prayers to yours in this regard.
Again, John, I have just touched the top of the issues.  If you would like more, let me know.  Best wishes.