Catholocism Flashcards
Why doesn’t our church encourage praying to saints?
Empath: I get it—praying to saints is a big part of many people’s faith. It’s definitely something people grow up with.
Bible: Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus intercedes for us before God, meaning He stands in the gap for us. The Bible also emphasizes that we should pray directly to God through Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). In fact, Jesus taught us to pray to God the Father in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9), showing that our prayers should be directed to God alone.
Next Step: If you’re unsure about how to pray, we can talk about how to build that relationship with God directly. Our pastors are happy to help guide you through it.
Didn’t the early church practice infant baptism?
Empathy: I totally get where you’re coming from, since so many churches, including Catholicism, practice infant baptism.
Bible: The Bible doesn’t mention infant baptism specifically, but it does show that baptism was something that followed a person’s decision to repent and believe (Acts 2:38). When households were baptized (Acts 16:15, 1 Corinthians 1:16), we don’t have evidence that infants were included in those baptisms. The emphasis in the New Testament is on baptism being a response to an individual’s faith in Jesus.
Next Step: In our church, we do baptism for believers who can consciously choose Christ. If you’re curious about why, chat with a pastor— they’d be happy to explain it more.
Isn’t the Catholic Church the original church Jesus started?
Empathy: I know this is a big question, especially considering the Catholic Church’s long history.
Bible: Jesus founded the church on the apostles (Matthew 16:18), and His purpose was to spread the Gospel and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). While the Catholic Church claims to be the continuation of the early church, over time it introduced traditions not found in Scripture, such as the veneration of saints and papal authority. The Bible shows that the church’s authority comes from the apostles’ teaching, which is grounded in Scripture, not in additional human traditions.
Next Step: If you’re interested, it might help to dig into the New Testament and see what the early church actually looked like. You can always talk to a pastor about how we approach it.
