HOW TO WIN

THE CATHOLICS
FESTIVAL OF LAITY Mountain View College

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO WIN THE CATHOLICS

HISTORY
From the 1st century AD, Christians were

conscious of being members of a unique fellowship. They identified themselves as the saints, elect, and church of God.
INTRODUCTION 4

Patristic (100 - 400 AD)--a

Refers to the writings of the Fathers of the Christian Church Christological Controversies Trinity theological problem The writings influenced by the Helenistic and Roman worlds

INTRODUCTION 5

Patristic (100 - 400 AD)--b

The basics of Western philosophy Outside the Church there was Neo-Platonism influenced Catholic Church During this period:

The Fall of Jerusalem The prominences of the Bishop of Rome The Church in Antioch (Asia Minor) weakened
INTRODUCTION 6

Middle Ages (400 - 1400 AD)

Feudal Powers authority of emperors and kings The authority of the Pope to crown kings & emperors The Shcism 1054, on the kind of bread for Eucharist The inquisition a medieval Church court using secular authorities applying physical torture

INTRODUCTION 7

Reformation (1500AD)
Middle Ages popes = notoriously worldly The Church were riddled with venality and immorality The sale of indulgence (letters of forgiveness of sins) October 31, 1517, Reformations started in Germany by this motto:

INTRODUCTION 8 Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura, by Marthin Luther

French Revolution (1789 1799 AD)

A period of deadly and wounded

Catholic Church The RC lost influences and territories Medieval Catholicism ended here

INTRODUCTION

The First Vatican Council

Is the 20th Ecumenical

Council of RC RC affirms the Papal Infallibility July 18, 1870, the Council accepted the Popes supreme authority when he speaks ex-cathedra on faith or morals
INTRODUCTION 10

Catholicism in Modern Times

Adapted to the intellectual, moral, and

social needs of modern times Recognized the role of laity in the Church Applies the Biblical Criticism interpretation in seminary today
INTRODUCTION 11

Second Vatican Council

Modern effort to change the Church Produced 16 documents

Term separate brothers

refers to Protestant believers

INTRODUCTION

12

CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS
Papacy a system of ecclesiastical government in which the supreme authority is vested on Popes. They believe the Pope as the successor of Peter. No Biblical reference on #2 and #1. Lay members do not participate in the elections of Pope

FOLLOWERS TODAY
In 1990 about 906 million members or

18% of world population 55 million or 22% are in the US

UNDERSTANDING ROMAN CHATOLIC TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES

Fundamental Beliefs (1)

The Trinity God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit The authority of the Bishop of Rome (Pope) infallible in ex cathedra Holy Tradition a deposit of faith passed on to the bishops / popes The sacrifice of Mass symbolically represented on a sacrificial body

Fundamental Beliefs (2)

The Holy Scriptures with apocrypha or deuterocanonicals After death, the soul continues to exist depending on their works in heaven, purgatory, limbo, or hell The exaltation of Mary is now in heaven to receive prayers A celibacy male priests

Fundamental Beliefs (3)

Communication with dead saints The inherent benefit of the water used in baptism when it is blessed by a priest The holiness of Sunday and all Catholic feasts honored by all members

Fundamental Beliefs (4)

The Doctrine of transubstantiation The confession of sins to the priest The doctrine of original sin transmitted on every human being removed only by baptism The baptism of infants by sprinkling

CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

LIBERATION THEOLOGY - 1
Liberation Theology

By Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian RC priest: an attempt to release the people from suffering
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

LIBERATION THEOLOGY - 2
Partly inspired by Second Vatican Council and 1967 papal encyclical populorum progressio using the Marxis idea but based on biblical hermenuetic A political theology pursuing change by whatever means including violence
CONTEMPORARY TRENDS

CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
Known as Neo-Pentacostalism, started in 1967 by Cardinal Joseph L. Suenes in Dunguesne University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania They believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit in the later times Principle sign in speaking in tongue Membership: 90 in 1967, but 30,000 in 1974

THE GREEN ISSUE

Anti abortion Ongoing issue in the Catholic

community today

DOCTRINAL BELIEFES COMMON WITH SDA

DIETY
God invisible, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient Trinity One God, The Father Almighty, Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit Divinity of Christ an Eternal Son of God who became a man The sinlessness of Christ a perfect man

THE SCRIPTURES
The Scriptures is the Word of God

written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

But in practice, they confer more value on tradition

THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH

RC: Christ gave the apostles teaching authority over the church and the gift of infallibility the apostles handed them over to the bishops, their successors. SDA: The Church in the community of believers who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior The Church derives its authority from Christ (The Word) and from the Scriptures (The Written Word)

VIRGINAL CONCEPTION OF CHRIST Mary a virgin and Roman Catholic dogma presents perpetual virginity of Mary.

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

Clearly stated in

the so-called Apostolic Creed A fundamental doctrine in the SDA Church

THE PRACTICE OF BAPTISM

As buried with Christ

and arise into a new life RC: sprinkling SDA: immersion

SOME MAJOR DOCTRINAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS

MASS
RC believe that

the bread and wine are transformed into the actual flesh and blood of Christ (transsubstantiation) Sunday mass attendance is a must

THE VIRGIN MARY

RC believe the perpetual

virginity of Mary, but the Scriptures says Jesus has brothers from Mary. The doctrine was formally established at the RCs Lateran historical references

THE CATHOLIC MARIOLATRY (1)

Jesus, the Son of Mary Mary has authority

Mary is omnipotent
Human beings are

saved only if they believe in Mary

THE CATHOLIC MARIOLATRY (2)

Mary is intercessor
Mar has a function

Mary may condemn sin

Mary is put to the place off God

Mary is the object of prayer

OTHER DIFFERENCES (1)

The tradition of the Church

is equal to the Scripture The sole authority of the Scripture? No. They believe in Church tradition, sacred tradition. Critical reading of the Bible? The laymen cannot interpret it.

OTHER DIFFERENCES (2)

Papal authority. He is the vicar or representative of Christ on earth. The Pope is infallible The doctrine of creation. They dont believe in 6-day creation Religious orders Gods law

OTHER DIFFERENCES (3)

Sabbath
The images in the Church

The saints
Apostolic succession

OTHER DIFFERENCES (4)

The sacraments (The RC

believe they are the means of grace) The Lords Supper Confession of sins to the priest

POSSIBLE APROACHES

GENERAL
Be sure you know the

Catholic sources of authority

TRADITION MAGISTERIUM Universal teaching of the Church SCRIPTURES The Bible with Apocrypha

CONTEXTUAL APPROACH
Culture
Language and values

Visual symbols

Bear in mind these important issues as you do a Bible Study and engage in discussion with the Catholics

SUGGESTED

DOCTRINAL APROACHES

RECOMMENDED ORDER OF

BIBLE STUDY TOPICS (1-6)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

The Bible Christ Jesus is my God The Virgin Mary Christ Died for Me Jesus is my Priest

RECOMMENDED ORDER OF

BIBLE STUDY TOPICS (7-11)

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

The Second Coming of Christ Christ is Coming Soon The Church of Christ The Foundation of Church Distinctive Characteristics of Church

RECOMMENDED ORDER OF

BIBLE STUDY TOPICS (12-16)

12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

The Power of the Key The Universal Priesthood of Believers My Connection with Christs Church Christ Betrayal Christs Law

RECOMMENDED ORDER OF

BIBLE STUDY TOPICS (12-22)

17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Christ and Sabbath Apostles and Sabbath Christ and Restoration of the Kingdom One Flock One Shepherd The Final Victory Life After Death