Does the Catholic Church teach from the Bible?

[Nicea325]

Before you jump at my throat, I know that this is where we get our dogmas, rules, etc. My question pertains more to Sunday school.

It was just pointed out to me, by a Baptist, that all we (Catholics) do is read the same Bible stories at church, so we never really learn anything new. Naturally I jumped to defend the Church, but after I thought about it, it’s kind of true.

In Sunday school, not once did we ever look at or read from the Bible. We were taught how church and the sacraments work and how to complete them, not why we even do them in the first place. In eighth grade, about 3 weeks before my confirmation, I was given a Bible. That was great, except for the fact that we never opened them, except to write our names on the inside cover.

This does not make any sense to me, especially since how powerful the Bible is. It has really opened my eyes and helped me better understand my faith. My friends that are Baptist, Protestant, etc. know the Bible very well, and they can recite verses as quickly as they can prayers.

I think the teachers should stress reading the Bible and actually understanding why we do things and where we got them from, instead of reviewing what to do at confirmation everyday.

I understand your point and there is some truth behind it; BUT…BUT it cannot be said or believed it is the case with every parish or Diocese. I have been the Director of Catechetical Ministry for over six years and let me tell you,our teaching material includes:scripture,tradition,rites and references to the CCC. I personally teach the adults preparing for Confirmation and each student is given a Bible and we use it habitually. In fact,much of the homework they are given requires usage of the Holy Scriptures,so they have no excuses they did not need it.

 

[JReducation]

I understand your point and there is some truth behind it; BUT…BUT it cannot be said or believed it is the case with every parish or Diocese. I have been the Director of Catechetical Ministry for over six years and let me tell you,our teaching material includes:scripture,tradition,rites and references to the CCC. I personally teach the adults preparing for Confirmation and each student is given a Bible and we use it habitually. In fact,much of the homework they are given requires usage of the Holy Scriptures,so they have no excuses they did not need it.

I teach Christology to grade 6 and I use only the Bible. I don’t like the textbook. That’s why I said before, one of the facts is that a lot depends on the teacher and the text. I’ve also seen texts that have the biblical stories and quotes in the book itself. Some teachers prefer to use it that way, rather than have a text and a bible. In some places it’s a question of money. To buy texts and bibles is cost prohibitive for poor parishes.

In fact , most Catholic high schools have a required course in scripture. It comes under many names, but it’s scripture. They just have to teach it as an academic subject so that it can be accredited. I taught one years ago called Biblical History. It was accredited as a history class. It was a course on the story of the bible from the oldest known writings to today’s format The high school kids actually loved it, because it was like an archaeology course. They didn’t realize that they were learning scripture at the same time, because in order to do the academic part, they had to read the scripture, which often led to questions about the content.

The point is that there is no Catholic policy that prevents religious educators from using the Bible.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Nicea325]

I teach Christology to grade 6 and I use only the Bible. I don’t like the textbook. That’s why I said before, one of the facts is that a lot depends on the teacher and the text. I’ve also seen texts that have the biblical stories and quotes in the book itself. Some teachers prefer to use it that way, rather than have a text and a bible. In some places it’s a question of money. To buy texts and bibles is cost prohibitive for poor parishes.

In fact , most Catholic high schools have a required course in scripture. It comes under many names, but it’s scripture. They just have to teach it as an academic subject so that it can be accredited. I taught one years ago called Biblical History. It was accredited as a history class. It was a course on the story of the bible from the oldest known writings to today’s format The high school kids actually loved it, because it was like an archaeology course. They didn’t realize that they were learning scripture at the same time, because in order to do the academic part, they had to read the scripture, which often led to questions about the content.

The point is that there is no Catholic policy that prevents religious educators from using the Bible.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Amen brother! I agree 100% and especially how schools required a course in scripture. Very good and hope more follow suit.

 

[JillianRose]

I teach VBS and we give the children memory verses. Our Faith Formation and religion teacher teach memory verse too. The problem in with the parents. So if parents care less about religion, the teachers can only do so much. I have a hard time because some people use VBS as a babysitting service. I just pray that maybe these sweet children will remember what the Catholic Church did for them when they get older. I pray that maybe something sank in. Just maybe it will make a difference in their world. :extrahappy:

 

[smiddle]

I teach VBS and we give the children memory verses. Our Faith Formation and religion teacher teach memory verse too. The problem in with the parents. So if parents care less about religion, the teachers can only do so much. I have a hard time because some people use VBS as a babysitting service. I just pray that maybe these sweet children will remember what the Catholic Church did for them when they get older. I pray that maybe something sank in. Just maybe it will make a difference in their world. :extrahappy:

A local Methodist church has vacation bible school. A lot of my parents’ friends’ kids/kids my age used to go there when I were younger. It didn’t make sense to me, because most of them weren’t even religious, but I guess the whole free babysitting things does make sense. :tsktsk: I understand how that could be frustrating for you!

 

[ProVobis]

When I began college, I attended a Catholic college. The school required a theology class which I never took, although I did attend the orientation. A study Bible was the course textbook.

I’m a little surprised at this. There is a lot of Catholic teaching that can’t be directly found in the Bible. For example, as my pastor pointed out in his sermon this morning, the Holy Trinity isn’t in the Bible. Yet, this should be at the root of Christianity, not just the Church. But I’m beginning to wonder, just how many denominations don’t believe that Christ is God? Are they even Christian in the true sense? (I’m just throwing this up for general discussion, not directed at you, Deb.)

 

[Nicea325]

I teach VBS and we give the children memory verses. Our Faith Formation and religion teacher teach memory verse too. The problem in with the parents. So if parents care less about religion, the teachers can only do so much. I have a hard time because some people use VBS as a babysitting service. I just pray that maybe these sweet children will remember what the Catholic Church did for them when they get older. I pray that maybe something sank in. Just maybe it will make a difference in their world. :extrahappy:

Precisely why I do not do VBS. You are right, a lot of parents view it a a temp babysitting service for a few days or week. Again…you are right, the problem lies with parents. When I meet with parents whose child is preparing for any sacrament, I ask them this question:

If it is not important for you to attend Mass and practice your faith,then why is it so important for you that your child receive a sacament?

The parents look: uch:

 

[GraceDK]

Before you jump at my throat, I know that this is where we get our dogmas, rules, etc. My question pertains more to Sunday school.

It was just pointed out to me, by a Baptist, that all we (Catholics) do is read the same Bible stories at church, so we never really learn anything new. Naturally I jumped to defend the Church, but after I thought about it, it’s kind of true.

In Sunday school, not once did we ever look at or read from the Bible. We were taught how church and the sacraments work and how to complete them, not why we even do them in the first place. In eighth grade, about 3 weeks before my confirmation, I was given a Bible. That was great, except for the fact that we never opened them, except to write our names on the inside cover.

This does not make any sense to me, especially since how powerful the Bible is. It has really opened my eyes and helped me better understand my faith. My friends that are Baptist, Protestant, etc. know the Bible very well, and they can recite verses as quickly as they can prayers.

I think the teachers should stress reading the Bible and actually understanding why we do things and where we got them from, instead of reviewing what to do at confirmation everyday.

Amen dear brother or sister.
You are so right.
We need to learn from the baptists in this matter. They are great role models. After all we only have one Bible, its the only inspired Scripture we have, its above all other writings and its anointed and really effects conversion and life in readers. I can attest to that… whenever I was backsliding, the word of God in the Bible was sometimes the only source that truly shook me back into the reality and convicted my heart. I am currently reading Pauls Letter to Ephesians… Its fantastic.
I guess its up to us as (new) Catholics to remind many of our brother’s and sisters what richness there is in the Bible.

 

[GraceDK]

I’m a little surprised at this. There is a lot of Catholic teaching that can’t be directly found in the Bible. For example, as my pastor pointed out in his sermon this morning, the Holy Trinity isn’t in the Bible. Yet, this should be at the root of Christianity, not just the Church. But I’m beginning to wonder, just how many denominations don’t believe that Christ is God? Are they even Christian in the true sense? (I’m just throwing this up for general discussion, not directed at you, Deb.)

People who dont believe in the divinity of Christ are not Christians… Thats why such people as the mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses are only called “Christians” by themselves. All other Christian churches dont recognize them as being such.

 

[GraceDK]

Precisely why I do not do VBS. You are right, a lot of parents view it a a temp babysitting service for a few days or week. Again…you are right, the problem lies with parents. When I meet with parents whose child is preparing for any sacrament, I ask them this question:

If it is not important for you to attend Mass and practice your faith,then why is it so important for you that your child receive a sacament?

The parents look: uch:

hahaaaa… wish more people dared to ask these questions. Like I also have a good priest friend. When couples come to him for marriage preparation he asks; why precisely do you come to God and to the Church,? He thus invites them to think… and he actually influences their future life both as Christians and married people. He is not condescending… just really expects a level of maturity and consequence from them… and sensing that, they rise to the challenge and get serious about it too.

How often are chances not missed when people finally come to the church…

 

[GraceDK]

Interesting thread by the way…

Young Catholic comes on to talk about the Bible missing in his classes.
A problem that is really found a lot in many Catholic circles where people often know the Bible much less than Evangelicals do.
So… after one or two posts where the problem is denied posters start preaching Church, and against the Protestants, and really saying the Bible is all over, at the same time stating its not really something special or foundational for us as Catholics.

I think sometimes I would like to meet some more Catholics who’d say “Jesus” as many times in one sentence as they say “Church” and who define themselves as believers in Him and in the Gospel instead of as people who certainly aren’t Evangelicals.

This is the impression I get… that Evangelicals often get down to the actual essential point much better: Jesus Christ and his Good News, because they read the New Testament and they don’t just treat it like “another document of the church”.

 

[smiddle]

I’m a little surprised at this. There is a lot of Catholic teaching that can’t be directly found in the Bible. For example, as my pastor pointed out in his sermon this morning, the Holy Trinity isn’t in the Bible. Yet, this should be at the root of Christianity, not just the Church. But I’m beginning to wonder, just how many denominations don’t believe that Christ is God? Are they even Christian in the true sense? (I’m just throwing this up for general discussion, not directed at you, Deb.)

There are denominations that believe that?! If they do not believe that Christ is God, I do not see how they could call themselves Christian! John 1 says that the Word was God and the Word became flesh to live among us. Christ is God.

And although the word trinity does not appear in the Bible, the Holy Ghost is said to be God, Jesus is God and then obviously God is God. Several verses state this.

 

[DebChris]

I’m a little surprised at this. There is a lot of Catholic teaching that can’t be directly found in the Bible. For example, as my pastor pointed out in his sermon this morning, the Holy Trinity isn’t in the Bible. Yet, this should be at the root of Christianity, not just the Church. But I’m beginning to wonder, just how many denominations don’t believe that Christ is God? Are they even Christian in the true sense? (I’m just throwing this up for general discussion, not directed at you, Deb.)

As mentioned in my post, I never actually took the course. I don’t know what other sources were used during the Theology class. It was a Benedictine college known for teaching its students to think. We actually critiqued the Rule of St. Benedict in my English 102 (honors) class.
Many non-Catholics talk about how a person can find the answers in Scripture. One of the most freeing statements made during my Freshman orientation was, “Don’t look to the Bible for answers. Look for the questions.” It is in this questioning that I have actually found answers. My parents had taught me not to question our Faith. Here I was being given permission. In many of the classes, we learned that those who questioned, even to the point of leaving the Church, often returned with a greater personal faith and ability to express this faith.
We find the Spirit of God poured out on the prophets of the O.T. Jesus often spoke of the Father. He gave us the radical prayer, the Our Father. No other religion dares call God “Abba, Father.” He also promised us an advocate, the Paraclete. The Holy Spirit was poured on the Apostles at Pentecost. The Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples was, “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” [Matt. 28:19-20]. This is the one place where the Holy Trinity is explicitly mentioned, although I had also often heard that the Holy Trinity was not in the Bible. It is true that the term “Holy Trinity” is never used and yet this belief in the Triune God is held across denominations. Luke 24:49 says “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” This is the promise of the Holy Spirit.

 

[ProVobis]

People who dont believe in the divinity of Christ are not Christians… Thats why such people as the mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses are only called “Christians” by themselves.

Yes, the priest mentioned these two “denominations.”

 

[ProVobis]

Many non-Catholics talk about how a person can find the answers in Scripture. One of the most freeing statements made during my Freshman orientation was, “Don’t look to the Bible for answers. Look for the questions.” It is in this questioning that I have actually found answers.

I think there is some truth to this.

In one email to me, my stepbrother, who is a professional linguist, wrote to tell me “…[his]favorite retreat priest in Warsaw, back in the Eighties, was fond of saying, the Scripture, ladies and gentlemen, is a heap of poetry - and must be studied as literature written by men . He meant it in the context of the Old Testament more than the New, but you get the drift…”

 

[jmcrae]

Before you jump at my throat, I know that this is where we get our dogmas, rules, etc. My question pertains more to Sunday school.

It was just pointed out to me, by a Baptist, that all we (Catholics) do is read the same Bible stories at church, so we never really learn anything new. Naturally I jumped to defend the Church, but after I thought about it, it’s kind of true.

The fact is, so do the Baptists. There is a limited number of stories in the Bible that are suitable for children. Most churches, regardless of denomination, focus on the parables of Jesus, some of the more exciting stories in the Old Testament such as Jonah in the big fish, Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, and those that are interesting and memorable. Not many Sunday School teachers are going to get a lot of traction in their class with readings from Leviticus, or from the Prophets. There are short sections in the writings of St. Paul that kids can relate to, but most of that stuff is geared toward an adult audience.

I think it’s sad that your teachers never had you read directly from the Bible itself, because I think it’s good for kids to get practice doing that, and it’s good for them to know how to find things for themselves. But that was a choice they made - it has nothing to do with being Catholic or not. The Grade 6 curriculum actually requires Scripture study, so if it was missed, that was the teacher not following the curriculum; not the Catholic Church forbidding or neglecting Bible reading.

 

[IanGE]

Different

I asked a deacon where our traditions came from and he told me that we pull a lot of it from different Bible verses, like our baptism of children to cleanse them of original sin, our statues, confession to a priest, etc.

O dear. Biblical baptism was for ADULTS, conditional on Repentance, which is not just saying “sorry”: it is an understanding and repugnance for one’s own sin and a fervent (inner) resolution never to do that again, to change one’s lifestyle. Original sin is the Church’s concept: I cannot conceive of a loving God who holds all of mankind to blame for whatever Adam and Eve got up to. In any case, Jesus suffered a horrid death to rid us of all sin, including that original one. St. Paul encourages us: “For as one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made RIGHTEOUS!” (Rom. 5:19). I can no longer say, before Communion, “Lord I am UNWORTHY…”: its like slapping Jesus in the face. I HAVE to say, “Lord Jesus, thank you for MAKING me worthy by your sacrifice on the cross.” When will the Church change to a catechism of love instead of fear of sin, fear of an unbiblical purgatory. Even confession to a priest is unbiblical. Jesus told you, me, us to forgive; “how often must **I ** forgive my brother?” "70 times 7 (or 70: 7 being God’s number). Although I must admit that confessing to a priest in humility does unburden one, but I feel its a bit of a cop out, confessing to a priest instead of making your peace with whoever you have hurt (BTW, THAT is biblical).
Even the Greek word for sin is a gentle “hamartia” - “missing the mark”, instead of the horrid concept of a huge black gunge on one’s soul condemning one to hell or that unbiblical Purgatory. Jesus taught us to say to Our Father, “forgive us our hamartia FOR (because) we have ALREADY forgiven those who have sinned against us.” My Father is a God of love: please turn to Him through Jesus.
PS My wife and I, both “born again” by the grace of God, were instructed by Him to remain in the Catholic Church. So don’t worry about it.

 

[anjoh66]

O dear. Biblical baptism was for ADULTS, conditional on Repentance, which is not just saying “sorry”: it is an understanding and repugnance for one’s own sin and a fervent (inner) resolution never to do that again, to change one’s lifestyle. Original sin is the Church’s concept: I cannot conceive of a loving God who holds all of mankind to blame for whatever Adam and Eve got up to. In any case, Jesus suffered a horrid death to rid us of all sin, including that original one. St. Paul encourages us: “For as one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made RIGHTEOUS!” (Rom. 5:19). I can no longer say, before Communion, “Lord I am UNWORTHY…”: its like slapping Jesus in the face. I HAVE to say, “Lord Jesus, thank you for MAKING me worthy by your sacrifice on the cross.” When will the Church change to a catechism of love instead of fear of sin, fear of an unbiblical purgatory. Even confession to a priest is unbiblical. Jesus told you, me, us to forgive; “how often must **I ** forgive my brother?” "70 times 7 (or 70: 7 being God’s number). Although I must admit that confessing to a priest in humility does unburden one, but I feel its a bit of a cop out, confessing to a priest instead of making your peace with whoever you have hurt (BTW, THAT is biblical).
Even the Greek word for sin is a gentle “hamartia” - “missing the mark”, instead of the horrid concept of a huge black gunge on one’s soul condemning one to hell or that unbiblical Purgatory. Jesus taught us to say to Our Father, “forgive us our hamartia FOR (because) we have ALREADY forgiven those who have sinned against us.” My Father is a God of love: please turn to Him through Jesus.
PS My wife and I, both “born again” by the grace of God, were instructed by Him to remain in the Catholic Church. So don’t worry about it.

What you say here must be your own personal opinion since this is not what the charismatic movement teaches, you doubt the Original Sin the Baptism of babies, the confession to a priest, you change the order of the mass by introducing your own quotations and finally claim that you are born again.

You are on a dangerous path by denying the teachings of the church, no charismatics do this.

You deny the very teachings of the church and claim that God told you to stay in the catholic church, it seems like you didnt follow God´s advice, i wonder in what way you are catholic?

If I have misunderstood you, please correct me.

 

[EQuinn]

This is mainly for IanGE

Ian,

I am so glad that you and your wife feel the Lord has called you to remain in the Catholic Church. This is the unity He prayed for at the Last Supper. The Church, despite many misunderstanding, even among Catholics about what it teaches, is the true Church.

You do have many misconceptions about what the Church teaches and has always taught.

First, it is true that some Catholics have tended to envision God as a punishing God, but this error comes from a heretical trend of thought known as Jansenism, which has been around for centuries and whose original followers tried to base on the teachings of St. Augustine.

God has sent many saints to teach that He is Love. Read St. Therese’s of Lisieux’s Story of Soul.

Secondly, you are confused if you think the Church teaches that God blames the human race for the sin of our first parents. When the Church says that we are born with original sin on our souls, She means that we are not born with God’s sanctifying grace (God’s life) in our souls. Our first parents were given both their natural and supernatural lives by God, but they lost the right to supernatural life (life in heaven with God) by their disobedience and they lost this life for all their descendants as well. Christ came to restore this right and we must accept this gift by accepting Him and accepting His gift of baptism.

Adult baptism. What makes you think that all the baptisms in the New Testament were adult baptisms. The adults who were baptized certainly accepted baptism out of repentance and belief, but we read of "whole households’ being baptized.
(Lydia’s household, Cornelius’ household, the household of one of Paul’s jailers, etc). If entire households were baptized at least some of them would have included small children.

The reason we say “Lord I am not worthy” each time before communion is that we are all guilty of some failing, however, between one reception of communion and the next. We need to be constantly aware that He must “say but the word and my soul will be healed.” This is being thankful for His constant grace and presence in our lives.

My friends please study excellent, approved Catholic sources and learn what the Church, through the authority given to her by Jesus, actually teaches. I mean books and tapes from such publishers as Ignatius Press, Our Sunday Visitor and many of the other numerous, orthodox Catholic publishers.

 

[ChrissyB364]

I agree with the jist of smiddle’s original post.

I learned great Bible stories in CCD, and of course all about the Sacraments. I learned even more about the Church and the Faith the 2 years I spent in Catholic school having a religious education class every day. Sure, we had Bibles, but I don’t know that we used them very much.
I don’t completely blame the Church for this, as the giant family Bible at home was pretty dusty. My grandmothers were devout Catholics, my mother wasn’t too shabby either…but I feel like my “book learnin’” so to speak was left up to the teachers on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights and that should only be a starting point in religious education.

It is only in the last year or so that I have begun to really learn and grow in my Faith and its roots in the Bible. I live in the Bible Belt and its my involvement in a MOPs group of Christian women that brought me there. These women were talking about their children receiving awards for memorizing the most Bible verses, etc and I can’t say that I knew one by heart. I knew I disagreed with many of their beliefs but I didn’t know why…I wanted to know how we were getting something so different from the same book. I wanted to be taking more seriously, and prepared to defend my Faith if need be. It’s definitely important to be able to defend the faith with plain Biblical evidence in thes parts.

I agree that there definitely needs to be more emphasis on the “Whys” of the Faith and its roots in the Bible. I don’t think its all the Church’s fault that we don’t do that however. I take responsibility (and blame my parents 'cause that’s the cool things to do) for not providing a little background and being a passive Catholic.