Preface. The Bible is a Catholic Book. The Catholic Church wrote the New Testament and approved all the books of the Old Testament.
The Bible teaches that we are not to bow down to statues.
Exodus 20:4, 5
The Bible actually says that we should not bow down to images and worship them.
But, in fact, gives examples of people bowing down before images without incurring punishment from God.
Exodus 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
The “cloudy pillar” is an image of God. It is not God. Yet the people were allowed to worship this pillar.
Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
Joshua prostrated himself before the Ark. The Ark is not God. But it represents God.
The Roman Catholic Church says that we should bow down to statues.
The Catholic Church does not forbid our bowing before representations of God or His Saints. Nor does the Catholic Church forbid our bowing before representations of anyone that we honor, like Lincoln or Washington.
The Catholic Church does forbid our worshipping any idols.
2.The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus.
Romans 3:10-12, Hebrews 4:15
Not true. The Bible Teaches that Jesus did not sin. BUT, the Bible says that some people have lived and died without ever committing sin.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary was sinless.
That’s true. The Bible does not teach that Mary sinned. If you say that it does, provide the verse.
- The Bible says that Jesus is the only mediator between man
and God. 1 Timothy 2:5
True. But it has to be understood in context of 1 Tim 2:1, which commands all men to be mediators.
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
The Roman Catholic Church says Mary is co-mediator with Christ.
And recognizes that all Christians are co-mediators with Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
And also recognizes that Jesus is the reason and source of all our mediating. And that Mary, is the greatest example of Mediation amongst men, because she brought the Source of all grace into this world.
- The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice on the cross once and for all. Hebrews 7:27, 28; 10:10
True.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the priest sacrifices Christ on the altar at mass.
That’s sort of true, but is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of “sacrifice”.
Protestants define “sacrifice” as “kill”. But to Catholics, “sacrifice” means “offering”.
Genesis 14: 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
cont’d
Some people can stomach it better than others. I try to stay away not because it shakes my faith but rather because it raises my blood pressure. 