System That Looks Right—but Isn’t

A Biblical Look at the Dangers of the Roman Catholic System and the Need to Evangelize Those Within It

Many are heading toward spiritual destruction unless we are bold enough to lovingly warn them about the dangers of the Roman Catholic system. I’ve seen it time and time again—faithful preachers of God’s Word suddenly mention a well-known Catholic figure in a positive light, often in the name of “unity.” But is this unity based on truth? The world often watches the Vatican with awe, especially during papal transitions. But what does God’s Word say about the Pope, the Vatican, and the Roman Catholic system as a whole? This article takes a careful look at Roman Catholicism from a biblical standpoint, urging believers to understand its serious theological errors and to lovingly share the true gospel with those caught in its grip.

A System That Looks Right—but Isn’t

There is great power in a religious system that appears holy and good on the outside but is built on teachings that lead people away from the truth. Many never stop to examine what’s really going on beneath the surface. The rituals, ceremonies, and visual splendor may impress, but they serve to keep people bound to a system of works—a system that teaches salvation through effort and obedience to the Church, not through faith in Christ alone.

Recently, one of my ESL students asked me about a box he saw at the back of a church—the confessional. “Why do people go in there and talk?” he asked. I explained that Catholics confess their sins to a priest, who then tells them what they must do to make up for those sins—whether by saying prayers, doing good deeds, or performing other acts of penance.Then the student asked another good question: “Why do the priests dress like that? And why all the gold, the statues, and the grand buildings?” He said it reminded him of the local temples and shrines his Japanese family is connected to. And honestly, that’s a very good observation. When a religious system looks and feels just like other traditions—focused on images, rituals, and authority figures—how can someone easily see the difference?

The Central Concern: Salvation This is not about attacking individuals. It’s about caring for their souls; yet we must name names to help people to take care with what these people are teaching. The true concern is the salvation of people within the Roman Catholic Church (all people for that matter). According to the Bible, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But the Roman system adds to this—teaching that grace is received through the sacraments and maintained by works. That is not the gospel. From a biblical perspective, those who follow the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are not saved. This may sound harsh to some, but it is a theological reality. Redefining Catholics as “fellow believers” without true saving faith actually cuts them off from hearing the real gospel.The true Church has always held this conviction. We must lovingly evangelize those in the Roman system, not affirm them as saved when they are still in desperate need of the saving grace of Christ.

The Tragedy of the Priesthood

A particularly tragic group within the Roman Catholic system is the priesthood. The forced celibacy imposed upon them often leads to:

• Unnatural restraint
• Sexual perversion and deviation
• Stricken consciences

Media coverage for years has highlighted the prevalence of homosexuality and pedophilia within the priesthood, along with the blackmail that often accompanies such revelations. The historical context of forced celibacy, implemented to consolidate wealth within the Church, further underscores its lack of biblical basis.

Roman Catholicism: A False Religious System

The Roman Catholic Church has historically been corrupt because it’s a false religious system. It is an apostate, corrupted, heretical, false kind of Christianity. It is the kingdom of Satan wearing a Christian mask.

• False religious systems cannot deal with sin.
• Pope Benedict XVI (2013) resignation was an attempt to address the “filth” within the Vatican. *He was seen by many as attempting to address these deep-seated issues during his time as Pope.

The Great Deception

Roman Catholicism presents a unique challenge because it’s a deceptive form of Christianity. Unlike other religions with clear distinctions, Catholicism’s veneer of Christianity makes it particularly insidious.

• There are 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world under this deception.
• It is the kingdom of Satan wearing a Christian mask.

Historical Opposition from the True Church

Throughout history, genuine Christian believers have opposed the heretical system that became the Roman Catholic Church.

• The true church has always understood this since Catholicism began to form itself in the fourth century.
• The Roman system persecuted those who upheld the truth, such as the Huguenots, Waldensians, and Anabaptists.

Key Heresies of the Roman Catholic Church

Discerning believers recognize the following heresies within the Roman Catholic system:

• False priesthood
• Revelation by tradition
• Illegitimate power of the magisterium
• Idolatry of saint worship
• Exaltation of Mary above Christ and God
• Twisted sacrament of the Mass (re-sacrificing Christ)
• False forgiveness of the confessional
• Uselessness of infant baptism and other sacraments
• Money motives behind purgatory
• Disastrous harm of indulgences
• False works of righteousness
• Abomination of idol and relic worship
• Prayers for the dead
• Perversion of forced celibacy
• The Pope as a usurper of Christ’s headship

The Reformers’ Stand

The Reformers, led by Martin Luther, clearly identified the papacy as Antichrist.

• Martin Luther said that the reign of Antichrist is the papacy.
• They understood this and preached this, even at the cost of their own lives.

The Papacy and Antichrist

While there are many antichrists, the Reformers viewed the papacy as the most influential antichrist force.

• The papacy itself was so antichrist as to be the supreme model of what antichrist can become and ascend to.
• The final Antichrist will be the Beast in Revelation 13.

Historical Condemnation of the Papacy

Throughout church history, numerous theologians and reformers have condemned the papacy:

• John Calvin: Called the Roman Pontiff Antichrist.
• John Knox: Concluded that the Papacy is the very Antichrist and the Son of Perdition.
• Roger Williams: Said the Pope exalts himself above all that is called God.
• Westminster Confession: States that the Pope is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition.
• Charles Spurgeon: Says the pope is the Antichrist.

The Price of Truth: Martyrdom

The Roman Catholic Church has historically persecuted those who translated and preached the Bible.

• Bloody Mary massacred 283 Protestants for their faith.
• William Tyndale was martyred for translating Scripture into English.

Luther’s Condemnation

Luther’s Schmalkald Articles condemned the Pope’s actions as diabolical and aimed at destroying the Christian Church.

• The Pope is the very Antichrist who has exalted himself above and opposed himself against Christ.

The Priesthood of All Believers

The Bible teaches the priesthood of all believers, contradicting the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchical structure.

• Christ did not redeem His church with His blood that the Pope might come in and steal away the glory.
• The priesthood belongs to all saints.

Our Response: Love and Evangelism

Our response to the current interest in popery should not be embrace, but rather a broken heart for those deceived.

• We’re angry with their lies, but our hearts are broken over them.
• They are our mission field.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The scandals and abuse within the Roman Catholic Church are often covered up by the media, illustrating the “Emperor’s New Clothes” analogy.

• The pope is spiritually naked at a very time when the Roman Catholic Church is receiving its greatest exposure.

The Unchanging Nature of Rome

Rome has not changed and cannot change, as the Church claims infallibility.

• If you can’t make a mistake, you can’t ever fix anything.

Justification by Faith Alone

The Bible clearly teaches justification by faith alone, while the Roman Catholic Church teaches justification by works.

• The Council of Trent condemns those who believe in justification by faith alone.

Mary’s Exaltation

The Roman Catholic Church’s exaltation of Mary is unbiblical and places her in a position that belongs to Christ alone.

• Popes give Mary titles such as The Gate of Heaven, The Mediatrix of All Graces, and The Mother of Mercy.

Papal Infallibility

The doctrine of papal infallibility, established in 1870, further solidifies the Pope’s authority and the Church’s resistance to correction.

• The Roman Pontiff is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His church should be endowed.

The Papacy: Unbiblical and Usurping

The papacy is patently unbiblical, with no scriptural evidence to support its existence.

• Peter says we’re all priests.
• Peter calls himself “Your fellow elder.”

A Sordid History

The history of the papacy is filled with blood baths, mob violence, corruption, and sexual perversion.

• A third of the popes elected between 872 and 1012 died in suspicious circumstances.

Arrogant Idolatry

The papacy represents an arrogant idolatry, a system of church worship, sacrament worship, Mary worship, saint worship, image worship, relic worship, priest worship, and Pope worship.

• A man wearing a gold crown, triple decked with jewels worth millions.

Christ is the Head

The true head of the church is Christ, not the Pope.

• Colossians 1:18, He’s the Head of the body, the church.

A Call to Action

We must be resolved to communicate the gospel to people caught in Catholicism.

• Reach out to your Catholic family and friends.
• Keep praying, don’t give up.

Conclusion

The Roman Catholic system, with its unbiblical doctrines and historical corruption, stands in stark contrast to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. As believers, we must understand the system for what it is, love the victims trapped within it, and boldly proclaim the truth of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Let us not be deceived, but rather be used by God to bring the glorious truth of the gospel to every Catholic we know.

Evangelise Catholics, do not be deceived into thinking they belong to Christ when they do not, they are on the wide path-help them see so they can flee to the narrow Way!

Q and A

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