Biggest biblical blind spots of ‘Bible Christians’
Most Catholics today have at one time or another met a self-professed ‘Bible Christian.’ This is someone who claims to only believe what is in the Bible, and nothing else. As such they reject supposedly “added” Catholic beliefs like the papacy, purgatory and the sacraments, because they claim they are not in the Scriptures. In some cases, such as purgatory or even the role of Mary, it does take a deep understanding of the Bible to see their foundations found within its pages. But there are some beliefs rejected by ‘Bible Christians’ that jump out of the pages of the Bible with just a cursory reading. These are what I call the “biggest biblical blind spots of ‘Bible Christians.’”
1) The role of Peter
When I was an evangelical Christian, I often studied the Scriptures, but somehow I never saw Peter as an important figure in the New Testament. Now that I am Catholic, I do not know how I could have been so blind. Peter is almost everywhere in the Gospels and in Acts, and he re-appears in Paul’s letters at times as well. We have three separate instances – from three different Gospels – where Jesus gives Peter a specific, and unique, role in the Church (Matthew 16:17-19, Luke 22:31-32 and John 21:15-17). Yet the vast majority of Protestants – and all ‘Bible Christians’ – fail to recognize any significant role for Peter in the early Church or in today’s Church.
2) The Eucharist
‘Bible Christians’ love to claim that they take the Bible literally, and they note their interpretation of Genesis 1-3 to support their claim. But what about John 6? In that chapter Jesus clearly states that he is the bread of life and one must eat his flesh to have eternal life. Yet no ‘Bible Christian’ takes that literally, and they relegate the Eucharist to a minor, purely symbolic, ceremony. The early Christians, on the other hand, understood the meaning of Christ’s words and made the celebration of the Eucharist the central act of their worship.
3) The role of works in salvation
“We are saved by faith alone!” cries the ‘Bible Christian.’ Yet the Bible is full of warnings on the necessity of works for the salvation of the believer. The parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) directly links our works with our eternal destination, and the only place in the New Testament where ‘faith alone’ is found (James 2:24) condemns it as unable to bring justification. But somehow the ‘Bible Christian’ still cries out “faith alone!” simply because it is a Protestant tradition.
4) The place of suffering in the Christian life
Often people don’t realize how much a culture impacts their worldview. This is true even for Christians. Our modern Western culture puts pleasure at the center of happiness, and rejects any value to suffering. This cultural presupposition has infected Christians, including ‘Bible Christians’. Yet if you read the letters of Paul, you cannot help but notice the role of suffering in his theology. The Lord himself made it clear how integral suffering would be to Paul’s life when he told Ananias: “Go, for this man [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16). And of course, the heavy emphasis put on Christ’s suffering and death in the Gospels should tell even the most cursory reader of Scripture how important suffering is in the Christian Faith.
5) The necessity of Baptism
The vast majority of ‘Bible Christians’ believe that one simply has to “accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior” in order to become a Christian. While some might also eventually baptize such a person, it is not seen as a necessary step in the life of a Christian. Yet nothing could be further from the biblical witness. When the crowd asks after the first Christian sermon how they might be saved, Peter responds, “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Baptism was the normative means to enter the Church and no Christian denied this fact until recent years.
It is unfortunate that ‘Bible Christians’ reject such clear directives from the Bible. Such people are usually sincere, well-intentioned followers of Christ. Let us hope and pray that one day they will decide to enter the Church that gave us the Bible – the Catholic Church.
So basically it’s the Bread of life, belief, burdens, baptism, and… Peter. Too bad his name wasn’t Barnabas.
Clare,
If you’re looking for a ‘B’ for Peter, it’s Butros. Peter = Petros (Greek) = Butros (Arabic). Peter and Paul in Arabic is Butros wa Boulous.
Jack Hayford,a “Bible Christian”, revealed his Catholic revelation on his TV program “Spirit Formed”. He said it began when he was having these warm, positive feelings when he drove by a Catholic Church in his neighborhood(Van Nuys, CA). Mr. Hayford prayed to the Lord for an explanation. The Holy Spirit spoke to him, and said:”Why would I not like a place(Catholic Church)where every morning on the high altar the testimony of my Son is lifted up.” This message stunned Mr.Hayford, but it seems to prove the importance of the Mass and Eucharist. You can view this episode here:
http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/spirit-formed/ The Catholic revelation part begins around the 8 minute mark.
Role of works: I would like to contend that James 2:24 is the only place in the Scripture where faith alone is talked about. The issue is what makes us right before God, justification. What makes a person justified?
Galatians 2:15-16 ESV
“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
To be justified the only thing that is need is to believe, faith alone. Then from faith we are renewed and being renewed and produce good works. But good works do not justify a person. If anything needs to be added to the cross of Christ it is devalued and Christ died for nothing.
Correction: I would like to contend that James 2:24 is NOT the only place in the Scripture where faith alone is talked about.
so, K. Crawfor, is scripture contradicting itself then? and is not faith a virtue, a good habit, an act of will (or work) in and of itself, just like hope and love, the other theological virtues, are acts, or good works, as well?
the Galatians passage does NOT specifically say “faith alone” as the James passage does. In James, one who subscribes to faith alone is even rebuked as foolish.
let’s look at it logically.
the premises are these. let [A] = justification by faith and [B] = justification by works. other symbols from logic will be used.
the Gal passage maintains not (designated by ~) [B], but [A]
the James passage suggest ~[A]
we can only conclude one of 2 things. 1 Scripture contradicts itelf (in order to yeild [A] & ~[A]) OR we can arrive at ~[AvB] which is to say ([A] or [B]) is not the case. since we can agree that Scripture, when studied and interpretted properly (ie in light of Interpretive Tradition), does NOT contradict itelf (so ~([A] & ~[A]), we must conclude that it’s not about faith OR works as justification, but faith AND works…which is exactly what the Catholic Church teaches and has always taught.
does that make sense?
aside from that, does Gal refer to the law or the Law?
and what about the other 4 points?
correction: K. Crawford
this was a legit typo…sorry.
Thanks, Eric, for this list. I am new to all of this, though. As a person surrounded almost entirely by atheists, and yet, perhaps, to be modern about it, around 90% sure God actually exists, I don’t know if this list helps me. Maybe except to cause this post. I have seen various blogs around from converts, but they’re mostly American atheists, surrounded by Christians. Who I talk to are mostly atheists or apathetic.
But, there’s additional difficulties I don’t know what to do about. For instance, I don’t fully speak the language of the country I’m in. So I don’t know what to do next. But I live in a Catholic part of Germany right now, where people often describe themselves as Catholic, but that just means that they pay the very small tax to the Catholic church and can’t be bothered unsubscribing from it.
So its completely counter to the society I’m in, to believe in God, and there seems to be (probably made up, knowing me) obstacles in my way, and I don’t know what I should do.
First, I thought that Roman Catholics were “Bible Christians.” Every Mass I’ve attended has been drenched with Scripture: in the readings, the homily, and the liturgy and hymns.
Second, although there are particular nuances that we would want addressed, orthodox Lutherans (who themselves are also “Bible Christians”) wouldn’t have a problem with too much of your five points above.
1. It’s well known that Peter figures prominently in the Book of Acts, but Paul is highlighted in the second half. Peter certainly can be accorded a “primacy of honor.” However, orthodox Lutherans would agree with Eastern Orthodox Christians in critizing Rome’s “primacy of rule.” Interesting to note that even recently uncovered icons figure both Peter and Paul together; even their saints’ day is the same;
2. Orthodox Lutherans believe in, adore, and eat and drink Christ’s true body and true blood in the Sacrament of the Eucharist (that’s in the Bible, too);
3. Orthodox Lutherans believe that good works are the necessary fruits of salvation;
4. Orthodox Lutherans affirm the “theology of the cross,” and the sanctifying work of suffering in our earthly lives;
5. Orthodox Lutherans believe in, affirm, and practice Holy Baptism, the Sacrament of regeneration, also for infants.
So, it is not impossible to be a “Bible Christian” while affirming these things.
Robert at bioethike dot com.
Galatians 2:15-16 (ESV) We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works OF THE LAW but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by WORKS OF THE LAW no one will be justified.
TOTALLY AGREE. I will not be justified by anything I attempt to do myself. When I have faith in Christ and I open myself to cooperate with the Holy Spirit through good works (not works of the law) I am justified. Does that make sense?
btw: “former” Bible Christian here
Robert,
I just wanted to point out one thing out. Number 2, of your list, is incorrect. I say this not because they do not believe that they are in fact eating the Blood and Body of Christ Jesus, but that only a Priest which comes from the line descended from Peter can turn the simple bread and wine, into the Blood and Body of Lord Christ Jesus.
Re Robert’s list I consider No 3 might also be in eror, since this was the very point that Luther broke from the Church and established his own “Lutheran” counter church, viz. that ‘faith alone’ was the only requirement, and that James’ letter should be dismissed from the New Testament.
B.of.OZ
“justification alone”,”faith alone.” Then let me ask, “What need would ADAM and EVE have to leave “THE GARDEN OF EDEN” if they were justified or had faith?”
Nice article sir. I also watched the Jack Hayford clip. It was interesting that he could state the Holy Spirit spoke to him, but most “Bible Christians” call revelations such as Lourdes, etc., unbiblical. Also interesting to note the reaction of his church when he made his revelation. I still can’t figure out why alleged non-denominational Bible Christians are so anti-Catholic. Didn’t JESUS, Lord and Savior, tell the Apostles that the gates of hell would never prevail against his Church. Who do they think started their individual churches and denominations:? JESUS or some random person. Keep up the good work and the Good Fight.
Peace
Here we see what happens when Bible verses are pulled out of context. Anyone reading the New Testament as a whole could not honestly say that faith alone is sufficient. The whole misunderstanding stems from Paul’s campaign to free gentile converts from having to adhere to the Mosaic code with its pickey dietary regulations and the necessity for circumcision, which was a huge stumbling block for gentile converts. The l5th chapter of Acts describe this problem and the decision of the Church that gentile converts would not be held to the Mosaic code. This is what Paul is referring to when he talks about works of the law. The verses showing plainly the importance of works are too numerous to mention. Even Paul makes it plain that actions are important, e.g. Romans 2:6 among many others.
I think you could elaborate a little on #1 to preempt the Lutheran argument in the comments. Peter’s role is essential; so is the unity of the visible church.
Go straight to Mary.
I ask “Bible Christians” if they believe that Mary is their mother and then accuse them outright of not following the Bible when they protest against Catholic Marian devotion as being unbiblical.
Ask them if they keep God’s commandments and you are likely to get a response similar to “I try my best”. Ask them if they bear witness to Jesus Christ and the repsonse is always a resounding “Yes”. Then point out Revelation 12 (especially verse 17) where it speaks of a woman who can only be Mary and her son who can only Jesus, and describes the woman’s offspring as “Those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.”
Women are especially open to the biblical basis for Marian devotion including the Old Testament typology of the Ark of the Covenent as a forshadowing of Mary.
“The book of Revelation clearly statest that Mary is your mother and the ONLY place is this taught is in the Catholic Church” is a bold statement, very refreshing once you say it.
-Tim-
As a former evangelical who converted to the Catholic Church, I too marvel at what I once missed that seems so obvious to me now. But I do recall often feeling a sense of unease while reading the scriptures and applying the beliefs I was being taught to them, an unease that I now recognize came from my mind denying what my spirit undoubtedly understood.
C.S. Thomas A.,
Re your objection to my number two: orthodox Lutherans do indeed believe that they eat and drink Christ’s body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Roman Catholics would deny that the Lutherans have a valid Sacrament, not due to lack of presbyterial ordination (which seems to be the point that you’re making), but due to the fact that Lutheran pastors lack valid ordination by a Roman bishop. Orthodox Lutherans would counter-argue that they do indeed have a valid presbyterial ordination, which was recognized even by St. Jerome.
Brian Greaves,
I don’t think that you carefully read my post. Orthodox Lutherans would argue that salvation is by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, but such faith is *never* alone–it is always accompanied by good works. Otherwise, as James says, such a “faith” without works is “dead.”
Also, orthodox Lutherans believe and confess that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God, per the First Council of Ephesus.
I think the works discounted by Paul are thos required by Jewish law whch as we all know were inflexibly imposed by the jewish leaders. He did not mean good works in general.
Richard @ 2;12 pm; Judaism at the time of Jesus had a variety of sects and opinions included: Pharisees, Saducees, Essenes to name three. After the destruction of Herod’s Temple (ca 71 AD) the Temple sacrifice disappeared, and with it the justification for leadership of the Saducees.
A generation later, the Council of Jamnia arrived at an understanding on what it meant to be a Jew, after the Temple had been destroyed. In the process, they settled on a canon of Jewish scripture. They continued the rejection of followers of Jesus as being within the framework of Judaism – notably used in assigning blame for the burning of some districts of Rome during Nero’s reign – and eliminated from their canon any writings for which no Hebrew versions could be found – except Daniel, after chapter 4, v. 4 , which they retained for the most part.
This explains why works like Maccabees 1 and 2, and Wisdom are considered apocrypha by protestants who follow Luther’s judgment about which books s/b admitted.
The descendants of the Pharisees of the time of Jesus and Acts were those who survived the destruction of the Temple; they may have imposed their beliefs as per your Comment.
TeaPot562
J. Steffenberry… Your comments struck a nerve with me.
When I first turned to God, I studied with many Evangelicals and Baptists but never felt quite at ease with what I was hearing. The doctrines and beliefs I was being taught didn’t quite make sense based on what I was reading – it all sounded good until I tried to make sense of it logically.
The start of doubt for me was literal creationism – that God created heaven and earth in six 24 hour periods. I read in Genesis 1 that man was created last and in Genesis 2 that man was created first and asked my peers, teachers and even many pastors if Genesis was meant to be a literal historical document.
Looking at the greek word for “Washed away” in the context of Baptism sealed the deal for me, at least intellectually.
Then one night I read John 6. Then I read it again slowly. Then I read it three more times very slowly and very deliberately and wept.
I made my 37 year confession the next day.
-Tim-
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us nough said
Pope Benedict stated the following about faith and works on
26 November 2008.(General Audience)
“The centrality of justification without works, the primary object of Paul’s preaching, does not clash with faith that works through love; indeed, it demands that our faith itself be expressed in a life in accordance with the Spirit. Often there is seen an unfounded opposition between St Paul’s theology and that of St James, who writes in his Letter: “as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead”(2: 26). In reality, while Paul is primarily concerned to show that faith in Christ is necessary and sufficient, James accentuates the consequential relations between faith and works (cf. James 2: 24). Therefore, for both Paul and James, faith that is active in love testifies to the freely given gift of justification in Christ. Salvation received in Christ needs to be preserved and witnessed to “with fear and trembling. For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure…. Do all things without grumbling or questioning… holding fast the word of life”, St Paul was to say further, to the Christians of Philippi (cf. Phil 2: 12-14, 16).”
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Pingback by The Bible – St Augustine on Science and Scripture « Place of Stuff — July 14, 2010 @ 11:36 amSola Fides… Saved by faith alone.
The fundamentalist believes he is assured of salvation.
All he has to do is to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior and salvation is automatic and irrevocable no matter what he does for the rest of his life.
Oh Yeah? What happened to the ten commandments?
A. Many verses in Scripture attest to salvation by faith alone. Joel 2:32, “…that every one that shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2:21 says the same almost word for word, and likewise for Romans 10:13. “…I live in the faith of the Son of GOD…”, is from Galatians 2:20. Again, these are beautiful words that should be heeded by all.
B. However, elsewhere in Scripture there is quite a different side of the story. Start with Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven shall enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
Very clear that you have to do the will of the Father to gain salvation.
I like 1 Corinthians 10:12, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” That one says you cannot be guaranteed of salvation.
Then James 2:14-26 says over and over, “…Faith too without works is dead…Faith without works is useless…so Faith also without works is dead.” Again, words to be heeded by all.
C. So what is the answer to this dilemma? Is this one of those Bible ‘conflicts’ you keep hearing about? No, not at all.
The answer is very simple. There are two types of salvation, ‘objective salvation’, and ‘subjective salvation’.
The verses in ‘A’ are examples of objective salvation. Jesus Christ did atone for all of our sins, past, present and future.
He did His part and did it well, but He left the burden upon each one of us to complete the second side of the story by atoning for our own sins, by doing the will of the Father.
We have to keep the commandments. We have to practice ‘subjective salvation’. There is no salvation by accepting only part of Scripture as shown in ‘A’, and by rejecting, or trying to explain away the verses in ‘B’.
Yet this what Protestants are doing. Again, we have to combine ‘A’, and ‘B’, to have the full truth. A+B=C = TRUTH.
St. Thomas Aquinas maintained a doctrine of predestination, according to which “invincible ignorance”– that ignorance in which some reside in which it is impossible for them to come to a belief in the Catholic Faith — is an adequate means to contribute to the accomplishment of the purpose of the universe, which is the manifestation of the goodness of God.
The accomplishment of the Universe pre – exists in the Divine Mind, which is the cause of the universe, as the divine providence
Oh Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your powerful name, the protection of the living and the salvation of the dying.
Purest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, Blessed Lady, to rescue me whenever I call on you.
In my temptations, in my needs, I will never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary.
What a consolation, what sweetness, what confidence fills my soul when I utter your sacred name or even only think of your! I thank the Lord for having given you so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name.
But I will not be content with merely uttering your name. Let my love for your prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help
I was saved, I am saved and I am being saved.Yes, but only GOD knows who they are.
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