INTRODUCTION

    A. I want to begin by saying that my research and study for this lesson has
         been about Catholic doctrine - not about Catholic people.

        1. When Jesus spoke against the sect of the Pharisees, He did not speak
            of their person - He spoke of their actions, attitude (or heart) and their
            doctrine.

            a. When Jesus referred to them as hypocrites and blind guides He was
                speaking of specific deeds they had done to show their hypocrisy and
                stiff-necked blindness.

            b. When Jesus referred to them as serpents and the offspring of vipers,
                He showed specific acts they had done and would do to indicate that
                such was the nature to which they  ascribed.

        2. That there were good and honest people who were Pharisees or who
            followed Pharisaical doctrine is made obvious by people like Jairus,
            Nicodemus, and Saul of Tarsus.

            a. While they believed and promoted doctrines not according to the
                word of God, they did it in all honesty and with good conscience.

            b. That does not take away from the fact that they were in error - only
                that they were not evil in their intent.

        3. There are many today who hold to Catholic doctrine and practice
            Catholicism with great passion and fervor. 

            a. Some call themselves Catholics neither knowing or caring if their
                doctrine and practice is consistent with the Bible or Catholicism.

            b. Others, however, practice Catholicism devoutly, in all sincerity and
                 honesty and with clear conscience.

            c. However, if their doctrine and practice are in error, the fact that they
                practice it devoutly and in all honesty and sincerity takes away neither
                their error or their guilt.

            d. While they may be good, even the best of people, as Jesus told the
                Sadducees, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not
                know the Scriptures ... You are therefore greatly mistaken” (Mark
                12:18, 27).

    B. The intent of this lesson and those to follow during this hour over the next
        two days is to show that the origin of the Catholic church, the leadership
        of the Catholic church and many of the teachings of the Catholic church are
        not consistent with the teaching of the Scriptures, specifically the New
        Testament.

        1. In the New Testament book of 2 Peter, the apostle goes into great
           detail describing false teachers and the fruit of their damnable doctrines.

        2. There are false teachers who teach false doctrine because they have
            misinterpreted a passage due to insufficient study and  because they are
            simply parroting the teaching of some one who lead them in error.  Such
            men, if they are of honest and good heart, can easily be brought to the
            truth - and must be if they are to enjoy hope of eternal life.

        3. On the other hand, there are false teachers, according to Peter, who
            secretly bring in destructive heresies (2:1); who deny the Lord who
            bought them (2:1); who blaspheme the way of truth (2:2); who, by
            covetousness, exploit listeners with deceptive words (2:3).

    C. It is with both groups in mind that we present these lessons.

        1. We want to bring honest and good hearts who are in error to the truth
            of God’s word that they might enjoy hope of eternal life.

        2. We also, for the sake of those who might be deceived by them, want to
            mark and avoid those false teachers who bring in destructive heresies,
            deny the Lord who bought them, blaspheme the way of truth, and who
            exploit listeners with deceptive words.

    D. For a few minutes, then, I’d like to discuss with you: 

        1. How the Catholic church came into being.

        2. A few excerpts from history as to the activity of the Catholic church.

        3. The influence this church has had on the religion of Christianity.

    E. In the time allotted, we will not be able to go into much detail.  There are,
        however, resources that can be made available to you which go into
        greater detail if you are interested.
 

DISCUSSION

  I. THE ORIGIN OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

    A. To understand the origin or the beginnings of the Catholic church, one
         must be, at least, vaguely familiar with the church described in the New
        Testament.

        1. The Lord’s church, though being in the mind of God since before the
            beginning of time, had its inception on the day of Pentecost in the year
            A.D. 33 as penitent believers were added to the church when they were
            baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2).

        2. As the church (the people of God) grew in number, they spread
            throughout the world establishing congregations of church members.

        3. The Apostle Paul taught, by inspiration, that these churches were to be
            ruled over by elders; men who met the qualifications laid down by the
            Holy Spirit of God (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7).

        4. In the New Testament there are three designations given to the men who
            would serve the church in this way: Bishops, Pastors, and Elders.

            a. The definitions of these terms essentially sum up their responsibilities
                to the church.

            b. They are to be overseers (Bishops) that see to the work of the
                church.

            c. They are to be shepherds (Pastors) which spiritually feed and care for
                the church.

            d. They are to be Elders, men of sufficient age to use with wisdom the
                knowledge provided in God’s word to benefit the church.

        5. The men appointed to this office in the church are strictly forbidden from
            using their position for their benefit or to attempt to “lord over the flock”
            (1 Peter 5).

            a. They are instructed that the flock belongs to God and that they are to
                feed it, oversee it, and be examples to it.

            b. They are instructed to be servants submitting to the needs of the
                church (much like Jesus submitted to the needs of man).
 

    B. It was prophesied, however, that men would depart from these
         instructions causing great strife and division in the church.

        1. Paul, speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, gave this stern
            warning: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will
            come in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also, from among yourselves
            men will rise up speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
            themselves” (Acts 20:29-30).

        2. Brethren and friends, if one could sum up the activity of the men who
            have led the Catholic church over the past 2000 years, it could be done
            no better than Paul’s prophecy here.

        3. It was from the eldership of the church that men rose up, spoke
            perverse things and drew away disciples after themselves.

        4. Paul expanded on that prophecy in writing to the church at Thessolonica
            and to Timothy. 

            a. Note specifically about what he warned Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

            b. When discussing the second coming of Christ with the church at
                Thessolonica Paul prophesied (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

        5. Time forbids to give a proper and complete discussion of these verses
            and those to follow.

        6. Paul’s prophecy did not wait long before it began to happen. 
 

        7. The apostles were barely cold in their graves before men who were
            elders in the church began departing from the teachings of those
            apostles.

    C. Do not misunderstand me to say that I think having an eldership is a bad
         idea.

        1. That the church is to be led and fed in the word of God by elders is the
            God-ordained method for church maturity.

        2. Men, however, have the freedom of choice to follow God or not.

        3. The very things about which Peter and Paul warned elders are the things
            which, to many of them, became (become) vices.

        4. This is why it is so vital that men who are appointed to this position in a
            congregation meet the qualifications laid down by the Spirit of God.

        5. I hope, through the course of these lessons, to prove to you, however,
            that not all men (elders) fall prey to Satan in these ways.

        6. The church of our Lord, through peril and sword, has successfully
             continued through the ages - overcoming even the gates of hades by the
             power and wisdom of God.
 

  II. THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

    A. As the church spread throughout the world, some men appointed to the
         position of elder/bishop began to assume for themselves more authority
         than God had given them.

        1. For the next few minutes, I want to share with you some excerpts from
            history showing how the Catholic church became the Catholic church
            and how it progressed as such.
 

        2. No one woke up one day and said, “I want to begin the Catholic
            church.” 

            a. This was not a general movement, but a series of isolated events
                which Satan used to attempt to destroy the work of Christ and the
                apostles. 

            b. It was often a matter of well educated men who, in a time when
                education was not a fundamental right, were forced to the forefront. 

            c. Rather than humbly using their education to further God’s purpose,
                some of them fell to the temptation of furthering themselves.

           d. Some of the most astounding comments I’ve read come from a
               modern Catholic historian - a man who says that he is Catholic and
               will be Catholic, regardless of the history of the Catholic church.  He
               said:

                   Those who so far have not been seriously confronted with 
                   the facts of history will sometimes be shocked at how human
                   the course of events were everywhere, indeed how many of
                   the institutions and constitutions of the church - especially the
                   central Roman Catholic institution of the papacy - are man made. 

        4. On some matters, this man is closer to the truth than some of my own
             brethren.  He says, further:

            a. “The original meaning of ekklesia, ‘church,’ was not a
                hyperorganization of spiritual functionaries, detached from the
                concrete assembly.  It denoted a community gathering at a particular
                place at a particular time for a particular action - a local church,
                though with the other local churches it formed a comprehensive
                community, the whole church.”
 

            b. “According to the New Testament, every individual local community
                is given what it needs for human salvation: the gospel to proclaim,
                baptism ..., the celebration of a meal in grateful remembrance, ... 
                Thus every local church makes the whole church fully present;
                indeed, it may understand itself - in the language of the New
                Testament - as people of God, body of Christ, and building of the
                Spirit.  Assembly, house, community, church of Jesus Christ.  That
                means the origin and the name carry with them an obligation: the
                church has to serve the cause of Jesus Christ.  Where the church
                does not realize the cause of Jesus Christ or distorts it, it sins against
                 its being and loses that being.” 

                1) I am not sure Mr. Kung understands the New Testament concept
                    that I am a part of the church of Christ, even if I am not assembled
                    with the saints.

                2) But I am impressed with some of his statements as they seem so
                    contrary to what Catholic doctrine maintains.  (We will look at
                    some of those doctrines in our next lesson.)

        5. The purpose of Jesus Christ when He came to this earth was to glorify
            God by seeking and saving the lost.  That must be the purpose of the
            church ... if not, we distort our being.

        6. Did (does) the Catholic church throughout history distort that purpose?

            a. Jesus, in seeking to glorify God, proclaimed on many occasions that
               He came to do the will of Him that sent Him (John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 
               8:28).

            b. God is glorified when we do His will.  God is not glorified when we
                 substitute our will for His on any matter.
 

        7. Notice with me some subtle and not so subtle changes and substitutions
            made to God’s will that resulted in a departure of the church from the
            faith revealed in the New Testament.

    B. In the second century, some began to make a distinction between the term
         “elder” and “bishop.”  Remember that no such distinction is made in the
        New Testament.

        1. Ignatius of Antioch (between A.D. 110 and 150) began advocating a
            single bishop over the elders.

            a. He divided the offices of the church into three categories:  bishop,
                presbyter and deacons.

            b. How firm he held this conviction is in question as he, in writing a
                letter to the church at Rome, did not address a bishop.

            c. Likely, this was a local problem at the church in Antioch.  Maybe he
                was promoting himself as the Bishop in that congregation.

            d. I like Hans Kung’s comment on this - remember, he is a Catholic
                historian.  That fact makes his statement profound.  After stating that
                a certain document upon which the Catholic church relied for years to
                prove “apostolic succession” has been proven to be a forgery, he
                says:

                    Thus the presbyteral-episcopal church constitution is not
                    based on any institution by Jesus Christ and can in no way
                    be seen as absolutely intrinsic to Christianity, if one uses as
                    a measure the words of Jesus himself, the earliest community,
                    and the charismatic constitution of the Pauline churches. 
 

            e. Unfortunately, in his next statement, he says that since the
                “presbyteral-episcopal church constitution” became the norm in
                post-apostolic churches, it is not apostasy.

            f. That’s funny isn’t it? 
               It is not according to the words of Jesus, 
               it is against the pattern of New Testament churches
               and it is of absolutely no intrinsic value to the Christianity, 
               but it is not apostasy!

        2. Tertullian lived in the second half of the first century.

            a. He worked to establish the church of Christ at Rome as being the
                prime example to follow.

            b. I have no doubt that the Roman congregation was a good church. 
                But due to Tertullian’s work, this congregation began to be exalted
                over other churches.

            c. Please excuse my continued references to Kung’s work, but that he is
               Catholic and yet can make some of the admissions he does, to me, is
                incredible.

                   In Rome in particular there was initially no monarchical 
                   episcopate, and we know hardly more than the names
                   of bishops of the first two centuries (the first date in papal
                   history is thought to be 222, the beginning of the pontificate
                   of Urban 1).  The promise to Peter from the gospel of 
                   Matthew (16.18), “You are Peter, and on this rock I will
                   build my church,” which is so central for today’s bishops 
                   of Rome ... is not once quoted in full in any of the Christian
                   literature of the first centuries - apart from a text in Tertullian,
                   and this does not quote the passage in connection with Rome
                   but in connection with Peter. 

            d. Despite, however, the lack of Biblical evidence or authority for it, by
                the end of the third century, some bishops were considering
                themselves successors to the apostles.

            e. Apostolic succession is a claim the popes still use to substantiate their
                claim to be pope - yet not one scripture can substantiate that claim!

    C. When Constantine became Emperor and relieved much of the persecution
         the Roman government had placed upon the church, things began to
         change swiftly in the church.

        1. The Roman church became more prominent due to the Emperor’s
            support - which was natural since he lived in Rome.

            a. While the bishop of Rome was not overly regarded at this time, with
                the elevation of the Roman church, he would soon come to be.

            b. The influential Roman church was often regulated in doctrine by the
                Emperor - thus an attitude of disregard for the Bible as the authority
                became a plague to the church.

        2. The council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) was called by the Emperor
            Constantine, and held in his home in Nicaea.

            a. While the Emperor may have been a religious man, his efforts seemed
                to be more for unity in the Empire than in the church - he used the
                church as a tool to obtain and maintain imperial unity.

            b. The Arian doctrine concerning the nature of Christ was causing
                division in the church, and Constantine wanted that division stopped
                as a division in the church would cause division in his empire.

            c. So he called a council of several bishops of metropolitan churches, a
                council over which he presided.

        3. By this effort, not only was the idea of “a” bishop in a church fostered,
            but the idea of Metropolitan churches being more important than smaller
            country churches was fostered as well.

        4. A result of this council was that, by imperial decree, church provinces
            were to correspond with imperial provinces - each with a metropolitan
           and a provincial synod. 

        5. Thus the beginning of the Imperial Church.

    D. After Constantine, his sons took over and one of them (Constantius)
         began a persecution of pagan religions. 

        1. By the end of the fourth century, Constantine’s form of Christianity
            became the State religion - which meant it was illegal to practice any
            other religion.

        2. Now the persecuted church became the persecuting church.

        3. Not only were pagans persecuted, but any who practiced Christianity
            outside the decrees of the Emperor’s church were considered a heretic
            and were punishable by death.

    E. Over the next few centuries, more councils were held implementing more
        and more new teachings, doctrines and laws. 

        1. The early “Catholic” church (fourth and fifth centuries) was divided up
             into 5 patriarchates with Rome evolving to be the most influential.

        2. Any hope of the evolved Catholic church using the Bible as it’s sole
            authority was quickly vanishing as Papal power was a force that proved
            to be irresistible to those who held that office.

  III. THE INFLUENCE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

    A. The power of the pope came to be such that it was decreed that when He
         spoke, he was infallible.

        1. Listen to the words of pope Gregory VII of the eleventh century. 
            Before becoming pope his name was Hildebrand. 

            a. He influenced Nicholas II to form the College of Cardinals which
                took papal election from the people and put it totally into the hands of
                the church. 

            b. Through his influence pope Alexander II was able to make alliances
                with the Normans of Southern Italy, France, Spain, England and
                Germany - making the Catholic church the state church in those
                countries. 

            c. Through his puppeteering and manipulation, the position of the
                papacy was greatly strengthen - at which time he took the position. 
               Upon becoming pope, Hildebrand said:

                   The Roman Church was founded by God alone; the Roman
                   pope alone can with right be called universal; he alone may
                   use the imperial insignia; his feet alone shall be kissed by all
                   princes; he may depose the Emperor; he himself may be
                   judged by no one; the Roman church has never erred, nor
                   will it err in all eternity. 
 

        2. Again, this did not happen over night - but nonetheless it happened.

        3. The doctrine of “ex-cathedra” declared in 1870 that when the pope
             spoke in ex-cathedra, he was literally speaking for God.

        4. Being that the Catholic church was the State church, it being a crime to
            go against said church, you can imagine what influence this had upon
            religion in general.

        5. While, during the dark ages men were not educated (by decree of the
            Catholic church), men were not stupid.

        6. Men could see the corruption taking place - some of them took public
            stands against the Catholic church, giving their lives in so doing.

    B. Think about how the following “Catholicisms” would affect society:

        1. The Interdict.

            a. If the world in general believed that 
 

•  worship can only take place with a Catholic priest; 
•  marriage can be legitimate only if performed by a Catholic priest; 
•  forgiveness can be given only by a Catholic priest; 
•  and that funerals can be performed only by a Catholic priest 

            what would happen in a country where those “blessings” were 
            withheld from religious people?

            b. The “Christian” world was told that such was the power of the
                Catholic church.

            c. If the ruling authority of a particular country was not in favor with the
                pope, the pope could impose an interdict - essentially closing the
                doors of the church in that country, causing the priests not to fulfill
                their duties.

           d. The people would, in turn, revolt causing the king to submit to the
               pope.

           e. Do you want to know why
 

•  we have “church weddings” today? 
•  people still go to the preacher to confess sins (rather than confessing faults one to another)? 
•  people think the church is the place where people go to worship rather than being the people who go to worship? 

          It is all because of the influence the Catholic church had during the
          “dark ages.”

    2. Excommunication is when the pope withdraws God’s forgiveness and
        God’s grace from a person. It was often used as a tool to force submission
        - not to the will of God, but to the will of the pope.

    3. The Crusades.

            a. The papal church was so large in number and devotion that often
                kings would call upon them to help in military efforts.

            b. The first crusades were for the purpose of getting the “Holy Lands”
                back from the Muslims.

            c. The Catholic church later used crusades to bring into subjection
                whole nations. 

            d. Such was a complete disregard for Jesus’ own teachings concerning
                the nature of His kingdom.

            e. The atrocities that took place “in the name of God” via crusades are
                unmentionable in polite or impolite society.
 

            f. Recruitment into the papal army was done by not only providing
               wages to and pronouncing blessings upon any and all soldiers, but
               also providing them the opportunity to sin without disfavor through the
               granting of indulgences (the right to sin).

        4. The Inquisitions. 

            a. Let’s suppose that our government has the right to judge your faith
                and if  they find your faith not compliant with their standard, they can
                then execute you. 

            b. Let’s suppose, in such a state, you have no say in your “trial;”
                anyone can accuse you of heresy and you are not allowed to know 
                your accuser.

            c. Let’s suppose that you have only two choices in your trial - confess
                guilt or be tortured ... innocence is not an option.

            d. If those conditions prevailed, how many people do you think would 
                openly object to your country’s faith?

            e. Such was the impact the Catholic church had on society during the 
                dark ages.

    C. Throughout the centuries, there were men and groups of men
         (congregations) who opposed all that for which the Catholic church and 
         the pope stood.

        1. We often think of the reformation movement beginning with men like
            Martin Luther.

        2. But throughout the centuries there have been men appealing for the
            church to return to its New Testament origin.

        3. During what we call the reformation, the Catholic church would stop at
            no means to regain its lost favor in the world.

            a. The Jesuit Order was a military order of priests with the authority to
                kill any who protested against the Catholic church.

            b. The Catholic doctrine of “intentionalism” states that any means
                justifies the end of the greater glory of God.

            c. The doctrine of “mental reservation” states that it is okay to not tell
                the truth if it were for the purpose of promoting the church.

            d. The object was to establish loyalty to an organization - the Catholic
                church - loyalty to God was not considered.

        4. Time forbids us from going in to a study of the lives of faithful men who
            withstood these forces throughout the history of the Catholic church -
            to them, the inspired scriptures they followed, and the grace of God, 
            you and I are indebted today.

  CONCLUSION

    A. From history we should learn that the Catholic church of past and
        present feeds on the ignorance of the people.  When enlightenment
        comes, Catholicism wanes.

    B. If a person couples a love for and desire to be with God with a 
        knowledge of the Bible and a knowledge of the history of the Catholic 
        church, he cannot choose to follow the direction of the Catholic church
        and still claim to love God and desire to be with Him.

 1 Hans Kung, The Catholic Church A Short History, Translated by John Bowden (A Modern Library chronicles book), p. xxv
 2  Ibid, p. 5-6
 3 Ibid, p.  22
 4 Ibid.  p.  41
 5 Ibid, p. 36
 6 Tracy Dugger, History of Catholicism, 2000 Houston College of the Bible Lectureship - Roman Catholicism, edited by David P. Brown (Gospel Light Publishing Co.) p. 34
 7 Winston Walker, A History Of The Christian Church (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1959), pp. 192-193