The organization which produces this tract is a Roman Catholic organization. There are, of course, similar (in appearance) organizations among the Protestant cults. This fact, and the fact that there are many surface similarities between Catholicism and Protestantism may lead some people to believe that there aren't any real (significant) differences between the two.
To use an analogy, many seem to consider the two systems in the same way that one may compare different brands of automobiles. Each has its relative advantages with regard to the other, but both will get you from one place to another. This is what automobiles are intended to do.
This view is most definitely NOT true...despite the fact that people in "both camps" hold to it. So this tract may serve as education to both Catholics and Protestants.
The first major difference is that the Catholic Church teaches there is "NO salvation outside of it."
Let me examine the importance of this issue.
To do so, let me make three assumptions:
- Truth is important in God's scheme of things; in fact, so important that He bases His gift of salvation to man upon truth.
- Divine truth can be known, at least, to some degree, by man.
- Divine truth CANNOT change; to put it differently, God cannot go back on His word, nor will He deceive man as to what is true or false.
Rather than "prove" these assumptions, let me show you what will happen if they are NOT true. If this is the case, then: man can NOT know anything certain about God; truth has NO value with regard to heaven; God is NOT God, for He can change...and God can NOT change.
So, for real Christians the "assumptions" MUST be true.
Let me deal with the issue of importance a little more. In religious matters, "important" means only one thing: necessary for salvation. Ultimately, man is saved or damned. This is all that really matters. A thing is important IF AND ONLY IF it is necessary for salvation.
So, if YOU hold that truth has a value in religious matters, then certain conclusions will follow. And if YOU are going to be honest, then YOU will accept them.
With this in mind, let me examine the major differences between Catholicism and Protestantism. The first is the VALUE of truth. The Roman Church teaches that one must hold to and affirm as true the entire Catholic Faith in order to be saved. In other words, those who reject defined Catholic truth - even a "minor" part - CAN NOT enter heaven, unless they repent and accept it before judgment. No matter how "saintly" his life is - no matter how good his "works" - he cannot be saved! As you can see, the Church does NOT teach salvation by works."
The Protestant, on the other hand, holds that whatever one actually believes is of NO value. Whether one believes in "eternal assurance" or denies it, does NOT matter. One Protestant sect forbids dancing and another allows it. "So what?" asks the Protestant "theologian." As none of these differences change a person's status, as everyone remains in the "church," truth does not make a difference regarding ANYTHING!
The Protestant holds that salvation comes from Jesus "somehow." This "somehow" is based upon a personal relationship with Jesus. But in this relationship, it does not matter what is true or false, or who tells the truth, or who seeks it, or who learns it. In other words, even attributing some non-truth to Jesus (which is blasphemy) does not matter...as long as one "somehow" has a relationship with Him.
Do YOU believe that this view is too "harsh?" If so examine this one verse from the Bible. Jesus demands complete poverty for His followers (Lk 14:33). This is exactly what millions of Catholics have done. Yet Protestant ministers not only do not renounce their riches but also advocate wealth and teach that money is a sign of God's approval. They pray for wealth. This is a complete denial of the teachings of Jesus.
So this question arises: How do these people continue to call themselves Christians? The answer is obvious and inevitable. They deny the value of truth. Everything is reduced to human opinion and the right of private interpretation. The last phrase means that every man can tell God what truth is, and not the other way!
Usually the Protestants hide this fact by saying that "faith is a living trust," or "I'm saved not by some dogma, but by Jesus." But all of this evasion is reducible to one simple sentence: TRUTH DOES NOT HAVE ANY VALUE. As far as Protestants are concerned having truth does NOT help one get into heaven, and rejection of truth does NOT put one in hell.
But Jesus identified Himself with the truth (Jn 14:6). This makes truth essential IF Jesus is essential. Jesus told us that EVERYONE committed to the truth will hear HIS voice (Jn 18:37) and that HIS followers would be lead into ALL truth (Jn 16:13). Jesus tells us that if HIS followers ask for anything in His name, they will receive it (Lk 11:19). If Jesus meant these words -- and REAL Christians hold that he did mean them -- then there is no excuse for not knowing truth. There is no excuse for allowing private opinions to substitute for religious truths. There is no excuse for denying the value of truth or that man can determine it.
To put it slightly differently there is no excuse for the Protestant system, and no reason why ANY honest person can remain one.
On the other hand, the Catholic system DEMANDS utter submission to the unchanging truth of God revealed by Jesus to His Apostles and preserved since that time by the Church of Rome.
And this is the REAL difference between Catholic and Protestant systems.
Before I wrote that if YOU do value truth then certain conclusions will follow. The conclusions will force you to do one of two things: IF you continue to value truth, then you WILL become a Catholic. If you do not become one, then you will be admitting that you really do NOT value truth.
Ask yourself which category YOU fall into. YOUR salvation will depend on the answer.
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