Class date: 4/8/18
The class watched and discussed several sections of the Tim Staples video Defending Your Faith: How to Counter Standard Objections to Catholicism. Tim is a dynamic speaker who covered several hot topics, including Confession, statues, the role of works, and calling priests "Father."
He also shared some insights into his own conversion, including the story of the Catholic Marine who helped him on the way through his knowledge of the Scriptures.
In this instance, the cheatsheet provides a quick overview and brief notes for the class. The sections discussed on 4/8 are provided below for your convenience. Please see the separate class handout post for the full printable cheatsheet.
Miscellaneous Questions
Topic / Objection Response Calling priests “Father”Jesus, in Mt 23:9, says “call no man on earth father,” so the Catholic practice of calling priests “father” is unbiblical. Eph 6:1-2 and many others – male parent = “father”
Lk 16:24, Jas 2:1, Rom 4:1-18 – Abraham is our spiritual “father”
1 Jn 2:13-14, Acts 7:2 – elders in faith, Christian and Jewish = “fathers”
1 Cor 4:15 – St Paul calls self spiritual “father” of Corinthian Christians
Key point: Eph 3:14 – all fatherhood is derived from God's. Jesus condemns usurpation of, not proper participation in, God's Fatherhood Statues
In Ex 20:4 & Dt 5:8, God forbids the making of graven images. Ex 25:18-20 – God's directions for the Ark of the Covenant including huge golden statues of cherubim over the mercy seat (cf. 1 Chr. 28)
Num 21 – God commands Moses to make a bronze serpent and those who look upon it are healed; i.e. the statue is a conduit of grace and healing
Key point: read whole commandment in Ex 20:4-5 – God does not condemn the making of images but idolatry; otherwise He contradicts Himself Confessing to Priests
Is 43:25 and Ps 103:2-3 say it is the Lord who forgives sins and heals diseases.
1 Tim 2:5 says Christ is the one mediator.
Then why do you confess to a mere man? OT Lv 19:20-22 – priest shall make atonement & sin be forgiven – “Is it possible that God could establish a priesthood to communicate His forgiveness, or is He not powerful enough to do that?”
NT “Do you think Jesus is powerful enough ...?” Jesus's mission had 3 facets: priest, prophet, king
Mt 28:18-20 / Mk 16:15-16 – prophetic office communicated to apostles
Luke 22:29-30 – ditto kingly office, rule / judge
Jn 20:19-23 – ditto priestly office, sanctify / forgive sins
2 Cor 5:17 – “ministry of reconciliation”
James 5:14-15 – God forgives sins and heals disease through sacrament of anointing of the sick
Key point: We confess our sins to God, and God forgives us, through the priesthood He established.