Crosstalk: July 16, 2019

Mike Gendron is the founder and director of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministry.  Mike was a devout Roman Catholic for over 3 decades and was taught to rely upon the authority of the Church above all else.  Mike searched the Scriptures and was amazed to find that what he read in Scripture contradicted the teaching and tradition of the Church he had been a part of for so long.  He trusted Jesus as his Savior and now the Bible has become his sole authority in all matters of faith. Mike is the author of the books, ‘Preparing for Eternity’ and the new ‘Contending for the Gospel.’

Mike explained that Peter was a fisherman.  When he gave up that career to follow Christ, he became a fisher of men.  So when you take a look at the two epistles that Peter wrote, you see that a lot of what he said is diametrically opposed to what Pope Francis teaches and historically to what the Catholic Church has taught.

As a fellow elder of the Church, Peter was fallible.  We see this in Scripture as Paul confronted him in Galatians 2 because Peter wasn’t acting in line with the truth of the Gospel.  Peter was also rebuked by Christ as seen in Matthew 16. On the other hand, Peter’s inspired words were infallible when he penned 1-2 Peter and his sermon in the book of Acts.  He never claimed to be the head of the Church. He knew that Jesus was the only head of the Church as he knew that Christ purchased the Church with his own shed blood.

So do Roman Catholics believe their Pope is infallible?  Mike said they do and that historically the Roman Catholic Church has believed that their popes have all been infallible when they preach from the chair of Peter.  According to Mike, that’s where things get confusing because when you ask them about some of the bizarre statements that Pope Francis has made, some of which even go against historic Catholicism, they will simply say that he wasn’t speaking from the chair of Peter.  That’s their ‘loophole.’

Mike noted that if you ask a Catholic where their infallible teachings of pope’s are listed, they can’t come up with it.  At the same time it’s a convenient option for them to declare their Pope infallible when it comes to faith and morals.   

As this broadcast progressed, Jim had Mike address the following: 

–What were Peter’s thoughts on the concept of confession of sins to a priest?

–Are Catholics allowed to go directly to God?

–Should we be praying to the saints?  Did Peter pray to anyone but God?

–Does Pope Francis believe we can be saved apart from Jesus Christ?

–Is there a contrast between what Peter taught and what the Pope says on the issue of assurance of eternal life?

–Did Peter promote the purchasing of indulgences for the remission of sins or the sacrifice of the mass?

–Is the Catholic priesthood necessary to offer sacrifices to God?

–Is Peter the ‘rock’ upon which Christ would build His church?

This Crosstalk presents all of this and more in detail along with input from listeners.