It's truly astonishing how much Catholic theology our Protestant brothers and sisters believe without being consciously aware of it.
In one sense, this is just what we ought to expect. Fundamentalist Protestants, historically speaking, are just Catholics (like Luther, Calvin and Zwingli — a monk and two priests) who've allowed certain parts of their Catholic theology to swallow up other equally Catholic parts. Luther, for instance, decided he liked the Catholic doctrine of faith better than the Catholic doctrine of good works. Calvin liked St. Augustine's ideas of predestination better than St. Augustine's ideas of free will. And Zwingli grew so enraged at the slovenly way Catholics were treating the Mass in his day that he finally decided, in a fit of temper, to have no Mass at all.
The best example of this principle, perhaps, is the way in which today's fundamentalists treat the Bible. They've retained, quite properly, the Catholic dogma of Scriptural infallibility; though, admittedly, they've slipped into a few logical dead ends about the exact nature of that infallibility. But on the other hand, they unwisely reject the only thing that was ever able to get that infallibility off the printed page — that is, the equally important Catholic dogma of an infallible interpreter for the Bible, which is the living Magisterium of the Church.
At any rate, a really good illustration of this point is the topic of holiness — the Catholic insistence that the grace of God really is able to turn actual sinners into actual saints. Fundamentalist theology emphasizes helplessness, weakness and sin — both before and after conversion. Indeed, many of our separated brethren simply surrender to sin because of this overriding sense of “helplessness.” And while they might not say it in so many words, they find it hard to believe deep down inside that even Almighty God can cleanse the victim of “total depravity.” All He can do is make the continued filthiness “not matter anymore.”
Yet when push comes to shove, Evangelicals really do believe in the Bible — even the “Catholic” parts. Their Reformation traditions certainly don't encourage them to think deeply about some of these embarrassing passages (Matthew 16, for example, or John 6) but the truth is still there in seed form, and any would-be Catholic apologists (you, my readers, I hope!) would do well to keep this in mind. Fundamentalists may balk at the whole concept of human sanctity, and try to call you a pagan for believing in it. But the fact is that they themselves already believe some pretty startling things about the Glorified Souls in Heaven, who we call the Saints.
Here's a short Bible study on the subject. Offer some of these passages to your non-Catholic friends to consider — especially when they confront you with their favorite demand: “Show me that in the Bible!”
The Saints Have Put On the Likeness of Christ
“As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…” (1 Cor. 15:48-51).
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“Brethren, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
The Saints are Sinless
“…Nothing unclean shall enter [heaven], nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood…” (Rev. 21: 27).
The Saints Have Godlike Understanding
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face-to-face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood” (1 Cor. 13:12).
The Saints Have a Share in Christ's Rulership
“Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25:21).
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more matters pertaining to this life?” (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
“He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star” (Rev. 2:26-28).
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 14).
“There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it [the New Jerusalem], and his servants shall worship him; they shall see his face and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall be their light, and they shall reign forever” (Rev. 22:3-5).
The Saints Partake of Unimaginable Glory
“…As it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor 2:9).
The Saints Are Witnesses to Our Trials
“…Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1).
Next Time: How to Talk to Your Protestant Friends About Mary
