Catholics love the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew ch5-7) but Protestants generally avoid it, since it doesn't fit with their ideas of how salvation is supposed to take place. This Sermon is full of passages that contradict the Protestant doctrine of 'Salvation by Faith Alone', and in this edition of Quickie Apologetics I want to call attention to a
section of the Sermon on the Mount that we all know but don't often
think of:
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matt 7:13-14)
How often do we hear Protestants ridicule Catholics for 'complicating' Salvation. Protestants insist that 'getting saved' is so easy that all we have to do is believe, that faith alone in Christ's finished work on the Cross is all that it takes. But given the above teaching of Jesus, what is so "difficult" about the Faith Alone approach? What is so "narrow" path about it? Why are "few" saved if all they need to do is believe? The answer to all these is: nothing.
Protestants typically 'interpret' the teachings of Jesus as being either (1) meant for Old Testament folks alone, or (2) simply to show us how sinful we are, not to actually impose any commands or expectations upon us. Such is quite absurd, and effectively renders the Gospels hollow. This is why Protestants hardly ever quote/read the Gospels. The honest truth is, this is not an easy teaching of Jesus, but Catholicism has always understood that Jesus really meant it, and thus we strive to conform our life to everything Jesus taught, whether comfortable or uncomfortable.
Protestants typically 'interpret' the teachings of Jesus as being either (1) meant for Old Testament folks alone, or (2) simply to show us how sinful we are, not to actually impose any commands or expectations upon us. Such is quite absurd, and effectively renders the Gospels hollow. This is why Protestants hardly ever quote/read the Gospels. The honest truth is, this is not an easy teaching of Jesus, but Catholicism has always understood that Jesus really meant it, and thus we strive to conform our life to everything Jesus taught, whether comfortable or uncomfortable.
6 comments:
Hi Nick,
This is short but excellent post. I think that this verse doesn't bear well with the "sola fide" crowd. I also recently noticed that is similar to the case of the Lord's Prayer, which very few protestants prefer for the single reason that it conflicts with their theology. It is kind of puzzling to them why do we need to ask for forgiveness so many times if Christ paid the penalty for us. In their theology it doesn't make sense.
I find it quite amazing that protestants do not have a way to explain the parable of the sheeps and the goats in Matthew 25:31-48, which by the way is nothing but a description of the final judgment. They resort instead to the parable of the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14, and insisting in that it teaches justification by faith alone. What is funny in that passage is that the word faith is nowhere to be found, but rather repentance (which many of them consider a "work")
But definitely Mark 7:14 is an excellent tool for the catholic apologist.
Keep up the good work.
https://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2017/12/once-saved-always-saved.html
This is why Protestants hardly ever quote/read the Gospels. The honest truth is, this is not an easy teaching of Jesus, but Catholicism has always understood that Jesus really meant it, and thus we strive to conform our life to everything Jesus taught, whether comfortable or uncomfortable.
This underscores how the reading the Gospels made me a Catholic! (Well, "making me a Catholic" - I was a committed Baptist up to June 2018, and Christ has been working in life since.) In the contemporary Reformed tradition, when one wishes to understand salvation, they completely ignore the teachings of Jesus Christ and spring directly to the Apostle Paul. It wasn't until I began reading Paul in the context of Christ that it all started making sense.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works. (Matt. 16:27)
It is indeed a very effective example of how the Gospels don't readily conform 2 Protestant traditions. However, I hw
ave had a rabid anti-Catholic use this passage against the Catholic Church. Her argument was that most people want to think they can enter heaven on their own merits, but the true Christian understands they can only enter Heaven through work of Christ. The narrow gate to her was a reference to tne tiny number of members of her Pentacostal tradition vs the over 1 billion people who believe the lies of Catholic Church. I say this just to give everyone a "head's up" and let you know that argumemt is out there
Oh, yeah. Her interpretation can't account for why the narrow path is difficult without really straining credibility, but, trust me, most people who hate the Catholic Church enough to use this aegument won't have a problem w a strained interpretation because. they are so used to doing that to the sayings of Jesus in order to explain away how truly Catholic are Jesus's teachings in the gospel.
This is why Protestants hardly ever quote/read the Gospels. The honest truth is, this is not an easy teaching of Jesus, but Catholicism has always understood that Jesus really meant it, and thus we strive to conform our life to everything Jesus taught, whether comfortable or uncomfortable.
I will leave a brief comment on this. I really don't know why anyone would believe this statement. The Gospel is the constant, between most of the churches. As far as I'm concerned all of these verses are for our edification. There isn't anything specific to Catholicism or the other teaching that would preach against a narrow gate. Although, I am sure that there is a large gradient within all congregations to what they believe. I think the exhortations are there for a reason, to get us to listen. I encourage the consideration of all the Gospel.
Post a Comment