Catholics make up approximately 17.8% of the global population, with more than 1.42 billion "baptized" Catholics worldwide per Vatican News, and the Catholic Church remains the largest Christian denomination on the planet. Yet an eternally pertinent question remains: are these 1.42 billion names written in the Lamb's book of life? Recall that "if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). We're not saying that all non-Catholics, protestants included, qualify to see God. The criteria to see God is far from the name of your church. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Absolute purity of heart is the criteria to see God.
The purpose of this article is not to argue for or against Catholicism, but to expose the reader to the undiluted Word of God in light of common Catholic practices. Much of the material referenced is drawn from The Complete Works of Zacharias Tanee Fomum on Basic Christian Doctrine. By the time you reach the end of this article, you will either choose to believe God's Word now, or believe it later. I pray the former be your soul's portion.
Introduction
In the first and second commandments, God said to man, "You shall have no other gods besides me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them" (Exodus 20:3–5). What is idolatry? Idolatry includes having any person, thing, system, or philosophy on the throne of the heart above, besides, or next to God. God must have the first place in an absolute sense. It also includes the making of any images of God or man to represent God, the bowing to objects, and the making and keeping of pictures of "Jesus." If your job, ambitions, education, spouse, children, parents, government, or any other thing takes the first place in your life, you are an idolater. To know if you are worshipping a thing, ask: has God asked me not to have this thing? Does it hinder my walk with God? Am I prepared to let it go the moment the Lord asks?
— Zacharias Tanee Fomum, The Way of Life
Catholicism: Idolatry?
All that you are worshipping are idols. You must put an end to them. Images, statues, of God or Jesus or Mary or any other "saint," bones from "saints" kept for their magical healing powers, other wooden, metal, or stone images, must be destroyed. You cannot bow to the image of Jesus and also bow to Jesus. "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9–11). The Lord Jesus is the only one every knee must bow to, not Mary, or anything or anyone else.
— Zacharias Tanee Fomum, The Way of Life
What of Saints as Intermediaries?
There is one God and only one intermediary between God and man: Jesus. All other intermediaries are abominations to God. "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5–6). Only the blood of Jesus cleanses from sin. All that is carried out, even in the name of the Lord Jesus, by those who worship religious idols and have other intermediaries apart from Jesus, is dead works. You cannot be redeemed by Jesus and be redeemed by Mary.
— Zacharias Tanee Fomum, The Way of Life
Everyone has the choice to choose their redeemer. You can choose Mary, Paul, Saint Augustine, or the Lord Jesus. I pray you choose the Redeemer.
Should Babies Be Baptized?
The Lord Jesus was not baptized as a baby. As a baby, He was dedicated. "When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord" (Luke 2:22). When babies were brought to Him in His ministry, He blessed them; He did not baptize them (Mark 10:12–16). The Lord Jesus Himself asked to be baptized as an adult, insisting on it, refusing to be dissuaded (Matthew 3:13–15).
How Was the Lord Jesus Baptized?
The Lord Jesus was baptized in the Jordan. He went right into the water. "And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water" (Matthew 3:16).
Baptism as Practiced by the Church in Bible Times
On the day of the first Pentecost, Peter had just preached the gospel. "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:37–38). Peter addressed people who had heard his message, were convicted of sin, and asked intelligently what they should do. He asked them to do two things: repent, and be baptized. Neither could be skipped.
Dear reader, thank you for reading till this point. My prayer for you is that God would help you read, believe, and correct the mistakes in your own journey. God's word is true. It shall never be broken. We cannot edit God's standards.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
— Mark 16:16
Have you repented and forsaken all your sins (John 1:12)? If yes, have you been baptized, buried into water? You can repent from all sin and truly receive the Lord Jesus right now by praying in your own words, or in words like these:
"Lord God, I have personally sinned against You in my thoughts, words, and actions. Nothing that I do on my own can take away my sin. But You loved a wretched sinner like me and sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die in my place on the cross. I recognize that only Jesus can save me. I now surrender my life to Him completely, without reserve. Take away all my sins and send the Lord Jesus to come into my heart right now as my Savior and Lord. I will follow You at any cost. Thank You for hearing my prayer and saving me."
If you have prayed that prayer sincerely, then Jesus has come into your heart and you have immediately become a child of God. Before thinking of any other thing, get baptized into water.
A Resource
I'd highly recommend the books The Way of Life and The Way of Obedience, both by Professor Zacharias Tanee Fomum, for a solid foundation in the Christian life and a clear picture of biblical doctrine.
May God richly bless you!