DOMINUS VOBISCUM!
I have a friend. His father died almost a year ago. The father was also a good friend of mine. I have fond and unforgettable memories of our camaraderie.
The night before interment of the remains, I had the chance to gather around the table with the three sons of the deceased exchanging stories about their father. The three are in unanimity that despite their father’s womanizing ways he was essentially a caring father. As the discussions progressed, the differences on how each of the sons’ perception of their father started to surface. The eldest thought his father played favorites. The younger thought otherwise until a lot more differences in outlook towards the dead father’s person dominated the round table gathering. It was this point that I doused cold water on the heating verbal exchanges.
In jest I told the sons of the deceased that their outlook or perception of their dearly departed father runs parallel with the perception each of the Christian religions apply upon the Person of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. All the Christian religions are in unanimity that Jesus is GOD that must be adored, worshipped and followed. However, with the passage of time, the differences in outlook on how the Messiah conducted Himself as GOD fragmented them from one another. After giving such simple analogy, the discussion shifted from the father to the differences or controversies among all the Christian religions such as the topic of the title on hand.
Logically, with the birth of Roman Catholicism the Catholic Jesus was born. With the birth of the Orthodox Christian religion, the Orthodox Jesus was born. With the birth of the Protestant religion, the Protestant Jesus was born. From generation to generation, all the Christian religions propagandize that their Jesus is the Scriptural Jesus. Such is the common motto or battle cry of the contending Christian religions. On that premise, finding the difference between Jesus and the Roman Catholic Church, is finding the difference between the Scriptural Jesus and the Catholic Jesus.
The Roman Catholic Church is an assembly of believers of the Son of Man or Christians who label themselves Roman Catholics. They are, by historical accounts, an offshoot of early Christianity. The “Magesterium” or the teaching authority of Roman Catholicism taught to their flock from generation to generation that their Catholic Jesus is an identical twin of the Scriptural Jesus. That is, they are one and the same.
As a fellow who practically spent twelve years of formal education in one of the leading and reputable Catholic universities in my beloved country, I was indoctrinated or brain-washed that the Scriptural Jesus and the Catholic Jesus are one and the same. For a span of time, I professed with conviction as a devout Catholic such doctrine of faith only to find out through personal effort and objectivity that such claim is not entirely accurate. The disparity is huge. The Scriptural Jesus and the Catholic Jesus are not even fraternal twins. One is an impostor.
This piece will not belabor to enumerate the many differences between the Scriptural Jesus and the Catholic Jesus. A few glaring and obvious differences would suffice.
To begin with, the Catholic Jesus died for humanity to save humanity from sin. With his death, humanity has been saved. Such is the doctrine of faith of Roman Catholicism. The Messiah laid down his life for all of us. He loved us with all his heart, with all his strength, with all his soul and with all his mind. He did not die for God the Father. That is the Catholic Jesus. Us first before the Father. He did not follow the commandment He forwarded to his disciples: “Love GOD with all your heart, with all your strength, with all your soul and with all your mind.“ The Catholic Jesus gave the totality of Himself not to the one who sent him but to the descendants of Adam and Eve who backstabbed him in the garden. He died for them even those who did not love God as he commanded. He died for those whom he addressed as “brood of serpents” who hated him with all human ferocity. He died for the other robber by his side on the cross who mocked him even when he did not offer paradise to such wicked robber. That is the Catholic Jesus. By dying for those who did not love Him as God, he contradicted himself.
On the other hand, the Scriptural Jesus declared, “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Direct from the lips of the Scriptural Jesus, He did not lay down His life for humanity as the Catholic Jesus did. He did it for His friends and not just for anybody. He did it for the Father who sent Him with all His heart, with all His strength, with all His soul and with all His mind. Surely, those who do not believe in Him are not his friends. Those who butchered Him mercilessly were not His friends. The wicked robber by side on the cross was not His friend. Those persons who did not follow His commandment of love cannot be His friends. Far from it. Therefore, not all humanity are his friends. Even now. The Scriptural Jesus did not die for humanity. He did not die for those who did not follow His command. What is the value of sinners who hate and do not recognize Him as God that He should die for them? Such is the big and undeniable difference between the Scriptural Jesus and the Catholic Jesus.
The voice box or authorized mouthpiece of the Catholic Jesus is the “Magesterium” of the Roman Catholic Church. The “Magesterium” declares and professes that Judas Iscariot is the enemy of the Catholic Jesus who is God. Judas Iscariot is conspicuously absent among the canonized saints. To the Catholic Jesus, the Betrayer is of Satan’s lot. The entire Roman Catholic clergy continually bash the Betrayer specially in seasons they tagged as the “Holy Week” issuing unholy utterances upon the person of Judas Iscariot. There is no denying such fact. It is heard annually at the pulpit. His name is the most hated name in Roman Catholicism. No Catholic even wants to adopt his name for their male offspring.
On the other hand, the Scriptural Jesus at the height of the unfolding drama of the Passion that He wants fulfilled, declared face-to-face with His Betrayer after their kiss and embrace, “Friend, do what you are here for!” Judas Iscariot obeyed the command in haste. He is a true friend of the Scriptural Jesus. The Scriptural Jesus declared, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” The Betrayer did what was commanded of him that the Rabbi lovingly addressed him friend at the crucial stage of His mission. On that basis, the Scriptural Jesus is extremely opposite the Catholic Jesus. It is foolish to market and propagandize that they are one and the same.
If at all, the Scriptural Jesus is the true unadulterated Christ. The Catholic Jesus is another Christ that cannot be true. It is the revolutionized version. The Catholic Jesus is often caught with his pants down contradicting himself. Such is the objective difference between the Scriptural Jesus and the Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church.
“The truth shall set you free!”
Peace to everyone!
well-written and the facts are true, I enjoy reading it.