The Catholic Undertow

Mary Ann Collins, A Former Catholic Nun

Chapter 21

Freedom in Christ

Jesus Christ came to set us free from every form of bondage. Once He sets us free, then we have to stand our ground and maintain our freedom. The Bible says:

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 36)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

One of the things that Jesus came to set us free from is some Catholic myths. These myths give power to the Catholic undertow. Once we recognize them, then we can deal with them.

SOME CATHOLIC MYTHS

The Catholic Church is built on man-made myths. These myths are like the operating system of a computer. The operating system continually works in the background. It determines how everything else functions. However, most people are not aware of it. They just focus on the programs that they are using.

Following are some Catholic Myths that draw people into the Catholic Church and make it difficult for them to leave.

MYTH: There is an unbroken chain of apostolic succession. It goes back to the Apostle Peter, upon whom Jesus Christ built the Church.

MYTH: Popes are infallible. It is impossible for them to teach false doctrines.

MYTH: The Pope is called “Holy Father,” so he must be a holy man.

MYTH: The Catholic Church is called “Holy Mother Church,” so whatever it does must be good and holy.

MYTH: I can’t get to Heaven without the priests and the sacraments. I have to depend on the Catholic Church for my salvation.

MYTH: God is distant. I need a bridge to get to Him. Mary and the saints give me that bridge. They understand me. They pray for me.

MYTH: Matters of religion are too deep and too difficult for me to understand. Only Holy Mother Church is capable of dealing with them. If I will just put my mind and my conscience in her hands, then she will get me to Heaven.

MYTH: I cannot understand the Bible by myself. Only Catholic clergy are qualified to understand it.

MYTH: All Catholics share the same beliefs. Only the Catholic Church has unity and stability.

MYTH: My prayers aren’t good enough. I need to have Mary and the saints pray for me. God will listen to them.

MYTH: I don’t have to test things and discern things for myself, because God protects the Catholic Church from error. All I have to do is learn and obey.

As I have shown in this book, when you study Scripture and Church history, you discover that these myths have no basis in reality. But it is amazing how much power they have over people.

Doctrine is not the primary thing that holds people in the Catholic Church. The power is in the myths. They give credibility to false doctrines. They make unbiblical practices seem reasonable. They give power to mind control, and make it seem reasonable, or even desirable.

However, God’s power is infinitely greater than any myth, no matter how deeply it may have impacted us in the past. He is able to set us free from such things.

God is faithful. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) He promised to make everything work out for our good if we love Him. (Romans 8:28)

You may face some challenges, but God will be faithful to get you through them. And a time will come when you will rejoice because you will have a kind of relationship with Jesus Christ that you never realized you could have. It will be more than worth the effort.

RENEWING OUR MINDS

We former Catholics have habitual ways of thinking that are contrary to Scripture. We also have emotional responses that are rooted in false teachings. The Bible tells us:

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2, emphasis added)

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word for “transform” is metamorphoo. This is the origin of the word “metamorphosis.” It means the kind of radical transformation that occurs when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

As former Catholics, we need to have our thinking become radically transformed so that it agrees with Scripture, instead of agreeing with the Catholic Church. In addition, some things in our culture are contrary to Scripture. Where there is a conflict, we need to agree with the Bible, instead of agreeing with our culture.

With God’s help, we can overcome all of these things. God has enabled His people to overcome everything that exalts itself against the true knowledge of God. The Apostle Paul said:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty though God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Since the Bible is the key to renewing our minds, it is important to become thoroughly familiar with it. Our bodies need food every day, and our souls need Scripture every day. We need to develop the habit of reading the Bible and asking God to help us understand it and apply it in our daily lives.

We may have struggles from time to time. Trials and tribulation are a normal part of life. Jesus said:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

God is able to keep us from falling. (Jude 1:24) We can overcome every obstacle, because God is faithful and He loves us.

LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND

Our past experience as Catholics can be useful. We can draw from it to help other people. But in a sense, we need to leave it behind us. Our focus needs to be forward, on the new things that God has for us. The Apostle Paul said:

“...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

We need to get to know God better. We need to have our minds become transformed by the truth of Scripture. We need to learn to trust God at a deeper level, and commit our lives to Him in a more radical way.

God has good adventures waiting for us. He has things that are “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)