On The Same Team?

"Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she's another God.  That's not exactly Catholic doctrine. There's the understanding... and ... and people say, "Well what are the saints all about?" and  "Why are you praying to the saints?"  And when you understand what they mean by what they re saying, there's a whole lot more commonality; now, there's still real differences, no doubt about that!  But the most important thing is: If you love Jesus, we're on the same team!"

- Rick Warren, Catholic News Service Video, November 2014

So what , exactly, did Rick say and not say?  He said,

"Sometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like she's another God.  That's not exactly Catholic doctrine."
 

- Rick Warren

Sure, that's not "exactly" catholic doctrine....but note how Rick uses a qualifier to  help excuse his bad reasoning . The question is not, "Do Catholics worship Mary like she's "another" God?"  The question is, "Do Catholic worship Mary?   

Rick's point is misleading and Catholic's will tell you, they do not worship Mary, but they, instead  "venerate" her.....( and by the way, you are supposed to overlook that venerate is a synonym for "worship" ) Hopefully, Catholics believe in the trinity of Father Son and Holy Spirit..... not something else....and hopefully they do not believe Mary is ANOTHER God.

Regarding Mary, Catholics sing about Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the  "holy queen enthroned above" (They do this even though there is nothing in the Bible that tells us she is "enthroned" above as a "queen,") Catholics are also taught directly by Vatican publications like this one about the Rosary, that she intercedes for mankind to God...  and this is done despite the Christian doctrine preserved and derrived from the scriptures that says that there is one mediator between God and men, (1 Timothy 2:5)  and that Jesus is the only Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)  Additionally, Eternal Word Television Network, (EWTN) an educational arm of the Vatican uses for teaching their  faithful Roman Catholic laity via television, teaches that Mary is "Co Redemptrix,"  It is interesting to note that Christians worship Jesus as God and as the reddemer of mankind..... and if this is the case, what do Roman Catholics do with a "Co Redemptrix?"  It's anybody's guess.

Rick says,
"..... and people say, "Well what are the saints all about?" and  "Why are you praying to the saints?"  And when you understand what they mean by what they're saying, there's a whole lot more commonality; now there's still real differences, no doubt about that! "

Saints are those who believe in God's Word..... dead or alive, they are saints.  Christians do not pray to one another... they pray to God.... not in a saints name, but in Jesus' name, because that is what Jesus told them to do.

Real differences? Why... yes.  No doubt, there are real differences....
Like veneration of the Mother of Jesus..... by kneeling before statues of her.and asking for her to intercede for us for salvation now and at the hour of our death....( instead of to Jesus) ... and praying because of beads as well as statues of "saints".that are claimed to help finding lost articles or sell houses,and this instead of simply praying to God... in Jesus' name. 


"...now there's still real differences, no doubt about that!"

 - Rick Warren

Differences?  Yes.  

Rick would like you to believe that there are more things in common between various denominations than there are differences.  One thinghe says is that catholics and protestants have in common is they both  "believe the Bible."  But what do catholics beliee about the bible?  What is the official stand on the authority of scripture?  

Roman Catholicism puts their own tradition above the authority of what it says at face value, and this is a difference.... and a problem, because the scripture, while given to all that from it we might obtain God's promises, is of no private interpretation.  It belongs not to sinful man, but to God..  

" If you love Jesus, we're on the same team!" - Rick Warren

That's odd. Maybe Rick has no idea that not everyone who claims to love Jesus is on the "same team."  There are those who call Jesus "Lord"... and those who call Jesus "Lord." However, apparently, based upon what we are told in the scripture, not all who claim to call Jesus "Lord" are, (as Rick says,) on Jesus' "team."

See Matthew 7:21:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, 

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 

but he that doeth the will of 

my Father which is in heaven" - Jesus

See Luke 6:45-46

 

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, 

and do not the things which I say?” -Jesus

SeevMatthew 7:22-24 

 

..... Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.