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Writer's pictureMichelle Hayman

The Facade of Tradition and Control


Today, I must diverge further on the topic of purgatory and prove why this concept doesn’t work, both from a scriptural and logical standpoint. At its core, purgatory suggests that souls undergo a temporary purification through suffering to atone for remaining sins before entering heaven. But here lies the fundamental flaw: the one making the sacrifice for sin, the one "suffering" in purgatory, would themselves need to be sinless for such a process to work. Since we are all sinners, except for Jesus Christ, no mortal could ever atone for another's sins through suffering or ritualistic acts. As it is written in

Romans 3:23,

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

No amount of human suffering can ever purge the soul of another from sin because we all carry sin.


This is why purgatory fails both logically and biblically. Jesus Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for the forgiveness of sins, once and for all.

Hebrews 10:12 says,

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

Christ’s sacrifice does not need human additions, indulgences, or rituals to complete it. By promoting purgatory, the Catholic Church implies that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient, which directly contradicts Scripture.


Mere mortals cannot call Christ down from heaven, transforming his now glorified body into bread and wine, as the Catholic Church claims through transubstantiation. Christ is in his glorified state; he no longer has flesh or blood in the form we know.


Romans 6:9 affirms this:


“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”

To continually reenact the crucifixion through the Mass undermines the finality of His one-time atonement.


Let us consider the broader picture of what true believers are facing in today’s world. Across nations like India, Nigeria, and Indonesia, true Christians are suffering brutal persecution, just as Jesus foretold in John 15:18-19 when he said,


“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own.”


When I witness the horrors that true Christians face globally, I ask myself: Can these persecutors, filled with hatred and cruelty, truly be led by the Holy Spirit? The Bible teaches us that it is impossible for someone filled with the Holy Spirit to continue to walk in sin deliberately. This reinforces the idea that true believers in Christ are marked by their suffering, not by their sin. Paul’s persecution for Christ’s sake (Acts 9:16) and the persecution of the apostles (Galatians 6:12) remind us that the world will hate those who truly follow Christ.


When hatred and persecution come my way, I simply smile, knowing that I have passed from death to life through Christ’s saving power. Like many other Christians, I was transformed by the Holy Spirit, who came upon me like a radiant energy. That light now shines through me. The same cannot be said for those who, despite their lofty religious titles, commit grievous sins such as pedophilia, greed, lust for power, and hatred. How could such people, entrenched in wickedness, be filled with God’s Spirit?


Their persecution of true Christians reveals their offense at the light that exposes their darkness. As it says in John 3:20,

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Therefore, I will continue to shine the light of truth on the falsehoods and hypocrisy of those in power, hoping to reach sincere believers in Christ who seek the truth of the Gospel.


Sin, in any form, is a rebellion against God (James 2:10). So, what does it say about those who committed murder and looted wealth in the name of Christ? What does it say about the Church that burned thousands at the stake only to sanctify some of these individuals posthumously? Are these men not fallible, despite being canonized? Christ’s teachings about righteous judgment remind us that we are to discern wisely (John 7:24)


The question of purgatory remains. Where is the chart to measure how much suffering is required to cleanse a soul? How is it determined how many indulgences, rituals, or prayers will reduce one’s time in this supposed purifying state? The lack of clear, objective criteria reveals that purgatory is an illogical and unbiblical concept. Nowhere in Scripture is there a mention of such a place, and without a biblical foundation, the Catholic Church relies on human-made systems to perpetuate it.


The real issue here is that Catholics are trapped in a false system that preys on their fear of sin and death. The cycle of guilt, penance, and indulgences keeps them bound, instead of freeing them through the truth of God’s Word. Scripture tells us that


“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The Catholic system, however, ties salvation to works and human effort, in direct opposition to the truth of the Gospel.


Purgatory is nothing more than a human invention, a construct meant to control and maintain power over the faithful. The Catholic Church has perpetuated a false cycle of sin, confession, and penance, keeping believers bound to rituals and clerical intermediaries. This system contradicts the very essence of grace and redemption that Christ offers freely to those who believe in Him. As Ephesians 2:8-9 says,


“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”


The Gospel is simple: sincerely repent, believe in Christ, accept His sacrifice, and be free. The doctrine of purgatory, indulgences, and penance contradicts this, offering a complicated, works-based system that only leads to further bondage. It’s time to shine the light on this falsehood and embrace the truth of God’s Word.


Catholics are not called to live in fear and ritualistic bondage. They are called to live in the freedom that Christ alone provides. True believers in Christ know that no amount of human suffering, ritual, or tradition can cleanse the soul—only the blood of Jesus can. Let us stand firm in this truth, and let the light of the Gospel expose the darkness of false systems and man-made doctrines.


As true believers in the Gospel of Christ, we often hear Catholics claim that we wouldn’t have the Bible if it wasn’t for their Church. However, I must disagree with this statement. the Bible predates the institutionalized Roman Catholic Church and was written under divine inspiration by various authors over centuries. The early Christians relied on the Scriptures long before the Catholic Church defined its canon at the Council of Trent. While the Church did play a role in affirming certain texts as canonical, it certainly did not create the Scriptures, as these were inspired by God, not an institution.


The truth is, if Catholics were encouraged to dive deeply into Scripture, many would begin to see the contradictions between what the Bible says and what Catholic tradition teaches. The Church's avoidance of encouraging personal Bible reading comes down to control—an uninformed congregation is easier to lead and influence. When believers understand the Scripture, they become empowered and more difficult to manipulate with man-made traditions.


Catholics, in particular, should ask themselves why they do not prioritize reading the Word of their Lord and Savior. Why is it that many Catholics treat the Pope almost as a substitute for Christ, when he is just a man—surrounded by luxury, wealth, and power—many of whom have come from rich families and have added to doctrine for centuries? The Pope is not a divine spirit; he is as human as the rest of us.

If the Pope were truly infallible, as the doctrine of ex cathedra claims, the history of corruption, sin, and abuse within the Church would tell a very different story. According to Catholic dogma, when the Pope speaks ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals, he is free from error. Yet, when we look at the history of the Church, we see undeniable evidence that the institution has been marred by human failings—failings that range from pedophilia, widespread abuse cover-ups, and scandals involving simony (the selling of Church offices), to “holy wars” fought in the name of Christ, and rampant corruption from popes who came from powerful, wealthy families.


If the office of the Pope, and those who hold it, were truly infallible and protected from error in their judgment, how do we reconcile this with the vile sins committed by clergy under their authority? True, the doctrine of infallibility applies specifically to ex cathedra pronouncements, but this has hardly shielded the Church from moral corruption. If the Church’s highest leaders cannot ensure moral purity in their own institution, what confidence can we have in their claims of infallibility on matters of faith?


A true representation of Christ and His Church would not see its leaders engaged in such gross misconduct. How do we reconcile these grievous sins with the claim of papal infallibility?


Adding to this hypocrisy is the Church’s history of brutal persecution. They burned men and women at the stake, people whose only crime was translating the Word of God into languages that common people could understand. These translators of Scripture were not only silenced but murdered—executed by the very Church that professes to defend the faith and the teachings of Christ. How is this anything but a satanic act? The Bible, the Word of God, belongs to all people, not an exclusive elite. Christ Himself commanded His teachings to be spread to all nations, yet the Church punished those who dared make His Word accessible.


The fact that the Church sought to prevent ordinary people from reading and understanding the Bible for themselves reveals a deep contradiction. If their message is truly about salvation and grace, why was the common person denied access to the very words that offer life? These actions suggest not a protection of divine truth, but a desire to control and manipulate, keeping people in spiritual darkness while consolidating the Church’s power and wealth.


How could any institution that persecutes those seeking to spread God's truth and keeps its people in ignorance be called Christ-like? When the Church suppresses God’s Word and murders those who translate it, we must ask: is this the work of God or the work of the enemy? The true Word of God, as revealed in Scripture, is meant for all—free and accessible, a light to guide every person toward salvation, not a tool for oppression wielded by an earthly institution.

If this is the legacy of an institution that claims to be the sole guardian of truth, one must ask: why cling to a system that keeps its people in spiritual bondage? True freedom comes from Christ alone, not from an institution built on wealth, power, and man-made traditions that contradict the teachings of Scripture. Christ’s message is available to all, and it is His words that truly set us free—not the rituals, doctrines, or decrees of fallible men.

Jesus is our Savior, and yet Catholics often show greater veneration toward His human mother, Mary, despite the fact that she, too, was born into sin, like the rest of us. Romans 3:23 tells us,

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Mary, though she played a vital role in bringing Christ into the world, was not divine. She, like the rest of humanity after Adam, was born into sin.


Furthermore, Jesus commanded His disciples at the Last Supper to


"Do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19),


referring to the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine at a remembrance meal. He never instructed His followers to line up and have a priest feed them a wafer as part of a ritualistic mass. Moreover, God specifically prohibited the drinking of blood in passages like Leviticus 17:10-14, which further contradicts the doctrine of transubstantiation, where Catholics believe the wine is transformed into the literal blood of Christ.


The concept of the Eucharist as practiced by Catholics, with the belief that Christ's body and blood are physically present in the bread and wine, is a man-made doctrine. The real message of communion is a spiritual one, meant to remind us of Christ's sacrifice, not a literal transformation that contradicts God's prohibition on consuming blood of any kind.



 


In light of the Catholic Church's claim under the Ecumenical Councils and the "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" (ECT) document, it seems as though the Church is saying: "We’re sorry for creating an institution steeped in worldly riches, owning vast amounts of land, and holding priceless art collections. We’re sorry for our violent history during the Crusades and Inquisitions, where we killed in the name of Christ. We’re sorry for cursing anyone who didn't bow to our authority. But now, please join us in this false gospel of man-made traditions."


True believers in Christ cannot unite with the "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" (ECT) movement because the Catholic gospel follows a different Christ than the one revealed in Scripture. The fundamental divide lies in the nature of the gospel itself, which, according to the Bible, must remain untainted by human traditions or additions. The ECT, by blurring distinctions between Protestant beliefs and Catholicism, obscures this critical difference.


The Bible presents the gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone, not in conjunction with rituals, sacraments, or church authority. In Galatians 1:8-9 (KJB), Paul warns against any gospel that adds to the pure message of salvation by grace, stating,


“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”


Catholicism, by promoting doctrines such as purgatory, indulgences, and the mediation of Mary, places human intermediaries between the believer and Christ, thus creating "another Christ" who is not the direct and only mediator of Scripture.


Catholic teachings assert that salvation is not fully obtained through Christ’s finished work on the cross but through the continual observance of the sacraments, works of penance, and the authority of the Church. The idea that grace is dispensed incrementally through church rituals fundamentally contradicts the Bible's message of salvation being a free gift received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).


The concept of the papacy, especially the notion that the Pope is the “Vicar of Christ,” places a human figure in a position of spiritual supremacy that diminishes the singular authority of Christ as the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). This veneration of a human leader, in conjunction with doctrines like papal infallibility, leads Catholics to follow church decrees as if they were equal to or even above Scripture itself. As 1 Timothy 2:5 states,


"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."


This clearly invalidates the Catholic Church’s teaching that anyone, including saints or the Pope, can mediate between God and man.


Moreover, true believers cannot unite with the ECT because Catholicism exalts figures like Mary as co-mediatrix, which detracts from the sufficiency of Christ's mediation. Nowhere in Scripture is Mary presented as sinless or having the role of intercessor. In fact, she acknowledges her need for a Savior in


Luke 1:47:


"And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."


The Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption elevates Mary to a status the Bible does not give her, leading to a form of veneration that borders on idolatry. This is another reason why true believers must stand apart.


Uniting under ECT would mean compromising essential biblical truths and endorsing a gospel that leads people away from the simplicity of Christ’s sacrifice. It is impossible to unite with a church that holds to a system of works-based righteousness while the Bible clearly teaches salvation by grace alone. True believers are called to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) and to reject false teachings that distort the message of Christ. Therefore, uniting with Catholicism through ECT would betray the purity of the gospel and mislead countless souls.


This is why those who hold firmly to the truth of Scripture cannot unite with ECT: it presents a different gospel, centered on another Christ—one shaped by centuries of man-made doctrines rather than the Christ revealed in the Bible. The true gospel calls people to worship Christ alone, free from the bonds of rituals and traditions that enslave them to a false system.



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