I've Seen Many Religious Roman Catholics Living Like They've Got God's Permission to Sin

While this is not meant to be a rude generalization but I feel that I need to write this. While there are some Roman Catholics who are living good lives, not fooling around, doing the best they can - all that works righteousness isn't going anywhere. Also, what I've noticed is that there are also many (not all) Roman Catholics who are actually living like they've got a license to sin. It's really disturbing how it's often said that the doctrine of eternal security leads to a life of sin. Well, it could if it's taught by an Antinominian. However, eternal security is not taught that a person can be saved and live all they please. It means that a person may not be perfect but he or she is going to endure to the end in the long run. Endurance is the fruit not the root of salvation. 

I remembered growing up in a sinful Roman Catholic family. Folks were religious but lost. Many were active members in the parish but displayed several signs of hypocrisy such as womanizing, gambling, financial dishonesty, and not to mention many who are either corrupt politicians or those in prison for heinous crimes are also religious Roman Catholics. I'm not suggesting that religious Roman Catholics are necessarily evil. I've seen some who actually live decent lives but wonder why there are many among them who don't live right. The reason has to be with the problem of self-righteousness.

What's the real problem with Roman Catholics living like they've got God's permission to sin? It's all about pseudo-righteousness. The experience of Martin Luther in the confessional had him being told to return only if he's committed a real big sin. The Roman Catholic doctrine also teaches that there are venial sins and mortal sins. These sins must be confessed to a man in the box. It becomes a common experience that people sin from Monday to Friday, go to confession on Saturdays, and attend Mass on Sundays. Wait, I thought to receive communion in the state of sin was sacrilegious? Yet, it happens that there are even adulterous couples who receive "holy" communion together. Then you've got some churchgoers who are into shady dealings or secretly involved in criminal activities. While there are indeed cover-ups in some Evangelical circles but the cover-ups done by Rome are much worse. Evangelicals tend to expose cover-ups within their own circles more than Rome would.

It also throws in the irony of many Roman Catholics today. They say that eternal security teaches a license to sin then they attack Evangelicals for holding on to conservative Christian values. I remembered studying in a Baptist school and I was made fun of. The Roman Catholic schools which they studied (some of them were Jesuit-founded and still Jesuit-managed) had a high class, brand-conscious mentality. They have been open to change for the worse like getting rid of housewifery as a profession, they think that schools should allow the women to dress in sexy spaghetti straps in school, that graduation balls are a "necessity" while the Christian schools accept modern technology while holding on to Puritan-like values. I've even seen some Roman Catholics who think drinking hard liquor is okay based on John 2:1-12 which they also misread to say Mary did intercede between the people and Jesus. Quite interesting, isn't it?

What is worse is that many sinful Roman Catholics tend to get preached into Heaven. I was just reminded of the scene from the film The Burning Hell where it's reimagined that Caiaphas preached the rich man into Heaven when the latter did go to Hell. The Roman Catholic priest today tends to speak well of the deceased saying, "Oh he was such a good person." Such events tend to happen a lot. I heard of a man died of cancer and he had several illegitimate children. He was also very religious as a Roman Catholic. The people all treated him like he was a very good person deserving Heaven. They all laughed at his wife for confronting him about his numerous infidelities and his affair with his already married secretary. Yet, he was preached into Heaven. However, the man actually died in his sins and no amount of novenas will bring him out of Hell. Sadly, a lot of Roman Catholics still have masses said for them and not one of them is getting out of Hell any time soon. 

What's the big problem with Roman Catholics living like they've got a license to sin? It's because they're trying to establish their righteousness while ignorant of the righteousness of God (Romans 10:2). The problem with man is that his righteousness is but compared to filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). The rags referred to in Isaiah 64:6 is "ayd" meaning menstrual rags. Self-righteousness is as dirty as a menstrual rag. Why do you think women are required to frequently change their napkins or carry extra during their period? It's because it's very dirty and bad for their health. The problem with the righteousness of people is that it's like sanitary napkins that will be disposed of. It's not a permanent fix. Women's menstruation is a result of Adam's and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden. It's also a reminder of the sinful state of man. Everything bad that happens is a result of a sinful state of man. Why we go to the toilet to remove body toxic through urination and defecation is a result of the sinful state of man. We all suffer as a result of it. It's filthy and comparing human righteousness to filthy rags means God's standard is way higher.

How much higher is God's standard of righteousness? One can always argue about mortal sin and venial sin. However, the Bible says all sin is mortal. James 2:10-11 says that even if you keep the whole Law but break at even one point then you are guilty of all. I was looking for a verse to say that you can't work for your salvation and I got it after reading James. God's moral standard is that you're holding on to a rope with ten knots. Cut one knot and you fall down into Hell. That's how all sins are indeed mortal one way or another. Trying to have a Treasury of Merit isn't going to save anyone. God's righteousness is infinitely higher that makes it impossible to reach. It's hard to believe salvation is not by works. It works well with fairy tales but we're dealing with reality. It could work if all religions lead to God but they don't. It's not like Santa Claus that as long as you're good for most of the year then you get a reward. Unfortunately, God's standard requires absolute perfection - something that pagan gods don't. Pagan gods are featured to have human flaws but not the God of the Bible. 

Any Roman Catholic wishing to be delivered from a sinful burden needs to put his or her trust in Jesus Christ 100% for salvation. The infinite righteousness of Christ is ready to change anybody from a life of sin to real service. Roman Catholics need to stop trusting in priests save souls or sacraments save souls. They need to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in order to be born again. It may be offensive but it's the hard to believe truth towards salvation.