On Sunday, the third of June, the Pope canonized the Dutch priest Charles (Karel) Houben (1821-1893). About eight hundred Dutch believers went to Rome to be present at the celebrations of this canonization.
A Roman Catholic canonization takes place when somebody had prayed to the saint to be a mediator (intercessor) for him with God so that in a serious need (e.g. an illness healed) would be provided. When a real miracle takes place in answer to that prayer to the saint, he can be presented to the Pope for canonization as a real saint in heaven.
This happened in the case of Charles Houben for a Dutch Catholic believer was healed shortly after having prayed to him. The medical doctor of this person confirmed that the healing was medically unexplainable and truly miraculous. So it was a real miracle, given on the mediation of the already beatified saint (16 October 1988) so believe the Roman Catholics. How should we as evangelical Christians react to this event? Should we also be happy with it or saddened about so much deviation from the faith that is delivered to us from the beginning of the Christian faith?
We should not avoid is the question on which ground the Roman Catholics can be so sure that the already beatified believer is able to do effective mediation for a believer on earth. The Bible gives anyway no teaching about it or an indication, nor in the Old- nor in the New Testament. On the contrary - and I state this with great emphasis -the Bible teaches us only to pray to God (Psalm 65:1,2).
Here we meet immediately with a great basic difference between Roman Catholic and Protestant and Evangelical doctrine. The Roman Catholic Church has two foundations for her doctrine and church teachings: a. The Holy Bible and b. revelations and experiences that are given to believers and that are after thorough research by special committees accepted and confirmed through the Pope as the earthly representative of Christ on earth. Protestantism however accepts only one foundation for her doctrine: The Bible.
On the second foundation the Roman Catholic Church has accepted many special revelations as absolutely true. Here are just a few: The immaculate conception of Mary, The ascension of Mary, the co-Mediator function with Christ in heaven and the many canonizations (officially declared 'holiness') of deceased saints. All these teachings have led to excessive, unbiblical veneration and practises that are so typical for the real Roman Catholicism.
I watched and listened to some of the reports about the canonization of Charles (Karel) Houben who was during his life - let me make this absolutely clear - undoubtedly a real devout and self sacrificing believer, showing the love of Christ to poor and suffering people. But in the reports I watched I heard not once a word of gratitude to Christ. Central stood always that Charles Houben had done the mediation.
Shall we pray to saints in heaven and ask them to mediate and intercede for us? The apostle John is clear about it in 1 John 2:1 that there is only one perfect mediator for us in heaven: "We have an advocate (mediator, comforter) with the Father, Christ the righteous." Listen also to the apostle Paul in Romans 8:34 (RSV): "Who is it to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
I ask the Roman Catholic Church: "Why should saints mediate for people on earth. Is our Saviour Jesus Christ not willing and able to answer all prayers of His people in need?" My answer is simply and clearly: "Yes, He is surely able to hear all prayer and supply in any need. The angelic hosts serve Him and they are send out to help His children (Hebrews 1:14)." Let me be clear about it: All veneration of and prayers to saints above deviates from the attention for Christ and the worship of Him..
I am happy to find everywhere Roman Catholic brothers and sisters for whom Christ remains central in spite of the deviating teachings of the Church. There are Roman Catholic believers that are truly filled with the Spirit of Christ, speaking in unknown tongues and honour Christ. In this evangelical commentary I acknowledge their pure devotion to Jesus and reach them my brotherly hand, while I reject the erroneous teaching in their church.
On the day of the canonization, Sunday, 3 June, it rained cats and dogs in Rome. Perhaps with a touch of Roman Catholic humour or with a certain disappointment one of the Dutch pilgrims in Rome said to the press: "We prayed to Karel (Charles) that he would give us a fine, sunny day here in Rome, but his influence with the gods of our weather is apparently zero."
T. J. de Ruiter, 5
June 2007
(Pastor and Bible teacher in the Dutch
Pentecostal
Movement)
Contact? E-mail... Pastor T. J. de Ruiter