Poll - June 2008

Why do some people stumble on Christ and refuse to believe in him?

• Disobedient 30 (49%)


• Destined 3 (4%)


• Both 28 (45%)

Total votes: 61. Poll closed.

Comments: The apostle Peter says: "Now to you who believe, this stone (Jesus) is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for" (1 Peter 2:4-8). Click here for a discussion on Predestination

Poll - May 2008

Catholics who deny the ‘anathema’ statements of the ecumenical councils are automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

• Always 41 (56%)


• Sometimes 18 (24%)


• Never 14 (19%)

Total votes: 73. Poll closed.

Comments: The ‘anathema sit’ statements of the ecumenical councils should be received as truths of the Catholic faith. According to the Code of Canon Law: (1) Those who obstinately deny or doubt these statements are guilty of heresy (751). (2) With some exceptions (1323), a heretic incurs automatic (a latae sententiae) excommunication (1364).

Poll - April 2008

According to the Bible, whose faith is accounted for righteousness?

• He who does not work but believes (33) 29%


• He who works and believes (79) 71%

Total votes: 112. Poll closed.

Comments: The biblical answer is found in Romans 4:1-8, especially verse 5 (in bold).

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

Poll - March 2008

Is it biblical to worship images of Christ?

• Yes (8) 9%


• No (75) 90%

Total votes: 83. Poll closed.

Comments: While most respondents think that it is not biblical to worship images of Christ, a few (most probably Catholics who know their religion well) think that it is. They will do well to study the second commandment (April Gospel e-Letter) and reconsider the Catholic apologetic arguments for images (May Gospel e-Letter, DV).

Poll - Febuary 2008

Do Catholics worship statues of Christ?

• Yes (71) 31%


• No (147) 66%


• Don't know (4) 1%

Total votes: 222. Poll closed.

Comment: Two-thirds of the participants think that Catholics do not worship images of Christ. This result shows that there are many people out there who do not know what the Roman Catholic Church officially teaches on this subject. Please read March Gospel e-Letter. [Link]

Poll - January 2008

Does the Catholic Church teach salvation by grace alone?

• Yes (29) 23%
• No (89) 72%
• Don't know (5) 4%

Total votes: 123. Poll closed.

Comments: Roman Catholicism denies the Pelagian heresy, namely, that we can save ourselves by our own strength. Grace is necessary.

The Catholic Church sometimes even states that it teaches justification by 'grace alone', as in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification:

"Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works" [link]

But that is rather misleading. The statement is referring to the initial justification. From then on Catholics are called to preserve and increase this original 'justice' or 'righteousness' by their works. In fact the Catholic Church curses anyone who says that the justice received is not preserved and increased before God through good works. Salvation is ultimately dependent on the merit of personal good works.

"If anyone says that the good works of the one justified are in such manner the gifts of God that they are not also the good merits of him justified; or that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose living member he is, does not truly merit an increase of grace, eternal life, and in case he dies in grace, the attainment of eternal life itself and also an increase of glory, let him be anathema' (Trent 6, canon 32 - link).

For Catholics, grace is necessary, but it is NOT sufficient. It must be supplemented by good works!

Poll - December 2007

Does the Catholic Church officially teach that the faithful can merit the graces needed to attain eternal life?

• Yes (79) 8%


• No (801) 90%


• Don't know (3) 1%

Total votes: 883. Poll closed.

Comments: Please read January Gospel e-Letter. [Link]

Poll - November 2007

"Faith Alone" implies that for justification, good works are (a) excluded; (b) optional; (c) necessary.

• Excluded (418) 92%


• Optional (6) 1%


• Necessary (29) 6%

Total votes: 453. Poll closed.

Comments: I'm glad that the great majority (>90%) of the respondents to this poll said that "Faith Alone" excludes good works for justification.

The Apostle Paul stated the doctrine of justification by faith alone even more forcefully. He writes: "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:4, 5).

He contrasts the merits of our works to grace – if you work for something, it cannot be considered "grace". Furthermore, he positively excludes works from justifying faith – he "who does not work but believes" is justified by God.

I pray that you, the reader, can honestly say: "I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for my justification. I do not attempt to present my works or merits; Christ and his work – the cross – is my sole defense before the Judge of the Word."

Poll - October 2007

"Faith Alone" implies that in the Christian life, good works are (a) optional; (b) desirable; (c) necessary.

• Optional (46) 40%


• Desirable (32) 27%


• Necessary (27) 32%

Total votes: 115. Poll closed.

Comments: Protestants teach that a sinner is justified by faith alone and not on account of personal good works. The believer is justified because God takes away his sins, and credits the righteousness of Christ to his account.

But "Faith alone" is often misunderstood and slandered by friends and foes alike.

Since good works are excluded as the cause of justification, some people wrongly assume that there is no logical place for good works in the life of the justified. Nothing can be further from the truth! May I invite you to read the following two Q&A's that clarify what "Sola fide" is, and what it is not!

• What is 'Sola Fide'?


• Historic Protestant teaching on Sola Fide

Poll - September 2007

Do Catholics and Muslims Worship the Same God?

• Yes (12) 17%


• No (58) 82%

Total votes: 70. Poll closed.

Comments: Catholicism and Islam are monotheistic religions, that is, both believe that there is but one God. However, that does not necessarily imply that they worship the same God. Two men may be married to one woman, but that does not mean that they are married to the same woman. So, the question is whether Catholics and Muslims worship the same one God. I've discussed this question at length here.