Author Unknown
• Use of Holy Water—Began, a.d. 120; required, a.d. 1009.
• Infant Baptism—Introduced (over strong opposition), a.d. 250.
• First Human Creed—The “Nicean Creed,” a.d. 325.
• Mariolatry—The veneration (worship) of Mary, a.d. 389.
• Latin Mass—Began, a.d. 394.
• Purgatory—“Second chance” for those who die in sin, a.d. 593.
• First Pope—Boniface III assumed title of “universal bishop,” a.d. 607.
• Instrumental Music—First used (over strong objection), a.d. 670.
• Celibate Priesthood—Introduced, a.d. 385; enforced, a.d. 1079.
• Auricular Confession—Confession of sins to a priest, a.d. 1215.
• Sprinkling for Baptism—Universal Catholic practice, a.d. 1311.
The foregoing are only samples of thousands of changes uninspired men have made to inspired doctrine and practice. While most of these came through centuries of layers of Roman Catholic heresy, many of these are reflected in Protestant churches (e.g., “infant baptism,” sprinkling, “Lent,” “Easter,” special clergy and their special garb, etc.). Let us never forget: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema” (Gal. 1:8). (Reprinted from The Beacon, Bellview church of Christ, Pensacola, Fla, Nov. 3, 2014).
