Purgatory

I’m going to take a short break from the Sacraments, because I’ve received a request to talk about Purgatory. I enjoy answering requests and questions rather than droning on with my lessons (so send me more!).

The email I received is as follows:
“Can I vote for a message on Purgatory in the future?
Is it something the Catholic church still believes in? When did the idea originate? Do you personally believe in it?”

The short answer: Yes, Old Testament, and Yes. :)

But to provide a more in depth defense of the Catholic view of the idea of Purgatory, I will be using information I read in The Essential Catholic Survival Guide, a text I GREATLY recommend, The Catholic Verses, by Dave Armstrong, and listened to on the CD set The Seven Common Misconceptions about Salvation, by Michael Cumbie.

Firstly, many people don’t fully understand what Purgatory is, and due to false ideas about what it is, they are closed off to the idea that it could be real. Purgatory is a place after death where a soul which has not been damned but still has the stain of sin can go to be “purged” or purified for entrance into heaven. It is NOT a permanent place for the soul. It is only a temporary place for cleansing.

Secondly, in order to understand where the idea comes from, we have to distinguish between two different ways the Bible gives us information. Explicitly, and Implicitly. That is very important for Bible study and apologetics. Explicit teachings include such as laws, virtues, and ideas literally spelled out and explained. Implicit doctrines involve more hints and clues. For example the Bible never talks about a triune God. Trinity is not found in the scriptures. But most Christians denominations believe there is only one God, and the Bible talks about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Similarly, you cannot find the word “Purgatory” in the Bible. But that’s not to say the Scriptures don’t talk about Purgatory.

Matt 5:48 calls us to “be perfect, just as [our] heavenly Father is perfect.” In Hebrews 12:14, Paul tells us to “strive for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 says that He who has called us is holy, so we should be holy in every aspect of our conduct. Revelation 21:27 explains that “nothing unclean can enter” into heaven. But, James 3:2 says that “we all fall short in many respects.” So if nothing unclean can enter, but we all fall short to being perfect and holy as our heavenly Father is perfect and holy, then what chance do we stand at the time of judgement?! 


Another distinction to make is the Catholic idea that there is a difference is sins. Sins can be mortal or venial. But this is not something the Church made up to make you feel bad. It’s a biblical idea. 1 John 5:16-17 makes a distinction between “deadly” sin and “sin which is not deadly.” James 1:14-15 explains the steps from desire, to sin, to mature sin which gives birth to death.

Matt 5:26 says we will not be released from prison until we have paid the last penny. Matt 12:32 hints that there can be forgiveness “in the age to come.”

2 Samuel 12:13-14 hints towards punishment after forgiveness, which may sound like a contradiction, but it’s not. Take the metaphor of a boy playing baseball in the yard. He hits the ball into the neighbor’s window and sincerely apologizes. The benevolent neighbor forgives the boy, but there still remains a broken window. The boy must fix it or pay to have it fixed. The same is when we sin. By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are forgiven of our guilt through reconciliation, but there still remains some reparations due. 1 Corinthians 3:15 says that a person can be saved “but only as through fire;” we will be saved, but not without suffering on our part.

Purgatory is where that suffering comes in. 1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Peter 4:6, Matt 5:23-26, and Matt 12:32 hint that there is a third place our souls can go. If a soul is in heaven it needs no preaching, if it is in hell, no preaching will help. In 2 Maccabees 12:46 atonement is made for the dead so that they may be freed from their sin (Protestants will not find 2 Maccabees in their Bible. It is part of a set of seven books, commonly referred to as the apocrypha, taken out of the Bible by the early protestant reformers in the 1500s). Again, if the dead are in heaven, they need no atonement, and if they are in hell, no atonement will suffice. They must be in a third place.

The name of this third place is not important, but the Catholic Church has named it Purgatory because “to purge” means to cleans, and that is exactly what is happening to the souls: they are being cleansed of their sins (sins which may have been forgiven of their guilt, but still need reparation).

Any questions? Send them to lambssupper@gmail.com or... Comment below!

I’ve also received an email, which I will base my next lesson on, regarding The Church and it’s teaching ability, along with the Church and how it “guilts people for sinning,” and about the rosary.

God bless!
Luke