The Real Battle Isn’t Out There—It’s in Here
What a Protestant Critique of Catholicism Taught Me About the Church’s Greatest Threat
I watched a YouTube video today that was supposed to be a critique of Catholic doctrine. I expected the usual: sola scriptura, Mary, purgatory, the papacy—all the typical talking points. And they were there, delivered with conviction and confidence. But something hit me differently this time.
It wasn’t the arguments that shook me. It was the reminder that the most dangerous threat to the Catholic Church isn’t loud voices from the outside—it’s the quiet cracks from within.
You see, as I listened, I didn’t feel angry. I felt burdened. Burdened by how often we Catholics don’t know how to respond to these critiques—not because we don’t have the truth, but because we haven’t taken the time to learn it, live it, and defend it with clarity and conviction. That’s not their fault. That’s ours.
The world is watching. Videos like this one are shaping minds, especially the minds of our kids, our friends, even our fellow parishioners. If we’re silent or passive or ill-equipped, the narrative gets written without us. Worse—people leave the Church not because they’ve truly rejected it, but because they never understood it to begin with.
You might feel that too. Maybe you've been in a conversation where someone challenged your faith, and you fumbled through an answer, not because you didn’t believe—but because you didn’t know how to explain what you believe. I’ve been there. And after watching this video, I felt the urgency all over again.
This isn’t about attacking Protestants. In fact, the man in the video prayed for us—Catholics—and I believe he meant it. There was sincerity in his voice. But sincerity doesn’t equal truth. And love for Jesus doesn’t mean agreement on doctrine. That’s where our responsibility comes in.
We need to wake up. Not just emotionally. Intellectually. Spiritually. We need to know our faith, study the Catechism, read the Church Fathers, and dig deep into the Scriptures. The Church doesn’t need more lukewarm Catholics. It needs informed ones. On fire. Rooted. Joyful. Clear. Courageous.
So here’s the real question: Are you ready to step up?
Because the enemy knows what we don’t—that the Church doesn’t fall from outside pressure. It rots when those inside stop caring. When we lose our identity. When we stop proclaiming the truth with love and boldness.
Watching that video didn’t shake my faith. It sharpened it. It reminded me of what’s at stake.
We have the truth. But truth doesn’t defend itself. That’s our job.
Let’s not leave it to others to tell our story.
Let’s tell it ourselves—and tell it well.