In the past week I’ve been thinking much about the Issue of Roman Catholicism. More specifically why do we need to evangelize Roman Catholics? I believe it is a pivotal question that we must ask especially in this age of the rapid spread of evangelicalism.
Why indeed? What is it in Roman Catholicism that bids us to preach to it’s people that they may be saved? Do they not have the Bible? They do. Do they not have a concept of justification and the work of Christ? They do. Do they have a gospel to preach? They do. Then why is it that we need to evangelize Romanists that they may be saved, full knowing that it is a long standing religion in itself holding doctrines and creeds having withstood the tests of time?
Is it not interesting that most of us don’t know why? Yesterday evening before going to bed I asked my mom the same question: “Why do we need to evangelize Roman Catholics?” I was interested in her position since she was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family prior to meeting my father and being converted to Protestantism. As interested and enthusiastic I was, I was surprised. I was surprised because as I pressed the question to her, as she thought about it she answered, “I don’t know.” She didn’t really know. Then I asked my elder brother the same question earlier today at work. His answers were not surprising to me. All that was presented were cliches about the Roman Catholic faith. He pointed out the absurdity of penances and the dependancy on the saints, but then until I pointed out that the Roman Catholic church believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and the necessity of the Lord Christ Jesus’ work in salvation, realizing that these are critical points that must be considered, he then submitted to say, “Then why?” I told him, “Well, a lot of things why.”
I believe that this picture represents the majority of Christians today who preach the Gospel. We think it’s an unimportant issue to address and just dismiss it with the thought that “we’re all sinners anyway” and go off preaching to people that they need “Jesus as their personal Savior.” Do you wonder why there are Christians in Catholic homes that are being persecuted today? Do we wonder why the Christian son is being held in contempt by his staunch Roman Catholic parents? I would suggest to you that one of the reasons for such againstness is because they themselves have no knowledge of what it is that is wrong with what they have been delivered from. Thus, they then would just say, “O, Ma, you need Jesus!” But then don’t we realize that Rome has Jesus? Imagine all the persecution these people go through in their ignorance that leaves them helpless because they cannot stand up and give a defense for the hope that is within them.
Yes, Gospel proclamation itself is the primary thing that we must do, but is this too not a vital issue? Should we not say with Paul, as with Isaiah: “Come let us reason together”? (Isa 1:18) (Acts 17:17) Should we not give an answer that we may hold those who reject the Gospel of grace without excuse that we may be above reproach and say with the Apostle Paul: “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27)
If indeed there is reason to address this issue, why then should we evangelize Roman Catholics? Apart from the declarative statement of Scripture that says “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), why Roman Catholicism? What is there in it that we must address?
Well, I am convinced that Rome’s gospel, that is the Gospel that is understood and defined by the Historic Roman Catholic church, does not save.
Rome’s gospel which would include the mass, purgatory, priestly confession, baptismal regeneration to become justified, the concept of merit and growth in justification, the confusion of justification and sanctification, all those things that mark and define what the Roman Catholic church has taught and what it is while looking like Christ’s message in such a way that it uses the Bible, it’s words and terminologies lack the truth that gives life and peace.
Does Rome’s gospel not bring peace to the soul as it is declared in Romans 5:1? “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I would suggest to you that it does not.
Rome’s doctrine of baptism where it is called the laver of regeneration. It is the means of regeneration. It is the means by which one is brought into the state of grace and be incorporated into the body of Christ. And as that is done to the infant where then you have the state of grace being justified before God, being something that is accomplished sacramentally rather than the Biblical belief that regeneration is a work of the Spirit of God causing a person to be born again, being brought from spiritual death to spiritual life, to have faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sin and the whole course of God’s decree in the saving of the soul.
That doctrine of Baptism then leads to the conclusion that obviously a person can be baptized who ends up in hell. Why? Because a person can be baptized and enter the state of justification but it’s very painfully obvious that not every baptized Roman Catholic baby grows up, lives for Christ, growing in holiness, showing all evidences of true salvation and regeneration. Many do not. The idea that must therefore follow is that through baptism you can enter in the state of grace but not remain in the state of grace you can commit a mortal sin that destroys the state of grace and you then become the enemy of God. Hence you have the idea of being in the state of grace, then out of the state of grace, then back into the state of grace in the sacramental process of penance and confession and so on and so forth, back and forth and back and forth becomes a possibility, and if your relationship with Christ is based upon your fulfilling all of those sacramental duties and following the church’s lead on those things that is not a firm basis of relationship with anyone, let alone a relationship with God, that does not bring peace.
Rome’s doctrine of justification, closely related to that. Rome’s doctrine of justification and sanctification are in essence the same thing. You can grow in justification. What does it mean to be just before God? Why does any of us have peace with God today? What is the nature of the righteousness that is ours? Her doctrine of justification, how you enter it through baptism, how you grow in justification, how it is not the imputed righteousness of Christ by which you stand but it is instead Christ’s death that makes it possible for you to have the grace to then merit eternal life by the good works you do in the state of grace. Only those good works that you’ve done in the state of grace are meritorious in God’s sight. And so the whole doctrine of justification provides you with no basis for peace because of the fact that you can commit a mortal sin tomorrow, or tonight, or today and immediately become the enemy of God. You are then under the wrath of God. That is not a position of peace.
And many Roman Catholics today have their minds and consciences bound to this theology and thinking. Most of them, the majority of them rather living in misery with the stinging thought that if they fail to accomplish the sacraments, the penances, if they fail to do what is bound to them by Rome then they will be left to be an enemy of God. This is why we need to evangelize Roman Catholics. Because clearly, as it was established, Rome’s gospel, not only is it far removed from the Biblical proclamation of the work of Christ but it is as a majority drawn from tradition, and that does not save.
In conclusion as I have stated in a previous article “I am convinced that the gospel according to Rome would fall under the condemnation of the anathemas of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-9. If the book of Galatians is inspired scripture, and if the addition of one thing to faith in Christ puts you under the anathema of God and makes that gospel a false gospel it cannot save, then I submit to you that the addition of a never ending mass cannot perfect anyone, sacramental forgiveness, the concept of purgatory, the concept of indulgences goes so far beyond that to say that Paul was right to anathematize the Judiazers, and that same addition we have done in masses of Christian evangelical denominations giving requirement for salvation through a prayer or a decision made clearly making God debtor to our actions thus adding to what the Lord Christ Jesus has already accomplished and yet we should hold hands with that “gospel” and say it’s Christian or simply brush it off as a non-issue is to speak an unthinkable contradiction.”
Yes, we need to evangelize Roman Catholics. I believe that in proclaiming the gospel we have dealt a great amount of disrespect to our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in our neglect and indifference of what they are being held into. What is the message that we are putting through in such actions? Rather in such inaction? If we truly love those who are trapped in Rome should we not address and give ourselves to issues such as these? If we truly want to give ourselves in service to our Roman Catholic brethren should we not strive to understand the trappings of their Religion that we, in the privilege given to us, may truly show them the Gospel of peace that they may be saved?[i][ii][iii]
Great article good points. The big problem with room is that they use biblical terms to promote unbiblical teaching. f.e. every roman catholic believer will tell you that Jesus is God but he is not an all suffiecient savior works and the other stuff you mentioned are added to make our redemption complete. And on this basis you can never have assurance of salvation actually this idea of assurance is even condemned by Rome.
This is interesting. As a practicing Roman Catholic I must say I have never felt trapped by Rome or an enemy of God by my sinful acts. I have however, felt peace by the traditions and doctrine of the Church. In no way are my “works” or my participation in the sacraments additions to the saving power of Jesus Christ, but an overflow of the love I feel for Him and a desire to be as close to Him as I can. A desire to share Him in communal prayer with my brothers and sisters and a desire to share Him with the world through my own testimony and works of love. I have never had a priest or religious leader in the Roman Catholic Church tell me that my salvation depends on what I do or do not do. However, I do follow Church laws and participate in the sacraments out of a great love. These give me unity with the family of God the Church and help me to live a Christian life, as it is challenging in a world that so often rejects Christianity.
It is just like a husband loving his wife. Are his “works” of bringing her flowers, saying I love you every day, cleaning the gutters, managing the children so she can have some rest etc. REQUIRED for her love? No, but it is BECAUSE he loves her that he does these things.
I guess I am confused as to how one can say the traditions and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church trap people and leaves with no peace. I have found the greatest peace within the Catholic Church that comes with the fullness of truth and universal unity.
It is all in your perspective I guess and if you have a personal relationship with the present day Church AND a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ…the one and only true head of the Church, that makes the difference. I love the fact that I can live out my personal relationship with Jesus Christ withing the beauty of the Catholic Church that provides me with so many opportunities.
Hello, Danielle! Welcome to N.D. and thank you for commenting!
You seem to be an honest and well-meaning Romanist. I respect that and I won’t discount on your sincerity towards your faith.
You mentioned that you work the sacraments as nothing but a mere expression of love, also including your service to the Roman Church. That is good. But I would like you to see the dividing line in this issue.
The issue does not at all surround your feelings and sincerity towards Rome in your faith and practice. The Bible says that “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) You can be the most honest and most sincere of persons, but you can be wrong in your honesty and sincerity.
If you read the post again it’s not at all about Rome not being able to give you a sense of peace. Rather the post speaks about the Gospel that Rome preaches, wherein it cannot give you true peace with God. That word “peace” that Paul uses in Romans 5:1 doesn’t simply denote “the absence of againstness”, but it’s a positive word, what Paul had in mind there was the word “Shalom”, it’s a fullness of peace. A positive relationship of full peace with God without even the slightest bit of blemish that never wanes nor disappears.
And here I hope to make it clearer for you why we contend that the Gospel preached by Rome cannot give you that peace.
Rome teaches that you are justified by faith and not by works, yes of course. Neither does Rome expressively say that your salvation depends on what you do or do not do. Salvation is still by faith and by grace through Jesus Christ. I very well know that Rome professes these things.
But see, Danielle. What Rome doesn’t tell you is what is most dangerous. Rome expressively denies and condemns/anathematizes Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. So you can by all means say that Rome doesn’t tell you that you won’t be saved by what you do or not do. But realize that Rome inadvertently says that grace and faith through Christ is not sufficient to save any man.
You cannot even begin to profess what Paul said in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul speaks of total justification, to be declared righteous—not a growth in righteousness/justification. But God declares us righteous and just before Him through the righteousness already fully accomplished by Jesus Christ. If it is true that Jesus fully and sufficiently fulfilled all righteousness and atonement for sin, why in God’s name do you have to work the sacraments? What right does Rome have to tell you to “do penance”? Where in fact all that is said in Scripture is “Repent from your sins and believe the Gospel”?
It is because Rome does not teach a sufficient “savior”. He is but a savior that tries to save, wants to save everyone but utterly fails in the attempt. A “God” and “Savior” that fails in his own work of salvation. If people fail to work the sacraments and do penance they will go to hell. Can you imagine a thousand years after Jesus’ second coming, where He will be broken and weeping for all of eternity because He couldn’t save those He wanted to save?
No. But what did the angel told Mary when she was told the prophecy of bearing the Lord? “You shall name Him Jesus, for He will try to save His people from their sins”? No, the angel told Mary, “You shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins”! (Matthew 1:21)
The Bible teaches us that we have a perfect Savior in Christ Jesus. The Bible teaches us that we don’t have to work the sacraments, nor do penance in order to be right with God again—whether or not our motive is but an expression of love.
The Bible declares it clearly, we are but to have faith in Christ:
“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
And to the one who does not work but trust him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
(Romans 4:4-5)
We have a perfect Savior in Jesus Christ that fully and sufficiently justifies the ungodly.
“And every priest stands daily at his service offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11)
Isn’t that the same with your continual working of the sacraments that tries to take away sins? Do you not see the sad reality that you have to keep on working these sacraments ’till your death bed, hoping that somehow that God would forgive you for your sins?
But in here, Danielle, I sincerely hope and pray that you would see the majestic truth of the succeeding verse:
“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)
See in the old testament, in the temple, they had all sorts of furnitures and tables, but there is one piece of furniture that was absent from the entire temple, the “chair”. Because the priest had to keep on working. The priest had to keep on sacrificing. There was no rest. The blood had to keep on flowing, because the sin of the people grew by the second. No amount of sacrifice can ever sufficiently cover the infinite sinfulness of sin.
But in this verse it is graciously declared, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.” He sat down. The work was done. And then we can finally understand what Jesus said on the Cross: “Tetelestai!”, that is “It is finished!”
You can be sincere and well-meaning and have a relationship with God. But the question is, do you have the correct relationship? Are you really trusting in the all sufficient Savior?
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:6)
I pray you, tell me Danielle, when the day of judgment comes, what will you tell God in order that He would let you into Heaven?
“I believe in Jesus Christ, in His death burial and resurrection for sinners… and I worked the sacraments and penances in order to sustain His grace in me”?
I hope you wouldn’t say that. I desperately pray you wouldn’t say that. ‘Coz if that’s in your heart right now, that it all depends on Jesus + your performance, what you are truly asking is not grace and mercy. What you’re asking for is Justice.
You’re asking God to evaluate your life on the basis of how you believed and how well you worked the sacraments and served the church. And God will weigh the balances. He will judge you by all the good things you’ve done, just as much as He will judge you by the wickedness, and self-glorying you’ve lived in your life. As David solemnly recounts in his psalm, “God if you count iniquities, who can stand before you?”
But, Danielle, I pray you, come before God and say: “I am a sinner. Many a time I have been unfaithful to my Lord. The devil accuses me everyday of my feeble and weak faith. I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. Dear God, if you would judge me this day and toss me to Hell, I would welcome it for it is what I so deserve. But God, my God, I am not looking at my sin. I am not looking at what I’ve done that you may forgive my sins. For what can be done on this earth to cover the infinite sinfulness of sin? Nay, dear God, I am looking to Christ. He is a powerful and perfect Savior. By faith in Him and His Gospel, I believe that the whole of the perfect righteous life He lived on this earth He accounted to me, and that the whole of my sin, the pitch black abyss that is my sin you have fully accounted to Him. That as Your Word declares, He suffered the full extents of your wrath against my sin in my place. I should’ve died, but He died on my place. I should bear Your wrath throughout all eternity, but in the 3 hours of darkness on the Cross of Calvary You poured it all out to Him. My sin to Him, His righteousness to me. And by this, and by this alone can I come to You in confidence ‘coz through Christ You have accepted me in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).”
It is my hope that you would give time to consider much these things. For there is no other thing more important than the state of your soul and eternity. I will be pleading the throne of grace for you…
@Daniele,
“I am confused as to how one can say the traditions and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church trap people and leaves with no peace.”
As am I but this is no less than a canard paraded out by our separated brethren (Protestants).
It is born out of centuries old propaganda, misinterpretation and lack of a common terminology.
In all sincerity pray for them, because they ‘know not what they write’
Hello Patrick,
Welcome to N.D. and thank you for leaving a comment!
Unfortunately, I have seen such a reply far too often. Many Roman “apologists” would accuse us of misrepresenting the beliefs and traditions Rome holds but at the same time we hear no exegesis no presentation of Scripture where you, the romanist would say, “This actually is the Biblical belief”. Also there is no refutation of the Protestant position, no Biblical refutation. More often than not all the replies we receive is “I think”, “I feel”, NO “Thus Saith the Lord.”
And it is my observation that the mass of those who subscribe to Rome today cannot make that distinction of firmness on their beliefs. Because, Patrick, as a Roman you would lean first to the dictates of what Rome supposedly defines for you before you let any text of Scripture influence you in any, way, shape or form.
Hi,
“[Roman Catholic view] declares the Bible and tradition to be co-ordinate sources and rule of faith, and makes tradition, especially the decrees of popes and councils, the only legitimate and infallible interpreter of the Bible.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12495a.htm
No wonder, it is very challenging to evangelize catholics since the catholics views the Roman Catholic Church infaillable source of authority.
I’m quite disturbed that the RC has analogy with those are part of cults. The Jehovah’s Witness has high regards with what the Watchtower dictates, the Mormon got additional scriptures aside from the 66 books of the Bible, the Inglesia ni Kristo got their messengers as sole interpreter of the scriptures (http://www.examineiglesianicristo.com/bible3.html).
Though we can show the true Gospel of the scriptures, we the Holy Spirit himself can fully dismantle the chains that holds these people to their respective churches.