What follows are more of our experiences in the modern day institutional church regarding Roman Catholicism. The content of this post is a continuation of the original post, PASTORS.
1. The Visiting Preacher
Years ago, a preacher visiting our church shared about his meeting with a Roman Catholic nun. His sermon message was that the Catholic nun loved Jesus and she was a sister in Christ. He said that the nun asked him… do you love Jesus as much as I love Jesus. My friend, a former Catholic, was sitting next to me. When she realized where this sermon was going, she took hold of my arm and wanted us to leave. I told her that we should stay and hear what else this man had to say to the congregation, so that we would be fully prepared to address his disturbing message with the Pastor of the church. This was later done by my husband and I but to no avail.
2. The Three Catholic Ladies… (Former Catholics)
In another church we attended, there were three ladies who were born again and had come out of the Catholic church. They told us about witnessing to their families, and wanting to get a microphone so they could preach in the park. My husband and I loved talking with them. We lovingly called them the three Catholic ladies because they were former Catholics like us. One day, one of them, I’ll call her the unofficial leader of the three, came up to us and asked if we believed that the Catholics were ok. In other words she wanted to know if Catholics needed to be evangelized. My husband and I were shocked by her question. That was an odd question for her to ask after all we had shared with one another other in the past. She said she asked our Pastor that same question earlier (a man who is known worldwide) and his answer was yes, the Catholics are ok. Think for a moment, about the incredibly bad influence of just a few words from one famous man.
3. The Billy Graham Crusade
Another example of the bad influence of a famous man. My husband and I worked as counselors at one of the Billy Graham crusades in New York. Our church was actively promoting the crusade, so it must be ok, right? Wrong! A Roman Catholic who I gave a decision card to fill out was sent back to the Roman Catholic church for discipleship. How could I have participated in that! Years later we discussed this wicked practice with one of our Pastors. It was a church where Billy Graham was held in high esteem. We were politely asked if we thought our time at that church might be up.
4. The Church We Could Have Joined
I liked the church. The Pastoral leadership thought we could have been a help to them… “if only we would flow with the Catholics”. We would not flow!
5. The Nursery School
I found out that the principal of the nursery school of my church was a Roman Catholic. The Pastor allowed this. The believer who told me about it didn’t think there was anything wrong with that.
6. Unbiblical Counsel
I was asking my former Pastor for counsel in finding a new church. I told him that our testimony about Roman Catholicism was not received by the churches we attempted to join. His reply… “well then stop talking about the Catholics”!
I did not think that believers could be so easily swayed from truth, but my experiences have brought me to the conclusion that big name preachers have had an incredibly negative influence on the church. We have had many interactions with born again believers regarding Roman Catholicism. They don’t seem to understand the simple fact that Rome preaches a counterfeit gospel. It is imperative that we present a clear and consistent warning regarding Rome. If believers think Roman Catholics are taught the true Gospel, they will think that there is no need for evangelism. 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; See also… PASTORS I HAVE A TESTIMONY
PEACEMAKERS 