For a 21st Century Reformation
- Returning to the Faith Once Delivered Unto the Saints    [Back to the Homepage]
By Joe Pavone

Part 1 - Roman Catholicism: The Enemy Inside the Gate   [part II]   [part III]

Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the church door at Wittenberg, Germany on October 31,1517 - the start of the Protestant Reformation.

May 4, 2005 -- This is the first of a three-part series on what the writer sees as the state of the evangelical church in America and the need for a 21st century Reformation.

The church of Jesus Christ today is seemingly in good health to the casual observer. We are told that we have a Christian in the White House, a "purpose-driven church", and millions of professing believers. The mega-churches are growing and the millions of books are sold in successive waves-be they the "Prayer of Jabez", the "Left Behind " series or the "Purpose Driven" phenomenon of Rick Warren. We were told that the "Passion" movie would reach millions of Americans and result in an unprecedented evangelistic message being delivered to our country.

Yet evil is abounding and the church that is to be the salt and light of the world is bound with delusions and deceptions. It is a church that does not even know the condition that it is in. (see Revelation 3:17) The purpose of these articles is to spotlight the major problems besetting the church and to prayerfully and scripturally suggest a plan of ACTION. Enough books have been

written and enough "Jesus junk" has been sold in our Christian bookstores. It is time for the church to awake from its stupor and RISE UP to do battle with its enemies, and the enemies of the LORD. But a sleeping, contented church that does not even know who its enemies are must first be roused to recognize them and act accordingly.

ROMAN CATHOLICISM-THE TROJAN HORSE WITHIN

The most dangerous enemy that the evangelical church of Christ faces today is the one it has invited inside its gates-Roman Catholicism. By ecumenical compromises and its own apostasy, the evangelical churches are blind as to the true nature of this false church. The charismatic and pro-life movements have played a role in promoting this blindness. But the main culprit is the ignorance of the Roman Catholic church and its doctrines by the vast majority of Bible believers. The fawning praises from the mouths of well-known evangelical leaders at the death of the last Pope are an indication at the depth of compromise and darkness the church of Christ has descended into. These men lauded a man who entrusted his soul to the mother of Jesus instead of exposing the Papacy as the Antichrist that it is. What the church needs today is for another C.H. Spurgeon to rise up and proclaim:

It makes a Christian's blood boil to see the glory given to a pack of scamps who call themselves priests! Does it not make a man feel, when you pictures of "his holiness" and the cardinals, and so on, scattering their benedictions at the Vatican, or at St. Peters, while admiring crowd fall down and worship them that it were infinitely better to bow to the devil himself ? .....Down with your baptisms and your masses and your sacraments! Down with your priest-craft, and your rituals and your liturgies! Down with your fine music and your pomp, and your robes and your garments and your ceremonials....Oh! down, down, down with everything else-but up, up, up with the cross of Christ !" www.dodd-blog.blogspot.com/

For more on the Papacy, see these sites:

www.geocities.com/ll_twoedged_sword_ll/ or: www.iconbusters.com/iconbusters/witn/html/title-in.htm

Those saved out of the darkness of Catholicism understand the false gospel of Rome, and know why they have left that church. The problem today lies with those Christians who are unlearned in the doctrine of Rome and why there was a Reformation to begin with. For the true church of Christ to recover from its deception, it must realize that the church of Rome preaches a FALSE gospel and as such is condemned by the Spirit of God. (Gal. 1:8,9). Studying the history of the Reformation, the writings of the Reformers, and books such as Foxe's Book of Martyrs will all be profitable in helping to recognize the true nature of Catholicism. But it is ultimately in comparing what the RC church teaches with what the Word of God proclaims that our eyes-like the disciples on the Emmaus road- will be opened (Luke 24:13-35) and our hearts burn within us !

1. The Word of God teaches the supremacy of the Scriptures and that the Christian should be governed by God's holy, infallible Word ALONE - SOLA SCRIPTURA (Scripture alone):

   2 Tim. 3:15,16 -- Luke 4:4 -- John 10:35

   BUT the RC church substitutes itself as the teacher of men along with its traditions and denigrates The Word of God:

   www.catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=795

   (Q562 of the Baltimore Catechism)

2. The Word of God teaches that we are reconciled to God and saved by faith ALONE - SOLA FIDE

   Eph.2:8,9 -- Titus 3:5-7 -- Gal. 3:11,26 -- Romans 4:1-7

   BUT the RC church substitutes its sacraments in place of what God's Word teaches:

   www.catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=839 (Q114)

3. The Word of God teaches that we are saved by Christ ALONE - SOLO CHRISTO (Christ alone)

   1 Tim. 2:5,6 -- Acts 4:12 -- Colossians 1:14-22

   BUT the RC church substitutes its "eucharist", its baptism, the mother of Jesus, and itself as the way to redemption. www.catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=794 (Q489,490)

4. The Word of God teaches that the Holy Spirit is Christ's representative on earth - John 14:16,17,26

   BUT the RC church substitutes its Pope as Christ's representative on earth: www.catholic.net/teaching_the_faith/template_article.phtml?channel_id=14&article_id=794 (Q496-507)

It is time that the Body of Christ arose from its slumber and recognize the RC church for what it is-a false church with a false gospel, offering doctrines of devils to those ignorant of the Word of God. In place of an assurance of salvation and the gospel, it substitutes its sacraments-including its eucharistic wafer-God. Instead of a home in heaven it holds out Masses for the dead to gain their release from a mythical place called "purgatory". THIS IS NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST !

The RC church substitutes not only its sacraments but prayers to dead "saints" and the cult of goddess-worship of the mother of Jesus-robbing Christ of the glory due Him alone. This can be seen in the saying of Rosaries and the innumerable idols of Mary existing in RC churches all over the world.

BUT THE WORD OF GOD CLEARLY STATES:

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. -Eph. 5.19, 20 -- Colossians 3:17

It can also be seen in the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, by which the RC church claims to remove sin and thus baptizes infants. The RC church must be rejected as a counterfeit church by all Bible-believing Christians and its teachings rejected. All ecumenical activities with it are in clear violation of 2 Cor. 6:14-18 and should stop. The Roman Catholic people must be evangelized and called out of their false church.

Every person truly saved by Christ who is reading these words has been set free by the true gospel and the Son of God-John 8:36.

Should we deny this light, this grace, this gospel, to the lost souls trapped in Roman Catholicism ?

WHAT CAN BE DONE ????

1. Every believer in Christ should equip himself to "give an answer for the hope that lies within him".

   (1 Peter 3:15) Equipped by prayer and study of the Scripture, we should always be ready to witness to our RC neighbors, relatives, co-workers and other RC's we meet. A useful handbook on evangelizing RC's is available at this link: www.in-understanding.org/manual/

   Be a missionary in your own town-leave Christian literature for Catholics at ATM's, public phones and other public places. Mail literature to your neighbors as the Lord leads you. Encourage your Pastor to allow their display in the tract rack that most churches have.

2. If your church is involved in missionary work abroad or visitation in your local area, encourage the evangelism of the Roman Catholic people, and use materials specifically designed to reach them. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST SHOULD ESPECIALLY TARGET LATIN AMERICA WHERE OVER 500 MILLIONS SOULS ARE RIPE FOR HARVEST-OVER HALF OF THE WORLD'S ROMAN CATHOLIC POPULATION LIVES THERE ! Some materials can be found at these links:

   www.pro-gospel.org/estore/index.cgi?code=3&cat=5

   www.trinitylectures.org/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=43&osCsid=ef7681d378b041249c6aa8601cdd6dfe

   www.ianpaisley.org/toc.asp?loc=witness

3. To awaken the church to the Trojan Horse of Roman Catholicism, share with other believers what you know or have learned regarding the RC church and its doctrines. Give them literature and tracts also that reveal Roman Catholicism for what it is. Use the Internet to communicate via e-mail when you see ecumenical compromise occurring, warning those deceived into it.

For those wishing to learn more about Roman Catholicism, the following sites are recommended:

1) The European Institute of Protestant Studies: www.ianpaisley.org/toc.asp?loc=rome

2) Reaching Catholics for Christ: www.reachingcatholics.org/archive.html

3) Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries: www.pro-gospel.org/main/newsletters.php

4) An on-line book, Understanding Roman Catholicism: www.chick.com/reading/books/160/160cont.asp

5) The Protestant Index: All About Protestantism: www.corkfpc.com/protestantindex.html

6) Leaven of the Pharisees, Pages 1 and 2: www.acts1711.com/jesus2a.htm
and www.acts1711.com/jesus2aa.htm

Next: Part II: The Raging Enemy Outside the Gates - Islam

Please address your comments and questions to Joe Pavone at: joe@calvinistcontender.org