Roman Catholicism, Mary, and Christ-Centered Evangelism

Catholic Books That I Read For My Recent Series

A Catholic friend posted an article the other day that highlighted the story of yet another professing "evangelical" who has jettisoned the biblical gospel of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (per Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 3-5) in order to enter into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Here is an brief excerpt: YouTube star Lizzie Estella Reezay has announced that she’s converting from Protestantism to Catholicism.  “I want everyone to know that I hated that this was happening,” she explains in a recent video. “I fought so hard to get out of this intellectually. I did not want to be Catholic. Not only did I think Catholicism was wrong, I just didn’t like the vibe of Catholicism. I wanted to be anything but Catholic.”

She explains how hard it was for her to make her announcement video because she knew many of her Protestant family and friends would perceive it to be a betrayal. But, she explains, she was obliged to become Catholic by the force of one simple fact: it was true..."

I recently did a two month study of the inspired Song of Mary (the Magnificat) from the gospel of Luke.  In conjunction with this verse by verse study I shared a thematic series on "Will the Real Mary Please Stand Up?"  These messages are available for free if you click here.   One of the reasons why I felt the necessity to preach this series of sermons and to read so many books by Catholic theologians is to provide a biblical response to Lizzie's recent claim (that she has found the true truth in Rome).

As many of you know, the Catholic Church has over 1 Billion followers worldwide.  Their influence is massive.  The most important question however is are their articles of faith truly biblical?  If the Catholic teaching related to Mary is unbiblical, could they be wrong on justification/salvation?  I would encourage you to search the Scriptures diligently and to listen to my series of messages on Luke 1 and on the "real" Mary.  I have provided an extensive sermon outline/notes below to give you a flavor of what we covered in this very important series.

Roman Catholicism, the Real Mary, and Christ-Centered Evangelism

The current preaching series on Roman Catholicism, the Real Mary, and Christ-centered evangelism flows out of three biblical streams.  Each of these biblical streams highlights the applicational thrust of these messages:

1) God’s Passion for the Unrivaled Preeminence of Jesus Christ.

(Colossians 1:13-18)

2) The Church’s Mandate to Reach the Lost with Gospel Truth.

(Mark 16:15; John 8:32)

3) The Berean Call to Compare Every Doctrine & Practice with Scripture.

(Acts 17:11; 1 Thess. 5:21)

Last Sunday's sermon can be downloaded for free at http://www.lakecountrybible.org/ or by clicking here

For Further Reflection/Application:

There are many former Roman Catholic converts who are now part of solid, evangelical churches (including LCBC).  Ask a former Catholic to share their testimony of how God brought them out of the Catholic church (Ephesian 2:1-10)?  This would make for great lunch fellowship.

When is the last time you shared the gospel with someone?  Are you as intentional in your witnessing as the Lord calls you to be?  If not, explain why this is such a struggle and seek out another believer who could disciple you in this important area of our Christian walks. 

Will the REAL Mary please stand up? (pt. 2)

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Will the REAL Mary please stand up?

"Mary is the test of how well a Christian has accepted the gospel...Our understanding of Mary reveals everything about how we understand Jesus and his saving work." Catholic theologian- 2001.

As we continue the narrative of Mary as found in the Gospel of Luke we need to explain what Mary we are talking about.  Is the Roman Catholic Mary- the Mary of Scripture?

In order to present a fair critique I have read a number of Roman Catholic books.  In his book on Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God; In the Word of God Hahn writes, "I wrote this book so that my fellow Catholics would never be ashamed of their supernatural mother as I was once ashamed of my natural mother when she came to take me home from school."

Later he writes, "If you could have created your mother and preserved her from original sin, would you?  Would you?....Of course, you would!  But could you?  No, you couldn't! But Jesus could and Jesus did!"

On page 161 while flying on a plane Hahn pictured Mary patting me on the head and saying, "Don't worry so much about defending me.  Just love me and love my Son, and where you fall short, WE'LL make up for what you lack."

This Sunday our miniseries on the Biblical Mary continues.  Part one of this series can be downloaded free of charge here.

Will the REAL Mary Please Stand Up? (pt. 1)

Catholic's "venerate" Mary above all "saints."

With their being over 1 billion Catholics worldwide evangelicals cannot speak of Mary without qualifying what “Mary” they are talking about.  Hence our current series, "Will the REAL Mary Please Stand Up?"

During this series we will ask and answer the following questions:  Is it appropriate to "venerate" and to "sing and pray" to Mary?  Is it unbiblical to refer to her as “OUR mother?”  “The second Eve?”  “The new Ark of God?”  “The dispenser of all graces?”  “Our intercessor?”  “The Holy Queen of heaven?”  "The comforter of the afflicted?” & as “our Co-Redemptrix?

I recently read Catholic apologist Scott Hahn's book, "Hail, Holy Queen:  The Mother of God in the Word of God."  All of these titles are found throughout Roman Catholic literature.  Should evangelicals "devote themselves" to Mary as Pope John Paul II did?  

We also need answers to these questions:  Was Mary SINLESS  Did she remain a virgin (AFTER the birth of Christ)?  Was Mary taken up to heaven like Enoch, Elijah, and Elisha were? Most importantly, can you defend your position from Scripture?  Do your doctrinal convictions rest in the authority of God’s Word alone; OR are they deeply rooted in tradition and in the decrees and pronouncements of men?

Should Protestants distance themselves from the biblical Mary?  If not, how would God have us view her today?