[The following material is from O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 12, 1995. David W. Cloud, Editor. This material cannot be placed on BBS or Internet sites without express permission from the author. Any articles which are redistributed by e-mail or print must be left intact and nothing must be removed or changed, including these informational headers. Copyright 1995 by David W. Cloud. All rights are reserved by the author. O Timothy is a monthly magazine. Annual subscription is US$20 FOR THE UNITED STATES. Send to Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. FOR CANADA the subscription is $20 Canadian. Send to Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 9075, London, Ontario N6E 1V0. The Way of Life Internet web site is http://www.wayoflife.org/ .]

ANOTHER WHITEWASH OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM

By David W. Cloud

The latest in a long series of "Evangelical" books whitewashing Roman Catholicism has appeared. The title is Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences. The authors are Norman Geisler and Ralph MacKenzie. The publisher is Baker Books. The year, 1995.

Consider some excerpts from this book:

"Catholics and evangelicals share a common core of beliefs about salvation. ... For both groups salvation is by grace and is not prompted by human works. It comes as a gift of God to undeserving humanity" (pp. 81,103,104).

"Since evangelicals and Roman Catholics have so much in common doctrinally and morally ... we believe that there are, nonetheless, many areas of common spiritual heritage and practical social and moral cooperation possible. ... In this final section we wish to end on a positive note, firmly believing that a cooperative effort between Roman Catholics and evangelicals could be the greatest social force for good in America. ... Our common doctrinal and moral beliefs are too large and the need in America for a united voice on them is too great for us to dwell on our differences to the neglect of crucial cooperation needed to fight the forces of evil in our society and our world. ... Even the most reactionary of Protestant fundamentalists has more in common with Cardinal John O'Connor and John Paul II than with Joan Campbell and John Spong" (pp. 357,358).

"Perhaps evangelicals felt a bit guilty when they realized they were 'Johnnie-come-latelies,' given the fact that Roman Catholics had been alert to the moral dimensions of the problem while their evangelicals neighbors were spiritually asleep" (p. 360).

New Evangelicals refuse to see things in black and white. They love the gray of compromise. They admit that Roman Catholicism adds to faith alone and grace alone for salvation, but they refuse to label Rome's sacramental gospel as cursed (Galatians 1). They admit that many of Rome's dogmas--such as the papacy and mass and purgatory and Mary's perpetual virginity and exaltation as Queen of Heaven--are contrary to the Word of God, but they refuse to label them as blasphemous.

Instead, these New Evangelicals discuss Rome's cursed gospel and blasphemous dogmas in an unemotional, intellectual, philosophical manner, as if they were discussing varied techniques of horticultural grafting. Are they not aware that the souls of men are at stake? Do they not care that multitudes and multitudes have passed into eternal Hell because of Rome's errors? Do they not care that multitudes of God's saints have been tormented and murdered by this wicked and apostate religious system? Rome has absolutely nothing to do with the New Testament church and faith. It is false through and through. It is false from top to bottom. It is vain to discuss the supposed "areas of agreement" between a Bible believer and the Roman Catholic Church. Any truth that Rome holds is corrupted by its countless errors. Rome testifies that Jesus Christ is God, but Rome blasphemes the Lord Jesus Christ by exalting the pope and Mary and the saints and the priesthood to a mediatorial position between God and men. Rome testifies that salvation is through the sacrifice of Christ, but it denies Christ's sacrifice by claiming that Christ is resacrificed daily in its abominable mass. Poison corrupts the entire cistern.

Evangelical leaders are telling us that we need to yoke together with Rome in order to fight against "evil in our society." This is interesting. Does Roman Catholicism produce morality? I have traveled in Italy. I have been to Rome. Friends, Roman Catholicism has not produced morality in its own backyard. Visit Ireland. Visit Mexico. Visit Quebec. Visit any area of the world in which Roman Catholicism is widely followed. Romanism does not produce biblical morality. To the contrary. Rome produces immorality, gambling, drunkenness, reveling, pornography, blasphemy, atheism. Is Rome against homosexuality? What about the thousands of homosexual and pedophile priests? What about the wretched history of papal depravity? What moral authority does such a wicked institution have?

I disagree with Geisler and MacKenzie. I have no more in common with Catholic Pope John Paul II than I do with Modernist Episcopal bishop John Spong. Both are heretics and blasphemers. John Spong says Jesus Christ is not God and is not born of a virgin. I have nothing in common with him. The Pope claims that he is a "holy father" and a "mediator" and a "pontiff" (bridge) and that he can sacrifice Christ afresh. I have nothing in common with him, either. Both are sinners who need to be saved. (Both could be saved, too, if they would repent and believe the Bible and trust Jesus Christ and His shed blood and finished Sacrifice on Calvary.)

To be honest, I believe this is precisely what these New Evangelical theologians need. They need a good dose of biblical salvation. I understand what they think about men like me. They put on a knowing smirk and claim that the simple-minded Fundamentalist simply does not understand the deeper points of theology and history. Ignorance. That is the Fundamentalist's problem.

Friends, this is a smokescreen. I understand the issue completely. I have studied the Bible for 22 years, and I have studied Romanism from every angle. I have an excellent library on the subject. My perspective is not based on ignorance, but, on truth.

Consider what God says about Romanism and every other false religious system of these last days: "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

[From "Digging in the Walls," O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 12, 1995. O Timothy is a monthly magazine which is available by subscription from Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org. Subscription price is $20.]