Before she became a Catholic, Rosalind Moss of "Catholic Answers" used to be a member of John MacArthur's congregation, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He runs a ministry called Grace to You. Its motto is "Unleashing God's Truth One Verse at a Time." The unleashing is done chiefly through a widely-syndicated radio program.
In a June letter to his ministry's supporters, MacArthur wrote about John Paul II and the "amazing release of emotion" that accompanied his death. "From politicians and media pundits to Hollywood celebrities and everyday citizens, everyone had praise for John Paul II, his gentle ways and his social and political achievements as a world leader and statesman. I can understand that."What I cannot understand," continued MacArthur, "is the response of some Evangelicals to what matters most about the pope: his beliefs about God and the gospel. ... Influential leaders embraced the deceased pope as a brother in Christ and the Catholic church as just another Christian denomination. ..."During the Reformation, countless men and women died rather than deny the biblical truths of salvation. Countless others today are giving their lives as missionaries to people lost in the darkness and guilt of Catholicism."
I was sent a copy of this letter in which MacArthur goes on to write about the "damning error" that is Catholicism and notes that he has released a new 90-minute lecture called "Unmasking the Pope and the Catholic System." You can't get the tape unless you are a donor and have a special "code" to prove so. He says that "the church I pastor is loaded with people who were saved out of the Catholic church. ... A longtime Grace to You board member and dear friend of mine is a former Catholic. He speaks with great emotion about the bondage he and his wife lived under."
How many times have we heard these claims before? "The Catholic Church is not really Christian." "Catholics believe you 'earn' your salvation through good works." "Catholicism is based on guilt, not truth." "People are in 'bondage' to Catholicism--and we need to save them." I don't want to be saved by Mr. MacArthur, I've already been saved by Christ.
It is MacArthur who claims a divine commission: "I do have a mandate from God to compare what others teach to the gospel of the Bible." So God out him in charge of the gospel? He says, "'Does the pope teach the gospel?' is a valid question." And the answer is YES. Rosalind Moss left John MacArthur's church because she realized that, yes, the pope really does teach the gospel--and that John MacArthur does not.
Grace to You is built around one man. It may have many employees, but when John MacArthur dies, his ministry will die. His flock will scatter, taking with them the silly prejudices he has imbued them with. When Benedict XVI dies there will be another pope to succeed him, and another, and another, until the end of time. Each of them will demonstrate to those with open minds and hearts that, yes, the pope does teach the gospel.
Thanks to Karl Keating
4 comments:
I know many people who feel the same way as John MacArthur who have come unsaved out of the Roman Catholic church and joined a Non-Denominational church and have since been saved. I also know many saved Roman Catholics who are filled with the Holy Spirit and are as shining example of what a Christian is supposed to be. Two points to be made:
1) A lot of it has to do with the individual parish they came from. I have two friends who converted from Evengelical Non-Denominational Christiantiy to Catholicism because the particular ENDC church they went to was superficial, based on looks, and only offered spiritual "milk". I briefly went to one of these mega-churches when I lived in Texas. These two friends of mine found a fantastic Catholic church, and are now very active in it, and I believe they are saved. I also know people in my home church who's priest DID preach guilt, works, etc. while they were growing up.
2) Church, like most things, you only get out of it what you put into it. Garbage in, Garbage out.
One of those two things usually explains it, IMHO.
I don't disagree with you at all. But don't question the salvation of a billion Catholics over a few weak churches. And don't claim that you have a mandate from God to do so. If you are unsaved, who is to blame for that? You or a denomination?
This was a fund raising letter built around a man's death. He also used it to smear other non-Catholic Christian leaders who showed compassion toward faithful Catholics in a time of grieving. He ought to be ashamed of his tactics.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to sound like I was defending him in any way whatsoever. I don't. It really irks me when people act like they are the Holy Spirit. I was just expanding on the topic.
He should be ashamed, I agree. I held JPII in the highest standing and mourned his passing as a spiritual... um... uncle.
And claiming God told him... Well, I'll just file him under the "False Prophet" category.
Thanks Fred but I don't know if the online sermon is the same as the tape he offered. It seems like he uses stronger language with his "supporters".
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