Former Catholic now Born Again Christian

Hello Sermon Index,

Hope you will allow me to share with you a brief analogy of how I came to the Lord:

Picture yourself as a foot soldier, posted outside Buckingham Palace, where you've been stationed for 15 long years. Each day you stand to attention and stiffly salute her Majesty whenever her official car arrives or exits the Palace. You know of the Queen but does she know of you (is she even aware of you?) Sadly, you've never had the honour of being introduced to her. Then one day her personal secretary walks over to you and says, "Her majesty would very much like to meet you." You immediately walk with him and for the first time in 15 years, you have gone from knowing of her to knowing her personally. She says to you, "How wonderful to meet you for the first time. If you ever need anything from me, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on my private landline or mobile, anytime of the day or night, I will not be offended." From this day on, you will never need to ever go through her private secretary or anybody else again - she is there whenever you need her - guaranteed.

This brief analogy goes a little way, I think into explaining how it was for me. I knew of the Lord for 15 years of my life as a practising Catholic but I had never been properly introduced to Him. I believe this is the same for all Roman Catholics throughout the world, and perhaps many areas of Protestantism. I would also include the assorted body of cults as well, for they deliberately deprive their ignorant congregations of ever experiencing a one-to-one relationship directly with God. However for organised religions like the Roman Catholic Church, the congregation only know of God through their Church and their priestly mediators. If no priest is available, then nobody else can perform the mass for them. No priest, no mass, no salvation.

The Bible says there is ONE God and ONE Mediator between MAN and God, the MAN Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5.)

Why not willingly present yourself to Him today and start a new personal loving relationship with Him.

You're not promised the next breath.

Thanks for the welcome. I have listened to many of Len Ravehill's sermons and they are brilliant. I have linked the Revival Hymn to some of the other forums I'm on.

Thank you for this post. I grew up catholic too, but when I went to church it never filled the void that I was feeling inside, until a precsious friend of mine told me about Jesus and what He had done on the cross for me! Praise God!

God bless you!

Bea

Hello Bea,

Thanks for your comments.

James

This brief analogy goes a little way, I think into explaining how it was for me. I knew of the Lord for 15 years of my life as a practising Catholic but I had never been properly introduced to Him.

Diane

With my father's powerful conversion, this forced me to understand my own spiritual bankruptcy, so I started listening to him witnessing to me and offering me Gospel tracts. Both of us, it seemed, had NEVER been introduced to the Biblical Jesus!

Please see my testimony:

http://www.excatholicsforchrist.com/articles.php?PageURL=James%20Testimony.htm

How do I witness to a catholic well. I always get hit with these issues and beleifs from a catholic friend. I know these statements arent true but im not sure how to respond.

- christianity came from catholics because the christians didnt wanna follow rules

-its almost the same religion

-ive always believed in god.

...but she never repented of her sins and trusted in jesus. shes doesnt understand that she haaaaaass to do that.

-im doing good things. im a good person.

when i tell her the things that jesus has taught straight outta the bible she doesnt want to hear it. She always makes excuses and is arguing the word of god. she says we have different beliefs. but she agrees we have the same god

pleeeeeeease help!

Hi JGB321,

I've found that when witnessing to Catholics, the matter of John 20:23 frequently comes into play. This can be a little tricky to manuever around. I imagine you have to deal with this issue quite often, as your ministy seems to focus on evangelizing Roman Catholics. I was wondering if you could shed some light, give some pointers on how you handle this verse with defensive Catholics. Any information would be greatly appreciated! I've had problems in the past explaining the Protestant truth of John 20:23; for some reason my mind seems to jumble up and I can never crystalize a good explanation.

Thank you so much!

Brother Paul

I just read your testimony. Thanks for sharing it. It's exciting to see how you shared your journey with yoru father.

I was wondering: How did you come to terms with the difference between living by works and living by grace? What difference has that made in your life? How do you explain the difference when you witness to Catholics?

... pardon all the questions, I just wasn't sure if I caught it all while reading your story. And I know that works vs grace is really the main differing point between RC (and many Christian practises) and the way of Christ.

Diane

Thanks for each of your questions. I hope the following responses may help.

Hello Diane: Catholics hold to the false premise that Jesus only paid 95% of their sins, they MUST pay for the remaining 5% themselves. However, they will fight tooth and nail to deny this of course, but "good works" has always been something Rome is infamously known for.

Brother Paul: John 20:23 should also be cross-referenced with Matt. 16; 18 and Luke 24. First things first, ALL the Apostles (don't forget Paul, he wasn't even there) had this authority and so do YOU and ME ( 2 Cor. 2:6.)

(If you want more info about this, may I suggest the following write up I did, between a Catholic and Protestant debate
http://www.excatholicsforchrist.com/articles.php?PageURL=Karl%20Keating%20defender%20of%20the%20Catholic%20faith.htm)

Telestai: There was NO Roman Catholics (word Catholic only means universal) until much later on. The early Church were all JEWISH and the entire Bible was written by JEWISH men, so don't worry when Catholics incorrectly state that the Bible is theirs.

Take you friend thru the "Good Person Test" and make sure she understands that NO Church can save her, for if churches or religious leaders could, why did Jesus need to come and die?

If more info is needed, please let us know.

James

Dear Telestai,

it is really very, very hard to witness to Roman Catholics. As a former catholic myself, I understand where they are coming from. This is all they have heard their entire life, from Kindergarden on. They truly believe going to church on Sundays, confessing their sins to a PRIEST and keeping the ten commandments as good as they can (who is able to do that?) is enough to go to heaven. They are so set in their ways and tradition and its almost impossible to have one even listen to anything else.

When we go to the streets here in my little hometown in Germany we hear things like:

"O, I believe in God. That´s enough." or
"I believe in the Jesus I have learned of". or
"Go away. You will NOT get me!!"

It really makes me sad. But we cannot loose heart, we have to let the Holy Spirit do the work. All we can do is sow a seed and leave the rest up to the Lord!

In Christ´s love
Bea

Hi, James,
To me, your site focuses a lot on the RC, and it’s flaws. I wanted to learn more about YOU, your own faith, your own faith journey to new birth in Christ.

I have a friend – who was once a RC nun. She is very disillusioned with the RC – the hypocrisy, etc etc. That has given me an opportunity to share what Jesus said, and help her see how different he was than religious people. She is like a sponge, soaking it up. May she find Christ.

Now that gives me an idea. Perhaps you could help RC’s by posting the teachings of Christ. And then let THEM see the difference. Trying to tell people that they are wrong has a terrible tendency of making them more determined to defend their position.

I see you’ve been a singer – and obviously a very good one. If you lived in my parts, I’d hire you in a jiff to sing in my church. Maybe "O rest in the Lord" from Mendelssohn’s Elijah. It is a moving song – straight from scripture. Have you ever sung that one?

Diane

Hi Diane,

Its a fair point that you make about concentrating too much on flaws in the RCC and other churches. We do, however, try VERY hard to balance all that we do. That is why our ministry is a three fold one.

1. Reach ALL the lost throughout the UK and beyond, either on the streets or online (endtimescoming.com)

2. Encourage and edify those that are saved to go out and win souls in their own towns (again endtimescoming.com)

3. Expose all false religions and cults (excatholicsforchrist.com)

I know when Ed Decker left the Mormons he felt very strongly about the cult that he had just left and to this day spends much of his time doing all he can to expose it and help people out of it.

James

... and what about Christ ....

Diane

Not sure I understand your question.

Thanks for the help, god bless

Hi, James,

I have heard it said that when you want to train someone to recognize fake money, you let him handle real money a lot. If they KNOW the real, then they will know what is NOT the real. If you only explain the various fake forms of currency, then a new fake will inevitably come along, and your student may end up thinking it is real.

There is an analogy here: If you want people to recognize the fake Christs (religions), it would seem best to expose them to the REAL THING, and then they will know what’s not authentic. Now how would one be exposed to the real “thing” – being Christ .. so that they will be able themselves to discern the impostor?

…. something to think about……

Christ:
How does Christ fit into your mission?
How has he called you?
How does he lead you?
How is he revealed through you?

(.... my, I'm bad for coming with a lot of questions...)

Diane

Diane,

Yes you are quite right in what you say. When I talk to people I spend sufficient time building up to the Good News of the Cross. I am quite happy that by the time I leave such a person they have been presented with the correct message/plan of Salvation, so when a false gospel comes along, they should be able to see right thru it. (We do do this in all our articles, by the way.)

As for me personally, the Lord has been very kind and patient with me. When He called me 4 years ago, I was still battling with many worldly interests and so on. But Christ has been my rock and fortress throughout, and I am not only eternally grateful for Him saving me but also for allowing me to have such a diverse ministry.

May I suggest the following article that I wrote, which goes some way into have I now feel about my faith and walk with Jesus:

http://www.excatholicsforchrist.com/articles.php?PageURL=MY%20ROCK.htm

God bless,

James

Thanks James, I checked your link.

Indeed, others may learn a tiny bit about God by our "presentation of the Gospel", but that isn't enough. That's like giving someone an explanation about real money, without them seeing it up close.

Others will know far more about him from our lives than our explanations. We are living letters, after all. We are called to be the salt and the light. Whether we have it or not depends on our relationship with Christ. We must walk intimately with him, and then he will "rub off" (shine).

I trust that you will put your relationship with Christ ahead of your ambitions to change others. Let God change others. He's quite good at it. Let him change you formost.

As I look back over my own life, I realize that there has always been much more that God wanted to do in my life than I ever realized. I think it's that way for most people.

May a thirst for God be your deepest passion.

"And this is my prayer:
that your love may abound more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight
so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless
until the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ -
to the glory and praise of God." Phil. 1:9

blessings,
Diane