INTRODUCTION

A few days before the close of 1997, I received a letter with some literature promoting the Roman Catholic Church from a man with whom I had evidently spoken about his need of the Saviour. This is clear from his letter.

I do have opportunity to speak with many on the streets of Boston, in door-to-door evangelism, etc. However, I do not remember this particular individual or occasion. At first, I thought, I am just too busy to spend a lot of time trying to "straighten him out."

However, I did feel constrained to at least respond and hopefully the Lord might use it to spark some interest on his part to examine the Scriptures for himself.

As I was writing my response, it occurred to me that these simple truths and this basic information might be useful to some other Christian who is trying to help some Roman Catholic find the truth as it is in Jesus and His Word.

I also thought that the Lord might see fit in His mercy to use it to bring a few poor Catholics to eternal salvation through faith in Christ alone. I thank God that over the years, we have been able to lead a number of Roman Catholics to the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, it is with this in mind that I decided to put it in booklet form. If this brief report should fall into the hands of a Roman Catholic, I would like to say that our only desire is that you might come to Him Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Dear______________

Greetings! I received your letter and two booklets, but no tape. I assure you it will not scare me, but before you send it I must say that I simply do not have time to carry on an indefinite dialogue.

However, I feel that your letter deserves an answer and beyond that I cannot say that I will engage in further correspondence. I am not sure how profitable it would be. Obviously, you are not open minded, but I do hope I can help you to see that you are but following the traditions of men which we are warned about in the Scriptures (Colossians 2:8-10).

Without going into great detail, I will just say that Mr. Whitcomb's booklets you sent to me are filled with inaccuracies. To say that the Roman Catholic Church had only an incidental part in the Inquisitions in Europe and elsewhere, is to fly in the face of the facts.

Mr. Whitcomb says, "Non- Catholics who admitted they are non- Catholics were left alone by the inquisition." Have you ever heard of the slaughter of 50,000 French Hugenot's (Bible believers) on St. Bartholomew's Day (1572) in Paris, France when soldiers and Catholics mobs were led by Roman Catholic priests? That is only one comparatively small incident.

I urge you to read something other than a biased Catholic source. Concerning bible versions, the most faulty of all Bible translations are those of the Roman Catholic Church which for example replace the Bible word "repentance" with "do penance," a wholly unscriptural concept.

Furthermore, they all follow Jerome's bible (the official Catholic bible). His translation follows the teachings of Origen (he went to Alexandria to study Origen's writings concerning the bible) who was one of the greatest heretics the church ever endured.

Isn't it strange that the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, but the Catholic Church uses as its official bible one that is in Latin. And if you will compare the Latin with the Hebrew and Greek, you will find substantial differences.

Now if the originals (Hebrew and Greek) were inspired of God, which they were Ä even the Roman Church has to accept that, how can a later version which does not conform to them also be inspired of God?

Furthermore, accurate accounts of church history show that many Popes lived immorally in and out of the papal office and that they have often contradicted each other in their "infallible" pronouncements. Did you know there were three infallible "Popes" at one time during the fifteenth century, each one anathematizing the other two.

I should also say right here that the whole idea of the Papacy is a fifth and sixth century fabrication of the bishop of Rome. One looks in vain for it in the New Testament and the first three centuries of the Christian Church knows of no such thing. Peter certainly nowhere considers himself to be a Pope, head of the whole Church.

Ephesians 5 clearly says that Christ is the Head of His Church and since He is alive. He doesn't need any fallen creature to represent Him. Of course, you will have to look outside biased Roman Catholic authorities.

Since dealing in depth with all the errors of Roman Catholicism would consume a great deal of time which I do not have, I am going to limit my answer to you to three areas, and even then I simply cannot go into detail as I might.

The three are: Is salvation by faith plus works or by faith alone in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial work? The worship of Mary, and the mass, the heart of Catholicism.

It only stands to reason that if we are wrong on how someone can have his sins forgiven, nothing else really matters. Now, it is a fact that the Catholic Church teaches that salvation is by faith plus works.

Actually, every system in this world, "Christian" and otherwise, except the pure Word of God, when it is "rightly divided," teaches that a man must do something in order to be justified with God.

It would be ignorance or arrogance or both to deny that the Roman Catholic Church teaches salvation by works (or faith plus works Ä it makes no difference for once you say man can do anything to save himself, you have destroyed the doctrine of grace; see Romans 11:6.) It is true that the Bible says we are to maintain good works" but when one reads the context it is obviously speaking to those who are already saved, true Christians.

Let the Scriptures stand by themselves without any twisting of them (2 Peter 3:16) and it is clear that salvation is all of grace and that man can do nothing except receive Christ as His Saviour in order to have his sins forgiven. "BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

I suggest that you look up the following Scripture verses: John 3:16, 18, 36; 10:27, 28; Ephesians 2:8-9. You will notice in v.10 that "We are created in Christ Jesus (that is we are made new, saved in Christ by grace and faith v.8-9; THEN), "UNTO good works."

Not BY good works but the true believer is now able to produce good works for God. There is only one way, and there has always been but one way for a sinner to be justified before God Ä by faith. Romans 5:1. "Therefore, being justified by FAITH we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

There are many other such Scriptures. Of course, if you want to believe what some man, some apostate system tells you, that is your privilege. However, I tell you on the authority God's Word, no matter how sincere you might be, that you are lost and will spend eternity in hell!

One further word on the matter of salvation. The plain truth is no Roman Catholic can know in this life if he is saved or not. In my estimation, the whole system has been devised so that it is impossible for him to have any such assurance, lest he find he no longer needs to comply with all the duties, restrictions, payments for masses, etc. which the Church requires of him.

Dr. Ironside, a Bible teacher of note who passed away 50 years ago, said that when he was visiting in Rome, they were still saying masses for Pope Leo XIII. Of course, once again that is all to no avail for there is no such thing as prayers for the dead in the true Word of God.

The Catholic Church finally got around to endorsing as Scripture a book which teaches that false doctrine though it was not until 1400 years after Jesus died and rose again. Incidentally, that book predates Jesus and the disciples by 400 years, yet neither He nor they mentioned it.

Now, if they don't know if a Pope, dead for centuries, has gotten out of purgatory yet (another unscriptural doctrine), what hope have you or any other average Catholic? Praise God, a man may know right now that he has eternal life according to the Word of God. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye HAVE eternal life . . ." 1 John 5:13.

Please note: You can know that you have eternal life right now! That is if you believe God! You spoke of a tape that might scare me to death. I tell you that I have nothing to fear for I already have eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord!

In his book, Mr. Whitcomb says, "Catholics do not worship Mary." I have read that from other Catholic sources (often from the Knight's of Columbus), but it is a joke, it is simply a lie. I can produce many converted Roman Catholics right here who will tell you that before their belief of the Gospel, they were taught to worship Mary and in fact did so.

It doesn't matter if you call it veneration or something else. A lawyer who presented his case before President Lincoln kept saying, "Supposing this . . .," and "Supposing that . . .". Lincoln said, "Supposing we call a dog's tail a leg. How many legs would the dog have?" The man said, "Five." The President said, "That's what I thought you'd say, calling a tail a leg doesn't make it so."

The plain truth that Catholics pray to Mary is an incontrovertible fact, and is proof they treat her as God. One can look in vain in the true Scriptures to find someone praying to anyone other than God, in truth. You cannot deny that Mary is called the "Mediatrix" by many Roman Catholic authorities including Popes.

You are no doubt familiar with Ligouri's "Glories of Mary." He speaks of Mary thus: "Mary is our Refuge, help and Asylum . . . God before the birth of Mary complained by the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel that there was no one to rise up and withhold him from chastising sinners, that he could find no one, for this office was reserved for our Blessed Lady, who withholds his arm until he is pacified. Many things are asked of God and are not granted, but they are asked of Mary, and are obtained. At the commandment of the Virgin all things obey, even God. The salvation of all depends on our being favored and protected by Mary. He who is protected by Mary will be saved; he who is not will be lost . . ." (Emphasis mine).

That is not only unscriptural, it is blasphemous! You may believe it if you wish, millions of blinded souls do, but God is not subservient to any human, angel or any other being. Concerning this Dr. Harry Ironside quotes Littlefield in the Raccolta who says, "Hail, Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, Sweetness and Hope, all Hail . . . Heart of Mary, Mother of God (God has no mother; how could an eternal Being have a mother? - she was the mother of our Lord's humanity.), . . . worthy of all veneration of angels and men . . . Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation . . . Save me, my hope, save me from hell."

But the Bible (That's where you Catholics have a great problem; you are always either denying or explaining away some portion of the Bible in order to justify your doctrines) says. "There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Will you note: There is ONE MEDIATOR HE IS A MAN HE (noMary) GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL!

Do what you will, to say that Mary has anything to do with our salvation (She did bring the Saviour into the world, but she is no saviour herself) is to contradict the plain teaching of the Word of God. Though you can deny it, explain it away, the truth is Mary said, "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Luke 2:47. Did Mary need a Saviour? She said she did. As fine a young woman as Mary was, she was till a sinner for the Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. God made no exceptions.

Mary apparently believed that. Then, she said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord." verse 46. The Roman Church magnifies Mary above all, even claiming that God must do her bidding. You may believe in Mary, the Roman Catholic Church, Paul Whitcomb, Ligouri, etc. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God the only Saviour and in His pure unadulterated Word!

What about the mass? No doubt this is the heart of the Roman Catholic system and the hope of its members. If you would diligently look into this matter, research the Church fathers, you will find that there is not even a trace of the doctrine of transubstantiation before the fourth century; not made dogma until 1215. I will not write out the Scriptures dealing with this subject.

They are: Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 19:19-20 and 1 Cor. 11:23-39. John 6 does not refer to the Lord's Supper, but I will discuss it since the Roman Church gets much of its false teaching on this subject from that passage. Jesus said concerning the bread, Take eat, this is my body." And concerning the cup "Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood . . ."

Was He speaking figuratively (as He often did, for example: "I am the door, I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, I am the Light of the world . . .") or was He speaking literally? His body had not yet been broken and killed on the cross. He said, "This is my blood which is shed . . ." His blood had not yet been shed! Furthermore, it is emphatically stated in every dispensation in the Word of God that man should not drink blood.

One would have to break the commandment of God if He was speaking of literal blood. You may say, well He made an exception here. There is no exception found in the Word of God and His commandment was repeated in Acts 15 many years after this incident, but there is no exception made for the Lord's Table.

The Roman Church says the priest (there is no priesthood in the New Testament) has the power to change the elements into Jesus flesh and blood. If the wine is really changed into blood, why does it still look like wine, taste like wine and if you drink enough of it, you will become drunk.

Did anyone ever become drunk on blood? Would you please look at 1 Cor. 11:28? It says, "But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." Notice it is still bread and still the cup, or that which the cup contained, even after they partook of it.

If the Roman Catholic doctrine were true, He would have to say, ". . . let him eat of that flesh and drink of that blood," for your Church claims that after the priestly consecration it is no longer bread and wine but the actual flesh and blood of Jesus.

Finally, it says, "This do in remembrance of Me." It is a memorial, not a sacrifice for the Word of God is clear, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin Ä see Hebrews 10:12-18. I urge you to meditate on the truth in those few verses. Calvary was the last offering for sin that God will ever accept and all we can do is believe it, receive it! I urge you to simply take what the Word of God says and not to try to make Scripture conform to what you have been given in error.

What about John 6? First of all, this passage has nothing to do with the Lord's Supper. It took place two to three years before the cross and since Jesus makes no mention of the yet future Lord's Supper, how could it have any meaning for the listeners? Also, Jesus said to the multitude here, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." v. 53.

Now, it is a known fact that unless one is a priest, he does not receive the cup, or wine and thus according to the words of Jesus the laity does not have life; obviously, the life of God; eternal life. Now, if you just take the words of the Son of God, without adding anything, you must conclude that if the Roman Catholic doctrine of the mass is correct, the laity is not and cannot be saved.

But I cannot tarry longer on this point. I will only say that it is plain to anyone but a Romanist that this Scripture is not related to the mass and indeed must be seen in a spiritual, not physical sense. It is clear that His listeners had a hard time with this, v.60 (although they never dreamed of it in terms of the mass).

But notice what Jesus said to get his message across: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." v.63 Jesus plainly says that "the flesh profiteth nothing." It is the spirit that counts! Notice, it is "the words that I speak . . ."

It is believing that He is the Son of God who came down from heaven to save sinners who believe His Word. We are to partake of Him by faith. Look at v.47: "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." Jesus said in John 3:3: "Ye must be born again." That is not baptism as the Romish Church teaches.

It is a real spiritual birth, a birth of the spirit Ä read the passage. How is a man born again? Peter tells us: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1:23. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:7.

I ask you, have you been born again? Do you have the life of God in you? Are you sure of heaven NOW? The truth is no Roman Catholic can say that those things are true because he is not trusting the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary; he is trusting fallible "Popes," Mary, the eucharist, his own works, etc.

I want to close this discourse by saying that I have nothing personally against any Roman catholic, I truly love them as I do all sinners for Jesus sake. I do, and must, if I am to be true to the Lord Jesus Christ, oppose the system which is an apostate form of Christianity and a grave danger to the millions who come under its authority.

You must give up error before you can receive the truth. The true Church, the one Jesus built is the one that is built on Himself and the only source of information on that Church is found in His Word, the true Bible. Men have perverted the Word of God down through the ages even as the devil did in the Garden of Eden when he said, "Ye shall not surely die."

I pray you will put aside all your books and prejudices and read the Word of God. If you will honestly ask God to show you the truth, He will do it. The Bible says, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." To the unprejudiced, a study of the Word of God will show that our problem is sin and that there is but one solution.

The answer lies not with us, but God for "Salvation is of the Lord." As for righteousness, we are bankrupt: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6. Do you believe the Word of God? It says the best you can do is a filthy rag! So how can you save yourself or any mortal save you?

Listen again to God: "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6. All your sins were laid on Jesus the perfect Son of God Ä on Jesus alone! He paid for them; all of them! On the cross, He cried, "It is finished!" What was finished? The work of redemption. If He finished it, what can you or anyone else do?

Here is all you can do: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. God has made it simple; man has confounded it! God says, "The wages of sin is death but the GIFT OF GOD is eternal life, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST our Lord." Rom. 6:23. I urge you to "Flee the wrath that is to come," by putting yourself in the hands of Jesus Christ the Son of God, the only Saviour.

Much more could be written but it doesn't seem necessary. The issue is who you will believe God or man! I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of sinners, will draw you unto Himself.

Sincerely yours,

Rolland C. Starr

APPENDIX:

The truth is the Roman Catholic Church could not be the Church that Jesus Christ built for it does not rest on Him nor His authority but on that of Popes, councils, the creeds of men, etc., and not on the Word of God. No Church of Christ could so consistently teach that which is clearly opposed to Jesus' own words.

There is hardly a Church which has done greater violence to the teachings of our Lord. Though it is hidden from the masses, its leaders have contradicted each other, not occasionally, but hundreds, if not thousands of times. Many of them have been immoral and ungodly men.

They have often rewritten a good deal of history in order to maintain respectability and to keep thmultitudes within their grasp. The whole philosophy of the Papacy is an invention of men; it cannot be supported by Scripture nor history. The Roman Catholic Church, is in reality, like many other denominations, apostate and not Christ's Church.

We urge the reader to seek the truth concerning this Church which is called a harlot in Revelation 17. Your eternal soul is at stake. If you are wrong you will suffer for your sins forever. Seek the truth of God's Word and believe what it says rather than the fabrications of men. We do not expect one to take our word for this, but we urge you to do as those of old, of whom it was said, they searched the Scriptures to see if these things be so. (Acts 17:11)

NOTE

Additional copies of the above can be obtained in pamphlet form (4 x 7), from the CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH, Post Office Box 438, Belmont, MA 02178. For the cost write or call Pastor Rolland C. Starr: (617) 489-2498