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Originally Posted by PuritanCovenanter  Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatians220 . Only the Holy Spirit can bring someone out of the RCC. There is absolutely nothing that we can do or say by our words, our witness, our "friendship evangelism," or anything else that can possibly interest a real Catholic in the real Gospel, not even slightly. | I guess there is nothing to do with these people. We must not do anything. I guess we should just sit inside our four walls and wait for them to come to our doors.
This is hyper Calvinism.
I do not adhere to this kind of thinking. |
No, no, I didn't mean that at all... There are plenty of Catholics who are unsettled (that's what I called them a few days ago on another thread); there are some who are seeking the real Gospel... I referred immediately above to not witnessing to "happy Catholics," if you'll recall my post non-selectively.
I agree with you that hyper-Calvinism is also heresy.
We certainly should speak "a word in season." I've done that for about 14 years with a friend I met in high school. I've spent hours that amount to days on the phone with her, talking about Roman Catholic doctrine and theology versus the real Gospel, giving her things to read, etc. She'll attend a Reformed church with us for weeks or months, say she accepts the preaching and teaching - but eventually, she'll run back to the RCC. Why?
"Tradition." "I can't betray my parents like that." Most recently (and finally):
"I'm a Catholic for life and that's where I'm staying." We should speak the truth in love to these people, but it's ultimately God's work. I'm still praying for her, but for the time being, I'm letting the witnessing go. I don't want her to drop me; the Lord may claim her out of the RCC yet.
People witnessed to me for years when I was in the RCC and even though I was always unhappy in it, I would rear up and get angry at the slightest indication that I might "find the Lord" elsewhere. All I'm saying is that we, by ourselves, can't drag someone out of the RCC. Powerful ethnic considerations figure into it as well (Irish-American, in my case). I miss celebrating St. Patrick's Day in some respects, but St. Patrick himself was a godly man who brought the Gospel to Ireland. I admire his witness and his efforts. However, he's not to be venerated in any way...
All I'm saying is that going to a Catholic church, expecting to reach out to those who are content in it and bring them to an understanding and "heart acceptance" of the real Gospel is going to lead to disappointment and maybe even a distaste for evangelism, which we should all avoid. If the Holy Spirit has begun His work in any particular Catholic, God will give the increase and He will lead our witness to him or her in the direction He will have them to go.
After almost 20 years of witnessing to those nearest and dearest to me, I will say that I've seen the Holy Spirit working more effectively in the Jews I've witnessed to (and those also have been many) than on Catholics - thus beautifully illustrating Romans 1:16. But I'm trying not to make this anecdotal, per your earlier admonition, which I do appreciate and thank you for.
Thank you, Mr. Snyder, for your corrections, and God bless you.
Margaret