Question: In your July newsletter you quoted a letter about a radio Bible teacher who, though a ...

Question: In your July newsletter you quoted a letter about a radio Bible teacher who, though a Christian, remains in the Catholic Church in order to win others to Christ. You seemed to approve of her remaining in the RCC. Do you?

Response: That was a separate issue which I didn’t deal with, inasmuch as I don’t know the person or the circumstances. Now that you’ve asked, however, your question is answered in Scripture where we have the perfect example from Jesus (and from the apostles who followed Him). Jesus attended the synagogue and even participated (Lk 4:16), though Judaism was apostate. So did the apostles in order to confront unbelieving Jews. They were allowed to preach there for a time but, like Jesus (Lk 4:17-30, etc.), the apostles were eventually thrown out (Acts:17:2-14 [2] And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, [3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. [4] And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. [5] But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. [6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; [7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. [8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. [9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. [10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. [12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. [13] But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. [14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
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That a person can remain in good standing as a Catholic for any length of time after becoming a true Christian raises serious questions as to (1) that person’s willingness to present the gospel clearly and (2) his or her participation in Roman Catholic sacraments. The gospel can only be presented meaningfully if it is contrasted with the errors the hearers believe. (See “Quotable”) No one could remain long in the good graces of Catholic friends, to say nothing of the Catholic clergy, if one confronted the real issues. Nor could a true Christian participate at all in Catholic sacraments (the Mass, for example) which deny the gospel and claim to be the means of passing out grace and salvation in installments.