The recent illness and death of the Roman Catholic Pope John Paul II has focused world attention once more on the vast Roman Catholic system. His reign (since 1978) has been one of the longer ones in the history of the papacy, longer than any since Pius IX (1846-1878). Like Pius IX, John Paul II has presided over troubling times in which many changes have taken place in the world. In order to adapt itself to these changes, the Roman Catholic Church has also introduced changes that have seemed to alter its face considerably.
Forty years ago the Roman Catholic Church required its members to adhere strictly to its dietary rules which involved eating fish instead of meat on Fridays. (I remember well a fellow-worker in a factory who, while working a night shift on a Thursday, was most scrupulous in not eating any meat after midnight.) Now all this has been relaxed. Likewise, Roman Catholics were discouraged from reading the Bible. They were told that it was a book only for priests and Church dignitaries, as they alone were supposed to be able to understand and explain it. Now Roman Catholics are allowed to have and read Bibles. Formerly, Roman Catholics were to keep separate from other Christian denominations, and both their schools and their Churches emphasized this fact. Now much more openness with other Christians is allowed and even encouraged.
More recently, an accord was signed in 1994 that has extremely far reaching consequences. Signed by leading American evangelicals and Roman Catholics, it was a joint declaration entitled, “Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium.” The document asks Protestants and Roman Catholics to recognize one another as Christians and to work together in seeking to evangelize the world. Such well-known evangelical leaders as Pat Robertson and Charles Colson were among those who signed, and, indeed, Charles Colson was one of the chief originators of the document. This was followed by another in 1997, entitled, “The Gift of Salvation,” a definition of salvation and the gospel that was supposed to satisfy Protestants and Roman Catholics alike. Further articles entitled “Thy Word Is Truth” (2002) and, most recently, “The Call to Holiness” (2005) have attempted to bring Roman Catholics and Protestants even closer together. The serious Christian may well ask what all this means and whether Rome is really reforming and changing from what it has held and practiced for so many hundreds of years.
A Good Side
First of all, we must recognize that there is a good side to all this, and something that should make us thankful. In Revelation chapters 23, seven churches (assemblies) are addressed in order. It is clear from the context that these seven churches give us a panoramic history of the Christian profession down through the ages, from the time that the apostles passed away until the Lord comes. In Revelation 2:1829, it is evident that the description of Thyatira is that of the Roman Catholic Church. In verse 19 we read, “I know thy works, and charity and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” Likewise the Apostle writes, “Unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come” (Rev. 2:2425). The Roman Catholic Church has consistently opposed abortion, euthanasia, and artificial means of birth control. Likewise, it has never given up its belief in the deity of Christ, the virgin birth of Christ, and the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Roman Catholic Church has been diligent in works of charity and service, and many have profited from its help down through the ages. As Revelation 2:1919I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. (Revelation 2:19) notes, the last works are more than the first, perhaps indicating that what it is doing today surpasses what it did in the past. For all this, as far as it goes, we can be thankful.
Likewise, the relaxed attitude of the Roman Catholic Church has resulted in more freedom to share the gospel and more opportunities to bring Christ before Roman Catholics as well as others. There is an openness among Roman Catholics to listen to the Word of God and the gospel, an openness that was not there previously. Evangelical Roman Catholic Churches are tolerated and even encouraged, as long as official Roman Catholic dogma is not at risk. All this has made it easier for the Word of God to be preached.
On the other hand, we must recognize that, despite all the hype and appearance to the contrary, Rome has not fundamentally changed. Pope John Paul II has been a most ecumenical pope, but he has embraced all religions, not only Protestants. One of his favorite tactics has been to get leaders of all religions together for prayer. He has gathered together Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, snake worshipers, fire worshipers, animists, and witch doctors, as well as true Christians and Roman Catholics. Given the serious apostasy among Roman Catholics in most parts of the world, it is not surprising that all this has been generally welcomed rather than spoken against. By saying that all were praying to the same God, the Pope has encouraged and given momentum to a movement that justifies itself on the grounds of peace and ecological wholeness. The result can only be the destruction of all truth, with error and man’s thoughts being substituted for it.
Rome’s Agenda
Rome’s agenda is not simply that Protestants and Roman Catholics should work together toward a common end. No, the end for Rome is to prevent Roman Catholics from becoming Protestants, while at the same time to engage in the evangelization of Protestants. Recognizing the rise of apostasy and the fact that many of her adherents do not believe her dogmas, Rome is seeking to maintain her authority among her own while seeking to broaden her influence wherever she can. To do this she is willing to embrace even false religions, if Rome can keep her influence. One Roman Catholic theologian expressed it well when he said in 1990, “So as Catholics . . . our job is to use this remaining decade evangelizing everyone we can into the Catholic Church, into the body of Christ and into the third millennium of Catholic history.”
More than this, a book by Patrick Madrid published in 1994, entitled Surprised by Truth, details how eleven supposed evangelicals were convinced that the Roman Catholic Church was the one true church and that they should return to it. Obviously irritated by the confusion and disagreement among so-called Protestant evangelicals, these people were impressed by the fact that Rome supposedly has not changed, and they returned to her. Several sequels to this book have brought out further arguments in favor of Rome and her beliefs, and they have made some impact on the Christian world. Protestant churches are now beginning to pay attention to the virgin Mary, and some have even gone so far as to invoke her supposed intercessory powers in prayer, as Roman Catholics have done for centuries. Even as staunch an evangelist as Billy Graham seems to have been taken in by Rome’s new posture, and he has made the statement, “I’ve found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics.”
What’s Ahead
While space does not permit us to examine in detail the various accords signed by evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders (beginning with “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” in 1994), we would only point out that the wording in each is clever. Rome seems to have given her support to a gospel of which evangelicals could approve, while at the same time keeping back what is vital to her interests. The accord on “The Gift of Salvation,” for example, does not face such important issues as baptismal regeneration, indulgences, purgatory, or the worship of the virgin Mary. It merely states that these issues will require “further and urgent exploration.”
There is no doubt that all this is leading up to a vast false religious system that Scripture calls “Babylon the Great.” After the true church is called up to heaven at the Lord’s coming, this huge system will dominate the political scene in the western world, at least for a time. Her incredible wealth will allow her to traffic in all sorts of commercial ventures, and for a time she will be successful. But then God will allow those whom she rules to hate her and to overthrow her. “The ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:1616And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:16)).
In conclusion, let us not be fooled into thinking that Rome has changed. Her energy is not for truth, but rather for herself and the system that she represents. God in His sovereignty may allow His Word to be used in blessing to some as a result of the dialogue between Protestants and Roman Catholics, and for this we can be thankful. However, in the long run Rome’s interests will predominate. Let us remember the admonition in Revelation 18:44And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4): “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.” Let us be thankful for any blessing that God allows, but equally true, let us not be duped into thinking that Rome is changing in any fundamental way.
W. J. Prost