Witnessing tips for various cults

[Biblenuggetlady]

Witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon's ministry:

http://witforjesus.org/

[BarbT]

The Roman religion may not technically be considered a cult but it is dangerous.

They may accurately acknowledge who Christ is but it stops there. Church authority has superceded the Gospel, placing a maze of legalistic stumbling blocks in the path of those seeking God.

Indoctrination begins early.

Every RC I speak to cannot tell me if they are certain they will enter into eternal life with God. Salvation depends on passing lifelong tests which will determine if you've been a good enough catholic. Dangerous.

Here are some excellent resources examining the basics of Roman beliefs and methods for witnessing to RCs.:)

http://www.christiananswers.net/evangelism/beliefs/catholicism.html

http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/roman-catholicism/RC0899W2.htm

[AncillaDomini]

The Catholic Church is not limited to the "Roman" Catholic Church, the Roman (or Latin) rite is the largest... but the Catholic Church also includes several eastern rites (Byzantine, Melkite, etc.).

The Church teaches that you need "good works"... but this does not mean that she teaches "works alone". Such a view is a condemned heresy. Can one have faith without works? The Catholic Church stands with the response of James.

[JohnnyHye]

My experience is that the Roman Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholics, CAN be "saved", "born-again" Christians, but the fact is that the Church teaches and the people believe in such a way that they end up believing that works is the CAUSE of Faith/salvation, rather than the other way around.

It's also my experience that when really, really "pushed" to the limits, it will then be presented by priests, teachers, etc. that works without faith is meaningless and that faith is important for the works to be meaningful, and that it is FAITH which saves a person and that this faith is then demonstrated in their works, such as partaking in the sacraments. Still, their typical format is to teach the works as a way to somehow effect faith, although they don't quite come out and say it in so many words.

So it is possible for a Roman Catholic to be saved and I believe that many (although not most) of them are. I personally know several who are. My Church is similar. We are Orthodox and very traditional, with sacraments, etc. However my church is far more faith oriented than works oriented, and it is there where I feel a difference from Catholicism and more closely related in belief to a church like the Baptist church. I stay in my church because it is Christian, regardless of what a lot of protestants try to tell me, and also because I try to make a difference by promoting a Faith-based Gospel whose RESULT is works, as opposed to the other way around. We are lucky that our priest is a Christian who teaches the Gospel, unlike some other priests.

I think the danger in labeling Catholicism as a "cult" is that it is first offensive to Roman Catholics, and also it isn't entirely true. Many "fundamental" churches operate as "cults" to some peoples' experience.

What's the difference if someone goes to a baptist church that preaches the Gospel, yet in that person's mind belonging to the Church and doing all the right works is what makes him or her "saved"??? I have seen it in a Baptist church I attended, where there were people who did and said the right things at the right times but then also let their fruits of the flesh shine through and it was clear to me they weren't real Christians. Nowadays there is a trend to be "patriotic" in churches but it is to the point that I see many people who worship America, and being a "Christian" is just part of being an American to them, and they make Christianity align with their politics and patriotism rather than consider to put Christ above America. So any church can be a "cult" for any person who makes it one.

Then there are cults like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses which completely change the essentials of Christianity and can in no way be Christian at all. Both Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses claim that Jesus Christ is NOT the one and only True God of all times. Right there both those religions have become 'cults' in the eyes of the Christian.

While I see a need to witness to most Roman Catholics, I think it needs to be approached differently from how we'd approach to a completely non-Christian person. Most Roman Catholics don't even know or agree with what their church teaches, and most Roman Catholics I know will readily admit this.

So I'm advocating that you be very careful with how you label and talk about or to Roman Catholics. They are NOT like the Mormons or JW's. There are indeed truly Christian Roman Catholics.

I would witness to them like I witness to a Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, and those in my very own church who aren't "getting it" in terms of understanding the Gospel.

[-GodsLove-]

Because even though there are flaws in their theology, they accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who was born of a virgin, died on the cross for our sins, and rose on the third day.

Catholisism is a cult because they worship the Pope more than Jesus Christ. If that wasn't the case than they would take the Bible over what the pope says but they don't.