Condensed from "The Berean Call", Dave Hunt, May,
1994
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The document, "Catholics and Evangelicals Together: The
Christian Mission in the 3rd. Millennium" claims that all
Catholics are Christian, hold the same faith as evangelicals,
and are our "brothers and sisters in Christ". If so,
then the Reformation was a tragic mistake which we all must denounce.
For 1000 years before the Reformation there were always groups
of evangelical Christians outside the Catholic Church, millions
of whom were slaughtered for obeying Scripture instead of Rome.
Through the example of these Vaudois, Albigenses, Waldenses and
other early evangelicals, and from the Bibles they preserved,
a few Roman Catholic priests and monks realized that their Church
didn't preach the truth and that they and their fellow Catholics
were not saved, but lost. They began preaching salvation by grace
through faith instead of Catholicism's false gospel of sacramental
rituals and works. For this they were excommunicated and untold
thousands more were martyred.
Such is the heritage of today's evangelicals, which this document
now rejects. We are asked to believe that the Reformers were
deluded, that like all active Catholics today they were saved
and didn't know it. Already the declaration is being translated
into Spanish, Polish. Portuguese and Russian for circulation
throughout Latin America and Eastern Europe. Soon it will have
a revolutionary impact worldwide.
In a survey of thousands of Catholics who were saved and left
that Church, "not one" ever heard the true gospel.
"Nor one" was saved by being a Catholic, but by believing
a gospel that was anathema to Catholics. Knowing that these millions
of Catholics are lost, causes evangelicals to work day and night
to bring them the gospel.
And now we are asked to refrain from sharing the gospel with
those who desperately need it and to assume them already saved,
when their own doctrines forbid this assurance. It is outrageous
that leading evangelicals have placed nearly 25% of the world's
population off limits to evangelization. Missionaries must now
leave Catholic countries such as Spain, Italy and those in Latin
America. Such is the tragic implication of this document.
The Berean call
PO Box 7019
Bend, Oregon 97708