Mike Gendron: The Gospel to Catholics

Mike Gendron is the founder of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries, where he has been reaching out to Roman Catholics with the Gospel for over three decades. Following a recent visit to Minneapolis, he joins the podcast to discuss Roman Catholicism and to share the Gospel.

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Outline of the Discussion

Mike begins with the history of his ministry. He left the corporate world and went into seminary with a desire to learn the theology he would need to share the Gospel with Catholics.
There has been a shift in ministry over the last 10 years as Evangelicals have been signing unity accords with Roman Catholics.
Unity accords on social issues can be appropriate. We can be co-belligerents with Catholics on things like pro-life. We just shouldn't unite on theology.
The theology of Roman Catholicism has continued to diverge from Biblical theology through the Reformation and right up to today. For example, the doctrines exulting Mary have come along over the last 200 years.
Francis, a Jesuit, is the arguably the most controversial pope in the last 400 years.
Francis is a Marxist pope.
Vatican II (1963-1965) redefined Protestants. Prior to Vatican II, we were Heretics. Since Vatican II, we're now “Separated Brethren.”
Indulgences continue to this day. It's the selling of God's Grace.
Rome's ecumenism has escalated dramatically. They are uniting with not just willing Protestants, but also Atheists and Muslims. Mike believes this is driven by their eschatology.
Witnessing to Roman Catholics: An important principle we need to share with Roman Catholics is the supremacy of the Bible in all matters of faith and practice.
Catholicism has three sources of authority: The Bible, the “sacred tradition,” and “The magisterium.” The latter is their term for the teachings of the Bishops, which ultimately supersedes the other two.
The second principle to share with Catholics is that Jesus Christ is the all-sufficient Savior!
Catholicism teaches that followers are Justified and Regenerated at baptism, which occurs when a baby is seven days old. Later, when they commit a “mortal sin,” they are de-justified, and must be re-justified by receiving the sacraments and doing good works. The de-justification/re-justification becomes an endless cycle in which a person never really knows where he stands.
The answer to is the Gospel!
Faith without works is dead. If the root (faith) is alive, the tree will produce fruit.
The Judaizers wanted to add a single requirement to the Gospel for salvation: circumcision. Paul anathematised them for this. Catholicism adds so much more to grace.
Mike has many powerful resources that can aid in reaching Catholics with the Gospel available at his website.