Catholic asks- Sovereignty, End times and Israel
Q: I have a co-worker that is a cultural catholic. He was raised catholic and still identifies as one; isnt religious like practicing catholics, but has had some interest in the things of God, (at least it seems this way from my interactions with him).
We've had several conversations about faith in the past, but they most revolved around how my faith is the foundation for my conservative political leanings. He is conservative as well, so they made for interesting conversations but we never really went in-depth in comparative beliefs or theology.
In the past week, he's approached me about my views on end times, particularly the role that the nation of Israel plays in it. He's genuinely so curious and it made my heart glad when he told me he started reading the Book of Revelation.
However, I believe the Book of Revelation is a complex book to read, especially if you're new to reading the Bible again. Ideally, I would prefer he start with one of the synoptic gospels but it seems like this is an itch he needs to scratch and I want to help him do that.
He struggles with the idea and language in the Old Testament that God chose a particular people (Jews) for himself. He believes it breeds some kind of supremacy.
Yesterday, I sent him a QnA my Pastor did on the Jesus and nation of Israel. After listening to it, this was his response,
"You must have read my mind, I was thinking about questions that that qna discussed lol. I thought the parts about the authority of Scripture and next the end about Jesus and Israel were really interesting! I'm going to have to do some more reading before Monday. Is this the kind of stuff you do with apologetics?"
He knows I'm into apologetics because we've spoken about it a couple of times. I have ideas of resources to provide him with particularly about the authority of Scripture, but not so much on Jesus and Israel.
Helpful guidance?
A: On Catholicism here is a resource that might help, but unless he is "questioning" that religion (bcuz he has read something in the Bible that conflicts with what he believes) he wont be open to the contents. You can go through it though as it might help you with things of that religion (that masquerades as Christian). [There are more things in the links which also have links, so it would be good to be aware of what is in the resource overall]. And if by chance he asks something that is provided or answered there, you can use that info - either in convo at the moment or by sending a link after work so he can look through it on his free time. Even in convo you could say "I recently saw some good info on that very question/thought... Ill send a link to it to you after work by text."
A simple way to avoid any of those issues right now that might create a stumbling block, if he wants to know the differences between catholicism and Christianity is to simply share this with him. It is the basics of what Scripture teaches. If he agrees with it... move to the gospel.
The main thing he needs to understand is the Gospel (since it has the power for salvation). Have him watch this short video and ask "Have you ever understood that This is the reason we need Him". And then ask "what would prevent you from getting right with God today". If he says nothing, then encourage him to "pray to God silently to repent of sin and put his trust in Jesus who did all the work for him to be saved." And you can pray over him afterwards.
Ifff he does that, then encourage him to read the NT, as well as invite him along to your church worship (drive him there if it forms a helpful bond to church - and is a bonus because you are there too). That would include goung with him to have him speak with the pastor about "a new believers class and for believers baptism". After he does those things, get him attending Sunday school classes too, and after baptism... then active in the church for serving (as a member after becoming one; some churches do a new members class and background checks so def do that).
Plus, possibly start a chat group with him and possibly someone (1-2) reliable and mature in the church where he can ask you guys questions (a guys chat group) for questions he has and for q's while reading thru scripture. For answers you all can always drop a link to a sermon on the topic (such as from gty.org) or from gotquestions.org, cold case Christianity video etc, to help his growth. This way he is listening to biblically reliable resources and not every tom dick and harry who is on yt or running some website with false teachings.
You can also send him here for a solid growing believers resources that he can go through also, in addition to his daily Bible reading time.
Here is good & helpful resource on the End Times and answers about Israel that will help him. [As well as a free quick jet tour of Revelation and a full study series through Revelation he might find helpful to explore.]
You can further explain:
God is our Creator so He has the right to be supreme because he is. Je created the world with a plan and that plan included the mission of Salvation; knowing the beginning to the end of all things [in "time" and future eternity]. So he has to be sovereign and supreme in order for his will to be carried out.
Romans 9:15-16
For [God] says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God
Deuteronomy 7:6-7: "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a treasured people for Himself, out of all the nations on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
"Romans 11:1-2: "I say then, has God rejected His people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite from the family of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel, "
Ephesians 1:4-5: "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the purpose of His will,"
God's plan was always to redeem humanity from the curse. The wages of sin is death. Death came into existence in Eden but Jesus came to defeat the power of death so we can have eternal life. When we get saved God restores [and makes even better] what was lost in Eden. We are brought into a right relationship with him [which was lost at the Fall]. Jesus payment for our sins completed the legal transaction and while guilty, the fine has been paid, so we are free to go. We are free. No longer legally bound by the law of sin and death which after death leads to judgment [resulting in eternal wrath&punishment], but because of Christ we are under the Law of the spirit of Life. We were redeemed by him from the curse and are now free.
The good news is that God is in control, of everything. And that helps us as believers live day by day in any situation in this sin stained world until we enter that blessed sin free eternity.
So his question or thinking through "supremacy" and "Israel" has a connection to both Who God is, his sovereignty, this promises, and his plan not just for his will in general but for mans salvation as well. This is how you can point him and guide it all the way to "the Gospel". Which ends with you giving him that call to action "to believe it and obey it", [beginning his new life in Christ].
And btw, his question about apologetics... there are possibly 2 things he is asking. Here are the answers:
1. This is just how a believer lives, we study the Scriptures and God explains to us what is in it, and it informs us spiritually as well as generally. We gain wisdom & knowledge and live it out.
2. Born again Christians take what God has taught us from Scripture and we use it to help others understand God, Jesus, the Bible, and the Gospel.
*If it helps, you can simply send him the link to this page too, since it answers these questions and gives him a step by step plan to grasp these matters as well as what to do after he obeys the Gospel [gets right with God].
Make sure you are living out a life that is a godly witness at work. While we know that the redeemed ones can still sin, we are to be growing in holiness, conquering our sins, and being a witness to the world and those around us... so make sure you do your best every day to showcase reflecting God's love, mercy, grace, forgiveness etc, all the attributes that reflect our holy God, [which are now in you - by your new nature], and that shows how different you are than those who love sin [and are still trapped in their sin nature]. May your life draw others to Jesus and the gospel, [being patient, using self control, growing in faith (to help others too)]...and humbly admit your mistakes.
Do your best to not have unrighteous attitudes or disagreements or problems between you and others. There will be strife for the gospels sake, but make sure you are a blessing (in all of it) not a hinderence as you live in truth. The world hates the truth, so live in peace with all men as best as possible, as you navigate all of this.
Work well at your job as unto the Lord and persevere in the faith, even if you stumble. God will be there to pick you up, dust you off, and help you get back on the right track.
God bless
* bookmark this page so you can go through the contents in the coming weeks and month.
2 Corinthians 6:2 :
"For He says, ‘At an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you'. BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION."
Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Get right with God today.
Once he gets saved he can start detangling unbiblical beliefs he was taught by catholicism, and he will begin to see more and more truth as he studies the Bible.
Consider blessing him with a accurate Bible.
Ensure he has a historically true and reliable copy of scripture [the 66 books] by getting him a Nasb95, LSB21 or even an ESV Bible. It would be good to get him a solid study Bible so he can grasp some things well from the explanitory notes as he reads along. I recommend the one by John MacArthur it has loads of fantastic helps as well as good bonuses at the back of the book. You can find them online at discount.
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