| Dear
Friends,
Some time back, I placed in a number of
Wisconsin newspapers a short letter I wrote about the pope in which I took
the position that the pope—each pope—is the antichrist. (See my letter
below.) Since then, we have received many vitriolic, mocking letters and
e-mails from Roman Catholics. There have also been a number of letters to
the editor written in response to my remarks. I am here passing
on one such letter. My purpose in doing this is to simply point out the
great benefit there is in publicly stating simple truths in defense of our
Lord, His Word, and His Church. One of the most insidious dangers today is
the ecumenical movement. Public comments from Romanists, such as those
below, show the true heart of Rome with her hatred and contempt for the
Bible and Bible believers. Thus such comments serve as a wake-up call for
Christians being seduced by the "separated brethren" strategy of
the Vatican. We may assume that those same comments will put a strain on
certain ecumenical relationships. Paul set the Pharisees and Sadducees at
odds with each other by publicly raising a doctrinal issue. If by publicly
and properly reproving the unfruitful works of Rome, we cause some
friction between the Romanists and their evangelical friends, so much the
better. We should not scruple to press this issue and press it hard. The
neo-evangelical ecumenists, the non-protesting Protestants, and the coy
conservatives alike ought to be met at every turn with the question, How
long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if
pope, then follow him. Those who will not separate from and confront
antichrist should not be immune to questions concerning whom they really
are following.
Pastor Ralph Ovadal
Where does Ovadal
get his authority?
http://www.gazetteextra.com/
(Published Friday, May 6, 2005 11:14:41 AM CDT)
Editor, the Gazette:
I'm addressing the April 26 letter from Pastor Ralph Ovadal and those to
whom, I'm sorry to say, through their ignorance, have bought the myths and
false teachings brought over the Catholic Church over the centuries.
For over 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been Christo-centric with a
rich history that puts Jesus at the head. Yes, our authority comes from
Rome and the pope.
From where does your authority come? Do you rely solely on your knowledge
of the Bible? The Bible, which by the way, comes from our church long
before it was divided into chapter and verse.
Unless you know and studied not only the Bible but the lives and writings
of the saints and the early church fathers such as Augustine of Hippo, St.
Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, Irenaeus, Bonaventure, Louis de
Montfort, John of the Cross, St. Francis of Assisi, Marsilius of Padua-the
list seems endless. Oh yes, after that, pick up a copy of the Catechism of
the Catholic Church-but then you've probably already read it.
Then, my brother, if you did take on that mighty task of studying the
above, you couldn't stay Protestant.
What are your thoughts on John 6-verses 53 through 58? That is central to
our faith, to be able to receive the Eucharist, which it Christ himself.
As for Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant, if she was good enough for
Jesus, she's good enough for me.
DOLORES M. OTTO
As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ
and His Church, I feel compelled to comment on the recent death of Pope
John Paul II and the selection of his successor. Although it is not
uncommon for media personalities to repeat the Romanist mantra that the
Catholic pope is the head of Christ's Church, nothing could be further
from the truth. Jesus Christ is the only head of His Church. The pope is
the head of a church/state behemoth which has little in common with
Christ's true Church. Roman Catholic dogma concerning the pope, Mary, the
mass, purgatory, indulgences, apparitions, prayers to the dead, and so
much more are all grossly unbiblical. The Roman Catholic gospel is a
Christ-dishonoring gospel of human works, not God's grace. The pope is not
anyone's "Holy Father," and he is not the "vicar of
Christ." The Scriptures are clear that the first title is reserved to
God alone and the second belongs to the Holy Spirit. Historically, the
great Protestant preachers always considered the papacy to be the
"antichrist" warned of in the Scriptures. I believe that
position to be the correct one. There are many wonderful Catholic people,
and I fully support their right to exercise their religious convictions.
At the same time, it grieves my heart to think of the billions of people
worldwide who have recently been seduced into believing that the Roman
Catholic Church is the Church of Jesus Christ when it most definitely is
not.
Pastor Ralph Ovadal, Pilgrims Covenant
Church
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