Category: Mike Gendron

Ex-Catholic & Evangelist Mike Gendron: A Closer Look at Catholicism

What is the One True Church?

One of the most powerful tools the god of this world uses to blind people from the light of the Gospel and the glory of Christ is religious indoctrination (2 Cor. 4:4). This is why there is such a stubborn resistance to the Gospel by Roman Catholics. They have been indoctrinated to believe that their church is the one and only true church. It teaches that whoever refuses to enter or remain in the Catholic Church cannot be saved (Catechism, para. 846).

The Roman Catholic Church Is Not the True Church

The 21st century Roman Catholic Church does not bear any resemblance to the 1st century church portrayed in the New Testament. Nowhere in the Book of Acts do we see priests continuing the work of Christ's redemption on an altar during the sacrifice of the Mass. We do not find anyone praying for the dead, or venerating Mary and the saints, or transubstantiating wafers into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. Nor can we find any mention of indulgences, purgatory, infallible popes, or a sacerdotal priesthood. There is an indisputable explanation for this. Rather than obeying the exhortation of Jude to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, the Catholic Church departed from the apostolic faith to follow deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (Jude 3; 1 Tim. 4:1). Its apostasy was fully documented at the 16th century Council of Trent when it issued numerous anathemas against anyone who did not believe its "infallible" dogmas.

The Professing Church Is Not the True Church

Both believers and unbelievers are included in the professing church. Tragically, there are many who "profess" Christ but do not "possess" Christ. They are religious, but have no relationship with Christ. They have a zeal for God but it is not based on Biblical knowledge. Their names are on the church rolls, but not in the Lamb's Book of Life. Jesus calls them "tares" who have been sown by the devil among the "wheat" (Mat. 13:24-30, 36-43). Some of them even call Jesus "Lord" and boast in what they are doing for salvation. These tares may one day hear the most terrifying words they could ever hear when Jesus declares, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Mat. 7:23).

The Body of Christ Is the One True Church

The true church is the body of Christ and the family of God (Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 12:27). It is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus who have been born again of God (John 1:12-13). There is only one Head, one Shepherd, and one builder - the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only church that Jesus purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He adds to His church when a man is saved by believing His Gospel (Acts 2:47). Like the penitent thief on the cross, he may not have the opportunity to be baptized in water, but he has something far better, the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). Each member is being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

The One True Church Is Apostolic

This is the only church which is truly apostolic because it is built upon the one foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). It upholds the doctrines they preached and contends for the faith of the apostles (Jude 3). It is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). This is the "holy catholic (universal) church" of the Apostles' Creed, with members in every part of the world where the Gospel is believed. The church is the chosen race, the purchased possession, the holy nation, the royal priesthood whose names are written in heaven (1 Pet. 2:9; Heb. 12:23). They are not citizens of this world but are only passing through on their way home to heaven. They labor in the fields white for harvest by proclaiming the voice of the Good Shepherd so His lost sheep will hear and follow Him (John 10:16).  This is the church that is diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit because they are all taught by one Spirit (Eph. 4:3).

The True Church Is Protected by the Power of God

This is the church to which the Lord Jesus promises "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" and to which He says, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 16:18, 28:20). This is the only church which is certain to endure unto the end. No member will ever perish (John 10:28). Once enrolled in this church, sinners are safe for all eternity; they can never be cast away (John 6:37). The continual intercession of the Good Shepherd, coupled with the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, protects every member (Heb. 7:25). This is the church which shall be truly glorious at the end, without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless (Eph. 5:27).

Pray for Those Outside the One True Church

If anyone does not belong to the one true church at the end of their days, it will be better if they had never been born. It is my prayer and heart's desire that Catholics and false converts who read this article will recognize they are on the wide road that leads to destruction. Let us plead with them to become a member of the true church by entering through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life (Mat. 7:13-14).

MIKE GENDRON: Ignoring the Errors of Roman Catholicism

News from Evangelist Mike Gendron                  

August 2024
Ignoring the Errors of Roman Catholicism

Many evangelical pastors and teachers are quick to warn their flocks about the damnable errors of Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses, but when it comes to Roman Catholicism, they avoid its fatal gospel like the plague. This is shocking and disturbing because the combined population of Mormons and JW's is only 26 million, while the Roman Catholic Church has over 1.4 billion precious souls who need to hear the Gospel. The unwillingness of evangelical leaders to include Roman Catholicism among the false religions of the world is upsetting because it discourages evangelism in this huge mission field.

Unity Accords with Catholics Cause Confusion

Rarely, if ever, do we hear of an evangelical marrying a Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness. Yet every week we get emails and phone calls from concerned parents whose son or daughter is pursuing marriage with a Catholic. Is this because pastors boldly forewarn their congregation about the heresies of these cults but silently shy away from any mention of Roman Catholicism's distorted gospel? It appears we are witnessing the devastating consequences of the unity accords between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics that imply we share a common faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thousands of Catholics die every day never knowing they were deceived because these unity accords have discouraged evangelism.

Unity at the Expense of Truth is Treason

Throughout the history of the church, Satan has unleashed his fiery darts against the Gospel of God. He is most successful when he seduces people to compromise the Gospel for the sake of unity. Charles Spurgeon could not have given us a more sober warning when he said, "To pursue union at the expense of truth is treason to the Lord Jesus." This is what over 600,000 evangelicals have done by signing unity accords with Catholics. There can be no God-honoring unity when the purity and exclusivity of the Gospel is at stake. We must avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18).

Catholic Clergy Preaches a False Gospel

Any religious teaching or tradition that adds to, or takes away from, the perfect, finished, all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ is a false gospel. That is why the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote: "If we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a Gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" (Gal. 1:8). That means every clergy member of the Catholic Church is under divine condemnation for preaching another gospel. Rome's way of salvation is not only another gospel, but it is the antithesis of the true Gospel. It focuses on what Catholics must DO to be saved instead of what Jesus has DONE to save sinners. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, their list of requirements includes: they must be baptized (1256), receive sacraments (1129), go to purgatory for the purification of sins (1030), do good works (2016), keep the law (2068) and participate in the weekly sacrifice of the Mass (1405) for salvation. Rome's false gospel shuts the gates of heaven to those who are trying to enter it. There is nothing more diabolical than deceiving people about life's most critical issue.

Catholicism Rejects God's Promise of Eternal Life

The promise of God in the Gospel is eternal, everlasting life with our Savior (1 John 2:25). Yet this divine promise is purposefully rejected by Roman Catholicism. Catholics are taught they commit the sin of presumption if they believe in this promise of God (2092). They are said to be presuming on God's mercy because no one can know how much merit is required to achieve eternal life (2027). This doctrine keeps Catholics in bondage to their false religion, which is the goal of every false religion! Only by knowing and believing God's truth can people ever be set free from religious deception (John 8:31-32). We must warn Catholics and love them enough to tell them the truth of God's inspired Word.

Contend for the Gospel's Purity and Exclusivity

In closing, we must warn ecumenically minded leaders who are silent about the errors of Roman Catholicism. It is our prayer that they will expose the evil deeds of darkness in obedience to God's Word (Eph. 5:11). We must urge them to contend for the Gospel because many are being misled and deceived by distorted gospels that have no power to save anyone. Let us encourage people to trust the inspired Word of God over the uninspired words of men. The Bible is the only antidote to the deadly poison of false teachers. God's Word will provide:

  • truth where there is deception,
  • knowledge where there is ignorance,
  • confidence where there is doubt,
  • certainty where there is confusion, and
  • light where there is darkness.
Catholic Priests - Modern Day Judaizers

Roman Catholic priests have much in common with the first century Judaizers who were condemned for distorting the Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). They both uphold some fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith: the deity of Christ, the Trinity, the virgin birth and the bodily resurrection of Christ. However, both distort the Gospel of Jesus Christ by adding requirements for salvation. The Judaizers added circumcision as a requirement for Gentile believers to be saved. They taught that all people must conform to the Mosaic Law for salvation. This heresy was dealt with in Acts 15 and condemned in Galatians 1:6-9. The Catholic clergy also preaches a distorted Gospel by adding requirements for salvation including baptism, the sacraments, keeping the law and good works. Catholic Clergy and the Judaizers both:

  1. profess faith in Jesus but reject Paul’s teaching
  2. add requirements for salvation
  3. are accursed for distorting the Gospel (Gal 1:6-9)
  4. rely on a sacrificial system of sin offerings
  5. use altars, candles and incense, wear long robes and offer showbread or the Eucharist.
  6. are required to keep feast days, the Law and their traditions
  7. are false teachers (Gal. 2:4)