To the Doctrinal Police, the Catholic church is a false church, even a pernicious cult. They have consigned every Catholic to perdition as unsaved. It raises the hackles of the Doctrinal police that several famous Christian leaders have partnered with or cooperated with or have praised Catholics. Such men are blasted by so called "discernment ministries."
One such man is Francis Chan, who had the temerity to suggest that God was moving in the Catholic church. He's a frequent target because he's a defector. A former Master's Seminary graduate, Chan stepped down from his very successful church and started looking for a better way to do church. He became involved with the home church movement, he has spoken at conferences alongside unapproved pastors, and he has embraced people whose faith expressions are routinely derided as heresy.
Even worse, Chan started to preach about healing and prophecy. He was finally deemed a heretic when he embraced Catholics as brothers. The Doctrinal Police are unequivocal. Catholics are heretics, and anyone who associates with Catholics or speaks positively of them is a heretic.
Which brings us to Spurgeon, a hero to the reformists, Calvinists, and those who regard themselves as correctors of doctrine. Spurgeon recognized in certain Catholics a characteristic that the Doctrinal Police believe isn't possible: There are Catholics who love and have fellowship with Jesus.
Here's an excerpt from one of his sermons:
I have been struck lately, in reading works by some writers who belong to the Romish Church, with the marvelous love which they have towards the Lord Jesus Christ. I did think, at one time, that it could not be possible for any to be saved in that church, but, often, after I have risen from reading the books of those holy men and have felt myself to be quite a dwarf by their side, I have said, "Yes, despite their errors, these men must have been taught of the Holy Spirit. Notwithstanding all the evils of which they have drunk so deeply, I am quite certain that they must have had fellowship with Jesus, or else they could not have written as they did." Such writers are few and far between but, still, there is a remnant according to the election of Grace even in the midst of that apostate church!
We cannot underestimate the magnitude of Spurgeon's claim that some Catholics are part of the Elect. The elect are the ones who are predestined for salvation, which is a teaching of John Calvin. Yet present-day Calvinists do not accept the possibility that Catholics can be saved, which puts them at odds with their hero, Spurgeon.
Interesting.
Our opinion is that Jesus saves those who repent and call upon His name, regardless of the church they attend or even the doctrines they believe. Doctrine is not an indicator of a person's salvation. Salvation is not contingent on proper doctrine. God does not command perfect doctrine.
Certainly one would hope that as the new Christian embarks on his walk that he studies the Scriptures to obtain true doctrines. We have an obligation to pursue truth and lives of worship, holiness, and service. These are all post-salvation obligations, and they are all unevenly pursued by every Christian.
Therefore, we are no so quick to dismiss someone based on their church label. God alone knows the heart.
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