James White: What goes through Ravi Zacharias’s head?

Posted on by Tom

Back in October of last year, I ran across a You Tube video of Christian apologist,JWW Ravi Zacharias, speaking at a seminar. At the start of the video, a young street evangelist asks Ravi if Roman Catholicism is a cult or an apostate church? For five minutes Ravi dances around the question without giving the young man a forthright answer. I was a bit angered. Does Rome teach the Gospel of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone or does it not? Why was Ravi so reluctant to be straightforward? Why the hesitancy? Why the deference to Rome? Meanwhile, Catholic apologists do not hesitate to proclaim their church is the one true church and that its gospel of sacramental grace and merit is the only authorized way to God.

For Ravi’s video and my reaction, see here.

Praise God, I see that I’m not the only one who was flabbergasted by Ravi’s non-reply to the street evangelist! Yesterday, I stumbled across Christian apologist, James White’s 2/3/15 reaction to the very same video. Click on the link below. White’s critique of Ravi’s comments begins at the 29:40 mark and ends at the 47:37 mark.

http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php/2015/02/03/roman-catholicism-on-todays-dividing-line/

I can personally attest to the fact that Ravi has referred to several Roman Catholics with great praise and admiration in his talks and writings including St. Francis, G.K. Chesterton, Malcolm Muggeridge, and Henri Nouwen. I would not be surprised if there have been many others. I see Ravi’s also scheduled to appear at the “Together 2016” ecumenifest this weekend along with pope Francis.

Ravi is a wonderful speaker and he’s pointed many to Christ but, unfortunately, he’s also muddied the Gospel of grace by embracing as Christians those who teach salvation by sacramental grace and obedience to the Ten Commandments. But there is only one Gospel. No one benefits when evangelicals turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the deadly errors of Catholicism’s gospel of sacramental grace and merit.

10 thoughts on “James White: What goes through Ravi Zacharias’s head?”

  2. That was something disturbing about the uproar (was it applause?) at the beginning of the video from the audience, probably Ravi Zacharias fans. What was the reason for it? What it some form of a feeling of superiority that those of the RZ group felt when the ignoramuses made simple queries of ‘The Expert’. Was it too simple a question much beneath RZ’s proficiency? The crossed-legged sitter of the RZ group and the stylish pose of RZ with his one hand in pocket did nothing to dispel this opinion. If I am discussing God and the truth of his word let me do it ‘O Lord Almighty’ with humility, reverence and awe. There is a day when we will stand before the judgement seat of Christ giving account ‘each one of us alone’ for every careless word(Matt 12:36), our work judged (1Cor 3:12-15).
    I remember reading about an Ecumenical gathering in Washington DC where the Pope, Ravi Zacharias (were there other Evangelicals?)were to share the same platform in 2016. Jesus would most likely have said “Get behind me Satan’. So if one is willing to compromise, then how can one take a stand for the truth of God’s word? But here is a man blessed with ‘5 talents’ and not using them to witness all of the truth, walking a diplomatic tightrope with great practised dexterity. We are instructed to both ‘teach & train’ and ‘correct & rebuke’ to train in righteousness using Scripture 2Tim 3:16. How many minutes did he speak? but in the end he said nothing of any consequence, acknowledging Christ and his truth. He claimed he knew many Catholics who do not hold to the teachings of Catholicism. I have come across none. Since if they knew the falsehoods of Catholic doctrines against God’s word they would leave as a some do. In 2 places in the Bible viz. God says ‘Come out of her(Babylon) so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues(Rev 18:4)’ even ‘Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins.(Jer 51:6)’ ‘ ‘Come out of her, my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the LORD.(Jer 51:45)’
    A long time ago when I became a believer I came across teachings on TV which bothered me as incorrect based on God’s word. God put my heart at peace when I decided to take whatever agreed with God’s word and reject the rest. Soon later I came across Phil 1:18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice. I heard Dr. James White quoting someone else ‘God can use a crooked stick to make a straight line’ And it is cause to rejoice that God is drawing to himself from even the large prosperity Gospel congregations since the Holy Spirit is transforming those hearts with his truth as they are exposed to his word especially when they seek & desire to obey him in all things. He is the Sovereign that will achieve his will and purpose in his own time.
    God has blessed me with the gift/ministry of teaching and witnessing to Catholics and the harvest is plentiful. I was born in a devout Catholic family. My father(late) had an old Portuguese Bible and he used to share frequently when we were children which was a blessing.
    God’s blessing and Love

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  4. I respect both Ravi and White, but were you catholics before? I was, and also tested each belief system which offers more truthfullness and coherence. There were like me who will not right-away believe ones teaching. I know “catholics” who disagree with the other theology of (RC)Roman catholicism, and some new catholics slowly realizing upon reading their own bibles. Some went to small groups like “Youth for Christ” or “Couples for Christ”. They are still under the umbrella of RC. For me, the difference is, it is like J.Whites point is to pitch the 100kg Gospel to a person meters away and expect the person to catch it right away, and for Ravi will walk closer to the person, talk to him and slowly reveal the 100kg Gospel to hand it over. I had the Gospel realized slowly Ravi’s way, and revealed that it time to step away from RC.

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    1. Thanks, Glen. Yes, I was a Catholic for 27 years. Like other disciples of Norman Geisler, Ravi embraces Roman Catholicism as a Christian entity. On his daily radio show, I have personally heard him cite notable Roman Catholics as exemplary Christians. Ravi is NOT advising souls to step away from the RCC, rather, he embraces the RCC and its false gospel as a Christian entity.

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