Thanks to Maria at Pilgrim’s Progress revisited – Christiana on the narrow way for making me aware of this forthcoming book devoted to the topic of Mariolatry. “A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Mary: the Mother of God?” by evangelical pastor and leader of an outreach ministry to Roman Catholics, Leonardo De Chirico, is due to be published on December 1st. Amazon is currently accepting pre-orders. See here. De Chirico’s previous book, “A Christian’s Pocket Guide to the Papacy: Its origin and role in the 21st century” (2014), is excellent and is available at Amazon. See here.
The most important difference between Catholics and Bible Christians is their contrasting beliefs on how a person is saved. Catholics believe in salvation by sacramental grace and merit while Bible Christians believe in the Gospel of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Another major difference between the two groups is their opposing views on Mary. Catholics believe Mary was sinless and shares in the offices of Jesus Christ as the Mediatrix, Co-Redemptrix, and Channel of all Graces. Catholics in error go to her regularly in prayer, asking for her help in their efforts to merit salvation. Bible Christians believe that while Mary was certainly blessed to be chosen as Jesus’s mother, she was still a sinner who needed to accept Christ as her Savior by faith alone. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say sinners must entreat Mary as Catholics do. In contrast, the Bible specifically warns against elevating Mary to a position she certainly would oppose.
“As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” – Luke 11:27-28
In all its theological force and devotional ramifications, Mariology is an inescapable, all-embracing, and fundamental tenet of Roman Catholic theology and practice. Moreover, it is a deeply troubling development because it is impossible to see a linear and coherent connection between this Marian devotion and the more sobering account of what the Bible actually says […]
via Go read! Leonardo De Chirico — Pilgrim’s Progress revisited – Christiana on the narrow way
Postscript: It’s a small point but I must say I’m not a fan of the cover designs for the two books; far too nondescript.
Tom, I’ve just ordered the pocket guide on the papacy. Thanks for the lead and hat-tip!
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Maria, I’m always very happy to see a new book published that examines Catholicism from a Biblical perspective. They’re getting fewer and farther between these days. I appreciate the heads up!
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Tom, more comments are coming in on that latest post which you helped with. I don’t think I should spend a lot of time with it. Could you pray? This is not a hint but if you feel you want to, you are welcome to help.
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I will definitely pray for those lost souls. I know you’re aware that some well-versed Catholics claim they ALSO believe in salvation by grace through faith (but not faith ALONE). It’s maddening to debate with them because they use common terms although they define them quite differently when they’re pressed. They say even their salvific works are by grace but a believer would answer that NO works are salvific. So Catholics will say they believe in salvation by grace through faith but qualify that by saying the obedience and charity necessary for their justification are by grace. Rob Zins of Christian Witness to Roman Catholics wrote a nice paper on the Catholic grace-works dichotomy, which I read just today.
http://cwrc-rz.org/pdf/readyreference-02.pdf
With those folks, Maria, no matter what you write, including clear biblical truths, it will be “shot down.” I often have to put an end to debates with argument seekers otherwise it just keeps going round and round.
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Tom, thank you for sharing your insight and experience. I want to print out Rob Zins’s paper so my husband and I can read and discuss it. Like you mentioned, I have just been shot down. God be praised! Someone will hear us and the Lord will answer prayer.
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Zins is so right when he says Catholics practice “sleight of hand” by professing salvation completely by grace through faith but reserve the understood requirement of salvific works empowered by grace.
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Tom, it is sleight of hand. That’s true and I understand why he uses this idiom.
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Wow thank you for sharing this. I actually have never read a book examining mariolatry before so this is good you brought this to our attention.
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Thanks, Jim. I think it would be good for all evangelicals to read a book about Mariolatry just to see how extreme it actually gets. The Marian devotionals written by Catholic “saints” Louis de Montfort and Alphonsus Liguori regarding Mary would disturb even the most ecumenical evangelical.
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I do need to read this eventually…
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You’ve got a nice reprieve because De Chirico’s book is due out in December. It will only be around 120 pages.
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Man that makes it even better. 120 pages means he’s writing to the point. And it’s not too much to take too long!
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Yup, his book on the papacy was also right to the point…very well done for those who don’t want to spend a week digging through the details.
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So many books so little time…
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Tom, for your reading, a long sometimes repetitive but extremely worthwhile article by Bible Based Ministries’ pastor and author Shaun Willcock.
http://www.biblebasedministries.co.uk/2017/06/02/the-lying-lady-of-fatima/
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Thank you, Maria. I printed it out and will read shortly.
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Our copy of Pastor De Chirico’s A Christian Pocket Guide to Papacy just arrived. Tom will read first, a little distraction. He is feeling poorly again this morning. Thank you for praying!! Lord bless you and your wife and sons and sisters!
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I hope your husband feels better soon! My continued prayers for him, you, and yours. And thanks for your prayers for us!!
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Thank you!!
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BTW…Please let me know what you think of the book when you get the chance!
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Tom, I will plan to let you know.
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Pastor Jim, a UK online teaching ministry, Bible Based Ministries, just posted a lengthy article you might be interested in on Marian dogma and practice.
http://www.biblebasedministries.co.uk/2017/06/02/the-lying-lady-of-fatima/
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Thank you for this
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You’re welcome!!
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