An evangelical minister and a Catholic priest compare beliefs

Letters to a Roman Catholic Priest
By H. A. Ironside
CrossReach Publications, 2016, 47 pages, $1.48

H. A. Ironside (1876-1951) was pastor of Moody Church in Chicago from 1928 to 1948 and was one of the most influential fundamentalist Christian pastors of that time period, along with John R. Rice and Bob Jones, Sr.. Several of Ironside’s pamphlets on Roman Catholicism were recently made available as inexpensive Kindle ebooks from CrossReach Publications including “Letters to a Roman Catholic Priest.”

Ironside had made the acquaintance of a Roman Catholic priest on a railroad journey and a conversation about spiritual matters ensued. The exchange continued afterwards via letter correspondence. In “Letters to a Roman Catholic Priest,” Ironside compiles six of his letters to the unnamed cleric in which he compares Catholic doctrine with Scripture. In the first two letters, Ironsides discusses the doctrine of transubstantiation. The third letter examines the Catholic claim that the mass is a propitiatory sacrifice for sins. The fourth letter analyzes Catholic teaching that Mary and the saints are mediators between God and sinners. The fifth letter discusses whether salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone or by the Catholic system of sacramental grace and merit. The final letter evaluates whether Catholic tradition is on par with Scripture.

This is a brief but excellent comparison of some of the main differences between Bible Christianity and Roman Catholicism. This pamphlet was first published in 1914 by Loizeaux Brothers and was no doubt meant to be given to Roman Catholics as an outreach tool. Ironside’s tone is winsome and yet uncompromising in presenting the Gospel of grace.

You can order a copy of “Letters to a Roman Catholic Priest” here.

I’ll definitely be reviewing the other e-pamphlets on Catholicism written by Ironside and published by CrossReach Publications below:

The Mass vs. The Lord’s Supper

Is Peter the Rock Upon Which the Church is Built?

Shall We Accept the Pope’s Invitation to Unite with the Roman Church?

Should Protestantism be Liquidated?