Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. This week, we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on October 28th, 2015 and has been revised.
The Truth Set Us Free: Twenty Former Nuns Tell Their Stories of God’s Amazing Grace
By Richard Bennett
Solid Ground Christian Books, 2010, 237 pp.
In this valuable book, Richard Bennett,* ex-Catholic priest and director of the Berean Beacon ministry, presents the testimonies of twenty former-nuns who left behind the false gospel legalism and ritualism of Roman Catholicism and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior by faith alone. The personal accounts average only about eleven pages each so there’s not a lot of detail about Catholic theology, but each testimony is a blessing.
When Christians refer to “cults” they usually have Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses in mind, but can there be a practice more “cultish” than a convent full of virginal women who believe they are married to Jesus Christ, replete with wedding rings? The inspiration for the Catholic convent was the convent of the vestal virgins of pagan Rome.
All of the twenty ex-nuns in this book joined their religious “orders” with high expectations, believing they were pleasing God by earning their salvation through self-denial and ritualism, but they found no joy or contentment in the convent. All were introduced to the Word of God and were saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. These women gave up the only life they knew to follow Christ, but what Christian can look back with regret at the corrupt things of this world when the glory of our Savior is before us?
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” – Philippians 3:7-9
I attended a Catholic grammar school for eight years back in the 1960s and was taught by nuns belonging to the order of the Sisters of Mercy. Our parents assumed the nuns were shining examples of love and contentment, but we students witnessed those women as they really were; troubled souls who sometimes vented their frustration, anger, and cruelty on their charges. Sisters Imelda, Annunciata, Tarcisius, Gemma, Mary Ann, and Virgina, whatever became of you??? By God’s grace, were you somehow able to see through through the religious legalism and ritualism you taught to us and find the Savior?
Convents are few and far between these days. The great majority of Catholics can’t even bother to attend obligatory mass on Sunday let alone take up a religious vocation. In 1965, there were 180,000 nuns in the United States, but by 2006 the number had declined dramatically to only 67,000. By 2014, the number had further dropped to 50,000.
These twenty ex-nuns with their testimonies are bold, uncompromising witnesses to lost Roman Catholics and to accommodating and compromising evangelicals who embrace the RCC with its false gospel as a Christian entity.
Copies of “The Truth Set Us Free” are available from Solid Ground Christian Books here.
*The Lord’s faithful servant, ex-priest, Richard Bennett, went home to the Lord on September 23rd, 2019.
Wow it’s already Thursday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
📆 Gettin’ closer to Heaven every day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow this was authored by the late Richard Bennett! I’m glad this book is published (2010!) and also these testimonies don’t compromise with the truth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jimmy! Yup, I’m grateful for this book and how the Lord worked in the lives of these ex-nuns. I had a bit of a “crisis” when I realized I could no longer stay in Catholicism but these 20 nuns and many others had to completely change their lives around. Not a huge sacrifice compared to salvation in Christ but still a big adjustment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow praise God for His use of testimonials. Glad to hear that. Praise the Lord, this made my day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the encouragement! I know of many believers who would have a problem with this book because it contradicts their cherished ecumenical opinions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah sadly they would have problems…with Christians who are born again…about the Gospel. Wow you have 11 grand with your steps, I’m behind at 4 grand but walking at garden and reading now
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a restful evening after your walk workout. Speaking of rest, I’m vegging on the couch contemplating bed in about one hour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your night! I’m at 7600 and at dinner now but will walking one more final round later!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had a restful night, thanks, and I suspect you’re still enjoying yours! 🦉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably was still up when you wrote this, reading a book on Batman that I want to finish and write a review for today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to your Batman review! I see that Robin is going to be joining the LSH in issue #3 in January, but from the early reports it looks like it will only be a short-term thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice! I got 6 more pages and then I’ll be writing the review, I hope to have it up in about an hour and a half!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤜🏻 🦇 🤛🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you are punching the bat
LikeLiked by 1 person
This might be a more accurate reaction:
🏃🏻♂️ 🦇
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol. I just got done teaching a weekly evangelistic Bible Study for kids!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I get it. A measly bat wouldn’t phase you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person