Doreen Fox, Bible Instructor, New Zealand.

Unless a Bible instructor is very inex­perienced, in my opinion she should not hand over to the pastor the op­portunity to study in a Roman Catho­lic home simply because she feels that he may be able to handle the studies and problems more successfully. He may be able to, and then on the other hand he may not. I know of cases where the pastor, though well equipped with all the information necessary, did not make such a fa­vorable impression as the Bible in­structor who, going along in a more gentle man­ner, without compromising any point and pre­senting the truth clearly, secured a good re­sponse to the teachings of the church. There is a rich blessing to be gained in studying with earnest inquirers from the Roman Catholic faith and a valuable training to be had in the presentation of our doctrines; in the under­standing of the Catholic mind and Catholic be­lief; and in the application of tact and the golden rule.

One's attitude to these dear people is most important. It must be absolutely free from all traces of contempt, bigotry, and bitterness, oth­erwise negative feeling will provoke a negative response. One must also realize that practically every study will tear to shreds something that the student has held very dear and leaned on for support. It is necessary to walk in the other's moccasins and think how we would feel if some­one seemed to be able to prove that the 2300-day prophecy was baseless, that the Spirit of Prophecy was fraudulent, and the Sabbath was nothing more than a Jewish myth. How shaken and bewildered we would be.

If we could imagine such a thing then we understand how our Roman Catholic friends feel when they learn the jolting truth about the mass, the priesthood, confession, and infant baptism. We need to pray that God will give us the understanding, tact, and wisdom necessary to lead them over these hard places and bring them to the other side with their hands clasped in ours. Kindness and consideration on these points can make all the difference between success or failure.

We must not take the attitude that the Catholic Church is all wrong. We must give credit where we can. This will be appreciated. Remem­ber, too, that while pointing out things and revealing from Scripture that many of their teachings are wrong, we must be very guarded not to give the impression that those who hold such beliefs are stupid. The teacher of truth must always be kind and considerate. Genuine praise is always fitting. So if your student is a mother, find a way of complimenting her. Maybe she has special ability in music or art, or plain good cooking to commend her. Take an interest in what she is doing. Little things like this will balance the effect of your having to prove her wrong on most of her treasured beliefs.

Take special care early in your contacts to make her your friend, knowing that she will have to pass through turbulent times in coming to a knowledge of the truth. If she gets the im­pression that you are just the teacher who comes to say your little piece she will not turn to you when she is upset.

Remember too, that there will be conflict in her mind for quite some time and she may nat­urally follow her habit of long standing and go to mass. When she discovers the mass is a form of idolatry she will naturally be torn in mind between her habit and new-found truth. The same conflict will develop over the confes­sional. She will feel guilty for not going andshe will feel afraid to go lest she incur the wrath of Jesus by putting a man in His place. Encourage her to think frequently on the new truths, till they are firmly settled in her think­ing and she is sure of herself.

Be particularly alert for times of marital or financial difficulties, sickness, or bereavement. All these will add to the conflict and turmoil in her mind and you will need to deal very gently with her and let her know that you are an understanding person on whom she can lean, if necessary. A young mother with a young family is one who will most likely need your discretion and your well-placed help. There may be days when she is too tired to concen­trate. Do not leave her and do not try to go through a study with her. Stay awhile and have a friendly chat and make friends with the children. They can be won to you by simple means and before too long you may find your­self "adopted" as auntie. Bring your visit to a close with a short reading and prayer. Always kneel and always pray for any member of the family who may be showing antagonism to you, then when he or she is speaking against you your student can say: "Miss __________  never says  a word against you, but she always includes you in her prayers."

If there are any of our own members who have contact with your student pay them a visit and tactfully let it be known that you wish them to leave the development of all doctrine to you. Warn them against making disparaging remarks against the Roman Catholic Church. An un­fortunate remark at the wrong time may lose a precious soul to the kingdom. A family I knew foolishly introduced to my student, who was a friend of theirs, the subject of misconduct by certain priests. This was almost more than she could take, and if I had not made her my friend during early studies she would have turned from us altogether.

Have on hand a good summary of the points you have covered in your studies. Once, unbe­known to my student, her husband invited the priest to the house to settle the "nonsense" she was dabbling in. He stayed for three hours, re­ducing her to tears and a state of confusion.

When the priest left, her husband put all her papers in the fire and she had nothing to refer to. Next day she called me on the telephone and said that the priest had "tied her in knots" and had "almost convinced" her again that his church was right. The "almost" gave me lots of hope. I pointed out to her that since she did not know her Bible very well others could also have "tied her in knots." The fact that the priest had done so really proved nothing. As quickly as possible I had a summary of our studies placed in her hands. Reading this brought all the points back to her mind and acted as a fine stabilizer.

In your initial visit it will be well to remem­ber that Roman Catholics are told all kinds of things about Protestants, and your student will be wondering just what your approach will be and what you will be like. She may have been told that Protestants protest against everything that is good, that they worship the devil. Some have been told the most fantastic things. In one place in South America a priest declared that Protestants kept a crucifix at their window. The crucifix was pointed in the direction of the nearest body of water. At this crucifix prayers of confessions were made and then the Protes­tant blew on the crucifix, hoping that the winds would carry the sins away to the water, where they would be washed away.

Be careful what you say about the priesthood. Many of these men are deeply sincere and are rightly held in high regard by their people. Many have given wonderful help to their peo­ple, and even though your student has begun to see things that are not right in her church, she may still look upon her priest as a man of God and certainly one who has been a friend in time of need.

Because her mind is used to thinking Roman Catholic theology you may have to repeat some truths a number of times to help her to grasp them. Lay a strong foundation for the Bible as the only rule of faith and Jesus as the only Mediator and Saviour. No one else can share His position. No priest is "another Christ," as has been claimed.

In the first studies it is most important that you set the direction of her thinking along clear lines. This is best done by taking as short a route as possible first, in the explanation of a subject and then later backing it up with a full-scale study. For example, when you are first asked about purgatory do not go into a long detailed study on the condition of men in death. Simply point out that since "The blood of Jesus Christ . . cleanseth us from all sin" any other establishment for cleansing is entirely superfluous. Pointing out that purgatory thus casts contempt on the ability of Jesus, the One she loves, has a telling effect.

When questions arise about the priesthood it is rather shattering to take a copy of the Douay Bible and show that there are no priests listed among the New Testament church officers. Where, then, did they come from? Have they any real authority to be in office? This will probably introduce the subject of the mass, for a priest's special function is to offer up a sacri­fice. In the front of the mass book it describes the mass as the offering of Jesus as an "un­bloody sacrifice." Knowing this, you simply point out that "without shedding of blood is no remission" of sin. Thus the mass is without ef­fect. Never refer to it as "a farce." To the Cath­olics it is their most sacred service and unless we handle this subject tactfully we ourselves and not the service of the mass will become abominable. Paint out, too, that since our Lord (it is best to always use this term when referring to Jesus) is in heaven and right at His Father's throne it is strange that He should have to come to earth again in the form of the wafer, to offer Himself to the Father in a bloodless sacrifice. Before long you will be able to show that if the wafer is the body of Jesus, to eat it is cannibal­ism. If it is not the body of Jesus, to bow to it is idolatry. Give your student every opportunity to state this herself. Don't sweep in ahead of her.

Catholics are usually amazed to find out that a good number of their own priests have left the church because they doubted their ability to give absolution, and they doubted the worthi­ness of the mass. It is helpful to have on hand some good books that tell the stories of priests who have left the church, not out of bitterness, but because they found real truth. If you have books that show photos of the priests or monks you may find you can ward off the teaching they have that "anything can be written in books." Of course, you point out that since that is so, then much that is truth can be written "in books." I found most helpful the book The Monk Who Lived Again, by B. H. Pearson, Light and Life Press, Winona Lake, Indiana.

Spare no effort to make your study on the state of the dead clear and convincing. To do good work here is to sweep away eternal hell­fire, purgatory, prayers to saints and Mary, All Souls' Day, and masses for the dead without having to laboriously deal with each topic.

When you are told that Catholics do not wor­ship the virgin Mary, show that they worship our Lord with prayers and hymns and offerings, and they pray and sing to Mary and bring her offerings. How can such acts be worship in one case and not in the other?

Spend much time in prayer for these people. Help all you can and work along patiently and optimistically, rejoicing that you have the won­derful privilege of getting close to someone to give her a personal invitation to come out of Babylon.


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Doreen Fox, Bible Instructor, New Zealand.

May 1964

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