Reaching Catholic mom

Q: Speaking to a loved one in a  works based religion

I’m in a conflicting situation. My mom seems to think the only way to heaven is by faith but also by works. In her eyes, an individual has to get baptized, basically walk and talk like a Christian, have faith in God, and confess their sins to a priest.

I don’t believe that to be true as I’ve been doing my own Bible studying and getting a better understanding of what it means to be a Christian and saved.

Everytime we talk about this it’s just us budding heads and ends up in us getting in an argument. Don’t get me wrong I love and respect my mother but I can’t seem to get to her with it. She’s very closed minded when it comes to this topic especially.

I guess this is all to ask… How do I approach this?

A: Yeah a hard topic when you are trying to reach someone in a works based religion with the truth of Scripture.

I would ask her to watch this needGod.com and Then see if she understands and agrees. And if she wants to be made right with God and know for sure.

*Until God draws someone to truth (or to salvation even) they wont be open to investigate if their in a false religion.

So start with the Gospel. Then invite her to your bible based church. You can go through these as needed to answer her questions, so go thru it in advance. But deal w the Gospel first.

The key about works is that God has said no one is good. Therefore before one is saved they cant do good works. Theyre filthy like OT says and only fit to burn. What image comes with burning? The eternal lake of Fire and Hell. Works done by filthy ones cannot help them. Its like bribing a judge with poop to let you go free. Theres no good judge in his right mind who would do that. Its highly offensive! And only His wrath will fall on them. And...God is the most Just and good Judge of all. He is perfect and does all things perfectly.

However... if someone paid in full your fine to the judge for you (which the video shows) then while guilty you are free to go; the fine was paid. Jesus took the eternal wrath of God for all your sins while on the cross and its been paid in full if you obey the Gospel. Mark 1:15 Jesus said "Repent and believe the Gospel".

So clarity about works... "once you are saved" God sees you as righteous becuz the Righteousness of Christ covers you, and now that you are transformed [born again], you are his servant whom he now can use you "to do good works". Thats what the Bible actually teaches🙂. Works comes after salvation. God in you does good works through you [which were actually planned before the world began.]. And God will do those thru you since God is good and does good things.

Catholicism and all other works based religions [everything outside biblical Christianity] says the opposite of what God has said. Plus Catholics can't presume to be saved. Its literally in their teachings. Its how they get chained to Catholicism; fear. Just like weddings being required there; fear theyll go to Hell if they dont comply. They fear anything outside RCC leads to Hell. Its same tactics cults use: Fear.

We need to fear God not men.

So help break her fear by sharing the truth with her in love. There's no guarantee your mom will get saved, but you can plant seeds and water it by the truths you share with her. In pray she gets saved and doesnt die in her sins. But thats between her and God. You yourself ensure you are saved because God requires us all to be reconciled to himself through Jesus [by obeying the Gospel]. Live your life in growth in godliness and may your life shine well to draw her and others to him both by your life and words [of truth]. 

PS. Baptism comes after salvation. This is the biblical example. A person hears, understands and believes the Gospel, then [as their 1st act of obedience as a believer] they symbolically give public testimony [to show what has already happened to them]- they are immursed in water and raised up from it. Showing we died in Christ and rose to new life in his resurrection. Its symbolicly showing what happened what already happened [when you got saved]. It isnt mystical. And as a side note, the Holy Spirit comes into a believer at the moment of salvation. God is with you and gave you spiritual life. And its eternal and permanent.

Now...There are things we do as believers - but those things are done "after" we are saved. As noted above. Because its not possible prior to salvation. This is why RCC [run by Satan] uses fear tactics. You have to do and do and do and do but its never enough [to them/that "church"]. And you can never know if you are saved. RCC considers it a sin to presume you can know if you are saved. But God in Scripture has clearly said otherwise. So show her Scripture related to these truths, but only if its a genuine question in humility or an issue after she gets saved.

The key is to reach her conscience nit have intellectual debates [they go no where], but the Gospel convicts and has the power to save.

Here are resources to help you grow well as a born again Christian.  And can be additional helps as you discuss Christianity with anyone else too as you learn and grow more.

God bless