Why Are Protestants Becoming Catholics? – Mike Gendron’s Newsletter

The following newsletter was copied and pasted from my email box.

I have been a student of scripture since I was converted at age 53 (about 20 years); prior to that, I had studied many religions, but after having read through the Bible one time, I knew it was spiritual truth. (God opened my eyes, as He did Lydia’s in Acts 16.)

After studying many years to understand the doctrine of justification by faith, as presented by Paul in Romans and Galatians (mostly), I have come to understand specifically what the ‘gospel’ is; the Roman Catholic Church does not preach the biblical gospel.

I am happy to pass along Mike Gendron’s newsletters in the hope that other professing Christians might come to that understanding. I know however, that one will likely not come to grasp that truth without personal study of the scriptures.

This blog has two Categories on the gospel message; via those posts, I have attempted to aid readers in understanding what the gospel is. Contemporary Christianity has done much to obscure the biblical gospel and to promote a man-made way of salvation which does not save. That is addressed in many categories of this blog.

Begin Newsletter:

News from Evangelist Mike Gendron

May 2024

Why Are Protestants Becoming Catholics?

In our 33 years of proclaiming the Gospel to Catholics, we have observed a very troubling trend. Protestants, who once embraced the Gospel of grace, are departing from the faith to join the Catholic Church. The most scandalous defection occurs when Protestants marry Catholics. Four out of five times, in these mixed marriages, the protestant converts to Catholicism. Such dreadful apostasy is described by the apostle John this way. “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19). The false converts who departed from the church were giving evidence of their unregenerate condition. This disturbing apostasy is not only a departure from the church of the apostles, but also a departure from the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. As these defections continue, let us consider five apparent causes.

Unity Accords Between Catholics and Evangelicals

The pope’s ecumenical agenda is seducing Evangelical leaders to join hands with Catholics to reverse the Reformation and reunite all Christians together. This ecumenical unity movement is slamming the professing church like a tidal wave and many Evangelicals are being deceived into believing the Catholic Church is a Christian denomination made up of brothers and sisters in Christ. Many are being deceived by the pro-Catholic prayer app called Hallow that encourages prayers to Mary and guardian angels. Hallow is being promoted by Fox News, Good Morning America and yes, even The View. Celebrities, such as Candace Owen, are becoming Catholic as reported in this video. We need to expose these evil deeds of darkness that dishonor Christ and His Word.The truth must be told! The Roman Catholic Church is an apostate religion. It dogmatically departed from the apostolic faith at the Council of Trent.

Warnings Are Being Withheld or Avoided

Very few Evangelical pastors are alerting and warning their congregations that the false and fatal gospel of the Catholic Church is leading people down the wide road to destruction (Mat. 7:21-23). Very few youth pastors are warning their teenagers of the potential dangers of getting romantically involved with Catholics. It also appears that very few parents are warning their children about dating Catholics. It is for these reasons we get so many 9-1-1 calls from parents pleading for help because their son or daughter is engaged to a Catholic. Often we find out they never warned them about the powerful indoctrination and stubborn pride that keeps Catholics trapped in the worst kind of religious deception. Perhaps readers of this article will see the importance of sending this newsletter to pastors and parents to warn them of the grave dangers that can arise from remaining silent.

Disobedience to God and His Word

When born-again Christians become united in marriage with Catholics, they are disobeying God. His Word explicitly declares, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Cor. 6:14-15). Of course, if neither the Protestant or Catholic has been born again, they are equally yoked and both continue to abide in the kingdom of darkness.

Compromise for the Sake of Peace and Unity

Protestant men who convert to Catholicism for the sake of peace with their Catholic wives do not know the strife and conflict that awaits them. They need to know that God has appointed men to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. He will hold men accountable for leading their family into the idolatrous and deceptive traditions of an apostate religion. Yet, Protestants, who once stood on the truth of God’s Word, are the ones who most often compromise their faith. Catholics, who embrace doctrines of demons, are the ones who refuse to compromise (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Protestants, who are commanded to earnestly contend for the Gospel, are the ones who foolishly give in to the distorted gospel of Catholicism (Gal. 1:6-9). Protestants, who were once sanctified by the truth, are the ones who most often submit to the lies of the Catholic religion.

Ignorance of Catholicism’s False and Fatal Gospel

There are many Christians who are unaware of how many Catholic traditions stand opposed to God’s Gospel. However, ignorance and lack of discernment is no excuse. No one should ever join a religion that rejects these glorious truths:

the inspired Word of God as the supreme authority for faith and truth (2 Tim. 3:16)
the perfect, all-sufficient and finished work of Christ’s redemption (John 19:30; Heb. 7:25)
the Gospel of grace and its promise of eternal life (1 John 5:13; 1 Cor. 15:1-4)
the glorious promise that there is no condemnation for those in Christ (Rom. 8:1)
the Lord Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5)

There are many more biblical doctrines that are rejected by the Roman Catholic Church that can be found in our Gospel tract Roman Catholicism: Scripture vs. Tradition.

When this ministry first started, our mission was to equip and encourage the Body of Christ to effectively and faithfully evangelize Roman Catholics throughout the world. Now there is another equally important mission. We must also educate Evangelicals about Catholicism’s heresies and urge them to oppose the pope’s agenda for ecumenical unity by earnestly contending for the Gospel. May God help us fight the good fight of faith and remain sanctified by the truth of His Word!

Scripture Proves Eucharist Is a False Christ

Catholics are taught that the Lord Jesus returns to the earth every day to continue His work of redemption on altars around the world. The Catechism teaches the Eucharist contains “the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.” Catholic priest John O’Brien describes it this way: “When the priest announces the words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon our altar to be offered up again as the Victim for the sins of man. It is a power greater than that of saints and angels. The priest speaks and Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows his head in humble obedience to the priest’s command.”

According to God’s Word, the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is utterly and completely false and those who worship it are committing the most serious sin of idolatry. The Lord Jesus warned, “If anyone says to you, ‘behold here is the Christ’ do not believe him.” (Mat. 24:23). We know Jesus does not return everyday because God’s Word says He “will appear a second time, not to deal with sin” (Heb. 9:28). He will not return until “immediately after the tribulation” (Mat. 24:29-30). And yes, He will return in a body, not a wafer, “the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Plenary Indulgence for Worship of Eucharist

A decree approved by Pope Francis declares that a plenary indulgence will be granted to those who participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage between May 17 and July 16, 2024. It will also be granted to the elderly, infirm, and all those who cannot leave their homes for a serious reason and who participate in spirit. Catholics may also apply this indulgence to the souls of the faithful departed in Purgatory. According to the Catholic Church, a plenary indulgence is the remission of all the temporal punishment due to sin.

This deceptive hoax created by the Catholic Church can be traced back to the first lie of Satan. In the Garden of Eden, the devil promised Eve “You surely will not die” if you break God’s command (Gen. 3:4). In the same way, the Catholic clergy deceives its people with the doctrine of demons that “venial sins” do not cause death, only temporal punishment. Catholics are instructed to accept the temporal punishment of sin as a grace. This lie led to the lie of indulgences which is said to remit the temporal punishment for venial sin.

We plead with Catholics to turn to the true Christ as their all-sufficient Savior! He cancels the certificate of debt for all sins to those who repent and believe His Gospel of grace (Col. 2:13-14).

Letters to Equip and Encourage the Saints

Mike, You are one proud, arrogant, clueless excuse for a Christian. Read your Bible and stop with your idiotic interpretations. You are not getting to heaven without the Eucharist. Jesus said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will not have life within you. Your grape juice and crackers are an insult as are you! There’s only one true church established by Christ Himself and that’s the Catholic Church! Gary, Internet

Hi Mike, My husband is a very devoted Catholic and goes to Eucharistic Adoration. He told me Jesus spoke to him from the monstrance. I know this is false because Jesus is not in the eucharist. I am trying to be patient, kind, and gentle with him, but if I talk about Scripture he gets very offensive or angry, so I back off. He is so blind and follows false teachings that have hardened his heart to hear the truth and receive the free gift of salvation. This is very upsetting; others need to know that they can’t marry or be unequally yoked with unbelievers because it causes more harm than good. We have been married for 18 years and have six children together. He said he needs a devoted Roman Catholic wife and that is not me. I am praying every day and night for him to be saved. I am hurting and mourning and need your encouragement and prayers more than ever. Name Withheld

Mike’s note: Please join us in prayer for this dear woman and her husband. We have called to encourage her and asked other women in similar relationships to do the same.

Mike, I have just finished reading Preparing For Eternity. It answered many questions about all of the ugly things I have been taught from birth regarding the Catholic faith. We have now stopped going to the Catholic Church. Thanks for getting me on track for the first time in my life. Blessings to all. J. L., MA

Mike, Our daughter and her husband have just informed us they are joining the Catholic Church. Our daughter grew up in an evangelical home and church and knows deception is out there. We are so distraught she has fallen into this. Where do we begin to show them the errors of the Catholic Church in love? We have watched several of your interviews on podcasts, We need some help. Thank you so much. Name Withheld

Dear Mike, Thank you for all that you do, I know it’s a weary and burdensome walk. I am a recovering Catholic, and thank Jesus always for opening my eyes to the truth of His Word. It’s shocking how deceptive Satan is and how he works inside the RCC. I have read your books and have led many Catholics out of the RCC. What I grapple with is why does God open the eyes of some and not others? I have extended family members who refuse to listen to me. J.S., Powell, OH

Sir, I am a Catholic. To presume you know my religion better than I do is just ignorant. Maybe you should focus on what you believe and not tear down someone else’s faith. Don’t talk any more trash. W.G., Internet

Mike’s Speaking

Engagements

Countryside Bible Church

Southlake, TX

May 5

Mike will teach the Grace Evangelism class at 8 am in the North Building at Countryside Bible Church in Southlake. His message will focus on effective ways to evangelize Roman Catholics. For more information call (817) 379-5300.

Hope in Christ Bible Church

Berkley, MI

May 10-12

Mike will teach a 2-day conference on effective ways to evangelize Roman Catholics. The conference begins Friday evening at 6 pm and continues Saturday morning at 9:30 am. Mike will also preach the Sunday morning message at 9:45 am. For more information click here.

Deception, Discernment and Deliverance Conference

Messiah Bible Church

Zelienople, PA

May 31 – June 2

Mike and Justin Peters will teach a conference on Deception, Discernment and Deliverance at Messiah Bible Church. Each speaker will give three messages that will reprove and correct the Word of Faith Movement and Roman Catholicism using the authority of Scripture.

For Mike’s complete schedule click here.

Starter Kit

Includes two books, Preparing for Eternity and Contending for the Gospel, along with a DVD message entitled, I’m a Christian, You’re a Catholic, So What’s the Difference? The Kit also includes one set of Gospel Cards, and four copies each of our 8 different Gospel Tracts in a vinyl carrying case for a savings of $10.

Order here.

Ambassador Pack of Eight Gospel Tracts

The pack includes packages of all eight of our Gospel Tracts plus one set of twelve Gospel Cards to equip and encourage you to sow the imperishable seed of God’s Word. Sow the seed of God’s Word wherever you go.

Order here.

All Christians are called to proclaim the Gospel faithfully and contend for it earnestly. These two books will equip and encourage you to be effective witnesses for Christ, while contending for the Gospel against the relentless attacks on its purity and exclusivity.

Order here.

Both books are also available as Audio Books here and here.

20 Video Messages

Mike’s 20 most popular Keynote messages are available on one flash drive. They cover a range of topics including Bible prophecy, Catholicism, Discernment, Contending for the Faith, Evangelism, and Apologetics. To order click here.