“I see. Care to elaborate?”
“First and foremost, both sides proclaim that Jesus alone is the Savior of the world, yet you’d never know it in many Catholic circles.”
“What do you mean by that?” It was evident the Catholic priest was rattled by his comment.
“You know better than I that many Catholics believe Mary has the ability to save souls. At the very least, they believe she’s a key component to obtaining salvation. This is blasphemy! While Mary’s highly favored for having been chosen by God to give birth to Jesus, God’s Word is crystal clear that salvation comes through Christ alone, and no one else.”
Father Dunleavey remained silent.
“So why does the Catholic Church place so much emphasis on her? It’s no big secret that most Catholics openly pray to Mary and to the many other so-called saints. I used to myself, but no longer. And why are some churches named after Mary and hymns written about her? Perhaps it’s because most Catholics think she was without sin. Luke chapter one, verse forty-seven speaks contrary to this. In this verse, Mary clearly acknowledges her longing and need for a Savior. Is it right for me to assume that only those who are sinners need a Savior?”
The Catholic priest nodded yes, but very cautiously. “What are you getting at, Brian?”
“Only the prayers offered up to God, through Christ Jesus, ever reach God’s ears.” Brian took a breath. This wasn’t going to be easy. “According to a dream I had for three straight nights, I believe the countless statues found in Catholic churches all have demons assigned to them.”
“Demons?”
“Yes. Perhaps because it violates the first Two Commandments about having no other gods before the Most High or making any carved images to them. By having them in your churches, Satan’s been receiving whatever prayers that have been offered up to these lifeless, man-made vessels all this time, not God.”
Father Dunleavey flinched. “What else did you see in your dream?”
As Brian went on, Father Dunleavey started perspiring. Beads of sweat were visible on his forehead.
Mulrooney finished by saying, “I’m convinced my dream was from God.”
Father Dunleavey gulped hard, then winced. “I need to use the restroom.”
“Sure. Take your time.”
11
“ARE YOU OKAY IN there, sir?” Brian Mulrooney said, after 20 minutes had passed.
“I’m fine. Be right out.” Father Dunleavey splashed water on his face doing his best to pull himself together. He felt like he was on trial for his faith, and there was overwhelming evidence stacked against him.
A few moments later, the Catholic priest was seated on the couch again.
Brian knew his lunch guest wasn’t okay. His breathing was labored, his face was drained of all color, and the determined look on his face was gone, replaced with what Brian could only describe as someone who looked completely lost.
Mulrooney felt his pain, he really did, but didn’t expect his condition to improve all that much in the coming minutes. If this was God’s way of chastising the Catholic priest in his spirit, who was Brian to interfere? He thought about what Hebrews 12 said about the Lord disciplining those He loves as sons and daughters. Those left without discipline were illegitimate children.
Having been an illegitimate child for so many years himself, prior to his conversion, Brian knew how unpleasant it felt to be confronted with the Truth. But by drawing closer to his Maker in the Word, he was living proof that it really did yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness to all who have been trained by it.
Because Father Dunleavey wasn’t completely incinerated in his dream, like everything else connected to the Catholic Church—including many parishioners—Mulrooney felt certain that God was calling the Catholic priest to Himself, using Brian to bring forth His Message. The strong prompting in his spirit told him to press on, despite what he saw on his lunch guest’s face.
“Let’s continue, shall we?”
Father Dunleavey nodded wearily and wiped his sweaty brow with a handkerchief.
“Since we’re talking about the Catholic Church, let’s start at the very top. I’ve always wondered why the Pope was called the ‘vicar of Christ’? For the first time in my life, I felt compelled to search out the meaning of the word, ‘vicar’. Did you know it actually means ‘bridge’?”
“Yes, of course.”
Brian shook his head. “This is blasphemy! The Pope isn’t the ‘bridge’ to God or the ‘Holy See’ or the ‘Holy Father’ he proclaims himself to be. This isn’t scriptural. Only Jesus is the Bridge to God.”
Father Dunleavey bristled in silent annoyance. He wanted to scream that he was no fan of the new Pope, that his election three years ago couldn’t have come from God, but Brian was referring to all Popes, not only him. He remained silent.
“Despite what the Pope thinks, I’m one-hundred percent certain that last November’s Phenomenon was the Rapture of Christ’s Church. I believe that’s when the church reached its fullness and was supernaturally removed from the Earth. They’re not suffering in torment now as many believe, including the Bishop of Rome. If being in Heaven with Jesus is torment, sign me up; I desperately want it.”
There was another uneasy pause. “After studying the chronological history of the Papacy, I must say I was sickened by much of what I read; from the fathering of illegitimate children to engaging in homosexual activities, to open incest and hosting orgies within the walls of the Vatican. I could go on and on.”
Father Dunleavey raised an eyebrow, then signaled with his right hand for Brian to continue.
“Allegedly, one Pope was murdered by a jealous husband who found his wife in bed with the Pontiff. This same Bishop of Rome was rumored to have murdered several people before he was killed. He even hacked off limbs on occasion.
“And here’s something even more gruesome: one Pope, after being elected to the Papacy, had his predecessor exhumed from his grave, brought into court, and tried for various crimes. The corpse was found guilty and his three already lifeless fingers were hacked off as punishment.”
Mulrooney shook his head, “These men are supposed to be vicars of Christ and the closest to God? Frankly, it sickens me.”
“I could say the same about the many Protestants who have been caught up in similar scandals over the years,” the Catholic priest said, in defense.
“Sadly, you are correct. There have been many Protestant false teachers throughout history who have manipulated the Word of God in order to become power-hungry, money-grubbing, sexually immoral deviants. But they won’t get away with it. Like all other ungodly individuals who do such things, God will judge them accordingly for the evil they did.
“But here’s the difference between Catholics who are sold out to the religiosity of the Church and true followers of Jesus Christ: whereas the Pope has usurped Jesus as the head of the Church, any true child of God would vehemently oppose such a notion. Anyone who knows their Bible knows Jesus commanded us to follow and worship only Him, not man. This includes the Pope.”
Mulrooney sighed. “The reason so many Catholics never bat an eye when hearing such outrageous statements made by the Pope is that they don’t read their Bibles. One Pope recently said, and I quote, ‘All who live just lives will be saved, even those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.’
“Frankly, sir, when I read that I couldn’t contain my anger or my astonishment. This same Pope said anyone who believes salvation comes only in response to faith in Jesus Christ is being cruel and unreasonable. In short, he said that we merit eternal life by our good works.
“This is blasphemy! Yet, because most Catholics are so blinded to the Truth, they always take the Pope at his word. And why not? They’ve been brainwashed into
thinking he’s infallible, preserved from error and, therefore, accountable to no one. You know better than I that anyone who questions him is anathematized.”
Mulrooney shook his head again, “I mean, it’s like he thinks he’s the king of the world instead of a servant of the Most High. Isn’t friendship with the world supposed to be enmity with God?”
The Catholic priest looked as if he wanted to say something, but he remained silent.
Brian continued, “One Pope, after being shot by a would-be assassin, was heard crying, ‘Save me, Mother Mary!’ This same Pope later wrote, ‘From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone.’”
Mulrooney blinked hard, “Are you kidding me? Who is anyone, including the Pope, to change the infallible Word of God? Man, oh man! Another thing I recently did was read the Council of Trent very carefully, something I never did as a Catholic, I might add. I was quite shocked by the Church’s overall stance regarding God’s salvation and what it considers to be ‘anathema’.
“I wrote a couple of them down for you. And I quote, ‘If anyone says the sinner is justified by faith alone, let him be damned.’ Here’s another one. ‘If anyone says men are justified by the sole imputation of the righteousness of Christ, let him be damned.’”
Mulrooney eyeballed his lunch guest, “This is blasphemy! Here’s another. ‘If anyone doesn’t think good works equals salvation, let him be damned.’ I know it was written hundreds of years ago but, as you know, it’s never been rescinded.”
Father Dunleavey squirmed in his chair. “Where are you going with all this?”
“After reading the Scriptures very carefully the past few months, I came to learn the Church I was raised in failed me big time. Sure, I was taught to believe in Jesus, but He was more of a figurative Being to me rather than a living Savior.
“After thirty-plus years, my walk with God could best be explained as some faraway, distant relationship at most. Frankly, it’s a struggle to call it a relationship, let alone personal.
Brian felt anger rising up inside. “Yet, like most Catholics, I honestly thought as long as I remained in the good graces of the Church, I was all but assured of Heaven when I died. Now I know better.”
“And just what do you know, son?”
“Honestly, it’s a wonder how anyone can be saved in your system. From saying a mass where Jesus is sacrificed again and again, to the worship of saints and the veneration of angels, to the uselessness of infant baptism, to selling forgiveness for money and prayers for the dead, it’s easy to see why so few Catholics understand God’s plan of salvation.
“Quite frankly, had the disappearances not occurred, I never would have broken away from the Catholic Church. I never would have felt a need to. And I’d still be living in spiritual bondage.”
Mulrooney gazed deep into his lunch guest’s eyes, “If Protestants and Catholics believe in the same God, why are two different salvation gospels being taught? Since there can only be one Truth, one side’s obviously preaching a false gospel.”
Brian sighed. “With eternity at stake, what pains me most is I have loved ones on both sides of the fence. I don’t like choosing sides but if forced to, I will.”
“I see. And what side will you choose, Brian?”
“Jesus. Just Jesus!” Mulrooney frowned. “I shudder to think how many Catholics who thought they were going to Heaven are now in hell, simply because they were deceived into believing that being Catholic was their ticket to Heaven. And if they didn’t make the first cut, so to speak, they could work it off in a place known to Catholics as ‘purgatory’. Not to come across as disrespectful, but can you show me where purgatory is explained in this Book?”
Father Dunleavey raised an eyebrow.
“If anything, it’s antithetical to what the Word of God teaches. For this reason, I’m convinced that the many Catholics who believed in the purgatory lie and are now in hell, eternally separated from God, no longer believe in such a place. They know better than anyone still alive on this planet that the moment a soul leaves a body, it’s either A or B—Heaven or hell, for all time!”
Brian thought about his family, especially his father, and was on the verge of tears. Then again, his heart ached for all Catholics who were blindly going through the motions set forth by the Church—not God—hoping it would bring them closer to their Maker, when all it did was bring them closer to hell.
The righteous indignation he felt was evident in his voice. “When I first came to understand that, for the most part, the Catholic system was a false one, I was angry. All those wasted years. In fairness, I can’t lay every charge at the feet of the Catholic Church. Jeremiah twenty-nine, verse thirteen states that only those who seek God with all their hearts will find Him.
“What this means is whether someone’s raised in a Catholic or Protestant home, only those who seek God with everything that is in them, apart from man-made religion, find Him through Christ Jesus. Those who don’t find Him this side of eternity have no interest in seeking Him in the first place; it’s that simple.”
“I rejoice knowing Catholics everywhere are dusting off their Bibles and seeking God with all their hearts. The Church is literally shrinking in size as a result. Lord willing, I hope to shrink it even more by reaching out to Catholics everywhere and sharing the true Gospel with them. Guess you could say this is the mission field to which I’ve been called.”
“Oh?”
“I’m convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that God revealed in my dream that Catholics represent extremely fertile ground. In fact, many will be part of the plentiful end-times harvest.” Mulrooney eyeballed the Catholic priest very carefully, “But only those who distance themselves from the religiosity of the Church—clergyman and parishioner alike.”
I said it! Hallelujah! Mulrooney wanted to high-five himself.
Father Dunleavey folded his arms across his chest and refrained from commenting. Oddly enough, there wasn’t a hint of anger on his face, only concern. If he needed more proof that Brian had all but removed himself from Catholicism, he now had it.
“I need to use the restroom again,” the Catholic priest finally said, rising from the sofa.
“Take all the time you need,” Brian said.
Mulrooney sent a quick text message to Jacquelyn Swindell: You were right! God really is speaking through me. The words are flowing like never before! It’s so amazing. Still in meeting. Call you later!
12
FATHER DUNLEAVEY CLOSED THE bathroom door and leaned up against it. He was shaking uncontrollably. His chest heaved up and down reaching for its next breath. Staring at the wall opposite him, the guilt he’d suppressed for so many years overwhelmed him to where he couldn’t think; all he could do was feel. And what he felt was total devastation.
A rush of guilt devoured him wave after painful wave. The world he always knew and could set his clock to suddenly seemed to be spinning the wrong way.
Especially since he, too, was haunted by dreams of late, which were very similar to Brian’s dream. That was the deciding factor for his agreeing to this meeting of sorts.
Like Brian, the Catholic priest saw himself preaching to a congregation set on fire; he could smell it too. He also saw the Catholic Church hierarchy above him peering through the smoke and flames, and the demons fleeing the many focal points of worship he’d often prayed to and urged his flock to as well.
Further, he saw the two men preaching in the back of the sanctuary, even heard their condemning message to the Church he’d dedicated his entire life to. Finally, he saw and felt the explosion that incinerated everything he ever considered holy.
But that’s where any and all similarities with Brian’s dream came to a halti
ng stop. Instead of seeing Jesus standing where the church once stood, his dream ended with him standing before a just and holy God, totally naked and ashamed, after being found guilty of preaching a false message all those years.
What roused Tom Dunleavey from his dream was this feeling of falling into a dark abyss with an eternal lake of fire at the bottom. He woke all three nights shivering uncontrollably, never more terrified for his life. Perhaps what he kept brushing aside as nothing more than a horrific nightmare really was true after all?
But something else was eating away at the Catholic priest’s insides. Brian Mulrooney sounded exactly like the Catholics who disappeared last November. Also known as born-again Catholics, evangelical Catholics frequently met outside the church for fellowship and Bible study prior to last November.
Much like Brian, by reading their Bibles apart from the set structure implemented by the Church, EC’s claimed they felt so much closer to God in those settings than when attending mass. The more they learned from the Word of God, it’s like their spiritual eyes were opened for the very first time.
Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they repented of the sins they thought were forgiven by the Catholic Church, but weren’t, and placed their complete trust in Jesus.
They also stopped participating in the things the Church always encouraged, things that went against the Word of God; praying the rosary, reciting the “Hail Mary”, paying homage to other Catholic saints, topping the list. They even removed all statues of those so-called religious saints from their homes and vehicles.
This created a growing rift in the Church. Evangelical Catholics were warned by top Catholic officials that only those within the Catholic Church hierarchy, who were lifelong students of the Scriptures from the Pope on down, were qualified to teach God’s Word to others. Those who took it upon themselves, without Church supervision, could very easily be deceived.
The Countering Page 7
