Tips on How to Lead a Devout Catholic to Christ

My father is still an angry atheist, so it’s safe to assume I didn’t grow up in a loving Christian home. Just the opposite. When I fully gave my life to Jesus Christ at age 13, it was seen as an act of rebellion. This was in a home where my father regularly told me, “David, there are no rules. Don’t obey anyone. Don’t even obey me.” In the hardest way possible, I learned there was a rule: You can’t be a Christian.

Then again, my atheistic father didn’t clarify what kind of Christian I couldn’t be. Apostolic? Baptist? Catholic? Dutch Reformed? Ethiopian Orthodox? Free Church? Well, you get the idea. Over the past two millennia, the Church has branched out around the world into a vast mosaic of denominations. Many are new within the past two or three centuries. Many others trace their roots all the way back to Peter (Roman Catholic), Philip (Ethiopia), Thomas (India, etc.), and other biblical men and women of God.

So, what kind of Christian am I? God laughed and I’m non-denominational. That doesn’t mean I don’t value denominations. Just the opposite! I thank God frequently for the gifts every denomination has given to the rest of the Church. I also thank God for the joys of meeting and befriending brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Their lives, homes, and churches look much different from mine. Still, the joy is tangible.

Like the apostle Paul—who looked forward to bringing a spiritual gift to the Jewish and Christian men and women in Rome (Romans 1:11)—I too long to impart spiritual gifts to others. One of my great joys is sharing such gifts with devout Catholic friends.

Assurance of Heaven before Dying

My dear friend was dying after a prolonged, hard-fought battle with cancer. Yet the rock-solid assurance of salvation and heaven were missing. Weak as she was, she invited me to visit. I always remind myself to be unshockable, but her once-glamorous appearance was cruelly wasted away. I caught my breath and waited for her to speak.

She spoke of her deep love for her family and sorrow that she would miss her children’s weddings, her grandchildren, and all the normal joys of the middle years of life. She also spoke of her great disappointment that she would not win out over her terrible cancer. Finally, she spoke of her devout faith since childhood, yet her deep desire to know for sure that she was ready for eternity.

In turn, I told her that I was happy to talk about heaven.

First, I reminded her that she always has believed that Jesus Christ is eternally true God, that two thousand years ago Jesus came to earth (true man forever after), and that Jesus lived a perfect life, taught for scores of hours, performed hundreds of miracles, and fed thousands of people. Yes, of course!

Then I used 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 to remind her that she wholeheartedly believed the essential “of first importance” Gospel message: Jesus Christ died for us and for all our sins, Jesus was buried, and He rose again the third day. Again, of course!

Based on her confession of faith, and her lifetime of faith, I went on to assure her that the Lord would surely welcome her with open arms in heaven. Then we had a wonderful time of prayer together.

She understood that her good works for God flowed from her faith, hope, and love for the Savior. In other words, her good works didn’t save her. They simply showed the reality of that devout faith.

A Devout “Catholic Christian”

Late this summer I had the opportunity to spend a week making a new friend – a winsome gentleman and devout Catholic from the Philippines. Part of my family is adopted from the Philippines, so our family has a great love for its people. No surprise, he and I became good friends quickly.

On our second to last day together, he reminded me that he and his wife pray and read the Bible together every day. He proudly said she is a devout Christian. Then he added, “My cousin asked me a question I don’t understand. He asked, ‘Are you saved?’ What does that question even mean?”

I smiled. “I’m so glad that you’re a devout Catholic and that your wife is a devout Christian. You may not realize it, but you’re both.”

“How is that?”

“How do you know you’re a devout Catholic?”

“I do good works for God all the time. You know that!”

“Yes, and I so enjoy the good works you’ve given to me these past few days. What a joy. But you also have a deep faith. And that deep faith is what makes you a Catholic Christian.”

He was intently listening, so I continued.

“First, you deeply believe in Jesus Christ, who is true God eternally and true man since He came to earth two thousand years ago. As God’s unique Son, Jesus lived a perfect life, taught everything God the Father told Him to say, performed hundreds of miracles, and fed thousands of people.”

“Yes, exactly. I’ve always believed all of that about Jesus.”

“As well, you’ve also believed what the Holy Bible calls the Good News of Jesus Christ. That Good News ‘of first importance’ is that Jesus died for us and for all of our sins, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, and the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. By embracing that Good News, we affirm we are Christians. We are saved. We are born-again. And we have the assurance of heaven when we die.”

“You’re right. So, I’ve been a Catholic Christian all this time.” He couldn’t wait to tell his wife, his inquiring cousin, and others.

When we saw each other the next day, he thanked me again for showing him how he was a Catholic Christian. “How great to share this with my family.” How great, indeed!

Common Questions and the Answers

Q: Surely it can’t be this easy?

A: Conversion to Jesus Christ and Christianity requires belief in His true divinity (forever), in His true humanity (coming to earth), and in what He did to save us (death on the cross and resurrection). There’s so much more depth to the Christian faith, but that depth isn’t required for salvation.

Q: What about faith versus works?

A: Our faith in Jesus Christ and His Good News makes us Christians. Our good works thereafter demonstrate the reality of our faith. The two always go hand in hand.

With my non-devout (skeptical, agnostic, or atheistic) friends, however, I sometimes invite them to do good works with a handful of Christians. I do that as a tangible means of showing them the value and worth of the Christian faith. A number have come to faith in Jesus Christ after participating in such work projects, short-term mission trips, and the like.

That’s not necessary for devout Catholics, of course. They already believe in Jesus Christ and His Good News. Once they embrace the reality that they’re “Catholic Christians” (like two of the three most recent popes), they’re often eager to share the Good News with others (again, just as three of the four most recent popes have embraced this “new evangelization”).

Q: So, there’s no difference between “Catholic” and “Christian”?

A: No, I’m not saying that! Many differences exist between devout and nominal Catholics and many differences between devout and nominal Christians. Many Catholics and Christians have deep faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel in common, but many do not. Let’s not focus on the latter. Instead, let’s lead devout Catholics to Christ whenever the Spirit gives us the opportunity. It’s great joy for all!

Photo Credit: ©Sparrowstock 

The late David Sanford’s book and Bible projects were published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. His latest book was Life Map Devotional for Men published concurrently with his wife Renee’s book, Life Map Devotional for Women.