Recently, a Catholic lady sent me an article by Diane Morey Hanson, Credo June 19, 2000, titled: BLACK PENTECOSTAL CHURCH VOTES TO BECOME CATHOLIC. The “Rev.” Alex Jones, of the Maranatha Christian Church in Detroit, after watching his congregation dwindle from 200 members to about 80 over the past two years, voted (39-19) on June 4th (a Sunday celebrating Christian Unity) to take the necessary steps to become Catholic. The article goes on to talk about the “Rev” Jones’s niece, Linda Stewart, whose initial reaction was “I thought some spirit had jumped him...I thought that in his quest for truth he had gone off and lost his mind”. Her concern was based on the fact that her uncle had changed Wednesday night Bible studies to the study of the “church fathers”. He began gradually changing the Sunday worship into a dead ringer for a Catholic Mass: kneeling, Sign of the Cross, Nicene Creed, Eucharistic celebration--“the whole nine yards”. She went on to say,

“We were taught that the Catholic Church was the great whore. We were taught that the pope was the anti-Christ. Mary?--Mary?--no way! We had been happy and going along and just enjoying Jesus and then here he comes and throws this monkey wrench in. I was angry! And I thought, 'You're crazy to think we are going to do this!’”

Although Linda considered leaving her uncle’s church, she stayed because she “trusted that he was a man of God”. The Bible study progressed into a study of the early Church Fathers, the Catholic Catechism, Mary, the saints, purgatory, sacramental theology, and the development of doctrine. Once the “Rev” Jones moved away from the hope of the gospel and started trusting men‘s opinions, he found himself doubting the authority of the word of God as well. He boasted, “I began to tear away at Sola Scriptura (Bible only)--the heart and soul of the Protestant faith". The seed for Jones’ doubt was planted several years ago when Jones attended a debate between anti-Catholicism author, David Hunt, and the anti-Christian Catholic apologist Karl Keating.

Keating asked a pointed question:

“Whom would you believe in the case of an accident--someone who was there as an eyewitness or someone who came along years later?” To learn about the early Christian Church, Keating contends, it is necessary to read the early Church Fathers who were there from the beginning. "It made sense, but I wasn't ripe for change then," said Jones. "I put it away in my heart and pondered it, but it didn't all come together until I read the Fathers and saw a Christianity we didn't have in our church." What Jones did not think through is that we have the eye-witness account of Jesus Christ’s disciples in the word of God, the “church fathers” came along many years later, making Keating’s conclusions flawed. Mr. Jones should have gone back to the eyewitnesses and hear what they said, for they glorified the word of God. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48) The Bereans in Acts 17 were “more noble” in that they searched the scriptures daily to see if the things the apostles said were true. How did they do this if there was no Bible? They used the Old Testament, because they knew that the gospel had to be there.

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

In Acts 3:18-24, Peter said,

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled...Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.”

And again, in 1Peter 1:10-12, we read:

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

The gospel was preached in Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham, etc., yet “Rev” Jones felt he could better understand what God wanted for us by looking to men instead of God’s word. Satan always tries to turn men’s hearts away from the word of God. His first attack was on the word, when he said, “Yea, hath God said”. Since Rome is led by Satan, and not the Holy Spirit, they have made it their mission to attack the doctrine of “sola scriptura”. The Reformation forced Rome to an all out war against the word of God, a war that rages on today through anti-Christian organizations such as Catholic Answers. Rome continues to put her words above the word of God, and goes to all lengths to discredit the word of God as our sole rule of faith. She has assured her subjects that there are many things lacking in the Bible that only the “early church fathers” can fill in. What she neglects to tell her subjects is that their own “early church fathers” preached “sola scriptura”! Let’s take a closer look at some of the men Rome says denied “sola scriptura”. Irenaeus (140-202 A.D.) tells us:

"We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith....let us revert to the scriptural proof furnished by those apostles who did also write the Gospel, in which they recorded the doctrine regarding God" (The Writings of Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Roberts and Rambaut, 258,266).

Tertullian (155/160-240/250 A.D.) stated, "The Scriptures...indeed furnish us with our rule of faith."

Hippolytus (235 A.D.) says:

"There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain from the Holy Scriptures, and from NO OTHER SOURCE. For just as a man if he wishes to be skilled in the wisdom of this world will find himself unable to get at it in any other way than by mastering the dogmas of philosophers, so all of us who wish to practise piety will be unable to learn its practice from any quarter than the oracles of God. Whatever things then the Holy Scriptures declare, at these let us look; and whatsoever things they teach these let us learn" (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol.V, Roberts and Donaldson, 227) (Emphasis mine).

Clement of Alexandria (150-211/216 A.D.) agreed with Hippolytus when he said that those who are ready to search after truth should not desist until "they get the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves."

Cyprian (200/210-285 A.D.) taught, "Be there no innovation beyond what has been handed down to us...that which we should observe commanded in the gospel, or...contained in the Epistles or Acts of the Apostles."

Origen (185-253A.D.) said:

"In proof of all words which we advance in matters of doctrine, we ought to set forth the sense of Scripture as confirming the meaning which we are proposing. For all gold which was outside of the temple was not sanctified, so every sense which is outside of the divine Scripture, however admirable it may appear to some, is not sacred because it is not limited by the sense of Scripture. Therefore we should not take our own ideas for the confirmation of doctrine, unless someone shows that they are holy because they are contained in the divine Scriptures as in the temples of God" (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Roberts and Donaldson, Vol.II, 550-551).

Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386 A.D.), concerning the divine and sacred mysteries of the faith, said:

"We ought not to deliver even the most casual remark without the Holy Scriptures: nor be drawn aside by mere probabilities and the artifices of argument. Do not then believe me because I tell thee these things, unless thou receive from the Holy Scriptures the proof of what is set forth: for this salvation, which is of our faith, is not by ingenious reasonings, but by proof from the Holy Scriptures...Let us then speak nothing concerning the Holy Ghost but what is written; and if any thing be not written, let us not busy ourselves about it. The Holy Ghost Himself spake the Scriptures; He has also spoken concerning Himself as much as He pleased, or as much as we could receive. Be those things therefore spoken, which He has said; FOR WHATSOEVER HE HAS NOT SAID, WE DARE NOT SAY" (A Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril,42, 203-204) (Emphasis mine).

Chrysostom (344/345-407 A.D.) expressed a very "sola Scriptura" attitude:

"These then are the reasons; but it is necessary to establish them all from the Scriptures, and to show with exactness that all that has been said on this subject is not an invention of human reasoning, but the very sentence of the Scriptures. ..All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness...For doctrine. For thence we shall know, whether we ought to learn or be ignorant of anything. And thence we may disprove what is false, thence we may be corrected and brought to a right mind, may be comforted and consoled, and if any thing is deficient, we may have it added to us. That the man of God may be perfect. For this is the exhortation of the Scripture given, that the man of God may be rendered perfect by it: without this there fore he cannot be perfect. Thou hast the Scriptures, he says, in place of me. If thou wouldest learn anything, thou mayest learn it from them. And if he thus wrote to Timothy, who was filled with the Spirit, how much more to us!" (A Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, The Homilies of S. John Chrysostom, 2 Timothy, Homily 9, 250)

Hillary of Poitiers (315-367/368 A.D.) even goes so far as to issue an anathema to anyone "who teaches contrary to the wholesome and right faith of the Scriptures." Eusebius (263-340 A.D.) most humbly admits, "...and with hearts laid open before God, we accepted whatever was established by the proofs and teachings of the Holy Scriptures." But it was Augustine who spelled out "sola Scriptura" most clearly:

"What more shall I teach you than what we read in the apostle? For HOLY SCRIPTURE FIXES THE RULE FOR OUR DOCTRINE, lest we dare be wiser than we ought. Therefore I should not teach you anything else except to expound to you the words of the Teacher" (An Examination of the Council of Trent, Chemnitz, Vol.1, 152). (Emphasis mine)

So, as we can see, RCC has swept these statements under the rug and pretended that their early “church fathers” spoke out against sola scriptura (scripture alone), when, in truth, they supported it. Yet “Rev” Jones said that after studying the church history, he was able to tear down that doctrine based on the “church father’s” writings. Did Mr. Jones miss all these quotes in his studies? He would have done well to study God’s word instead!!!

Jones claimed that the center of the early church’s mission was not to get the gospel out, but rather to participate in the ritual eating of a pre-crucifed, pre-glorified “Christ”. He said, “I saw that the center of worship was neither the preaching nor the operations of the gifts of the Spirit, but the Eucharist as the actual body and blood of Christ".

The preaching of the gospel was the churhc's mission as the aposlte Paul said in 1Cor.1:17:

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

And again in Titus 1:3:

“But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.”

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God...For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1Cor.1:18-21)

It is evident that the “Rev” Jones should have gone back to the tradition of the apostles, which was to “preach the gospel”!

In the early spring of 1998 Pastor Jones and his Wednesday evening Bible study decided to reenact an early Church worship service. A month later Jones instituted a Eucharistic celebration every Sunday. "My congregation thought it was ridiculous," he recalled. "They thought once a month was sufficient...I knew that people would leave," he said.

The book Crossing the Tiber, by Milan Bible teacher Steve Ray, provided Jones with Scriptural teaching on Baptism and Eucharist. Jones was referred to Ray when he called Sacred Heart Seminary and spoke with Bill Riordan, formerly a theology professor there. He began to meet with Ray on a regular basis and converse almost daily by phone or e-mail. Jones's Wednesday evening Bible study became a study in the early Church Fathers, the Catholic Catechism, Mary, the saints, purgatory, sacramental theology, and the development of doctrine. People started to leave, even Jones's niece considered doing so. "Every Sunday I would come home and say, 'That's my last Sunday. I'm quitting and I'm not coming back.' " But, said Stewart, because she trusted her uncle as a man of God she did come back and gradually things began to make sense.

In the process of changing Maranatha's worship service Jones thought, "Why should I recreate the wheel?" There was already a church that did this--the Catholic Church. "I began to realize that the church of the upper room was the Catholic Church," said Jones. "All the rest had a later beginning date and a founder. I had found the church of Jesus Christ and I was willing to lose everything."

Jones’ wife had her reservations as well. “At first I thought he was caught up in the excitement of having services like the early Church Fathers". She believed, "This was going to be a one-time thing”, but she soon found out that his true intentions. “He began changing things drastically and I began to really wonder what was going on. I became disturbed because I felt he was going off on the wrong track." Sometimes, said Pastor Jones, his wife and his three grown sons, Joseph, Benjamin and Marc, were openly hostile about the changes. "He had preached that the Catholic Church was full of idol worship," said Donna, "So when he started embracing it I said, 'Something's wrong here. He's turned a corner on me.' " Jones and his wife began arguing and debating the issues, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. "I started to research the Catholic Church because I wanted to refute what he was preaching," Donna explained. "I needed ammunition. But as I began to read about the Church Fathers a change began taking place in my heart." By trusting RCC’s “church fathers” above the word of God, Donna finally turned to her husband and announced, "I'm Catholic."

In the summer of 1998 Dennis Walters, the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) director at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor, met the Joneses at Steve Ray's home. "I decided, rather than let them sink or swim on their own," said Walters, "I would offer my help." Walters provided them and Maranatha's elders and deacons with Catholic Catechisms and answered their many questions about Catholic doctrine. Since March 1999, Walters has met with the Joneses every Tuesday for four or five hours. "I have gone through most of my RCIA stuff with them," he said, but the process of entering the Church isn't quite that easy. Maranatha has been communicating with the Detroit Archdiocese for more than a year. The archdiocese proceeded with caution since there is much to be worked out, including RCIA, remarriage situations, and possible Catholic ministry positions for the ministers at Maranatha. Ned McGrath, communications director for the Detroit Archdiocese, released this statement to Credo:

"In the spirit of the Great Jubilee, Cardinal Maida and the Archdiocese of Detroit have been open to inquiries from other Christian leaders and/or their congregants regarding possible transition into individual membership in the Roman Catholic Church. To date, these conversations can and should be described as introductory, private and inconclusive."

While there is a possibility that Pastor Jones could enter the seminary and become a Catholic priest or deacon, none of that is certain, although married pastors of other faiths have done just that. Jones is not worried about his future as a minister. He said he is prepared to do whatever Cardinal Adam Maida directs him to do. "I may have to go out and get a job now," Jones laughed

It all finally came down to the vote on June 4. The question: Do you want to take the next steps necessary to enter the Catholic Church? As the congregation entered through the big wooden doors of Maranatha, they dropped their yellow ballots into the box. No matter what the outcome, the Jones family, including all three boys and their families, knew they would continue their journey into the Catholic Church. Applause erupted when the vote in favor of becoming Catholic was announced, but the victory was bittersweet. While Jones encouraged the 19 who voted no to stay with the church family as they continue the journey, he knows some will leave. "That's one of the most painful aspects of it, seeing people you love walk away because they don't understand," he said. Even members of neighboring churches are upset. "It is like I've joined the enemy, like I've betrayed them. I get calls at home from people who say, 'I love you. I'm praying for you, but I don't understand what you're doing.' And no matter how hard you try to make them understand, they are closed to the idea."

Among the 19 at Maranatha was 64-year-old Leola Crittendon. "I'm one of the originals," she said. She and her husband have been active members of Maranatha from the beginning. "It's like the death of a church. It's heartbreaking." Crittendon said she never attended the Wednesday evening sessions because she knew she didn't want to become Catholic. "It was just not for me." Pastor Jones, she said, is like a brother to her and her family. "We love him dearly, wish him well and pray for him daily." But the family will look for another church, said Crittendon. "Pastor Jones said this is God's will for him, but it is not God's will for me and my family."

When men turn their hearts from the word of God to put their trust in the words of men, it always brings destruction. Alex Jones should have heeded the warnings in the Bible concerning these things. He should have learn from Israel’s mistakes and judgments that God is not pleased with such things. When Jeremiah preached God’s word to the men of Judah, they rejected it. They preferred the words that came out of their own mouths more than the word of God!

“As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.” (Jer.44:16-17)

Although Jones feels, “This is definitely the work of the Holy Spirit,” be assured that the Holy Spirit NEVER goes outside His word. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa.8:20)

"The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?" (Jer.8:9)

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1Sam.15:23)

“The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jer.8:9)

By Rebecca A. Sexton