VOM, Voice of the Martrys has become a world wide behemoth. We will support the work they do “when” indeed they assist persecuted evangelical Christians, not when they use the money of their supporters to help Catholics rebuild their churches, or continue to publish newsletters with heretical Catholic doctrines. It’s amazing to me that this activity has slipped under the radar almost unnoticed by VOM’s evangelical supporters.
Just so you know, there is another organization similar to VOM; the so named International Christian Concern;
http://www.persecution.org/.
Apparently, this group does the same thing as VOM. Checking out their site I found they support Coptic Catholics. I have begun to wonder if these groups are just plain ignorant of scripture, or perhaps there is more of a profit motive involved rather than legit Christian love and compassion. As for me, I plan on knowing first hand, in my own community, where and who to support financially. I don’t think I shall ever again send checks to “mystery meat ministries”, where you really have zero idea where the money is going.
Voice of the Martyrs Warning-Dr. Scott Johnson:
http://onlyjesussaves.com/blog/archives/743
“We have just confirmed that Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) does not differentiate heretics from Christians in their reporting; They lump Catholics, Adventists and any other group professing Christian faith in with their claim of being persecuted for Jesus. Will they next add Mormons just because they claim Jesus?
I find this disturbing VOM cannot discern the difference between heretics and Brothers.
Why is that important to identify those who practice heresy? Is there a difference between Catholics, Christians, Mormons and Adventists, for example? Why identify when you are speaking about Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Buddhists from Christians? What is the difference between them and Roman Catholics; These are all works righteousness systems and NOT Christianity.
“Why are you lumping Catholics in that list, isn’t Catholicism Biblical?” Is it?
In matters like these, it is always wise to seek out elders with good reputations for their clear exegetical exposition of the Bible to see what they have to say. So let’s ask John MacArthur, Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969, and founder of the Ministry Grace to You (http://gty.org).
On his website John answered that question in his article…
Is Roman Catholicism Biblical?
“As long as the Roman Catholic Church continues to assert its own authority and bind its people to ‘another gospel,’ it is the spiritual duty of all true Christians to oppose Roman Catholic doctrine with biblical truth and to call all Catholics to true salvation. Meanwhile, evangelicals must not capitulate to the pressures for artificial unity. They cannot allow the gospel to be obscured, and they cannot make friends with false religion, lest they become partakers in their evil deeds (2 John 11).”
John also has an audio series on Catholicism called “Explaining the Heresy of Catholicism“, which title makes clear his opinion on the matter.
John’s view of Calvinism, however, is entirely another matter.
So, did you catch that? Evangelicals must not capitulate to the pressures for false unity and must oppose their doctrine with Biblical truth! It is a much greater evil to send a man to Hell thinking he is safe than to burn down his false assumptions with the Law, for example, showing him his great need for a Savior. The pain will not be forever in the latter but will be endless in the former. There is a very clear distinction between denominations that “differ in non-essentials” and pagan worship that sends a man to Hell, isn’t there?
A few points I have seen myself about Roman Catholic beliefs:
1. Where does the Bible say to worship Mary or that she is in any way a co-redemptrix with Jesus for your salvation?
2. Why do Catholics still claim infused righteousness is correct, in direct opposition to Ephesians 2:8-9?
3. Why do Catholic Priests venerate tradition and what their High priests say over the Bible and what God says, when there is a conflict between them?
Roman Catholicism doesn’t sound Christian to me. And those points are not “non-essentials.”
I asked a representative of VOM on Twitter what the Roman Catholic policy was, after discussing the issue with him, and he gave me this link on their website: http://www.persecution.net/faq-kinds.htm.
In that document you can see the ministry policy is not to be concerned with who is who. Apparently all someone need to do is claim Jesus to get on “the list.”
Why is VOM wasting your support on heretics, funds meant to help Christians?
Richard Wumbrand is not a Catholic but, as I am told by @VOMC on Twitter, Richard suffered in a prison “with Catholics.” It is clear by their policy statement on the matter that V.O.M. considers Roman Catholicism to be merely a denomination of Christianity. (I suspect their Reformed Catholicism, called Calvinism, is to blame
Not True Richard!
There are many Protestants that were tortured by Roman Catholics that would argue very vehemently with you if they could; We must argue for them instead.
Catholics are not Christians!
Richard Wurmbrand seemed to have elevated his personal experience above scriptural authority; he knows better today.
I like(d) what Voice of the Martyrs does, so I am saddened to hear they are allowing themselves to be used by heretics to spread their heresy as they help “persecuted” Catholics rebuild their “churches.”
It would not be difficult for you, Voice of the Martyrs, to identify the “denomination” of the person under persecution, but yet you refuse to do even that and so color your news of Christians Persecution with doubt:
“Our focus of ministry is on those who are mistreated because their persecutors consider them Christians” is their stated justification for helping Catholics as if they are brothers in Christ. So now the persecutors define what you do Richard? No, brother, no; That is a mistake. Many make this very same mistake about Mormons.
“Should we not still assist those being badly treated?” OF COURSE! Christians are responsible for the VAST MAJORITY of all assistance in the world. And MOST of those receiving such help are NOT Christians, as the Bible says. But let’s not identify these as being persecuted for Jesus when they are not.
If a Catholic is being abused he has to know he isn’t being persecuted for Jesus! A Catholic doesn’t even have a saving faith! Consider his soul man lest he die in his sins and you be called to task by Jesus for not telling him the truth!
Truth is more important than unity, Richard Wurmbrand, even at the cost of your own $upport. It is far far better to lose the ministry than foster lies as truth and help a single soul into Hell, am I right?
And why is that important? Why is it so all-fired important to know the difference between a Catholic, a Mormon, a Jehovah’s Witness and a Christian? Because JESUS cares who is His and who is being persecuted for His name’s sake. Jesus cares very much who is lying about their associations and using His Name to garner support for their heresy, taking such help from His Children. God is not mocked! He is not jerk to be jerked around.
Christians cannot have unity with darkness. PERIOD.
Any co-operation with Catholicism lends credence to their apostasy – Jesus is not pleased.
So, as long as the Voice of the Martyrs ministry continues to identify with those who are not being persecuted for Jesus then Joyce and I cannot recommend supporting their work; They might as well just become a secular news service for all the good they will do, I’m genuinely sorry to say.
I had to let our support for a housing ministry go when I found out they were Catholic. Now I find Voice of the Martyrs is Catholic friendly as well.
The final word on this, as always, must be from the Bible:
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
2 Corinthians 6:14
“for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
2 John 11
Should Voice of the Martyrs see the error of supporting Catholicism as if it is Christian, when they stop, then we will be happy to recommend them again.”
Patrick and Joyce Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.com Ministries
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 
I understand what you’re saying Maria; still I would be reluctant to throw the baby out with the bathwater on that basis, since Scott Johnson was right in his assessment of the Catholic church. His objection was regarding the fact that for the most part, by and large Protestantism in general has retained many of the aspects of the Catholic church, namely, the building of church buildings, the hierarchy of the Nicolaitan clerical “leadership”, (in part), the tithe system. What he called “baggage”…., and also, we must admit that there is altogether too many pictures, statues, etc of Jesus floating around in Protestant Christianity , which is nothing short of idol worship. How can Protestant Christians point their fingers at Catholics for icons of Mary, and “saints” when they themselves adorn their churches and homes with icons and pictures of Jesus.
Nevertheless, Scott Johnson painted Protestantism with too broad a brush and in the process tossed the baby out with the bathwater himself, ,neglecting to mention the great many martyrs of the faith who suffered for the truth of the Lord Jesus who were Reformers, or..those who “protested” against Roman Catholicism, (Protestants).. He did mention the Waldenses: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/634415/Waldenses and Anabaptists,http://www.christian-history.org/anabaptists.html
as if they were representative of “true” Christians, but after all, these were all “Protestants” themselves having split with the Roman papacy.
That said, I think we must all use a great deal of discernment in applying labels to people in general. which leads to a great deal of misunderstanding.
Shalom,
Scarlett
It does lead to this, Scarlett. Thank you for the gracious spirit in which you answered. Thank you so much, what a blessing!
Maria
Hi, again! I did unlike it because like a doofus I didn’t listen to the video till after reading this, and Scott Johnson is wrong about Protestantism. Many many Protestants laid down their lives, standing against the Papal Antichrist, to declare the truth: Christ alone, Scripture alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, the Glory of God alone. He goes off track from his talk about VOM to slander Protestants. So I’m so sorry, my sister, but I had to unlike this. He is so unjust. I’ve studied this indepth too, the history. Why did he have to do this here? Shame on him. When he can testify to the truth by dying for it, then he can be equal with many of these men and women.
Scarlett, thank you so much! I liked this but have to tell you that I almost didn’t because of this couple’s views on sovereign grace (people like to call it Calvinism).
God bless you!
Maria