[Forest Keeper]

This is why the mission field is so fruitful in South and Central America. Once we can get Bibles into peoples hands they see the TRUTH. I believe we see so much idolatry because they are seeking, but they just haven't been shown that's not THE WAY.

I agree. Spreading God's word leads to people seeing the truth. Interestingly, I have come across some measure of animosity by Apostolics (Latin/Orthodox) toward Protestant missionaries for doing just as you say. On another thread I was talking with an Orthodox (who at the time may or may not have been representing the beliefs of the Orthodox Church) about our missionaries in places like South America and Apostolic European countries, and he gave me the impression that once a baby is baptized in an Apostolic Church, that the Church sort of "owns" that person for the rest of his life in a spiritual sense.

I asked him if that baby grew up to be a completely lost person whether it would be better for a Protestant to witness to him about the mercy and grace of Christ, or would it be better if the Protestant missionary left him alone. He said that such a person is the Church's responsibility, whether the Church ever "finds" him or not, so it would be better for the person if the Protestant left him alone. I was rather taken aback and told him that I would certainly rather see a lost person become an Apostolic than to see him remain dead in his sins, if those were the only two choices.

Conservonator, how would you describe the Latin view on this subject? With no reference to the people praying in front of statues in the article, do you think it is wrong for Protestant missionaries to minister to faithless people in predominantly Catholic countries?

[Gamecock]

Interestingly, I have come across some measure of animosity by Apostolics (Latin/Orthodox) toward Protestant missionaries for doing just as you say.

I'M SHOCKED!

[Kolokotronis]

“I asked him if that baby grew up to be a completely lost person whether it would be better for a Protestant to witness to him about the mercy and grace of Christ, or would it be better if the Protestant missionary left him alone. He said that such a person is the Church’s responsibility, whether the Church ever “finds” him or not, so it would be better for the person if the Protestant left him alone. I was rather taken aback and told him that I would certainly rather see a lost person become an Apostolic than to see him remain dead in his sins, if those were the only two choices.”

I can’t remember if I am the Orthodoxer you were speaking with, but I think I agree with whoever it was who spoke to you assuming they were making this rule to apply in Orthodox countries. I will say that unlike many Orthodox, I really don’t have any problem with the Latin Church baptizing people in Orthodox lands but then again, I have no doubts at all about the validity or efficacy of Latin sacraments or orders.

[wmfights]

Spreading God's word leads to people seeing the truth. Interestingly, I have come across some measure of animosity by Apostolics (Latin/Orthodox) toward Protestant missionaries for doing just as you say.

I think this the result of them teaching an exclusivity that is not found in Scripture. The praying to statues, seeing apparitions that are believed to be Mary, the adoration for Mary that sure looks like worship from the outside, and the ever increasing supernatural powers attributed to Mary are all permissible because of the teaching of exclusivity.

I think the missionaries encounter problems from the RC's because by introducing the preeminence of Scripture the argument for exclusivity falls apart and a great deal of what they do comes into question.