Question: [My wife's family is Catholic and] we find ourselves in a dilemma when an important family situation comes up which takes place in a Catholic church, such as weddings, funerals, etc. We know T. A. McMahon is a former Catholic. What does he do? | thebereancall.org

TBC Staff

Question: There are many Catholics on my wife’s side of the family, and most of them know that we believe that Roman Catholicism is a false religion. However, we find ourselves in a dilemma when an important family situation comes up which takes place in a Catholic church, such as weddings, funerals, etc. We know T. A. McMahon is a former Catholic. What does he do?

Response: In order to keep lines of communication open with unsaved relatives, I recommend doing whatever one can without compromising one’s faith. It’s particularly important to be available to minister to loved ones at the death of a family member, even if that means attending a requiem Mass. The same would apply to a Catholic wedding, even though a Mass may be involved.

For those unfamiliar with Catholic sacramental rituals, all are unbiblical and most are a denial of the finished work of Christ regarding salvation. Nevertheless, as long as a believer is not worshiping in a Catholic church, but attending as a service to others—as did Naaman in the pagan temple of Rimmon (2 Kgs 5:17-19)—there is no compromise.