Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, is one of the most popular authors and speakers within the evangelical church today. He has been the subject of a number of Lighthouse Trails articles based on his ecumenical activities as well as statements he made threatening that God will destroy those who challenge Christian leaders. Last week, Chan gave a sermon promoting the Catholic view of communion (i.e., the Eucharist), which led to several online responses, one of which was a Catholic priest who weighed in with a YouTube video* expressing his zeal and belief that Chan is about to convert to the Catholic faith.
For those who may not know what communion means according to Catholic doctrine, it is the belief that the bread in communion actually is transformed (by a priest) into the literal body and presence of Jesus Christ. Roger Oakland, author of Another Jesus: the eucharistic christ and the new evangelization, explains:
[T]he Catholic Church’s doctrine of the Eucharist is based on the concept of transubstantiation, a belief that the Catholic priest has the power to turn a wafer of bread into the actual body, soul and divinity of Jesus. [This is] the very foundation of the Catholic faith. (p. 23)
As Oakland documents in his book, the Catholic Church stands so strongly on the Eucharist that The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent states that anyone who denies this view is anathema (cursed) (1978, p. 79, Canon 1). The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates:
If anyone says that Christ received in the Eucharist is received spiritually only and not also sacramentally and really, let him be anathema. (Canon 8)
With such strong admonitions from Catholic doctrine, it’s easy to see why a Catholic priest would believe Francis Chan’s sermon heavily promoting eucharistic communion indicates Chan is about to convert to Catholicism. In his view, the only way to receive this transformed bread and wine is through a Catholic priest performing “transubstantiation.”
Be that as it may, a growing number of evangelicals (such as Joseph Prince and Bill Johnson) are beginning to explore and even embrace the Catholic view of the “literal” body, blood, and presence of Christ in communion—priest or no priest. Roger Oakland explains how dangerous this is and how it is helping to bring about a one-world religion that worships a false christ. He exhorts Christians to ask the question, “Is there a difference between the Catholic (Eucharistic) Christ and the Jesus of the Bible?” We believe emphatically that there is, as Oakland documents in his book and his article “Why the Catholic (and Emerging Church) “Eucharist” Does Not Line Up With Scripture.”
Whether Francis Chan is going to become Catholic or not, only time will tell. But two things we know for sure: the Catholic Church uses, as its strongest means, the eucharist as an “evangelistic” tool to “bring back the lost brethren (the Protestants) into the “Mother Church”; and second, even if Francis Chan himself does not convert, he is opening the door and showing the way for his followers to enter the Roman Catholic Church, and no doubt, many will as they seek to experience this eucharistic christ who will ultimately put them into the arms of Rome.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
Related Information:
YouTube Video on Francis Chan by “Father Kyle Manno”:
The Conversion of Protestants to Catholicism Through the Eucharist
Christian Leaders – A New Openness . . . to the Catholic Church
Resources from Lighthouse Trails on the Roman Catholic Church (Note: If you know someone who is Catholic or who is considering becoming Catholic, we urge you to give that person one of our books or booklets from our resource list. If you cannot afford to get one of these resources for your friend, e-mail us at editors@lighthousetrails.com, and we will send you a resource for free.)
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
Andrew,
Obviously, we do not agree at all with that. Jesus was not talking about literally eating His flesh and drinking His blood. You might consider reading an article our chief editor (a former Catholic) wrote called My Journey Out of Catholicism. In a comment you made on another article we wrote, https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=25407, you said that men who were executed by the Catholic Church “died for a lie” because they did not embrace the Catholic Eucharist. Do you really think God would ordain for Catholic leaders to murder people who don’t agree with them?
I’m saying that if the Eucharist is not the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, such that St. Augustine speaks the truth in saying “not only do we not sin by adoring [the Eucharist], we do sin by not adoring,” then neither are you truly born again and a new creature in Christ. If that is the case, then Christ’s death and resurrection were in vain, you are still in your sins, and those who have died in Christ have perished.
Andrew, not sure what you mean by “if the Eucharist is not literal.”
If the Eucharist is not literal, then neither is the Second Birth literal. If the Second Birth is not literal, then you are not a new creature, you are still in your sins, and Christ died and rose in vain. Stop thinking according to the flesh and believe the Gospel.
Sadly, very sadly! Satan is watching what is happening in our country to the Church of God. I Pray all Christians everywhere will READ and Study God’s Word. The attack on God’s word is everywhere! We need to put on the Full Armor of God. PRAY! The Rapture is near. Maybe Today?
Tell me…why doesnt the eucharist taste like meat or blood…if its truly a miracle and not some metaphysical explanation it should be physically detectable…i was raised Catholic, love Jesus, but i left the shadows of Catholicism for their liberal subjective view of the Bible
Arielle,
Please read John 6:63 carefully.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
(NASB)
No, He was not being literal!! The words of John 6 here that Jesus is speaking are SPIRITUAL, not physical or in a literal sense!! He did not pass around His flesh to be eaten. Was He physical bread or manna? No, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven …” You cannot take these verses in a literal sense as you are doing.
I spent the first 27 years of my life as a Catholic. Please do not involve yourself in Mary-ology, prayers to saints, statues, Confession, popes claiming to be “the Vicar of Christ”, infallibility, etc. Stay in the Word and a Word-based church. You will not find it in Catholicism.
What FC and BM did is not a Roman Catholic practice. That is an evangelical one dating back to the 1700s in America. Holding “audiences” and waiting for the Holy Spirit to answer is antics and naive. I hope you look into the early church fathers who were direct disciples of the apostles and are converted into the Catholic Church.
What do you say about John 6 ? Read it in full and tell me what Jesus really meant? Do you think he was mincing words? He was speaking literally. Whenever Jesus was speaking metaphorically he said so. When he talked about his body and blood here he was being literal. I hope you convert to Catholicism like I am doing. I used to be VERY anti catholic.
Rachel,
As you most likely know, Scott Hahn converted from Christianity to Roman Catholicism many years ago. It is interesting to note that in Hahn’s book Rome Sweet Rome (his biography), he says: “If the wafer Catholics worship is not Christ (and I was convinced it was not), then it is idolatrous and blasphemous to do what Catholics do in bowing before and worshiping the Eucharist.” (p. 6)
Rachel, Jesus Christ is not in the wafer, nor does the wafer become Him. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus stated: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” With the Catholic Eucharist, the wafer can only, they say, become Christ after the Priest has performed transubstantiation. So this Scripture by Christ would have to be thrown out because in it, He is giving an invitation to anyone who will open the door to Him. No priest is needed. No transubstantiation. No wafer. And He promises to come in and live in that person who invites Him into his or her heart. There’s a significant contradiction here. So either Hahn is right or Jesus is right – it can’t be both.
Hey, y’all! If you’re interested in learning more about the Eucharist and its origins, what the Catholic Church believes about the Eucharist, or are just curious to learn more in general, here’s a link to a great presentation by the great Dr. Scott Hahn! He’s great.
He is a world-renown academic, theologian, and speaker. Whether or not you agree/believe with the catholic viewpoint, it’s always good to learn about what the other side believes if only to try and have a discussion with them.
God Bless!
Yes, because they cannot reason beyond their propagandist notes and little institutes, hence my pointing it out. I have spoken with many Calvinistas, and that question came up first, “So, you’re an Arminian then.” More of an accusation than a question, really.
“Huh?” “Say when?” “A what?”
Sometimes, I can only smile, Richard.
John J
It is sad that you had to point out that you are not an Arminian. Such is the Calvinist mindset.
“Statement of Beliefs” on church’s sites are meaningless, and simply there (in most cases) to mislead. Wait until you get to these places’ “covenants” you have to sign . . . cultic, anyone? Total control, anyone?
Yes, and the church I mention here has this to say on their statement of beliefs:
“We stand in opposition to the World Council of Churches, ecumenical evangelism, new evangelicalism, the charismatic movement and any other church, organization, movement or individual that would be in sympathy with them.”
The Roman Empire legally recognized Pauline Christianity as a valid religion in 313 AD. Later in that century, in 380 AD, Roman Catholicism became the official religion of the Roman Empire.
“The official beginning of the Roman Catholic church occurred in 590 CE, with Pope Gregory I.”
Still…they teach things that are not in the Bible. If you read about the Popes…how they used to be married, adultery, murder, etc…not a great system to follow. The Inquisitions were not ordained by God…a time of evil to be sure.
Jesus never meant for it to be literally his blood and body. Literally can also mean: VIRTUALLY —used in an exaggerated way to emphasize a statement or description that is not literally true or possible…being His blood and body. How could that happen? The Bible forbids drinking the blood of anything. We are also not cannibals to consume His flesh.
This priest gets excited about Chan, but it looks like it is more about shoving it in the face of Bible believing Christians. Look! We hooked another one!
So many ex-Catholics are out there that would refute this man and his video, the Eucharist, and other Catholic teachings, hoping to save those that are not born again in truth, but Catholic since birth without the knowledge of what is true.
I follow the Bible and its truth…not a man or woman, videos, books that promote false teachings,..even if an Angel were to tell me.
By the sounds of it, it looks like Calvinism (via Keller, Chandler, Chan, etc) is moving into the Independent Baptist churches as well. It appears that the four Cs—Charismaticism, Catholicism, Contemplativism, and Calvinism—are taking over evangelicalism. Lot’s of “isms” but less and less truth.
I attended an Independent Baptist church a few years ago and Chan was referenced favourably from the pulpit then. Materials (books) written by people like Tim Keller and Matt Chandler made their way into small group studies. These books subtly presented pro-catholic, universalist and ecumenical teachings. People who were long time Christians were not discerning it. It is no surprise that people like Chan and these other men are promoting a message that supports Catholicism as they are high profile and exert a powerful influence This movement toward agreement and fellowship with Rome seems to be gathering momentum now at an alarming rate.
apostasy is here the whore of bablylon is luring multitudes away from true biblical christianity. remember jesus said few there be that find it. matthew 7-11-13
A few months ago I noticed that Joseph Prince was saying that Holy Communion actually gave participants supernatural powers. This is not scriptural. Evangelical Communion is for the purpose of remembering what Jesus did on the cross for us. In remembrance. .. The attention is on Jesus, not on us. I remember seeing Frances Chan with Beth Moore waiting for God to speak audibly to the whole audience. They waited a long time. It is very sad to see evangelicals fooled by the unscriptural traditions of the R. C. Church.
And, no, I’m not an Arminian either. I’m a born-again believer (for those who are going to dissect the site I referenced regarding Bud-Light Chan. As I said: It’s for research purposes only).
There is always the one who does not read the entire comment.
Thanks in advance.
Even the so-called “bud-Light” Calvinists seem to be returning home to papa.
(For research purposes; don’t get excited: https://atheologyintension.com/2012/08/25/francis-chan-the-bud-light-calvinist/