Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 08:1 (Spring 1995)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

JOTGES 8:1 (Spring 95) p. 73

Book Reviews

The Gospel According to Rome. By James G. McCarthy. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1995. 397 pp. Paper, $11.99.

“The Turks are at the Gates of Vienna!” These dramatic words from the Louis de Rochemont film “Martin Luther” (1953) are relevant today. In the 16th century Lutherans were pressed to reunite with Rome to form a solid front against the encroaching Muslims. Today the Muslims—not to mention the New-Agers, Hindus, cultists, and secularists—are at the gates of London, Paris, and New York.

The handsome young Irish-American (from a family of eight, both of whose Irish-born parents were also from families of eight) has written the best book on why Evangelicals should not and cannot unite with Rome, even on lesser levels. Unlike some books, this one is compassionate and loving rather than excessively harsh.

McCarthy is a teacher at the small but influential Discipleship Internship Training Program at San Leandro, California. His book is up-to-date (using the recent Catechismus Ecclesiae Catholicae), covers all the main problems (salvation, the mass, Mary, and authority—the four main parts of his book), and has important appendices on infant baptismal regeneration, the seven sacraments, the Roman Catholic Bible, NT references to tradition, and Sola Scriptura. It also has 558 notes and documentation, plus Scripture and subject indices.

The following samples of Roman Catholic doctrines (with page numbers from The Catholic Catechism) versus biblical teachings on salvation should show the quality of the book:

Salvation: Error Versus Truth

JOTGES 8:1 (Spring 95) p. 74