It's almost 500 years since Martin Luther nailed
his thesis to the door in Wittenburg which began the process of reformation.
The advantage of his reformation over the Wycliffe one, or the Huss one was the
invention of the printing press. Within two weeks the whole of Northern
Europe had printed copies of Luther's protest. Thus began the necessary break
from the Roman Church.
However the Roman Church in 1517 was very
different than the Roman Catholic Church of today.
Over the last week I have been at two different
churches, from two different denominations where both speakers have spoken
approvingly of the relationship between themselves and the Roman Church, both
affirming that the Roman Catholic Church has changed.
It has changed in 1517 it hadn't approved the Immaculate
Conception and sinlessness of Mary, this didn't come until the C19th. In the
same Century the Roman Catholic Church dogmatically asserted Papal Authority.
More than these though it wasn't until the Counter Reformation that the
Catholic Church anathematised Sola Fide and in many respects placed an anathema
on the Catholic System itself. This is from the Counter Reformation:
CANON 9:
"If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such
wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the
obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary,
that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be
anathema.
As Martin Luther rightly said, the Doctrine
of Justification by Faith Alone is the Doctrine by which a Church stands or
falls.
It's seems Protestants have also changed,
at the Reformation, Ad fontes was important- 2back to the sources" was one
of the cries- back to the text of scripture, what does the Bible say. Martin
Luther again said, 'unless I am convinced by scripture and sound reason- I do
not accept the authority of the Popes or councils for they have contradicted
each other, my conscience remains captive to the word of God.'
However at one of these meetings a speaker
informed the gathering that Catholics and Protestants agree because they share
a common experience in the Charismatic renewal, which has affected both
Protestants and Catholics despite the vast difference in doctrine held by them
both. It seems that now experience validates experience rather than being
tested by the Scriptures themselves. As well as that the Catholic Church has
changed because Catholics embrace the Alpha Course. However if you read Chris
Hand's Alpha course, Falling Short or examined the material for you will find
that rather than Alpha being a Protestant course it is very ambiguous on Sola
Fide, presenting Justification as a work of Faith. Of course Rome is ok with
that, but add the word Alone and then there is an issue.
One of the big differences between Rome and
Evangelicals centres around their different understanding of how one is saved.
Evangelicals affirm that the way to heaven is only through Christ's atoning
sacrifice, when the sinner repents of their sins, like the thief on the cross they
are assured that 'you will be with me in paradise'. Rome however has several
steps, baptismal regeneration, extreme unction and even then purgatory maybe
for eons and eons, to complete the work of atonement for that one person, the work of the Cross is not enough. Jesus' cry from the Cross, it is accomplished is done away as works
are added to the completed work of Christ.
If we don't agree on the Gospel we cannot have a relationship
where we treat them as fellow believers. The Reformation was necessary and in
many ways is still necessary.
Shalom
Stephen <><
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