Posted on 07/30/2007 11:07:50 AM PDT by Bosco
As a pastor I’m often asked, "What’s the real issue that divides Catholics and Evangelicals?" Many cite the adoration of Mary, prayers to the saints, and for some it’s papal authority. While these topics can be troublesome for Evangelicals, the fundamental difference lies in our understanding of the cross itself. In a recent series of documents, Pope Benedict XVI clearly brought this cross-centered difference to the forefront when he said,
Protestant, Lutheran and other Christian denominations ... were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the “means of salvation.” The other communities “cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense” because they do not have apostolic succession -- the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles -- and therefore their priestly ordinations are not valid...." [1]
Without any ambiguity, the Pope has strongly affirmed the centuries old error that salvation is distributed by the church and not imparted as a gift by Christ Himself (John 10:27-30). The goal is not to pick a fight with the Pope; but to highlight the effectual difference in the way both Catholic and Evangelical theologies approach the cross of Christ.
The difference between Catholics and Evangelicals may best be summed up by answering two simple questions, what did Christ accomplish at the cross and how do we receive the benefits of His work? [2] Evangelical theology teaches that Christ died for our very salvation (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:1-8); and that we receive the benefits of Christ’s death simply by faith (Eph 1:13; Jn 1:12-13). Catholic theology teaches that Christ died only for the possibility of our salvation; and that we receive the benefits of Christ’s death not by faith alone, but as heavenly merit distributed by the Catholic Church through the sacraments. This sacramental system is what the Pope refers to as the "means of salvation." [3]
In contrast to Catholic theology, the Apostle Paul made it clear that God imputes or charges the righteousness of Christ to the believer based solely on trust in the finished work of the Savior (Rom 5:18-19; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 2:8-9). In the Catholic view of salvation, the finished work of Christ is propped-up by a man-made system that awards grace incrementally; thus infusing the faithful with righteousness that can be gained or lost based on human merit.
Any view of salvation that incorporates human merit can never exclude boasting, a core problem in the Catholic perspective (Eph 2:9). The one who properly works the sacramental system is in a cooperative effort with God for his salvation; in effect, reaching up to God while God reaches down. Genesis Chapter 3 clearly teaches that since the fall of man all humanity is born spiritually dead. A cooperative effort in salvation is like recruiting a new sports team from the local cemetery or a dead man in the emergency room reaching for his own defibrillator paddles (Eph 2:1-7; Rom 3:10-18). In contrast to the Catholic perspective, Evangelical theology embraces this dead condition and rests solely in the grace of God; whereby God reaches down to dead sinners who cannot and will not reach upward. In the end, the Evangelical perspective ascribes all glory in salvation to God alone.
Despite the Pope’s affirmation of a centuries old error, each generation must consider what Christ accomplished at the cross and how we receive the benefits of His work. So what’s the real issue that divides Catholics and Evangelicals? Answer -- it’s the cross!
Your brother,
Pastor Hirsch
[1] Associated Press, “Pope: Other Christian Denominations Not True Churches.” http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288841,00.html. July 10, 2007.
[2] I first heard these two questions posed by John Hannah, Distinguished Professor of Historical Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, while attending his lectures on church history in 2003.
[3] For an explanation of the Catholic doctrine of salvation see the Catholic Encyclopedia at
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm#IV.t
When I became a Christian in the early 80's (former Roman Catholic) the difference contained in the article made the biggest impact in my spiritual life.
If anyone wants details on my spiritual journey, feel free to ask.
So you think this is breaking news?
Is this an open topic for critique?
THIS oughtta be fun to watch.
It wasn't there as of a few seconds ago from this post.
'disingenuous' was already put in the keyword place. And the thread post is only about 8 minutes old.
By the way, did you ever expend the effort to read the Catechism?
This is "breaking news" to a lot of people who are confused about the differences...
“Was it posted in the ‘Breaking News’ section?”
My mistake. I’ve always considered the news portion of the forum “breaking” rather than religious.
All comments about the Pope’s attack on Protestants will be viewed as Catholic bashing.
Are you implying that Catholics aren’t Christians?
It’s happening. Hang on .....
Hate to break it to you, pal but we Catholics are considered Christians too.
Stopped reading right there. Sheesh!
Sounds to me that this guy wants to divide all religions even further and his opinion is Gospel. He brings everything down to the “Cross”, forgetting everything else about Christ’s life and teachings. This guy is missing the boat entirely. If one were to believe this, one could totally stop their education about Christ and his teachings. Even within the Catholic Church, they always enforce the idea of continuing education. Can this guy explain why the people in those times spoke in parabels? Does he understand why things were done in the bible the way they were. I have the feeling he can’t.
Heck fire...I’m just glad that “Il Papa” properly separated us Lutherans from the rest of the “protestants”. (Although for the wrong reason...)
Ephesians 2: 8-10
“Or are you being glib?”
I’m never glib. Much too easy.
Sarcastic, nasty, picky and wry, yes, but never, never, never glib.
And faith is not passed down by genes, it is something between the individual and God--though the probability of a Christian arising out of a Christian household is higher than a Christian coming from a non-Christian background, though there are plenty of those, too.
When the Pope makes a derogatory statement about Protestants, it makes breaking news. Now a minister defends his religion against the Pope and it's not breaking news?
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