Sunday, June 17, 2007

For future reference, I'm asking that comments posted here be short and sweet. If you would like to expound on my insightful blog entries, please use the WM Discussion Board. If your comment is longer than a paragraph or two, it may not get posted.

At the risk of starting WWIII, I will go ahead and repost some comments that I made on Slice of Laodicea's blog (I've been subbing for Ingrid while she gets some long overdue vacation). Please feel free to agree or disagree briefly (and let's keep it civil, okay?) The subject of Roman Catholicism is a difficult one for many people. Lately, Kevin and I have had the accusation leveled at us that our site is "Roman Catholic" and I thought I would repeat my answer to that mind-boggling pronouncement:

My husband, Kevin, and I are very clear on how we view the RCC on our website. We are firmly Protestant and will remain so. As I said before, we strongly disagree with some teachings in the RCC.

I think it is important to consider this, however (and as a historian, it made a difference to me): First, Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic--he saw himself as a reformer of the RCC. And so (in essence) Protestantism existed within the RCC. I would call Martin Luther a brother in Christ, wouldn't you?

Second, if we condemn everyone in the RCC, we must be prepared to say that Christianity died out after 300 A.D.and was not revived again until Martin Luther in 1521 A.D. This position would contradict Jesus when He said, "On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).


This should make for an interesting week . . . .

4 Comments:

JohnD said...

On the John Ankerberg Show Walter Martin spoke of the (Protestant) Church as being in apostasy for (then) over 50 years.

Both your comment and your father's comment leads me to the belief that there are saved people in both systems despite Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church.

9:36 AM  
Rhology said...

JohnD,

You'll say that about RCs but won't say it about Partial Preterists? You amaze me.

Jill,

I agree w/ your father's position as well, that there are some in the RCC that know Jesus in total spite of the official doctrine and of the RCC's best efforts to pervert the Gospel. Consider how serious it is to add works to the Gospel, as they have done. Gal 1:8 makes it clear how bad that is.
Also, I'd offer for your consideration the idea of the remnant theme of the OT; most everyone in OT time was apostate, following idols, etc. But God always preserved a remnant of truly faithful, sometimes really really small, sometimes larger. Why would we bow our minds to the RCC's one-sided and screwed-up interp of the "gates of Hell" psg when a much more biblical paradigm is available from the OT itself?

I hope that helps you. I know that idea has helped ME a great deal.

Finally, this business about "the Protestant church" being in apostasy for some time, I'd say that aLOT of it is, but a good portion of Prots are not in apostasy. "Protestants" are not so monolithic as that, it should be obvious.

10:05 AM  
JohnD said...

Alan, Alan, you never cease trying to put words in my mouth. {sigh}

If you want to discuss this at length then I suggest you do as Jill asked and carry this over to the message board.
http://www.waltermartin.org/dcforum/DCForumID19/357.html

11:22 AM  
Rhology said...

See you there, JohnD.
And you could just say "No, that's not my position" just so everyone knows, you know.

3:19 PM  

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