Shepherd the Flock

I’ve been on vacation this week (hence the inactivity here), visiting my family in Denver, CO, and I had an opportunity to do something that I’ve rarely had before: with no time-constraints or obligations, I entered a bookstore intent on spending the entire day browsing and reading books. Cup of coffee in hand, I was able to lose track of time while I made my way through a modest stack of whatever-I-could-find in the religious section at Tattered Cover. That, my friends, is the life

One book that I immensely enjoyed was Stephen J. Nichols’, The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World.

This book particularly struck me, not for its explicit thesis, but for how it stimulated in me further thoughts on the traditions of Rome and the impact of the Reformation. As noted in the beginning of the book, the protestant movement is some 600 million members strong today. Though in general numbers, this is certainly an accurate statement, but I personally find this hard to believe if we look deeper than simply the specific creed.

Thus, very briefly, here are a few ‘protestant’ issues that seem to me as being more in line with Rome than with the spirit of the Reformation. Take a quick glance and tell me what you think.

Have we really abandoned the Roman tradition in our:

Interpretation of scripture
Rome: in summary, the interpretation of scripture is determined by the Church, as it is headed up by the authority of the Pope and other hierarchy. At one point in time, even possessing a personal copy of the scriptures was worthy of death.

Today’s ‘protestant’ correlation: serious students of the Word are rare; besides an occasional personal glance at scripture, many Protestants rarely spend time studying the deep truths of the Word on their own. The local pastor’s teaching, if he is liked among the congregation, is taken as ‘truth’ in doctrines that require the least bit of study. Instead of the Pope and other hierarchy, the Protestants can boast of their own ‘superstar’ teachers, even in the Reformed community, who are looked at by many as being near infallible in their interpretation.

Sufficiency of Scripture
Rome: in summary, scripture plus Church tradition determines truth. Scripture alone, minus the infallible interpretation of the Church (and their traditions), is insufficient for faith and practice.

Today’s ‘protestant’ correlation: self-help programs, popular books (determined by their impact), innovative methodologies, psychology, impressions/feelings/God’s audible ‘voice’, etc., are being insisted as necessary for successful faith and practice. The preached word no longer attracts church-goers; the hard truths of the gospel scare off the lost; scripture-alone has gotten boring, outdated, and insufficient to reach today’s generation.

Forgiveness of Sin
Rome: elaborate system of grace plus works: baptism, mass, penance, priestly confession, rituals, etc, all in an attempt to maintain a ‘state of grace’.

Today’s ‘protestant’ correlation: Repeated baptisms due to insecurity and whether or not the decision for Christ was truly sincere; multiple trips down the aisle to rededicate one’s life for Christ as a means to clear the conscience; etc., all in an attempt to remain in a ‘state of grace’ as far as conscience goes.

Indulgences
Rome: in 1517, Martin Luther famously objected to Rome’s indulgences with his 95 theses. Particularly in this occasion, Pope Leo X offered indulgences (forgiveness of sin or relief of temporal punishment in purgatory) for those who gave alms to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Essentially, Rome’s view of sin/repentance/forgiveness allows rituals and man’s free-will to atone for sin, or demand certain blessings.

Today’s ‘protestant’ correlation: how many preachers today affirm with all their might that God will bless you financially if you are faithful in tithing/giving to the church? Is that not giving to get? Then there’s the word faith movement, which likewise demands God’s action on command. But ultimately, Rome’s indulgences is nothing more than a component of their elaborate system of salvation, which is built almost entirely around man’s free will. In most Protestant circles today, we have altar calls, sinners’ prayers, and other easy rituals that are promised to bring salvation.

Conclusion:
There might be 600million Protestants today who reject the Roman system in profession, but to say that Roman traditions do not plague the protestant church in almost every area of faith and practice is to deny the obvious. Rome’s errors are certainly massive and obvious, but they are simply the common errors of fallen man trying to get right with God in their own power, and we are doomed to repeat them on a smaller scale unless we are fervent in testing all things according to scripture, and holding fast to that which is good.