#500 Years Later

 "The Protest is Over!" At least that is what Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer declared at a Kenneth Copeland pastoral leadership conference on January 21, 2014. "The Protest is over," repeated Palmer, "and if there is no protest, how can there be a Protestant Church?"

It seems to me that the line between Protestant and Catholic gets blurred more and more every year. Attitudes and opinions of the Roman Church by Protestants are softening. A mere 60 years ago the country was concerned about electing a Catholic President of the country. Today, religious affiliation has little or now influence on voters. In fact, according to an August 31, 2017, article by Pew Research, "Most American Protestants now say the two Christian traditions are more similar than different, religiously, and many U.S. Protestants espouse traditionally Catholic beliefs on some issues."[1] In fact, the article went on to state that a full 36% of Protestant Americans do not believe in either sola fide (faith alone) or sola scriptura (Scripture alone).

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At that event I mentioned above, which can be watched on YouTube, [link posted below] Pope Francis sent a video recorded message, via Bishop Palmer, to Kenneth Copeland and the conference encouraging and pleading for unity in the church. In the video he told the story of Joseph and his brothers, embracing after years of separation.

The Pew Research Survey shows just three-in-10 U.S. Protestants believe both in sola fide and Sola Scriptura. One third of Protestants (35%) affirm one but not the other, and 36% do not believe in either sola fide or sola scriptura. (reference)

He talked about how the brothers had money, but no food, so they came to Joseph. It's interesting, in the original story, the brothers came and bowed down to Joseph. The unity the Roman Church has always sought is one where the world church bows at her feet.

What have the last 500 years taught us? Is the Protest really over?

When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, it was an attempt to have conversation and dialogue about the corrupt attitudes and practices of clergy within his Roman Catholic Church. I don't think Luther for a moment initially thought he would begin a whole new denomination. He was seeking reform from within his mother church.

Luther wasn't the first to disagree with the Roman Church. Reformers had come before him, men like Peter Waldo, John Huss, John Wycliffe, and Jerome of Prague. It's just that with Luther, a whole movement gained traction. The invention of the printing press made it possible to spread the word quickly, so that the world which had only before known one brand of Christianity, was now seeing two.

Luther's 95 Theses were 95 points of disagreement. But we can narrow the document down to five points for the sake of space and time. Those five points are: solus Christus, sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, soli deo gloria--or only Christ, only Scripture, only faith, only grace, and only glory to God.

However, today these five "solas" are under fire. Many argue the protest is over because on October 31, 1999, the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church signed a document entitled, "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification." Read the document and you'll notice friendlier language regarding the doctrine of justification for Lutherans. However, you'll also notice that the document explicitly confirms the position of the Roman Church at the Council of Trent (1545-1563) on the doctrine. It should also be noted that the Council of Trent was the Church's response to the Reformation, and began what we call today, the "Counter-Reformation." Thus, all previous condemnations of the Protestant view of "only faith" still stand, however, if you will accept the Joint Declaration, you can have an exception. On an interesting side note, the Methodist Church signed a similar agreement with Rome in 2006.

To me it's pretty sobering to see two large and significant organizations make such decisions. But it's not unexpected.The Bible speaks of a time when there really will only be two organizations of the church left: there will be the apostate, world-wide church, and there will be the remnant faithful. Look at society in general and take note of the universalization of everything. It's now a global economy, a global market, global communications, and soon--a global religion tied together by the precepts and doctrines of Rome--for this is the stated mission of the church itself!

Look back at the last 1500 years of Christianity and consider how many "heretics" were thrown to the animals in the coliseums? How many burned at the stake? How many hung or beheaded? The Medieval Church was one of violence to those who disagreed. Thus it will be in the days just before Jesus comes, that a one-world religious organization will rise up and decree their way is the only way. Non-compliance will most certainly result in the death penalty.

Today the Roman Church teaches that only she can provide salvation for people. As a result, she is actively working to bridge the gulf between Catholic and Protestant divides.

Which brings me to the point of the Reformation. Because for me, the protest is not over. Let me illustrate using the five solas of Martin Luther:

• Solus Christus. Christ alone for He alone is worthy (Rev 4:11). He created us. He died for us. He's coming back for us. The Reformers but Jesus front and center for four reasons:

 

1. Scripture puts Jesus front and center. From Genesis to Revelation, creation to re-creation, Jesus is at the heart of all theology. Salvation is found only in Christ because He is the Savior. "At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow..." (Philippeans 2:10).
2. "Solus Christus" reflect's what Jesus taught about Himself. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus taught the two disciples the significance of His life (Luke 24:27). In John 5:39-40 He told the Pharisees that Scripture testifies of Him. In other words, Jesus Himself taught that He was the Redeemer.
3. The Apostles put Jesus at the center of their theology. Peter reminds us that there is no other name under heaven that we can be saved by (Acts 4:12). The author of Hebrews said that in these last days, God has spoken to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3).
4. "Solus Christus" ties all other theological points together. Christ alone connects the dots of our doctrines because He is the cornerstone of the salvation of God. If we misinterpret who Christ is and what He does in His life, death, and resurrection, then all other doctrines and teachings will suffer too.

 

• Sola Scriptura. If the Bible and the Bible only is not the rule for our faith, then it is easy to understand how false doctrine and teaching would creep in. The Bible testifies that it is the Word of God. Jesus said the Word of God is the Truth (John 17:17). Paul tells us that the Bible is "given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16). I could give many reasons to continue the Reformation call on this point alone, but because the Roman Church argues that tradition and Papal interpretation are above Scripture, here are several reasons to continue the sola Scriptura reform:

 

1. The Bible teaches that only Jesus was sinless. The Bible says that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, cf. Hebrews 4:12). Rome teaches that Mary was sinless too.
2. The Bible teaches that only Jesus is the mediator between man and God. (1 Timothy 2:5). Rome teaches that you need to go to the priest or bishop to have them mediate on your behalf. (By the way, this takes away from the "solus Christus" teaching as well!)
3. The Bible teaches that we can know we are saved (1 John 5:13). Rome teaches that you can't know and don't know. (This why their doctrines on indulgences and penances work.)
4. The Bible says, "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8-11). Rome actually used the Sabbath in it's attack against the Reformation, telling the Protestants, if you truly believe in the Bible and the Bible only, why don't  you keep Sabbath? Notice the words from the Archbishop of Reggio during the Council of Trent: "Now the Protestants' claim, that they stand upon the written word only, is  not true. Their profession of holding the Scripture alone as the standard of faith, is false. PROOF: The written word explicitly enjoins the observance of the seventh-day as the Sabbath. They do not observe the seventh day, but reject it. If they do truly hold the Scripture alone as their standard, they would be observing the seventh day as is enjoined in the Scripture throughout." 
5. Doctrines not found at all in the Bible: The Roman Church also teaches that Mary went to heaven and mediates on behalf of man with Jesus, and the teaching of the infallibility of the pope--specifically when he speaks "ex cathedra."

 

• Sola Fide. The doctrine of righteousness by faith perplexed Martin Luther until he experienced it. Until he understood faith and Christ's righteousness, he climbed stairs on his knees, praying; he beat and whipped himself; he would go out in the cold and sleep without warmth. Righteousness by faith is not about doing, it's about accepting what Christ has already done for me. He died so I don't have to. In accepting His death for my sin, I justified on His merits--not mine. Again, here is where Christ at the center makes a difference. If Christ isn't at the center of this understanding, then it is about what you do and how you do it.

 

• Sola Gratia. The apostle Paul wrote, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians 2:8). By grace we are saved. The reformers understood that grace is underserved, yet still freely offered. This Protest point comes in response to the Catholic claim that a person can have personal merit in gaining favor with God, thereby being reconciled to Christ. In other words, Catholic theology teaches that grace is merited based on your behavior.

The final sola, soli deo gloria, is the reminder that we do all to the glory of God. Taking away from Christ, or His Word, undermining faith and grace all bring glory to the individual. It is impossible to bring Glory to God without making Christ the center of all theology, relying on the Bible and the Bible only as the rule for faith, and accepting grace and Christ's righteousness in place of our own.

Thus, I would argue, 500 years after Martin Luther, that what the church needs today is continued reformation. As they would have argued: ecclasia reformata, semper reformanda--the church reformed, always reforming. We should all the more loudly, boldly, and lovingly, proclaim the truths the reformers came to embrace. For only then, will the world truly understand the love of Christ and the depth of His sacrifice so that He could save us! ​​

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Reference:
​1.  Pew Research Data from August 31, 2017
​2.  YouTube Link to Bishop Tony Palmer and Pope Francis Address