Ever since the Reformation, a rift has existed between Protestants and Roman Catholics. These fissures are deep, long standing, a certainly the work of the god of this earth (Satan) to divide the Bride of Christ.
In 1994, a group of prominent evangelical Protestants, and a prominent group of Roman Catholics gathered together to sign a document entitled Evangelicals and Catholics Together.
This group has put forth a number of documents over the years, and this month puts forth Do Whatever He Tells you: A Statement of Evangelicals and Catholics Together.
This particular document centers around the person of the Virgin Mary. The document crafts the common ground of belief between the two camps, and then respectfully presents the difference of opinion from each camp, with each camp crafting their individual dissenting views.
These differences essentially revolve around four beliefs:
- Roman Catholic's believe in Mary's perpetual virginity. In other words, even after the birth of Christ, Mary remained a virgin, and never consummated a sexual relationship with Joseph, maintaining that the vessel Mary was sacred, and would be stained with such a sexual union.
- Roman Catholic's believe in Mary's immaculate conception. This belief holds that Mary, from the moment of her birth, was completely without the stain of sin on her life. This belief puts her in the same sinless league as Christ.
- Roman Catholic's believe in Mary's bodily assumption. Under this belief, Mary never physically dies, but is brought directly to heaven in a manner similar to Elijah.
- Roman Catholic's believe in the invocation of Mary. In other words, Mary is involved in the dispensation of grace, and possesses an intercessory role between the Christian and Christ.
The other great challenge between the groups is that these four Roman Catholic beliefs were not gleaned from Scripture, but transferred as true truth through "Sacred Tradition".
- Roman Catholic's maintain that the Pope, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, has the ability to bring about true truth, from whence comes "Sacred Tradition", outside of the Word of God. Thus, in 1950, the Pope declared a true truth (Sacred Tradition) that Mary never died a physical death, but was brought alive to heaven.
I must confess, these chasms are infinitely deep. I scratch my head in wonder as I contemplate what to think of all of this. Protestants like Dr. John MacArther would maintain that these chasms are so infinite that we do our Roman Catholics friends harm by attempting to find any common unity.
I understand Dr. MacArthur's concerns, but frankly, I haven't come to any conclusions about this apparent movement to unite evangelical Protestants with our Roman Catholic friends.
Most certainly there are Roman Catholics who are truly among the elect. But, I am thinking, that a great, great many may not be. To be fair, this same statement holds true of those professing a Protestant faith. I am confident that at judgment day, there will be unfortunate, surprised, and eternally banished people from both camps.
So, what are we to think of this document? Any thoughts?
