How can the ecumenical spirit be squared with the stand of the Reformation on the Papacy and the doctrines of the Catholic Church?
The reformation had based its separation from Rome on the Word of God, and had placed the gospel of Jesus Christ at the disposal of the common man. The striving of the reformers was to make the Word of God available to everyone seeking knowledge of the plan of salvation. The free availability of the Scriptures severely challenged the doctrines and supremacy of Rome, and restored truths that had been lost through centuries of suppression of religious liberty. It is not here the intention to repeat what has been said in the previous chapters on the question of papal dogmas, but a brief summary is necessary to set the stage for events pertaining to the restoration of lost “Christian unity.”
The reformation had restored many Biblical truths that had been lost or suppressed. The reformers had clearly identified the papal system with the antichrist system. In the twelfth century, the Waldenses gave clear witness of the Antichrist, who they claimed was reigning in the church. Joachim, however, was one of the first to interpret prophecy pertaining to the Antichrist. Wycliffe, Jerome, Luther, Knox, Calvin, Baxter and the other leaders of the reformation were united on the identity of the Antichrist. H. Grattan Guinness says:
Lost Truths Restored | |||
1370 A.D. | John Wycliffe | Bible Restored | |
16th Cent. | Martin Luther | Faith | Lutheran |
John Calvin | Free Grace | Presbyterian | |
God's Law, Bible Baptism | Anabaptists | ||
17th Cent. | John Smyth | Bible Baptism | Baptists |
John James | Sabbath | 7th Day Baptists | |
18th Cent. | John Wesley | Law & Grace, Conversion, Sanctification | Methodist |
19th Cent. | Bible Prophecy | Advent Movement | |
Mission Movement | |||
And the views of the reformers were shared by thousands, by hundreds of thousands. They were adopted by princes and peoples. Under their influence, nations abjured their allegiance to the false priest of Rome. In the reaction that followed, all the powers of hell seemed to be let loose ...Yet the reformation stood undefeated and unconquerable. God’s word upheld it&ldots;[i]
Even the foreword of the old King James Bible refers to the Papacy as the man of sin, and warns against malignment from what it calls Popish persons.
Concerning the Antichrist (the Greek meaning of ‘anti’ being “in the place of”), the Bible says:
Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. II Thessalonians 2:3,4
Such claims have been made by the Papacy when Pope Boniface VIII, in his Bull Unam Sanctam, stated:
Pope Leo XIII also claimed he was God in his encyclical letters and it is interesting that Time Magazine, on the incidence of Pope John Paul II’s assassination attempt, wrote: “It’s like shooting God.”[ii]
Rome was not willing to compromise on issues of doctrine with the reformers, and Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent, which met in three sessions between 1545 and 1563. Protestants were present during the second meeting. The Council reaffirmed most of the doctrines disputed by the reformists, including:
1. Transubstantiation
2. Justification by faith and works
3. The medieval mass
4. The seven sacraments
5. Celibacy
6. The doctrine of Purgatory
7. Indulgences
8. Papal power increased by giving the Pope the authority to enforce the decrees of the Council, and requiring church officials to promise him obedience. [iii]
The Council of Trent (1545), which had been called by Pope Paul III to counter the reformation and to clarify the Roman Catholic doctrinal position had, instead of reforming the church, entrenched the Catholic doctrinal position and teaching so abhorrent to the reformers. The Council reaffirmed the Church’s position on the doctrines of transubstantiation, faith and works, the mass, the seven sacraments, celibacy, purgatory and indulgences, and increased the Papal power.[iv]
REFERENCES:
[i] Romanism and the Reformation
[ii] Time Magazine, May 25,1981, p. l2.
[iii] History of Christianity, p.410
[iv] The History of Christianity, p.410.
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