A Catholic Brother Goes Home

A recent article in Christianity Today discussed the future of evangelical-Roman Catholic relations after the death of Richard John Neuhaus, a key figure in the remarkable strides that have been made between two major groups which have traditionally had strained relations. I really do applaud the work that Neuhaus and Chuck Colson have done in this area, where there's been a healthy balance between finding and celebrating common ground while respectfully acknowledging differences which cannot be reconciled.

I had written in an earlier post about the balancing act between unity and conviction in the name of doctrinal purity. From what I've observed both in the Christianity Today article as well as past observations of the movement, is that there's a healthy respectful disagreement about things that clearly Protestants and Catholics disagree about, such as the place of Mary and the authority of the Pope. But what's helpful is that there is much to be gained in the partnership of the gospel. If we characterize the core of belief as consistent with the Nicene Creed - we're actually very much on the same page.

Many of my Protestant brethren are unable to cope with theological differences with the Roman Catholic Church, but somehow aren't bothered by churches that plot a specific day of Jesus' return, assert that the Pope or Barack Obama is the Antichrist, or that the work of atonement is somehow made complete through a human work of faith. For others, they point to what they perceive as rampant "cultural Christianity" practiced by many those who consider themselves Catholic but fail to have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ". Again, somehow these anti-Catholic brothers are able to overlook the rampant cultural Christianity which is practiced in places like the Bible Belt where people talk about being "saved" but have little evidence of faith through the fruit of their lives. My point isn't that, let's say for example, Presbyterians are any closer or further theologically than Catholics as opposed to Southern Baptists. My point is that I would challenge people to consider whether standards are being held consistent.

I'm not a Catholic apologist and I stand strongly by Reformed doctrine, but if you look at the comments posted in regards to the article, it's clear that anti-Catholic bigotry is sadly alive and well. Perhaps the best comment is the (what I consider a rhetorical) question asked by a "Sam D": "What doctrinal disputes are worth rending the Body of Christ?" I'll take it a step further: "What doctrinal disputes are worth fighting brothers in the faith in lieu of fighting the true common enemy?"