Evangelicals and Catholics Together?

In a recent interview in Biola Connections, Robert Saucy reminds us of the critical differences which remain between Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics. According to Saucy, distinguished professor of systematic theology:

They [the differences] are the same as they were at the Reformation.

I think it’s good for Catholics and evangelicals to talk together, but not in terms of making statements to the extent that we have “common witness.”  It makes the two messages — Catholic and Protestant — look more similar than they are.

He goes on to say:

It’s really eye-opening to read the catechism that came out under John Paul II, especially its ecumenism. This catechism seems to suggest that every monotheist — including Jews and Muslims — worship the same God that Christians do. Pope Benedict even prayed toward Mecca recently. Of course, there are a lot of good things about that catechism, particularly regarding social issues. But when you get down to what the real gospel is, it suggests that people who worship Allah are actually worshipping the same God we do. I have problems with that.

Read the interview in Biola Connections HERE.

Beckwith and his return to Rome

“Christianity Today seems particularly thrilled with Francis Beckwith’s very public return to the Roman Catholic Church. In this puff piece/interview with Beckwith, CT makes the man’s sellout to Rome’s false gospel seem as though it was just a little course correction.”  So goes the hard-hitting comment on the Beckwith saga from Ingrid Schlueter at Slice of Laodicea.

“Beckwith makes Rome’s teachings on justification look just A-OK with the Bible, claiming that the misunderstanding of the centuries is just the result of a clumsy articulation of the issue by Catholic laity.  I have a very non-academic word to describe Beckwith’s view: hogwash.”

To give a little insight into the Romanism Beckwith is now embracing, The Slice recommends the story of Richard Bennett’s conversion to Christ after his life as a priest in the Roman Catholic church, HERE.

Richard Bennett’s book Catholicism: East of Eden, Insights into Catholicism for the 21st Century (Berean Beacon Press, 2005) is reviewed by Iain Murray HERE.  “Bennett’s work destroys any idea that the Roman Church has so moderated its beliefs that the old controversies are obsolete today.”  The issue for Bennet, says Murray, “is quite as serious as the collision between apostolic Christianity and the Pharisees.”

Beckwith and ETS follow-up

The web version of Christianity Today reported on fall-out from the Beckwith resignation: “The Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) indicated that its members will discuss the role of tradition in Protestant theology after president Francis Beckwith rejoined the Roman Catholic Church and resigned on May 5. Beckwith, a philosophy professor at Baylor University, also surrendered his ETS membership.” 

It is interesting to note the CT article’s subheading, “Executive committee: Roman Catholics may not join.”

The irenic statement from the The Evangelical Theological Society may be seen en toto HERE.  However, below are the pertinent statements which indicate the ETS is attempting to draw lines which would exclude Romanism:

“The work of the Evangelical Theological Society as a scholarly forum proceeds on the basis that “the Bible alone and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs.” This affirmation, together with the statement on the Trinity, forms the basis for membership in the ETS to which all members annually subscribe in writing. Confessional Catholicism, as defined by the Roman Catholic Church’s declarations from the Council of Trent to Vatican II, sets forth a more expansive view of verbal, infallible revelation.”

“Certainly, the two traditions share many common Christian doctrines. However there are important theological differences as well. We expect that the events of these days will bring a renewed discussion of these matters. We welcome and encourage this as well.”

The Buzz on Beckwith

The evangelical blogosphere is abuzz on Beckwith, so I thought I would throw in a word or two.  As you may know by now, Frank Beckwith, Professor at Baylor University and current president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), has announced his return to the Roman Catholic church of his youth and consequently tendered his resignation as ETS president.

He was apparently outed last Thursday on James White’s Blog where several related posts may be found.  Beckwith made his own blog announcement on Saturday HERE, which now has over 200 comments.

He has indicated that he will remain a member of ETS, but resigned his presidency to prevent disorder in the continuing work of the society.   I guess it is not surprising that the ETS which allows adherents of Open Theism in its ranks should now be home for Roman Catholics.  Comments from some scholar/members relate this phenomenon to the grossly inadequate ETS statement of faith:

“The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory.”

There you have it, folks, the ETS SOF in its entirety.  Beckwith, on behalf of Romanism, and the likes of Clark Pinnock, on behalf of Open Theism, have no qualms signing this SOF.  Therein lies the problem with the ETS — an inadequate basis for self governance.

NEWS FLASH: Monday afternoon on his Blog, Frank Beckwith announced the additional step that he will also resign his membership in the ETS.  I commend him for this step, which came as the result of prayerful consideration on his part, as he explains.  I have no doubt that Beckwith is a fine man and an admirable scholar.  I will leave it to others to evaluate the theological judgements that led him in this direction.  Though he seeks a “conversation” between evangelicalisn and the “Great Tradition” (Rome), I remain convinced that critical differences between Romanism and Protestantism, especially regarding Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura, cannot be attributed to semantics as he seems to wish.