Over 250 prominent scholars, pastors, and church leaders from around the world released on Tuesday a theological statement affirming the essentials of the Reformation. And its Protestant authors contend that in this 500th anniversary year, the document is a “catholic” statement in its best sense. The Reforming Catholic Confession is a document which outlines the main theological commitments held by a wide breadth of Protestant Christians, including evangelicals, since the Reformation. The purpose of such a statement is to demonstrate the remarkable togetherness that exists throughout the world among Protestants on the core elements of Christianity, said Jerry Walls, an author and professor of philosophy at Houston Baptist University. The Confession showcases the extensive agreement on the substance of the historic Christian faith, Walls said.
The statement’s signatories include a sizable list of biblical heavyweights who hail from a variety of denominations. Over 110 Christian institutions, over 30 of which are international, are represented.
“I just got the idea that one of the best ways we could actually commemorate the Reformation, and remind people of what really lay behind it and what motivated the Reformers was to come up with a confession of faith that represented the substantial unity among the heirs of the Reformation,” Walls, a Wesleyan, said.
As positive responses began to accumulate from other protestant religious leaders, Walls said, “What I really started to sense was that this thing could really be significant. It was just beautiful to see Pentecostals and Lutherans working together to find common language.”
The Reforming Catholic Confession contains 12 articles that outline their beliefs in such basic Christian tenets as “The Triune God,” “The Atoning Work of Christ,” “The Gospel,” and “The Church,” particularly as it relates to what the Reformers accomplished. The beliefs are followed by 25 “Top of Formwhy we say what we say” explanations that capture key cornerstones and dimensions of the Christian faith.
As for why they decided to call it a “catholic” confession, Walls said he felt it is important to reclaim the word “catholic.”
“The Church of Rome simply calls itself, ‘The Catholic Church.’ It is not the Catholic church,'” he emphasized. “It is one part of the holy catholic church.”
“We want to make clear that ‘catholic’ is a much more expansive reality than the Church of Rome. And we want Protestants to understand that when they are true to their own heritage, and their own roots, they are ‘catholic’ also.”
On October 31, Protestant evangelicals around the world will mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, objecting to corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church, most notably the selling of papal indulgences.
“A lot of people have been asking the question ‘Is the Reformation over? Was it a mistake?” said Kevin Vanhoozer, who took charge of the drafting the initial statement. “I would say that there is a permanent gain that we shouldn’t lose. The Reformation was not “a Pandora’s box that unleashed an interpretive anarchy and schism upon the world,” he stressed.
“The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be made. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, a strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of doctrine.” The Great Controversy, page 444.
Comments
Will Flatt
Monday October 23rd, 2017 at 05:03 PMIt is exciting to see prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes. Soon the final events will unfold, and then Jesus will return in power and glory! May as many as will be saved be fully prepared for that stupendous day!
oren mariano
Monday October 23rd, 2017 at 11:56 PMRev.13 is fulfilling the Leopard likebeast and the Lamb likebeast or the Roman catholic Church and the Protestants Churches,will unite in the persecution of those sabbath keepers.
Andrew
Tuesday October 24th, 2017 at 06:08 AMWell they have over 1235 signatures now and Andrews University and a Seventh Day Adventist pastor have signed it. Don’t suppose they have studied the prophecies or have read the Great Controversy in a while.
Jesus is coming soon and I cannot wait to go home with him, get ready!!
Sue Locklear
Monday October 30th, 2017 at 03:37 PMCame as a surprise that Andrews University and a SDA pastor should be among the signers. Guess it shouldn’t have though because we are told that there will be a falling away of some SDA’S when the “shaking” begins. Even so, come LORD JESUS.
Tracy H
Tuesday October 24th, 2017 at 10:43 AMCatholicism does not change her spots. If you really want to investigate the Reformation, study Martin Luther’s 95 thesis that he nailed to the door of the Wittenburg castle church on October 31, 1517, 500 years ago.
Ask yourselves, Has the Catholic Church changed? This Pope is offering indulgences this year. The answer is no, but Protestantism is reaching across the abyss to clasp hands with the Papacy (Catholicism). The Papacy and Satan have Protestant’s who are being duped into believing the Catholic church has changed.
This is a fulfillment of prophecy, Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” This represents Protestantism, spiritualism and the Papacy. This tri-fold union is not something that God would have us join. We are to protest anything that is against God’s holy word. Sola Scriptura!
Who has the courage to remain on God’s side? Jesus is coming soon!
James Sundquist
Friday July 31st, 2020 at 07:50 AMHi Tracy
Well stated…paving the way for the one world church. So what’s the difference between this document and ECT? The biggest mistake that the Reformation made was to try to reform or fix Roman Catholicism when they should have demolished this Principality! Just like The Apostle Paul demolished the Principality of Judaism not reform it, eternally damning them in Galatians as Jesus did in Matthew . So what’s next? Reforming Islam?
Pat Downey
Tuesday October 24th, 2017 at 02:57 PMI truly hope the Seventh- day Adventist Church are not signing this document.
Pat Downey NZ
Mike O
Thursday October 26th, 2017 at 09:46 PMWell said Tracy. I am also excited about something that’s happening under the radar, but right in front of all of us. trump is using the social media to instantly communicate his thoughts and feelings. My personal belief is that he is just another cog, but in this one regard, he may be THE cog. He may start up a form of direct democracy. SOP says the leaders that pas the sunday laws will be giving into popular demand. ie. the people asking for it. This, sounds like a very viable vehicle for that group.
Lance Gilman
Wednesday October 25th, 2017 at 07:31 AMThat’s a fantastic description – “stupendous!”
I love it!
Kevin
Wednesday October 25th, 2017 at 10:59 AMAndrews University professor Peckham was one of the original signatories to the document. Why wasn’t this mentioned in this website? Also, Ganiune Diop was in Florida in September at a unity conference with 690 other church leaders all calling for unity, tolerance of other religions and we should all coexist together. He was on tv talking about it. See last Thursday’s Saved to Seve program on YouTube
admin
Wednesday October 25th, 2017 at 07:28 PMIn our Prophetic Intelligence Briefings, we normally only report on the source article. We save the research and broader implications for our sermons which do in-depth analysis on current issues like the ecumenical movement, for instance.
TOM MCINTYRE
Wednesday October 25th, 2017 at 11:13 AMProphecy is sure!…….Protestantism is truly reaching across and joining hands with the beast….All the world wonders after the Beast….Lord come quickly and save your people!!
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Sunday November 5th, 2017 at 01:30 AMI was suggested this blog through my cousin. I am now not positive whether or not this
post is written by him as nobody else understand such detailed
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Gary
Wednesday February 28th, 2018 at 11:14 AMUnreal that Protestants would seek to unite
with the Roman Catholic Church who’s leader
prays toward Mecca and calls Islam a religion of peace. Any Iman will tell you that peace comes only with compliance.
Blessings
Friday March 9th, 2018 at 10:17 AMPlease I want to see catholic confession signing document where SDA also sign. Send me a link.