Maybe I can shed so light on this issue. I am a Reformed Baptist. I do not consider the Catholic Church a relative in Christ as I would say a Methodist, Presbyterian and so on. The reason for this is at the counsel of Trent and Vatican 1, the Catholic Church stated that ALL believers that are outside the Catholic Church are anathema. They declared that all out side the Catholic Church are condemned to HELL. Also, this ruling was stated to be unreformable. How are we (true Christians out side of the Catholic faith) supposed to embrace the Catholic Church or even its members when such a silly and childish ruling still stands? To add insult to this, the new pope reaffirmed this ruling.
That is the reason (I can only speak for myself) why the Protestants cannot and will not embrace the Catholic church. Until this ruling is lifted, there cannot be any fellowship between the two churches.
As far as the question that was raised about the SBC considering the Catholic Church a Cult, I do not. However, I do find her very much in error in regards to the Bible. Salvation, Justification, Sanctification among many other doctrines are different or altered because of the (oral) tradition of the church.
Rulings and dogmas were set forth by popes of less then desirable character, which are still in effect today. I for one am not willing to stake my beliefs on the opinion of a pope who is of questionable reputation. The only justification to many of these beliefs is the tradition of the church and the the pope essentially saying “trust me.” I for one cannot do such a thing and I believe the words of my Lord and Savior rather then a person or people who as Luther stated “have often erred.” Despite the obvious errors of pope Leo and the catholic establishment, he was condemned to Hell or ex-communicated by the church and many catholics to this day view him as a sort of anti-Christ.
After saying all of that, I must also state that I do indeed love any and all who love my Lord. I do not hold any ill feelings towards the Catholic believers, but rather the Catholic establishment. I do in fact pray for those in the Catholic Church and do believe that someone can be saved in the CC. However, they are not saved through the traditions of the church but rather the righteousness and mercy of our God in handing His elect over to the Lord of glory.
It is Christ that saves, not the church or man or popes. He and He alone is the perfect Savior and mediator who I will but my eternal fate in. I will most definitely not be any action or act of my own because every thing that you and I do is tainted in sin because of the fall (see Romans 3:10-18 and Romans 8:8-9). It is God who handed His believers (that He chose) over to the Son and all who were given WILL be raised up on the last day (John 6, 8, 10, and 12). These believers were chosen before the foundations of the world and will be saved because our perfect Savior is just that, perfect (see Romans 8:29-30, Romans 9 and Eph 1). As Paul said, “it is by faith that you are saved, not by works, it is the gift of God, lest any man boast.” We are called to put our faith in Christ Jesus, not in our works or own righteousness. Salvation is not synergistic, it is mono or monergistic. Meaning, it is of Gods Amazing grace and not of mans actions. For grace to be grace, it must be free. It can be nothing that we earn and it is not of any merit in us. It is because of a loving God that anyone is justified before a perfect Savior. Thank you Lord Jesus.
Now, that was the theologian speaking in me, but now to the simple Christian. I do love those in the CC, and I pray that the freedom of the Lord of Glory will start to trump a mans ideas. I know this statement will not go over well but I state it out of love. Look to the simplicity of Christ and not to the traditions of men. Traditions are fine as long as they do not conflict with Holy Scripture. When they do it should be quite simple, man can error, God cannot. That is why I believe I cannot fellowship with the Catholic believer. There is simply no common ground because even the view of salvation is of question between the two faiths.
I pray that all who read this will see that it is not out of malice that many in the Protestant Church will not embrace the CC. By Trent’s ruling, you as a Catholic believer cannot fellowship with us. I do in fact love you but I must be true to the Holy word of my God and to his Glory. I pray that my Lord Jesus will bless all of you and we will all come to a greater understanding of the truth of our Lord and our God, or as it is stated, “the simplicity of Christ.”
JK
Some good books to read concerning Biblical teaching would be just about any book written by Jack T Chick. Is it permissible for me to share a website in here?? I didnt want to break any rules??
r. Art Sippo writes “[No salvation outside the Church] was reiterated at Vatican II in Lumen Gentium Paragraph 14. Now formal membership is the ordinary means of salvation, but the Church has always accepted that there can be extenuating circumstances and that one may be related to the Catholic Church less formally [this will include many Christians of other denominations]. Technically, all validly baptized persons are members of the Catholic Church.”