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The Catholic Mystery
Paperback book
214 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 12, 2024
A FORMER PASTOR EXAMINES THE "DIFFERENCES" AT THE LEVEL OF THE "AVERAGE PERSON"
John H. Armstrong has also written 'Your Church Is Too Small: Why Unity in Christ's Mission Is Vital to the Future of the Church,' 'Can Fallen Pastors Be Restored?: The Church's Response to Sexual Misconduct,' 'When God Moves: Preparing for True Revival,' '5 Great Evangelists,' etc.
He begins this 1999 book by stating, "This book was originally birthed in response to a perceived need in the present church scene... I was asked to edit a volume of academic essays written by several evangelical scholars and intended for serious study by those who wanted to better understand modern Catholicism. This previous book, 'Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us,' became a survey of modern Catholic faith and practice... I wanted to enter into dialogue with Catholic thought without the acrimonious tone of past Catholic/Protestant debate...
"I do not think compromise if a real option... At the same time I believe we need to honestly reconsider the vital differences that remain between evangelicals and Roman Catholics... It is written with the hope that it will invite the average person into the discussion of the Catholic mystery as understood by an evangelical writer who truly loves and respects Catholics." (Pg. 9-11)
He notes, "The faithful Catholic must take the Mass at least once a year. He must remain in a state of grace when he takes the Mass; that is, without unconfessed mortal sin. Many modern American Catholics must think that they rarely commit a mortal sin because the practice of confession has declined in recent years. In this, American Catholics are fundamentally wrong according to the dogma of their own church." (Pg. 78)
He suggests, "The question the biblical Christian must ask is this: 'Can Christ understand my struggles, fully identify with me in all of them, and adequately appeal to His Father on my behalf?' The answer found in Scripture is that He, and He alone, can help me... Why should I need any other aid in heaven if the man at God's right hand is none other than Christ Jesus? Why would I appeal to LESSER help when all I need is the greater help of His own person and work?" (Pg. 134)
He asserts, "Because evangelicals and Catholics have such substantive theological differences, we cannot relate as true allies in the same faith. We can be cobelligerents in important causes, we can continue to talk to each other in the new spirit of openness. But we cannot, and dare not, overlook the differences that we still have between us. When distinctives are surrendered, both sides run the risk of losing truths vital to their own identity." (Pg. 162)
He admits that "[Scott] Hahn is a skilled debater and a well-educated and conscientious student... What makes Hahn so different from other recent converts to Catholicism is this: He pushes his offensive against evangelicalism at precisely the critical points. he understands that the Protestant Reformation was advanced because of two primary theological issues." (Pg. 181)
This book will interest anyone studying the Protestant/Catholic dialogue in recent years.
John H. Armstrong has also written 'Your Church Is Too Small: Why Unity in Christ's Mission Is Vital to the Future of the Church,' 'Can Fallen Pastors Be Restored?: The Church's Response to Sexual Misconduct,' 'When God Moves: Preparing for True Revival,' '5 Great Evangelists,' etc.
He begins this 1999 book by stating, "This book was originally birthed in response to a perceived need in the present church scene... I was asked to edit a volume of academic essays written by several evangelical scholars and intended for serious study by those who wanted to better understand modern Catholicism. This previous book, 'Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us,' became a survey of modern Catholic faith and practice... I wanted to enter into dialogue with Catholic thought without the acrimonious tone of past Catholic/Protestant debate...
"I do not think compromise if a real option... At the same time I believe we need to honestly reconsider the vital differences that remain between evangelicals and Roman Catholics... It is written with the hope that it will invite the average person into the discussion of the Catholic mystery as understood by an evangelical writer who truly loves and respects Catholics." (Pg. 9-11)
He notes, "The faithful Catholic must take the Mass at least once a year. He must remain in a state of grace when he takes the Mass; that is, without unconfessed mortal sin. Many modern American Catholics must think that they rarely commit a mortal sin because the practice of confession has declined in recent years. In this, American Catholics are fundamentally wrong according to the dogma of their own church." (Pg. 78)
He suggests, "The question the biblical Christian must ask is this: 'Can Christ understand my struggles, fully identify with me in all of them, and adequately appeal to His Father on my behalf?' The answer found in Scripture is that He, and He alone, can help me... Why should I need any other aid in heaven if the man at God's right hand is none other than Christ Jesus? Why would I appeal to LESSER help when all I need is the greater help of His own person and work?" (Pg. 134)
He asserts, "Because evangelicals and Catholics have such substantive theological differences, we cannot relate as true allies in the same faith. We can be cobelligerents in important causes, we can continue to talk to each other in the new spirit of openness. But we cannot, and dare not, overlook the differences that we still have between us. When distinctives are surrendered, both sides run the risk of losing truths vital to their own identity." (Pg. 162)
He admits that "[Scott] Hahn is a skilled debater and a well-educated and conscientious student... What makes Hahn so different from other recent converts to Catholicism is this: He pushes his offensive against evangelicalism at precisely the critical points. he understands that the Protestant Reformation was advanced because of two primary theological issues." (Pg. 181)
This book will interest anyone studying the Protestant/Catholic dialogue in recent years.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews