MAKING SHIPWRECK OF THE FAITH Evangelicals and Roman Catholics Together by Kevin Reed
Publishers: Presbyterian Heritage Press. Paperback, 96 pp. Available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LE
THIS book is one of a number of responses to the document Evangelicals and Catholics Together, produced in 1994 in the USA by a number of prominent Evangelicals and Roman Catholics. Most criticism of this document has focused on the errors of Rome and the dangers posed to Protestants by entering into alliance with Roman Catholics. Kevin Reed does not ignore this aspect of the matter, but he is at pains to point out that there are also significant corresponding errors within those sections of the Protestant Church which claim to be evangelical. For example, after a brief review of the main doctrines of truth
where Rome is in serious error he goes on to mention some “fatal errors of contemporary evangelicals.” He makes a fitting comparison: “If Rome is denounced for its doctrine of baptismal regeneration, then contemporary evangelicalism must be criticized for its practice of decisional regeneration.”
Unusually for present-day writing, the author contends for the authority of Scripture in the worship of the Church. After an extended exposition of biblical principles he concludes: “Both groups [Evangelicals and Roman Catholics] share the assumption that men have the right to supplement the biblical means of worship.” Towards the end of the book he turns the searchlight of Scripture on Evangelicals and Catholics Together. He highlights one of its statements: “It is neither theologically legitimate nor a prudent use of resources for one Christian community to proselytize among active adherents of another Christian community.” In other words, it is wrong to evangelise Roman Catholics, and a waste of time. It is a shocking indication of how far things have gone that prominent Evangelicals can subscribe to this. Mr Reed goes on to give what should be the obvious answer: “ECT speaks of the obligation to contend against all that opposes Christ and his cause”. Shouldn’t that duty include contending against Roman Catholicism, since Rome promulgates a false gospel and idolatry? If ‘earnestly contending for the faith’ means anything (cf Jude 3), surely it means that true believers must oppose those who corrupt the gospel and worship.”
This book gives a very useful and scriptural analysis of the issues at stake. However, one wonders if the author, in his zeal against backsliding within Evangelical Protestantism, has on occasion lost sight of the fact that, in the light of Scripture, Romanism is a uniquely serious departure from the truth. On a more trivial level, he appears to have confused Thomas Manton and Thomas Watson; it is the latter who wrote A Body of Divinity.
Rev. K. D. Macleod
Protestant View
Rome’s power in Eire
A revealing letter from a Mr Relf appeared in the English Churchman recently about Dr Noel Browne, Minister of Health in the Eire government in 1949 and a staunch Roman Catholic. He died in May.
As Minister of Health, Dr Browne published a Bill for a National Health Service in Eire on the lines of the one in the UK, in order to improve matters with regard to the infant mortality rate in Eire, which was about three times that of England and Wales and the worst in the whole of Europe.
“This was vehemently opposed,” says Mr Relf, “by the Roman Catholic
Church who said, ‘For the state to provide for the health of all children and to educate women in regard to health . . . was entirely contrary to Catholic teaching’.”
The Roman hierarchy then set up an Inquisitorial Court and summoned the Minister of Health before them to interrogate him. He, as a Roman Catholic, explained that the Scheme was not contrary to Roman Catholic teaching. The Court dismissed him and then summoned the Prime Minister, Mr John Costello. He informed the House later that the hierarchy condemned the Scheme, and that the Irish government decided to comply with the hierarchy’s demand and reject the Mother and Child Service launched by Dr. Browne. “As a Catholic,” said the Prime Minister, “I accept the ruling of the hierarchy without question.”
Dr. Browne said later, “We took power from Britain and handed it over, effectively, to the other imperial power, Rome.” We believe that Rome will never rest until she dominates Northern Ireland also.