Attitudes to Rome
One striking aspect of the best theological literature of previous generations is the unequivocal condemnation of the doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome which so frequently occurs in it. This goes together with an unhesitating identification of the papacy as the antichrist predicted in Scripture. This feature is consistently to be found in works by the most eminent Scottish divines, as well as by the soundest writers of the Church of England and, of course, in the writings of the Reformers themselves. In this the old Protestant divines stand at a great distance from modern Evangelicalism, which has so largely lost sight of the true nature of popery.
The doctrine of the papal antichrist is part of The Westminster Confession of Faith, which we adhere to as a Church. And in requiring our office bearers to maintain this teaching honestly and wholeheartedly, the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland differs materially from the Church of Scotland and the Free Church. In so marking out the Roman Church as antichrist, the godly divines of the past were conscious of being guided by the teaching of the New Testament. They gave popery such a place of infamy in their writings, simply because the Bible does so.
Scripture (2 Th 2:1-12, 1 Tim 4:1-5, Rev 11,13,17,18) outlines the development of a system of apostasy from within the Church, which would become an enormous threat to the faith once delivered to the saints. When one looks at the development of Romanism from its earliest origins, we can see the influence of a master mind at work, gradually bringing forth an instrument for his work of ruining souls for eternity. The papal system is the product of many centuries of satanic influence, corrupting and ruining the Church, yet all the while maintaining the guise of being, not only a Christian Church, but indeed the only true Christian Church.
As William Cunningham wrote concerning the rise of the papal supremacy within the Church, “it is certainly by far the most extraordinary instance of successful imposture and iniquity the world has ever witnessed. It was an object prosecuted for a succession of ages with unwearied zeal: every incident was most carefully improved for promoting it, and no scruples of conscience, no regard to truth or veracity, no respect for the laws of God or man, were ever allowed to stand in the way of extending this usurped dominion over the Church.” In 1 Timothy 4, we have one of the clearest statements in the Bible concerning the rise of antichristian error from within the professing Church under the influence of “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils”. The practices which Paul identifies there so prominently include “forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats”. These were emphasised by the inspired Apostle, not because they were to be the very worst of Romanism’s errors, but because they would be the most easily recognisable.
William Cunningham, Historical Theology, Banner of Truth reprint, 1994, vol 1, p 226.
Cunningham gave much attention to the controversy with Rome in his works, describing popery as “Satan’s masterpiece”. Indeed, he exhorts young ministers and students to give a far greater place in their studies to the popish controversy than we might commonly think to be warranted. He notes that nearly every branch of theology contains some teaching or practice where popery has asserted falsehoods which need to be refuted.
One of the most insidious and subtle forms of “the deceivableness of unrighteousness”, which Scripture warns us to expect of the antichristian system, is the tendency on the part of Romanist writers to disguise or downplay some of the doctrines and practices of popery when it is deemed necessary or convenient. Cunningham warned against it in the 1830s but we have to be aware of this dangerous aspect of Rome’s methods and strategy in our day. If the Pope and his acolytes like to portray their Church as more liberal, tolerant, compassionate and open for dialogue with those who have historically differs from them, then we must beware. This is Rome accommodating its message and its public persona to suit the spirit of an immoral, irreligious and godless generation.
Cunningham urged Protestants to expose fearlessly the false claims of Romanism and, at the same time, to cherish the deepest commiseration towards its victims. We need the same spirit toward Rome and its poor, deluded people in our time, together with a prayer that antichrist would be ruined and multitudes of Romanists delivered by coming to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ.
AWM