Catholics & Evangelicals: Where We Agree - Part 1

This past Summer I was able to attend a lecture from a former Catholic about the important areas of agreement and differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism. In addition to this lecture I read a lengthy, but thorough book by Norman Geisler called Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences. I had the distinct "pleasure" reducing the book down to a 3,000 words. I have received many requests for a copy of this summary. So over the next few weeks I will be adding them on the website. Enjoy.

Areas of Doctrinal Agreement

Revelation

Catholics and Protestants disagree the apocrypha belongs in the Old Testament, but do agree that the current sixty-six books are Divinely inspired. This revelation can be known by everyone.[1] The Old Testament laid the foundation for Salvation. The New Testament is the completion of God's plan for salvation.[2] There is both general revelation, which is seen by everyone, so mankind would be without excuse (Romans 1:19-20).[3] Inside each person is a natural law, which both regenerate and unregenerate possess. Natural law is the foundation for civil law.[4] Natural law may shed light on God, it does not remedy the connection to God due to man's limited mind and sinful nature.[5] It is through special revelation, the Bible, God reveals His will and His plan of salvation for mankind.[6] The Bible is inerrant in its teaching and on subjects of faith and morals.[7] There is no new revelation - Scripture is complete.[8]

God

In context of religion, God is and can be known.[9] Religious belief in "God", gods, and lesser gods has existed in various cultures at various times. This has put the church to clarify the right conception of God as well as the concept of the Trinity.[10] The Old Testament unveils God's nature and craftsmanship. Here God is identified as the creator of all things. Throughout the Old Testament God distinguishes Himself true against the false God's of pagans. Israel's monotheistic view of God was unique.[11] The New Testament emphasizes God as the loving Father through the teaching of Jesus.[12] God is one essence eternally expressed in three persons known as the Trinity. All three are equal in essence, but function differently. [13] God created all things ex nihilio, "out of nothing."[14] God has metaphysical attributes, such as: self-existent, infinite, simple, possesses unicity, immutable, eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent.[15] God has moral attributes, such as: perfect, truthful, benevolent, holy, just, and merciful.[16]

Human Beings

God created man comprising of both body and soul. Man was created in God's own image. Man was good and in relationship with God. All mankind stems from Adam and Eve.[17] The Old Testament shows humans were a product of special revelation, thus bearing the image of God; while also being of the ground, connecting man to general creation. God created the Garden of Eden to fellowship with humans.18] God established rules of conduct for humans as seen in God's commands in Genesis 2:16-17, the Ten Commandments, as well as Leviticus 11:45 and Micah 6:8.[19] Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is full of references to the origin of man and the existence of his soul. There is much emphasis on the eternal destination of the soul in response to man's fallen state.[20] Both Catholics and evangelicals hold firm to the doctrine of original sin. It was Adam's first sin condemned all mankind to sin and thus be separated from God. The only remedy is found in Jesus Christ.[21] It is in the remedy where Catholics and evangelicals split. Catholics see remedy in the sacrament of baptism "and what remains is concupiscence, which is not sin proper but a tendency toward sin."[22] Sin has made mankind wholly unredeemable separate from God's grace.[23]

More areas of doctrinal agreement to come...

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[1] Norman L. Geisler and Ralph E. MacKenzie, Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 1995), Kindle edition, Location 104.

[2] Ibid, Location 117.

[3] Ibid, 130.

[4] Ibid, 142-156.

[5] Ibid, 185.

[6] Ibid, 199.

[7] Ibid, 213.

[8] Ibid, 243.

[9] Ibid, 278.

[10] Ibid, 287-301.

[11] Ibid, 301-326.

[12] Ibid, 339.

[13] Ibid, 364-392.

[14] Ibid, 392.

[15] Ibid, 421-432.

[16] Ibid, 446.

[17] Ibid, 491-500.

[18] Ibid, 529.

[19] Ibid540.

[20 Ibid, 540-554.

[21] Ibid, 554-564.

[22] Ibid, 580.

[23] Ibid, 593.