A reader writes:
I am an active EWTN listener and reformed presbyterian in camp with RC Sproul, and have been for 20 years. However a close friend converted to orthodox Roman Catholicism (redundant?) and has me scratching my head.
I have read your piece on Justification By Faith and I scratch my head even harder. I hope it doesn’t bleed.
I have met an fabulous FSSP Priest here and am even closer to becoming a Catholic, in the best sense of the word.
My issue: Is there any difference between loose catholic practitioner and strict conservative reformed christian, in practical terms?
I have loved the puritans for 20 plus years: Richard Baxter, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, Chas Spurgeon…am I to throw them all to the wolves in my process of becoming a Catholic. Help!!!
I’ll be happy to help however I can.
I’m a little uncertain what kind of differences "in practical terms" that you have in mind. There are, of course, differences in faith and practice between Catholics and Reformed, but both groups are Christian and I can tell you from my own experience and that of numerous others that individuals who convert to Catholicism from the Reformed movement (or other conservative Protestant groups) typically view entering the Catholic Church not as abandoning their former heritage but as completing it.
As far as contrasting a lax Catholic Christian and a strict Reformed Christian there are some differences: (a) Objectively speaking, the lax Catholic is fully united with Christ’s Church whereas the strict Reformed is not, (b) objectively speaking the lax Catholic has access to means of grace (e.g., a valid Eucharist, confession, the sacrament of confirmation) that the Reformed Christian does not, (c) the fact that the Catholic has greater access to the means of grace means he is more responsible for making use of them and is more culpable if he does not, and (d) by trying to follow God in a devout manner according to his understanding of what God wants, the strict Reformed Christian may be in a better spiritual state than the lax Catholic and more pleasing to God.
The overarching question, though, is not how the two fare with respect to each other, it is what God wants. God wants all of his children to have the fullness of the truth and grace he sent into the world for them through Christ. That they might have this grace and truth, Christ founded his Church (singular), which he constituted as a visible institution with definite membership, leaders, rules, etc., and which he commanded all who respond to the Gospel to enter. The Catholic Church is the continuation into the 21st century of that original Church, and so all who realize the truth concerning these facts are required by God to enter it. It is what he wants and commands.
As I mentioned, Evangelicals who have joined the Church typically look back on the time before they were Catholic as a time when they had much of the truth, just not all of it. Often they fondly remember this time, though of course they are glad that they now have the fullness of what Christ wanted for them.
As to the Puritans, like others they had many elements of the truth, and one can still appreciate those things in their writings and respect them as individuals who were sincerely following God according to the understanding they had. One has to recognize that they were mistaken about some things, of course, but many coming from a Reformed position are surprised to see just how much of their thought can find a place in Catholic theology.
I’D RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT THIS ARTICLE FOR MORE ON THAT.
Hope this helps, and I hope you’ll keep asking questions as your journey progresses!
20
Speaking of what the Reformed and Catholic have in common, here is a USCCB link summarizing the ecumenical Reformed-Catholic Dialogue over the past 40 years.
I found it recently because my ex-pastor was one of the folks involved with it on the reformed side. I also suspect I have much in common with your emailer, as I’m currently a member of a Presbyterian church, like to watch EWTN, and have been investigating the Catholic faith.
I have read a bit of Baxter and a bit of Spurgeon and I find I agree with what you say, jimmy
Jimmy,
I have a follow up question (I don’t think it violates rule 20):
You said:
“God wants all of his children to have the fullness of the truth and grace he sent into the world for them through Christ.”
If he wants this for every individual, then it would follow that he gives every individual the grace to achieve it (ie, become Catholic). This would mean that those who went their whole lives without becoming Catholic (eg, CS Lewis) received the grace to embrace the Church, and didn’t. Thus, invincible ignorance cannot be presumed.
Could it not be true that God does not give every man the grace to embrace the Church, but rather, gives some men enough grace to endure in whatever situation they are in (eg, Protestant, Muslims, etc); which would include, obviously, the observance of the moral law.
Jon,
My family and I will be praying for you on your journey!
I would suggest that the reader who wrote in pick up “The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism” by Louis Bouyer. I think that as a learned Reformed Christian he will be especially impressed with the fair, balanced critique of Protestant theology and how Catholicism fulfills (not necessarily obliterates, as Jimmy noted) the gaps, misunderstandings, and yes, errors in Calvin and Luther’s theology.
I also read Louis Bouyer’s book a couple of years ago. I would highly recommend it to both Catholic and Reformed folks.
Jon,
I imagine that the modernist World Alliance of Reformed Churches has next to nothing to with conservative Reformed folks like Sproul.
I am the guy who initially wrote in, and Steve is correct. RC Sproul and other Conservative Reformed folks are not in favor of ecumenism in that justification by faith (alone) is a sticking point on their side and with Cardinal Ratzinger on the Catholic side. But there is a wide gap theologically between Conservative Reformed and the World Alliance et al. Thank you for your support and prayers. I have been at this for 18 months and am getting closer.
Almost Catholic
Rich,
You too are covered in prayer as you make your journey!
As a Catholic with Reformed sympathies I was every interested in your A Tiptoe through TULIP article. I am on the side of the Thomists.
Regarding limited atonement it appears that Calvin agreed with the form you proposed. This was unearthed by the preacher R.T.Kendall who came from the USA to England to preach at Westminister Chapel. In his Doctorate Thesis in the US he uncovered what Calvin actually believed from Calvin’s sermons. “He died for all, but he does not pray for all” (at the right hand of the Father)