Ecumenical Catechism, What Do Christians Believe? (Part 9)

Please click here if you missed the Introduction, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 or Part 8 of our new Ecumenical Catechism. Part 8 discusses different views of praying to Saints and the Lord’s Prayer, which all Christians agree on.

Part 9 of the Ecumenical Catechism

Appendix

A distinction needs to be made between the beliefs and practice of Joe Christian in the pew compared to the official teaching of the church. In some cases, the church leadership is more liberal than the average churchgoer (most mainline Protestant denominations). In other cases there is a wide difference of beliefs among the clergy (Catholic and some Protestant denominations).

Peter’s Confession of Christ – Two Interpretations with Great Consequences

The Catholic interpretation of Peter’s Confession of Christ (Matthew 16:13-20) is that Peter and his successors, the Bishops of Rome, are the Rock on which Jesus builds His church:

“17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” NKJV

Catholics hold Scripture and Tradition equal, and give the task of interpreting Scripture authentically to Peter and his successors (Catholic Catechism sections 77, 85 and 100). Protestants interpret this verse differently: that Jesus builds his church on Peter’s confession of Christ. They hold to Scripture alone and believe it can be properly interpreted by other Scriptures and by any well-taught Christian, “the priesthood of believers.” They believe that Apostolic Tradition did not continue beyond the era of the original apostles, that we have the Bible as the only infallible, inerrant guide for faith and practice.

Many Catholic teachings that Protestants disagree with are church tradition coming from teachings of the church leaders, and are not found in the Bible. Much of the disagreement can be traced back to these two paths diverging in the wood.

Eastern Orthodox Church leaders point out that their churches are as old as the Catholic churches and have their own unbroken line of authority stemming from the early church and the eastern bishops.

Mary and the brothers of Jesus

Here are three interpretations of Mary having other children. This is not central to anyone’s faith but is an interesting concept where a difference of opinion is merely a curiosity.

• Protestant tradition is they were blood brothers born after Jesus. Protestants have no problem with this, since they view Mary as the servant God chose to fulfill his purposes, much like John the Baptist, Moses, David, etc. Obviously she was more special than the others, since she really was the Mother of God.
• Catholic tradition is she remained a virgin. This is tied in to the Catholic belief that Mary was without original sin (Immaculate Conception). Protestants do not accept that Mary was without original sin.
• Eastern Orthodox tradition is: Social mores in the region have not changed much since biblical times. Men married much younger women and also had multiple wives, much like Muslims do today in the Middle East. Older men generally had money. Joseph could have had other wives, or perhaps he had other children by another earlier wife. He could have been a widower; often widowers would marry within a year so the children would have a mother. This leaves the issue of sexual intercourse with Mary open.

Pentecostalism

The modern Pentecostal or Charismatic movement began in 1905 with the reintroduction of speaking in tongues. Some Christians believe that speaking in tongues ceased at the end of the apostolic era. Others have experienced it themselves and point to modern examples in developing countries. All Christians believe the third Person of the Trinity takes up residence in a believer at the time of conversion.

Science and the Bible

The age of the earth is widely disputed, depending on interpretations of Genesis. Some Christians believe in a literal interpretation of Genesis 1 and read its first 11 chapters and other biblical genealogies as actual history, leading to a young earth. Others believe in old-earth creation, sometimes called intelligent design. Some others believe in theistic evolution. An analysis of the February 4, 2014 debate between evolutionist Bill Nye and young-earth creationist Ken Ham is here. More background on the four major views, including the atheistic evolution taught in public schools, is in this blog post.

How one interprets Genesis 1-11 does not influence a person’s salvation, but it does impact their worldview. For many Christians, the Who and why of creation is more important than the when and the how.

Topics not covered

Other topics like the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage and religious liberty are debated widely in the culture and are not covered here. These were the subject of the ecumenical Manhattan Declaration, drafted in 2009 by Chuck Colson, Robert George and Timothy George. Hundreds of thousands of believing Christians, Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant, have signed it.

This ecumenical catechism focuses on basic beliefs, like the bodily resurrection of Christ, the Virgin Birth, His miracles, His substitutionary atonement on the Cross, and the inerrancy of Scripture.

The doctrine of the Trinity is not covered directly, though all Christians baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here is a brief article about it and a follow-up article, with links to the New City Catechism mobile App. Their question 3 deals directly with the Trinity.

It does not cover end-times theology regarding the return of Jesus Christ, with many pastors and congregants holding different views on it. For those who are interested, the first link covers the four main views, and the second link has a recent survey of pastors.

Further Reading

There are still some remaining differences between Catholics and Protestants. Many of the 95 issues that Martin Luther posted in Latin for discussion on the church door at Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517 centered around the sale of indulgences and have been resolved. These discussion items were copied, translated and distributed all over Europe, eventually sparking the Protestant Reformation.

R.C. Sproul, Reformed Protestant pastor, author and theologian, shares some of the deep theological differences that remain between Protestants and Catholics in his 2012 book Are We Together?

Devin Rose, a former atheist and Protestant who converted to Catholicism, wrote The Protestant’s Dilemma, which points out some weaknesses in the Protestant tradition.

Timothy Ware's classic "The Orthodox Church" is an excellent reference book on Orthodox beliefs and history.

Confessions of Faith and Catechisms with Scripture references

Westminster Confession of Faith (Presbyterian and other churches)

Heidelberg Catechism (Christian Reformed Churches and others)

1689 London Baptist Confession (Reformed Baptist churches – similar to Westminster Confession but believer’s baptism)

http://www.newcitycatechism.com/ recently published by the Gospel Coalition

New City Catechism’s Doctrine of the Trinity can be found here.

Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church from the Vatican’s website.

See also The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin, which has teachings of the early church fathers.

Orthodox Church Catechism, also known as the 1830 Catechism of St. Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow.

Hymns to go with the ninth session:

A Mighty Fortress is our God Martin Luther, 1529 / Luther 1529, translated by Frederick Hedge

This majestic hymn by Martin Luther is now sung worldwide. Luther helped restore congregational singing to churches and wrote more than forty hymns, eight of which are also found in the Catholic hymnbook.

Bulletin blurb from hymnary.org:

“This hymn is often referred to as “the battle hymn” of the Reformation. Many stories have been relayed about its use. Albert Bailey writes, “It was, as Heine said, the Marseillaise of the Reformation…It was sung in the streets…It was sung by poor Protestant emigres on their way to exile, and by martyrs at their death…Gustavus Adolphus ordered it sung by his army before the battle of Leipzig in 1631…Again it was the battle hymn of his army at Lutzen in 1632…It has had a part in countless celebrations commemorating the men and events of the Reformation; and its first line is engraved on the base of Luther’s monument at Wittenberg…An imperishable hymn! Not polished and artistically wrought but rugged and strong like Luther himself, whose very words seem like deeds” (The Gospel in Hymns, 316). As you can see, this is a hymn close to the hearts of Protestants and Lutherans, a source of assurance in times of duress and persecution. The text is not restricted, however, to times of actual physical battles. In any time of need, when we do battle with the forces of evil, God is our fortress to hide us and protect us, and the Word that endures forever will fight for us.”

Discussion questions for ninth session:

1. Two paths diverge in the wood from this passage in Matthew. This was what struck me from reading the Catholic Catechism. Most of the past and current controversies stem from this, in my opinion. How do you read it?
2. Are the issues of Mary’s perpetual virginity, speaking in tongues or the age of the earth hills to die on for you? If so, that would help you choose a church.
3. For more in depth study, consider reading a book from a tradition different than yours. People tend to read only things from their own point of view, which tends to make them more sectarian.
4. What do you think of having firm convictions and preferences, even in non-essentials, and charity for those who differ? Has this catechism deepened your understanding of the reasoning for other Christian points of view?
5. As you take prayer requests for members of your study group, remember to pray for leaders in your workplace, other churches, and government leaders of all nations. Pray for unity in the diverse Body of Christ amidst its diverse expressions of those who follow Christ and confess the Apostles Creed and other basics of the Christian faith.

Holy, Holy Holy Reginald Heber, 1783-1826 / NICAEA 11.12.12.10, John B. Dykes 1861

Alfred Lord Tennyson called this the world’s greatest hymn. The tune is named after the church council that met in 325 A.D. and formulated the Nicene Creed which refuted the Arian heresy that was circulating at the time (that the Father created the Son and that they together created the world).

The key part of the Nicene Creed regarding the Son is: “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man;”

From hymnary.org: “It was this creed that inspired Reginald Heber to write this great hymn of praise to the Triune God, with the intent that the hymn be sung before or after the creed was recited in a service, and on Trinity Sunday – eight weeks after Easter.”

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less Edward Mote, 1834 / William B. Bradbury, 1863

From hymnary.org: “As Edward Mote was walking to work one day in 1834, the thought popped into his head to write a hymn on the “Gracious Experience of a Christian.” As he walked up the road, he had the chorus, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” By the end of the day, he had the first four verses written out and safely tucked away in his pocket. Later that week, he visited his friend whose wife was very ill, and as they couldn’t find a hymnal to sing from, he dug up his newly written verses and sang those with the couple. The wife enjoyed them so much she asked for a copy, and Mote went home to finish the last two verses and sent it off to a publisher, saying, “As these verses so met the dying woman’s case, my attention to them was the more arrested, and I had a thousand printed for distribution” (Lutheran Hymnal Handbook). Almost two centuries later, we continue to sing these words of hope and assurance, our declaration that in the midst of all trials and storms, we will cling to the rock that is our Savior.”

Past Articles in the Ecumenical Catechism Series

For a hymn that goes with the Introduction to the Ecumenical Catechism (and questions 1-4) and the history behind the hymn, click on Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.

A second hymn with its history and a great picture of the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse can be found at This is My Father’s World.

A third hymn (He Hideth My Soul in the Cleft of the Rock) is by America’s Hymn Queen, Fanny Crosby.

Part 3 of the Ecumenical Catechism has questions 5-12.

Part 4 of the Ecumenical Catechism discusses the Apostle’s Creed, which is believed by Christians of all denominations.

Part 5 of the Ecumenical Catechism lists the books included in the Bible and Sacraments recognized by Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians.

Part 6 of our new Ecumenical Catechism explores the differences in views of the two main Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Part 7 of our new Ecumenical Catechism discusses how Christians live in grateful obedience to God and fight an ongoing battle against the sin that remains in their lives.

October 31 marked the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, the day Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door at Wittenberg, Germany in 1517. Many biographies of Luther and his influence on church history have recently been written. Here is an article reviewing 25 of them.

Part 8 discusses different views of praying to Saints and the Lord’s Prayer, which all Christians agree on.

For biographies of the authors of the Ecumenical Catechism, click here.

Permission is granted to copy this catechism and italicized comments in its entirety for non-commercial purposes. The copyright on the original 1641 catechism has obviously long since expired. Some minor rewording of the 1959 edition cited above was done.

Sincerely,

Dale Murrish

Troy, Michigan

dale@USAMeltingpot.org

http://usameltingpot.org/author/dale/

Copyright 2005, 2017 by Dale Murrish. All rights reserved except as noted above.

Version 3.97, November, 2017

Dale Murrish photo of Catholic Bible cover

Other articles

Please check out The Michigan Declaration and consider signing it.

In previous blog posts, I began telling the story of my brain tumor and the depression which followed it. The second article in the series described my faith in God which sustained me through both trials.

Having recently started a word-by-word translation of Martin Luther’s Bible from German to English, I introduced the project and published Matthew Chapter 1 . Later I wrote commentary on it; my church background and theological training is in my USA Melting Pot bio.

Dale Murrish writes on history, travel, technology, religion and politics for the USA Melting Pot club, LinkedIn, and Troy Patch. You can help this non-profit club by making your Amazon purchases through the link on the left side of their website. You can also see over a dozen ethnic presentations from people with firsthand knowledge under Culture & Country (right hand side), and outdoor presentations (Hobby & Fun), including posts on bicycling, skiing and camping.

Other interesting articles on the USA Melting Pot website have been written by Bilal Rathur on his hajj to Saudi Arabia (Part 6) and by Carl Petersen. Thanks to both of them for their contributions.