Proza

To all my Protestant brothers who are unwittingly embracing doctrinal relativism, 
 
Greetings!
 
First of all, let me clarify that I have no problems with the idea of Protestants and Catholics living together peacefully in a community. As a matter of fact, I have Catholic friends and I love them. I do so in obedience to what is written in Romans 12:18, which says, "If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (MEV).

Now, I am going to get my message straight to you: no apologies, but I do not agree with Pope Francis I's idea of us being in communion with the Roman Catholics. Of course, I agree with the idea of loving them as our neighbors. But the Pope's idea of us being in communion with their church is a totally different idea, because it essentially means being 'reconciled back' to them. Remember: the reason why the Protestant reformers abandoned the Romanized church was that the church's teachings were no longer consistent with the Biblical and apostolic orthodoxy. And because of this abandonment, the most important apostolic doctrines were revived, in which are included:

 - the doctrine of the supremacy and finality of the Scripture's authority (sola Scriptura); and
 - the doctrine of salvation by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide) in Christ alone (solus Christus).
 
These doctrines are so essential to us Protestants that everyone of us - from both the Arminian and the Calvinist sides - firmly agree on them. For we have deduced these doctrines from the Scripture alone. The problem is, the Pope still in firm opposition against them. And if we are going to embrace his idea of 'reconciliation', we will have to abandon these doctrines. If we are going to do so, we will be violating the Scripture - which is the word of God - and we just cannot do that. As it is written in Romans 3:4, "... let God be true, but every man a liar..." (KJV).
 
Let us just stick to the idea of treating the Catholics as neighbors that we should love. We have to because it is a Biblical commandement. But we also have remember that their cardinal teachings are chiastically different from ours. We can "agree to disagree", as John Wesley once said. But as what the Protestant reformer Martin Luther once said, "Peace if possible; truth at all cost."
 
Let us also just trust God's sovereign hand in what He can do for His church. Let us not buy to any humanistic ideas and efforts to do what only God can do. May the Lord bless us all!
 
Lovingly,

Yehoshua Shim'onai

P.S.
Let me also clarify that I am not trying to pose as your judge. It is for you to decide whether or not you will positively respond to this. The Lord be our Judge!