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In this newsletter: The latest Vatican File, a 2018 Rome Scholars Network update, Leonardo De Chirico on the common misconceptions evangelicals have about Roman Catholicism, and Mike Reeves on the four biggest theological mistakes that evangelicals are making today. Thank you for your ongoing interest and participation in this ministry.
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Newsletter N.16

Vatican File #146. Why Are Younger Evangelicals Fascinated by Roman Catholicism?

by Leonardo De Chirico
February 1st, 2018

 

Present-day Evangelicalism has a strange relationship with history. On the one extreme there are those who endorse a “gap theory,” whereby their experience of the Christian life has little if anything to do with a sense of historical continuity. On the other, recent fascinations with romantic and selective appropriations of “tradition” show how easy it is to uncritically embrace beliefs and practices that are idiosyncratic with regards to Scripture. What is at stake is the historical nature of Evangelicalism as such.

In his new book In Search of Ancient Roots: The Christian Past and the Evangelical Identity Crisis (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2017), Kenneth Stewart wrestles with the present-day discussion on if and what Evangelicalism has to do with history. As a learned historian and acute theologian, Stewart helps the reader come to terms with the diachronic dimension of Evangelicalism that runs through church history, taking different shades and colors but ultimately responding to the same principles of biblical faithfulness and spiritual involvement.

This book is a vigorous and rigorous rebuttal to John Henry Newman, according to whom “to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.” Stewart is convinced that to be deep in history one does not need to turn to Rome (become Roman Catholic) nor to Antioch (become Orthodox). To be Protestant means being rooted in Scriptural teaching first and foremost, as well as to be connected with a historical stream within Christianity throughout the centuries that has always carried an “evangelical” banner.

The book is much needed in times in which the label “evangelical” (mainly in the US context, I should say) is again going through a stress test, being too closely associated with political attachments and too loosely defined by its theological core. As this short piece is part of the Vatican Files series, this is not the place to write a full appreciation of the book. Its scope goes beyond an evangelical analysis of Roman Catholicism. Suffice it to overview the book’s final chapter, where Stewart helpfully tackles the question “Why Are Younger Evangelicals Turning to Catholicism and Orthodoxy?” (pp. 253-273).

Reasons Behind the Drift ...

 CLICK HERE TO FINISH READING VF146

ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK

We are pleased to announce the participation of Dr. Christian George in the 2018 RSN

Dr. Christian T. George serves as assistant professor of historical theology and curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of Samford University (B.S.), Beeson Divinity School (M.Div.), and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland (Ph.D. in Theology). He has authored several books, including Sacred Travels (InterVarsity Press), Sex, Sushi, & Salvation (Moody Publishers) and Godology (Moody Publishers). He is editor of the twelve-volume series The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon: His Earliest Outlines and Sermons between 1851-1854 (B&H Academic, 2017-2024).

Recently, George has contributed chapters to The Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia (Yale University Press, 2017), A Legacy of Preaching (Zondervan, 2018), The SBC and the 21st Century (B&H Academic, 2016), and Portraits of a Pastor (Moody, 2017). He has also provided articles for the Global Sermon Editing Project (Yale University), Oxford University’s Journal of Theological StudiesSociety for the Study of TheologyTheology in ScotlandPerichoresis Journal of TheologyModern ReformationConversationsCredo Magazine, and Preaching, among many others.

George is the chair of the Church History Since 1700 session of the Evangelical Theological Society and has presented papers internationally at the Society for the Study of Theology in the Netherlands; the History of Scotland Forum in Scotland; and Interdisciplinarity in Theology and Religion in England.


Dr. George blogs weekly at www.spurgeon.org, the largest online collection of Spurgeon resources.

Click here to read Dr. George's full bio


WHAT IS THE ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK (RSN)?

The Rome Scholars Network (RSN) is a weeklong seminar in Rome sponsored by the Reformanda Initiative, partner of the Forum of Christian Leaders (foclonline.org).

The Rome Scholars Network programme includes:

  1. Text-based discussions on pre-assigned reading selections
  2. Integrated lectures on Roman Catholic theology and practice, evangelical theological distinctives, historical relations between Roman Catholics and Protestants, and opportunities for dialogue, evangelism and engagement today
  3. Papers, written and submitted by participants, on an evangelical perspective on Roman Catholic theology and practice that are evaluated by Rome Scholars faculty
  4. Personal mentoring between each participant and a faculty member
  5. Excursions and tours of the Vatican and other important historical sites in Rome
  6. Church involvement alongside a local Italian congregation


WHY IS THE ROME SCHOLARS NETWORK IMPORTANT?

Evangelicalism currently has an incoherent relationship with Roman Catholicism. Many evangelicals are uncertain about what Roman Catholics actually believe. Do they believe in the same Gospel, or something entirely different? This question is important for leaders of evangelical churches and organizations and for hundreds of millions of evangelical believers around the world. We are convinced, in line with the historic Protestant view, that Roman Catholicism is a severely flawed system in need of a radical biblical reformation in its basic theology and practice.

Currently there is no strategy for evangelical leaders and scholars to study Roman Catholicism from an explicitly evangelical perspective and to equip and educate others as well.


RSN VISION

Vision of the Rome Scholars Network:The Rome Scholars Network was designed to create a context for evangelical scholars and leaders:

  1. To have access to evangelical scholars who are experts on Roman Catholicism
  2. To study and evaluate Roman Catholic theology and practice in the heart of Roman Catholicism, Rome itself.
  3. To be trained and equipped to be scholars, leaders and communicators of an evangelical perspective about Roman Catholicism and the biblical Gospel of salvation through faith alone


 
HEAR WHAT RSN PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING:

From a recent Phd graduate in Renaissance Studies:
 
"The RSN was life-changing. I left more convinced in the integrity of the true Gospel. When you set the Real Thing against what is false, it dazzles with distinctiveness and beauty."

From a Professor who has taught Church History about Roman Catholicism for decades:
 
"I have studied Roman Catholicism and taught on it in my church history courses and in a course on RC history and theology, so I was very familiar with a lot. But I was not equipped to do the systemic analysis that we were taught. I did not realize that my knowledge was "atomistic." So, I feel I gained a lot that was very important for me to have as a teacher of church history and theology in Eastern Europe and Russia. Thank you!!!"

From an experienced Missionary in a Roman Catholic country:
 
I have been to many seminars, workshops and conferences through the years and none have been as important to me as this week at RSN! Eternal life and death hang in the balance! So much deception for so many centuries! It is heart breaking and I am spreading the word to those in our organization that this should be required for anyone thinking of serving in a Roman Catholic dominant country!"
 
Click Here for the 2018 RSN Brochure
APPLY TODAY!

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

AUSTRALIA
Are there lots of people from a Catholic background that your Church is struggling to reach? Do you want help to have better conversations with people from a Catholic background about Jesus? Do you want help structuring your ministries to be more effective in engaging people from a Catholic background and seeing them converted and discipled? ADAPT is the course for you! www.adaptatmoore.com.au

But ADAPT is more than a course, it is an ongoing discipling relationship.

ADAPT is designed to help you;
  • grow in your confidence and skills in communicating the Gospel with Catholics.
  • grow a church amongst Catholics.
ADAPT runs 10 times a year on Tuesday afternoons at Moore Theological College from 3-5.15pm. In our first hour we look at the general principles of cross cultural communication and church planting. In our second hour, after afternoon tea, we look at people group specific ministries. You can choose from the Catholic, Buddhist and Muslim streams.

Our first ADAPT session for the year is on TUESDAY 20th Feb at 3pm in the Nathaniel Jones Room at Moore Theological College, 1 King St Newtown.

To come you need to



Places are limited to 36 so don't delay.

ADAPT relies heavily on word of mouth so if you think the course could benefit someone you know please recommend this course to them and forward them this email.

Looking forward to working with you in 2018 to reach the diverse people groups and tribes in Sydney and beyond!

Your brother in Christ,

Mark Gilbert
Certainty4Eternity
Department of Evangelism and New Churches
0433 070 677

FEATURED CONTENT

What misconceptions do evangelicals have about Roman Catholicism?
Leonardo De Chirico answers the question "What misconceptions do evangelicals have about Roman Catholicism?" related to his talk "Why Evangelicals Need to Engage Roman Catholicism" given at the 2016 European Leadership Forum. - See more at www.FOCLonline.org
The Four Biggest Theological Mistakes That Evangelicals Are Making Today
What are the biggest mistakes that evangelicals are making today, and how do they affect both church and mission? This talk critiques four widespread but insidious theological errors, offering us a way to healthier pastoring, gospel proclamation, and mission. - See more at http://www.FOCLonline.org
Thank you for your on-going interest and support. Please continue to ask people to sign the document and subscribe to the Reformanda Initiative newsletter.

http://IsTheReformationOver.com/
Click here to read the full Statement
Evangelical leaders who have signed the Statement.

Those who want to support the Reformanda Initiative financially may do so with a donation to the Kyra Karr Foundation

 http://kyrakarrfoundation.com/make-a-donation/.
And above all, pray that God will be honored and His gospel will shine forth in whatever we do.


Leonardo De Chirico
Reformanda Initiative, Director
  
The Reformanda Initiative exists to equip and resource evangelical leaders to understand Roman Catholic theology and practice, to educate the evangelical Church, and to communicate the Gospel.
Copyright © 2018 Reformanda Initiative, All rights reserved.


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