Kay, I appreciate your perspective, however, I'd push back on that notion of unity.
Wouldn't you think that unity is a bit more substantial than believing the "essentials" as Madison's youth pastor proffered?
I would propose unity to be threefold: we believe the same things (teaching), we live the same way (morals and worship), and we are shepherded in the same way (local bishop and Pope).
John 17 places the standard of unity quite high: "As the Father and I are one."
If I can be forgiven for the self-promotion, all I have to add to Fr. Logan’s point is that I have written a bit more about this if you’re interested, Kay! I think it’s a great issue to really see some of the clearest points of both agreement and disagreement between Catholics and Protestants:
To your first claim that one can accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic, it seems like it depends on what Roman Catholicism actually teaches. If, for example, it says that all Christians have a duty to enter communion with the Pope and accept his authority, that is to say, become Catholic, then it would seem impossible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic.
I am grateful for your ecumenical posture and hope we can continue building on the ground we share!
I believe that Christ is the source of unity among Christians. I teach a Bible class in a nondenominational international ministry where we do not discuss the churches we belong to. Those churches run the entire gamut, from Roman Catholic to every variety of Protestant. The statement of faith our leaders must sign is entirely biblically based and can be signed by both Catholics and Protestants. I work closely with people from very different church polities, yet we are all one in Christ Jesus, not just in belief but in experience and prayer and action. So I do not believe that Christian unity to any degree depends on the pope or priest or pastor who serves as our overseer. We should be united in belief and in morals, and it is very distressing to me when Christians adopt a worldly view of matters such as abortion or anything that attacks God’s purposes in His creation.
It is a sad truth that many Catholics have departed from Catholic teaching on moral issues, so that is far from an exclusively Protestant problem. Conformity to the world is a temptation every Christian faces; the world, the flesh, and the devil are our ancient enemies. Our recourse against them is abiding in Christ and employing the weapons of our warfare as described in Ephesians 6. All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him with all their hearts and souls and minds are my beloved brothers and sisters in Him.
Kay, I appreciate your perspective, however, I'd push back on that notion of unity.
Wouldn't you think that unity is a bit more substantial than believing the "essentials" as Madison's youth pastor proffered?
I would propose unity to be threefold: we believe the same things (teaching), we live the same way (morals and worship), and we are shepherded in the same way (local bishop and Pope).
John 17 places the standard of unity quite high: "As the Father and I are one."
Curious on your thoughts!
If I can be forgiven for the self-promotion, all I have to add to Fr. Logan’s point is that I have written a bit more about this if you’re interested, Kay! I think it’s a great issue to really see some of the clearest points of both agreement and disagreement between Catholics and Protestants:
reformationcatholicism.com/p/essentials-based-unity-rips-the-church
Two further thoughts.
For the beliefs on the early Church, I’d refer you to their own words:
https://www.churchfathers.org/the-real-presence
To your first claim that one can accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic, it seems like it depends on what Roman Catholicism actually teaches. If, for example, it says that all Christians have a duty to enter communion with the Pope and accept his authority, that is to say, become Catholic, then it would seem impossible to accept Roman Catholicism without becoming Catholic.
I am grateful for your ecumenical posture and hope we can continue building on the ground we share!
I believe that Christ is the source of unity among Christians. I teach a Bible class in a nondenominational international ministry where we do not discuss the churches we belong to. Those churches run the entire gamut, from Roman Catholic to every variety of Protestant. The statement of faith our leaders must sign is entirely biblically based and can be signed by both Catholics and Protestants. I work closely with people from very different church polities, yet we are all one in Christ Jesus, not just in belief but in experience and prayer and action. So I do not believe that Christian unity to any degree depends on the pope or priest or pastor who serves as our overseer. We should be united in belief and in morals, and it is very distressing to me when Christians adopt a worldly view of matters such as abortion or anything that attacks God’s purposes in His creation.
It is a sad truth that many Catholics have departed from Catholic teaching on moral issues, so that is far from an exclusively Protestant problem. Conformity to the world is a temptation every Christian faces; the world, the flesh, and the devil are our ancient enemies. Our recourse against them is abiding in Christ and employing the weapons of our warfare as described in Ephesians 6. All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him with all their hearts and souls and minds are my beloved brothers and sisters in Him.