The Protestant Reformation - Against God and Jesus, Pt. 2
Being myself a former Lutheran, The Protestant Reformation was a big deal for us. We patted ourselves on the back for our sect being the first one started by the key Reformationist, himself, Martin Luther.
However, we never admitted that there are IMPROPER responses to sin and corruption in the Church, which include deliberately formulating and teaching false teachings that are contrary to the dogmas of the Church. That part was, and still is, conveniently left out when the so-called "Reformation" is discussed.
Contrary to popular, secular beliefs, the Church does not want to hold people in chains. Many complain with that sort of verbiage, mostly because they are rather like spoiled children and don't like, “being told what to do.”
Again, that is more modern entitlement thinking creeping in. Rather, The Church has as its focus the fact that Christ instituted only ONE Church, The Catholic Church, with,...
“one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”
- Eph. 4:5-6
He did NOT create innumerable, “denominations,” each with its own way of branching off and viewing Him or His teachings. In fact, He Himself referred to creating ONE FOLD, to which all must be restored, in time.... The Church.
In John 15:5-7 it says,...
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Remaining in Christ, in this sense, involves being a member of the one mystical body of His (1 Cor 12:12-31), where we enter through baptism and remain active members insofar as we don’t commit mortal sins (1 John 5:16).
Therefore, it is a grave sin against the one Lord, our God, and His Son Jesus Christ, to enter schism, or to believe in, or promote, heresy concerning the one Church which he instituted. The Church wants to PREVENT this, so as to save all souls - her primary mission on earth.
So yes, she is insistent about it.
If this seems like she is blocking you from what you want to do, well, as one priest of my acquaintance puts it, "Sorry, but too bad. It's a pill that cannot be sugar coated, no matter how much one stomps his foot about it."
At that, the terms, 'heresy,' 'schism,' and their offshoot, 'apostasy' may be unfamiliar to you. So lets define them.
The Catechism of The Church, its primary teaching work, defines them in section 2089:
“Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
And since most any non-Catholic reading this will ignore, or even hate, the Catechism because it is from The Church, lets take this a step further:
The American Heritage Dictionary defines it this way:
heresy /hĕr′ĭ-sē/
noun
An opinion or a doctrine at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from or denial of Roman Catholic dogma by a professed believer or baptized church member.
Obstinant adherence to such dissenting opinion or doctrine.
A controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in politics, philosophy, or science.
Adherence to such controversial or unorthodox opinion.
An opinion held in opposition to the established or commonly received doctrine, and tending to promote a division or party, as in politics, literature, philosophy, etc.; -- usually, but not necessarily, said in reproach.
Religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standards of any particular church, especially when tending to promote schism or separation; lack of orthodox or sound belief; rejection of, or erroneous belief in regard to, some fundamental religious doctrine or truth; heterodoxy.
Similar: heterodoxyAn offense against Christianity, consisting in a denial of some essential doctrine, which denial is publicly avowed, and obstinately maintained.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Sorry.
Martin Luther, the so-called “Father” of the Reformation, was a Catholic priest. He did try to reconcile his differences with the Church over the abuses committed in her name, but he was rebuffed by those in The Church guilty of abusing their power. But, he was working in isolation - there was no internet then and he could not hold a Zoom meeting with anyone.
So rather than holding to the teachings of the Church and working from within with those already trying to correct the abuses, he chose to do his own thing, and promulgate new teachings. He introduced self-proclaimed dogma that was never taught by Christ’s one Church, and which is not in Scripture – he even produced his own version of Scripture to suit his view of things. In this way, he entered into schism and promoted heresy... and dragged everyone else with him.
Of course, Protestants ever since have held him up as a folk hero, and the entire Reformation is seen as some glorious battle against the forces of evil. In a very real sense, they cling to the idea that God waited 1500+ years for them to come along and correct His mistakes....that without them, God would somehow fail.
The reality, however, is that the only thing we can really say to Luthers credit and those that followed him is, they did not engage in total apostasy.
By that I mean they at least tried to act in Christs name, which counts for something, if we care to read Mark 9:38-40....
John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us."
So we Catholics do not hate them, nor denounce them, although they do both to The Church. Instead, we give them points for their good intentions, even as they are separated from Christ's one true Church.
However, all is not rosy. The so-called Protestant “Reformers” DID lead many to apostatize from Christ's true Catholic Church, which Scripture says is highly condemnable:
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”
- Matthew 18:5-6
So there is a tough fact one must face as a Protestant: For the most part, they no longer intentionally lead others to go further into apostasy and repudiate the Christian faith. But, they obstinately, deliberately cling to the same heresy as always. It is not excusable to promote heresy, nor to enter schism – it’s a sin against Christ Himself.
Sadly, that sin remains on their hands and continues to this very day.
How? Simple: their heretical rejection and self-proclaimed revelation set an example then, and now, one which evolved into a culture that actually applauds people going into heresy.
How many new churches do we see popping up, each with its own version of what Gods wants, and often at odds with the ones that popped up before them...and certainly at odds with The Church Jesus initated?
Or, how often do people today justify and convince themselves they don't need God, or worse, that God doesn't exist at all?
That rebellious concept of, "I'll do what I want to do with God" began with the first Protestant changelings,... those who literally taught they could do better than the Church Christ initiated.
And that continues even today.
The Church doesn't promote it, but Protestants generally do. Each time they try to "cross-over" another Catholic to their church, or thwart someone from examining the truths of Christ's one and original Church... boom, there is their heresy.
Earlier, if you recall, I referred to the Protestant Reformation as "so-called." This is because it was NOT a legitmate reformation, properly speaking. It was actually a DE-FORMATION of the Christian faith which Christ instituted, one that introduced, and even legitimized, the sin of heresy.
One common example of that is the continuing rejection of the authority granted to the apostles and their successors. Today, this is prominently seen in the Protestant's potentially disastrous doctrine of, "Bible only," or sola scriptura.
For more on that, visit this link:
TRADITION Is RIGHT - "BIBLE ONLY" Is WRONG
The term, “Reformation” referring to the Protestant rebellion is, at its core, a biased term that is intentionally self-flattering towards Protestants. This is inevitable, of course, since they have talked themselves into believing they are revolutionaries in a good fight - “Every frog praises its own pond,” you might say.
But to take the modern view that Protestants were justified in outright overthrow against the Catholic Church, the very Church Christ HIMSELF started, is to be complicit with heresy and schism, which is a great sin.
Put another way, the reformists pridefully, sinfully rejected some or all of what Christ instituted - that which he created to stand for all time against even the gates of Hell.
And todays Protestants? Well, they still do.
Yes, we should embrace and promote authentic reforms when needed,... and the Church will always be in need of reforms, because members of the Church on Earth are mortal beings with concupiscence. Satan will always introduce sin and corruption wherever he can. This should come as no big surprise.
We can also say the same about all churches,... so don't anyone reading this howl too loudly and point their finger at, misdeeds within The Church..., nor imagine themselves too high and mighty in calling out the mote in the eye of Catholics.
As we Catholics pray for our separated Protestant brothers and sisters, we also pray that they are mindful of the beam in their own eyes.
In summary, there was a recognized need of reform in the 1500’s. That reform did take place, principally through the Council of Trent, and through holy men like Philip Neri.
Yet, if any reforms are to be applied to The Church, they must be applied within the Church which Christ Himself instituted – the Catholic Church – and not outside it, following our own prideful notions of what God wants.
To do that is to literally reject the head of the Church Himself, who is Christ. And THAT is a bad news heresy for those who insist on doing it.
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