Critique of THE PROTESTANT'S DILEMMA by Devin Rose
Chapter 1 - Divine Authority
Page 27: We know that Christ
established a Church, visible and unified, to which he gave his divine
authority. In Matthew’s Gospel we read that “he called to him his
twelve apostles and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast
them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity” (Matt. 10:1).
But according to Protestantism, this authority must have been lost when
that visible Church became morally and doctrinally corrupt.
Note: The “church” is a group of people who are called to be apart from non-believers.
The word "church" as rendered in the New Testament comes from the Greek
term ekklesia which is formed from two Greek words meaning "an
assembly" and "to call out" or "called out ones." The church,
therefore, is not a place. It's not the building, it's not the
location, and it's not the denomination. We—God's people who are in
Christ Jesus—are the church.
Note: The author continually makes false assumptions.
Page 27: The vast majority of
Protestants believe that the visible Church did in fact lose God’s
authority at some point in time; that Christ revoked it when corruption
entered into its teachings. Many fundamentalist Protestants believe
that the date when the Church became corrupted and lost God’s divine
authorization was the year 313, when Constantine proclaimed the Edict
of Milan, which ended the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
and began (they say) the mixture of pagan corruption with the true
gospel.
Note: Original sin has always been with all humans including the Apostles.
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he
walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw that the wind was
boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying,
“Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and
caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you
doubt?” Matthew 14:28-31.
Page 28: The notion that “the
church” became corrupt nonetheless does not sit well with Protestants,
since they also believe the Bible passages that speak in exalted terms
about the Church. Their solution is to separate the historical
institution originally known as “the Church” – which fell into
corruption – from the true Church of Christ, which continued undefiled.
At the time of its corruption, whenever that was, the visible
institution became the Roman Catholic Church, while Christ’s true
Church became invisible and purely spiritual. Hence, the promises
Christ made in the Bible still apply to all “true believers” in the
world, who make up this invisible Church: the one that quietly endured
through all the apostate centuries until the Reformation unearthed it.
Note: God’s people have always been on the earth being a witness for Jesus Christ.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21.
Page 29: In Luke’s Gospel,
Jesus says to his disciples: “Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one
who sent me” (10:16). Notice the direct line of authority: The Father
sends the Son, and the Son sends the apostles with his authority, such
that listening to them (and the men whom they in turn authorize) is
equivalent to listening to Jesus and the Father.
Note: God directly appoints all Christians directly to an area of influence.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of
the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes
you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority
did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel
of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other
men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we
shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in
the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of
accomplishment. 2 Corinthians 10:13-16.
Page 30: From history, we see
the apostles and then their successors, the bishops, exercising this
authority in the Church, and the Church thriving under their divinely
authorized leadership – even in the midst of horrific persecutions.
Note: Original sin has always been with all humans including the Apostles.
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless
you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be
saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain
others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders,
about this question. Acts 15:1-2.
Note: The Church did not thrive under the direction of Peter, James, and John.
Page 30: Paul speaks of this
authority in his first letter to his disciple, Timothy: “Do not neglect
the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with
the laying on of hands by the council of elders” (1Tim. 4:14). In the
next chapter, he enjoins Timothy to “not be hasty in the laying on of
hands” to avoid ordaining an unworthy man to lead the church (1 Tim.
5:22). Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, in the late first and
early second centuries, testify to the authority given bishops as
successors to the apostles.
Note: Jesus Christ sent a common Christian to commission the Apostle Paul.
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on
him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the
road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be
filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17.
Page 31: Since most Protestants
do not give a specific event and date for how and when corruption
entered the Church but instead mention a vague span of centuries, it is
best to consider the plausibility of the assertion in general.
Interestingly, it differs from the theology of the Mormons (Latter-Day
Saints) only in the date given, for Mormons believe that the Church
lost the authority Christ gave it sometime around A.D. 70 or 100
(either at the death of Peter or of the last apostle). At that time,
they assert, the “Great Apostasy” began, which lasted for around 1,700
years before Christ reestablished his authority in the Mormon Church
through Joseph Smith.
Note: The work of Christians in the first century A.D. did not go to waste.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you
should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” John 15:16.
Page 32: Even as a Baptist, I
rejected the Mormon claim of the Church losing its authority at the
death of the apostles, but as I pondered this question, I had to admit
that my Protestant beliefs were not so very different. When did I, as a
Baptist, think that corruption had entered into the Church’s teachings?
The truth was that I had never given it much thought,” I mused vaguely.
And, like most Protestants, I thought that the Reformers had more or
less corrected the corrupted teachings and set things right again. What
did I think had happened to the Church for the thousand years between
the corruption and the Reformation? To be honest, I didn’t really think
about it – nor do most Protestants.
Note: Original sin has always been with all humans including the Apostles.
Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and
visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the
Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take
with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take
with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not
gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that
they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to
Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the
brethren to the grace of God. Acts 15:36-40.
Page 33: Similarly, the Church
is a visible unity that can be seen acting in history, with Christ’s
authority, to exclude from the Mystical Body those members who
persisted in teaching false doctrines. Vincent of Lerins demonstrated
the visibility of the Church when he wrote in the 434: What then will a
Catholic Christian do if a small portion of the Church has cut itself
off from the communion of the universal faith? What, surely, but prefer
the soundness of the whole body to the unsoundness of a pestilent and
corrupt member.
Note: According to this false definition, Pope Peter was corrupt member.
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he
would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the
rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even
Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:11-13.
Page 33: If the true Church is
invisible, it becomes impossible to determine who has authority to
excommunicate another. Christ directed the apostles on how and when to
excommunicate someone from the Church (see Matt. 18:17), but what does
this mean when the Church is invisible and spread out across numerous
denominations? A Christian “excommunicated” from one church just goes
to another down the street, both a part of the “invisible Church,”
rendering these biblical passages meaningless. Being excommunicated
from the Church makes sense only if the Church is a visible unity that
one can be cut off from.
Note: False believers will be in every gathering of Christians.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will
rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves. Acts 20:29-30.
Page 34: If Protestantism is
true, then either Christ revoked the authority he had given his Church
or the Church changed in its essentials from being a unified, visible,
and hierarchically organized body to an invisible and purely spiritual
association. There is no scriptural evidence for the former and much
against it, and in the latter case it becomes impossible to know to
whom God has given the rightful authority to lead the Church.
Protestants may like to speak of “the Church,” but in truth all they
can point to are individual believers who may or may not meet in some
local congregation.
Note: The Church are individuals not a legal corporation based in Rome.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who
risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but
also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that
is in their house. Romans 16:3-5.