The Prophetic Significance of Pope John's Appeal (cont.) If Pope John’s plan is carried out, it will be only the third such gathering in four hundred years, the other two being the Council of Trent in 1545 and the Vatican Council in 1869. The two councils that are now history caused no small stir in their time. A multiplicity of con troversial publications came out almost overnight after the announcement of the Vatican Council. SOME FAVORABLE RESPONSE The favor with which Pope John’s announcement is being met among Protestants is significant. I have listened to interviews on both the radio and television, and I would estimate that at least ninety-five per cent spoke favorably of a merger between Protestant, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic forces. One only out of the twelve to whom I listened expressed any apprehension whatever over the proposed union. Newspapers in the United States and Canada have carried accounts of the different opinions of Protestant leaders. In my own city of Detroit there appeared in The Detroit News some comments taken from a sermon by the Reverend Charles F. Resting. After stating in his sermon that the early church was influenced strongly by the Roman Empire, Mr. Resting added, We can only pray that out of such efforts as pro posed by Pope John may emerge a new expression of the Christian Church. . . . I see in the invitation both a compliment and a challenge, and it is a compliment to be recognized rather than ignored. Protestants should accept this as a challenge to redouble their efforts for unity, liberty and peace, not as an expression of ill will, intolerance and hate. Rather, they should seek through good will and understanding among all Christians to establish a spirit of unity beginning with our neighbor, be they Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. The Toronto Telegram, quoting Dr. T. B. McDormand, General Secretary of the Baptist Federation of Canada, said, I feel (the Pope’s move) is an invitation for us to send observers to such a conference as a return cour- ’ tesy for our invitation for them to send observers to our Ecumenical Conferences at the World Council of Churches. We certainly welcome the chance for greater understanding between the world’s churches. Dr. Ernest Long, General Secretary of the United church of Canada, is reported as calling the Pope’s an nouncement “ a bold and interesting move” and that “no churches would want to put obstacles in the way of a church union.” (The Gospel Witness and Protestant Advocate). Dr. Edwin T. Dahlberg, President of the National Council of Churches (U.S.A.) said, Anything that will be a step toward unity of churches would be welcome. o Senator Brooks Hayes, President of the Southern Baptist Convention said, A ll Christians share the Pope’s concern for Chris tian unity in a period threatened by materialism and unbelief. I still hold in my files a clipping from the Philadelphia Inquirer, November 12, 1955, in which Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam is reported to have made a plea, before a Festival of Faith Rally at Oakland, California, for reconciliation between Protestants and Roman Catholics. His plea was based on the idea that Protestants and Roman Catholics worship the same God, adore the same Christ, and are inspired by the same Holy Spirit.”
SOME ADM ITTED PROBLEMS Now all of this favorable response from Protestant leaders does not indicate that there are 'no problems. I watched a news commentator interview an “ Episcopalian clergyman” on a television program. The minister was favorably disposed toward an Ecumenical Church, how ever, he admitted that the Roman Catholic dogma of papal infallibility was a problem. Many Protestants, along with some thinking Roman Catholics, still are looking for an answer to the question which asks how a group of fallible men can select an infallible man from among that very group. The Bible expressly states, For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:20). As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10). For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). History will disprove any such claim of infallibility among Protestants or Roman Catholics. Records can prove instances of immorality on the part of some Protestant ministers as well as some popes. Another problem revolves around the major issue of the final authority for faith and practice. Roman Catholi cism issued the dictum that its church is that authority. However, at the Council of Trent there were good and Godly men who refused to comply with the requests and pleadings of Emperor Charles V that all Protestants attend the Council under the Pope’s chairmanship. At that Roman Catholic Council the sole supremacy of the Scriptures was disowned, and it was this very thing many of God’s true servants suspected when they replied, The Council will be neither free, nor Christian, nor ecumenical, nor ruled by the Word of God. A third problem facing the proposed council of Pope John has to do with the terms on which such a union might be effected. Must the Protestants confess that they are heretics and prodigals who have strayed from the one true Church? This is an important point that cannot be by-passed. Dr. Edwin T. Dahlberg is reported to have expressed himself that Protestants be treated as equals. In a papal brief issued March 6 and appearing in The Detroit News, Pope John XXIII told Roman Catholics of the world that the reunion of Christendom was one of the objectives for which he would most appreciate their prayers during 1960. Listing his 24 prayer topics which the 40,000,000 Roman Catholics, enrolled in an organiza tion called “The Apostolate of Prayer,” will use as the objects of prayer during 1960, his planned ecumenical
ABOUT THIS MONTH'S AUTHOR Dr. Strauss is pas tor of the Highland Park B a p t i s t Church, Highland P a r k , Michigan. His previous serv- i c e included 1 8 years as pastor of the Calvary Baptist C h u r c h , Bristol, Penn., a n d 1 0 years as instructor of the Philadelphia Bible College. Dr. Strauss has contrib uted a number of outstanding a n d stimulating articles f o r t h e King's Business.
48
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker