Why We Resist The Doctrines Of The Church of Rome
Part 3 in a series of articles by A.G. Ashdown, from The Protestant Alliance
Reproduced by Manchester Orange Order under kind permission from The Protestant Alliance.
THE DOCTRINE OF INFALLIBILITY
This doctrine is the great distinguishing doctrine of modern Romanism, Formerly, Protestants have been accused of having an infallible book - the Bible. This is true of the Reformers and all truly evangelical Protestants. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and therefore infallible, for it is not a human production. Infallibility thus defined is sound, for only God is truly infallible in His pronouncements. The present sad state of the formal Protestant Churches is largely due to the fact that once departed into liberal theology they have no message or authority.
THE CHURCH REGARDED AS INFALLIBLE
Before the division of the Church into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Churches infallibility was differently defined. In the Early Church it was regarded as being found only in the Bible. Great Councils were convened at the direction of Emperors to decide matters of doctrine and practice. Often they were called to settle matters when heresies had arisen. These early Councils were concerned to affirm what was the doctrine of Holy Scripture, what the Apostles had taught. This was so at the Council of Nicaea 325 A.D. when the Scriptural doctrine of the Trinity was affirmed. Thus in former times infallibility resided in the decrees of Councils but this was only in so far as those decrees could be found to be in harmony with Scripture. Later, as the Church corrupted, it decreed in Councils that which was contrary to Scripture and departed from the position of the Early Church.
ERROR EASILY INTRODUCED
In 1215 A.D. at the fourth Council of the Lateran in Rome it was decreed that Christ is bodily present in the elements of the Mass. When the term “Mass” is used in history recording the events of the time previous to this Council, it does not generally refer to the doctrine of the Mass and transubstantiation as we now use it, it merely refers to the Holy Communion. Because of the adoption of the error of transubstantiation, the 4th Lateran Council decreed that the laity should receive the Communion only in the form of the bread, the cup was taken from them and administered to the priests alone. This was plain denial of Scripture and departure from Apostolic practice. It proves that the Church, when it expresses its doctrine through a Council, is not infallible.
HOW GREAT CHANGES CAME
Some of the great changes that came were caused by the various quarrels over the appointment of Popes. At the very first, Bishops of Rome were elected by the Christians in Rome. In the earliest times all presiding elders were bishops. At the Council of Nicaea (325 A.D.) some churches sent more than one bishop to the Council. After the conversion of the Emperor Constantine the Church became worldly and corrupted. All the people were regarded as Christian. The Church was gradually organised on the model of the Empire, hence bishops or proconsular cities, such as Rome or Ephesus, had dominion over the Churches of the proconsular area. The most important of these were Rome and Constantinople. Constantine raised the Bishops of Rome from being leaders of a back street community of Christians to being his representatives in the West.
He preferred to reside and administer from the East in Constantinople. The Eastern Church rejected the worship of idols, they substituted for it the worship of icons, or pictures. In the process of time these became so highly ornamented that they were in effect idols. Great disputes broke out between Constantinople and Rome. The most notorious was that between John, Bishop of Constantinople and Popes Pelagius 11 and Gregory 1 (595 A.D.). The Eastern Bishop was claiming the title of “Universal Bishop”, Gregory 1 declared that he who claimed such a title was a forerunner of the Antichrist.
Soon after, Bishops of Rome were claiming it themselves. Councils of the Church gradually assumed the position of influence over the choice of Popes. This was because the authority and infallibility of the Church was thought to reside in the decrees of Councils, not personally in the Pope.
GROWING POWER OF THE PAPACY
Little by little the power of Councils in electing Popes was transferred to the College of Cardinals, the Cabinet of the Popes. This has been so in recent Papal elections. The Cardinals are shut up at the Vatican until they have reached a decision. Now the infallibility of the Church has been transferred from Councils of the Church, or the College of Cardinals, to the Pope personally.
At the east end of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome is the alter of the Holy Spirit. Above this, supported by the figures representing Saints Jerome and Augustine, is the Chair of St. Peter. It is from this chair that pronouncements are made by Popes that are, if concerned with faith or morals, reported as infallible.
Sitting in this place above the alter he fulfils the description of the Son of Perdition in 2 Thessalonians 2:4. It was from this place the Decree of Infallibility was decreed in 1870 at the First Vatican Council.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE JESUITS
In the last 150 years there has been an increasing emphasis on the Roman Doctrine of the Virgin Mary, This is due in some measure to the influence of the Jesuits, for they have ever been deeply committed to the adoration of the Virgin. Under their influence Pope Pius 1X on December 8th 1854 defined the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception or sinlessness of the Virgin Mary. The Franciscans and Dominicans resisted it and it was not finally settled till Leo X111 in 1870 declared that he was infallible at the first Vatican Council. This caused a great controversy. Bishop Joseph Strossmayer strongly opposed it, his famous speech is remarkable for its Scriptural and patristic opposition to this concept. Archbishop Kenrick was another who was opposed to this theory. Its adoption caused the formulation of the “Old Catholics” who under the theologian Dr. Dollinger and some others broke away from the Papal Church. In more recent times it has been taught by the Roman theologian Hans Kung, who was disciplined by the “Holy Office” (the inquisition) for that denial of infallibility.
THE PRESENT POSITION
The following is an extract from the St. Peter Catechism, first published in 1974, which is a source of religious instruction in Roman Catholic Schools -
182. Is the Pope infallible?
The Pope is infallible.
183. What do we mean when we say that the Pope is infallible?
When we say that the Pope is infallible we mean that the Pope cannot err when, as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church.
184. Must Catholics obey the Pope in all things?
Religious submission of will and of mind must be shown in a special way to the authentic teaching of the Pope even when he is not speaking infallibly.
It is therefore an important part of Roman Doctrine and completely unknown to Scripture or the Early Church. By this means all kinds of errors could be introduced