Yesterday we received our first copies of the latest multiple-views book from Zondervan. It is the Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism. The contributors and positions are:
Kevin T. Bauder – Fundamentalism
R. Albert Mohler – Confessional Evangelicalism
John G. Stackhouse – Generic Evangelical
Roger Olson – Postconservative Evangelical
It may appear there is quite a spectrum but Roger Olson has said on his blog that he feels the positions between Bauder and Mohler “are too much alike to really represent fundamentally different approaches to defining evangelicalism.” He says the same is true between his position and that of Stackhouse. With those observations aside he believes the “book is very good as it is.”
As I scanned through it quickly I was struck by Bauder’s comments on Roman Catholicism. He writes:
“Fundamentalists believe that Roman Catholicism also denies the gospel. Catholicism attacks the gospel in at least two ways. First, it undercuts biblical authority by subjecting the Scriptures to an authoritative tradition and magisterium, not to mention an infallible papacy. Second, by confounding justification with progressive sanctification, it attacks the root of a gracious gospel and denies that salvation can be applied through faith alone. The result is a system of religion that mixes faith with works in the application of salvation.
Granted, Roman Catholicism, unlike Arianism or Mormonism, affirms Trinitarian orthodoxy. The Roman gospel, however is false. Catholicism represents an apostate, rather than a Christian, system of religion. Christians cannot rightly extend Christian recognition or fellowship to those who endorse and proclaim the Roman Catholic gospel.” (31-32)
Readers of this blog know how much I have learned and enjoy reading Catholic scholars. This kind of fundamentalism is hard to understand yet I encountered it first hand this week. I had a customer remark that he was just about to buy a book on exegesis but then he noticed the author taught at a Catholic seminary. He said to me, “Catholics are wrong on so much what could they possibly teach us about exegesis? Clearly their exegesis is wrong.” He didn’t purchase the book. I offered a couple of thoughts which he simply brushed aside as mindless gibberish.
I look forward to reading this book. I was once very comfortable with calling myself an Evangelical. I’m wondering if I’ll still be as comfortable after finishing the book.
Four Views on The Spectrum of Evangelicalism is from Zondervan. It is a paperback with 224 pages and sells for $16.99.
The Baker Deep End Blog 
I cant wait to get this book! I grew up in Bauder’s camp and I feel I have moved into Mohler’s.
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Louis,
Thanks for your comments on the passage from Bauder. I do find it ironic that he deplores the “authoritative tradition and magisterium, not to mention an infallible papacy” as being unbiblical, yet he apparently has been given the authority to declare that “Christians cannot rightly extend Christian recognition or fellowship to those who endorse and proclaim the Roman Catholic gospel.” It seems to me that the real dividing line between Catholics and Protestants is not Mary, the Eucharist, Sola Fide, or Sola Scriptura, but rather the issue of authority.
He also brings up the issue of Sola Fide. I wonder how this view holds up when one considers the historic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation. Would the LWF be an apostate as well?
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Hi Timothy,
I can’t speak for Bauder but I would guess he would see the LWF as compromised at best and on a journey to apostasy. Your point about authority interests me. Is there anything you could recommend to help an Protestant understand the issue of authority from a Catholic perspective?
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Louis,
Yeah, I would recommend the following two books, which are not too long, but both good introductions:
Mark Shea’s “By What Authority: an Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition”
Pope Benedict/Cardinal Ratzinger “Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today”
Both are available in paperback as well as Kindle.
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Timothy,
Now that I’ve finished Bauder’s essay I think I have a better answer for you though I was not far from wrong in my original estimation. He writes, “Christians who make a habit of encouraging apostate teachers are hardly models of Christian discernment. We should treat them as people who have a share in the evil of apostasy.” (p. 40) He continues, “That is why fundamentalists separate from Christian leaders who will not separate from apostates. It is not merely that such leaders are disobedient. The problem lies in the character of their disobedience. By refusing to break with apostates, such Christian leaders are losing reward by bringing themselves into fellowship with apostasy. The evil of apostasy becomes common property between them and the apostates.’ (40) The basis for these judgments is “profession of faith in the gospel.” (24) If someone doesn’t profess the gospel they cannot be considered a Christian. Therefore, “Inasmuch as it denies the biblical gospel, Roman Catholicism is not Christianity.” (33) I agree that if you deny the gospel you can’t be a Christian. What I can’t see is that Catholicism denies the gospel.
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They deny the true Gospel because they mixed it works,True gospel is Christ died and rose again,to pay our sin,and that beleiving accepting Him to be our saviour,we will be saved,born again,transformation comes,The Spirit of God lives inside us. And that is purely God’s work,not of works,titus 3:5,eph 2:8-9,if its not for grace,then our gospel is not true gospel….
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Louis, thank you for candor. Full disclosure, I work for Zondervan but I’m genuinely excited to read this book. I’m made uncomfortable when some evangelicals act as if the *only* Christians are evangelical Christians (or Fundamentalists, or Postconservatives, etc.). I’m going to read this book hoping for insight into how I can have more fruitful conversation with Christians who are different from me.
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“What I can’t see is that Catholicism denies the gospel.”
If the RCC proclaims a gospel of faith plus works (merit) and this contradicts the New Testament, how can we call that the gospel of the Bible?
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When we accept teaching from adulterated gospel,yes we can win them, but we will risk more things!!like accepting their positions teaching etc. True Gospel is we are saved by grace through Faith not of works Eph 2:8-9..we love catholics but cannot accept their adulterated gospel,I’m for Bauder
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