In looking at the Three Branches of Churches:  Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches, last week we looked at the differences between the Orthodox churches and the Roman Catholic Church.

This week, we will consider the differences between the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant churches.

Trevin Wax, in his blog, “Quick Guide to Christian Denominations,” (thegospelcoalition.com, April 7, 2022), notes that the Western church continued to develop theologically in the years following the division with the East (I blogged on this split last week). “Disputes over the papacy, theology, and various practices prompted the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s.”

The Roman Catholic Church places a high priority on liturgical worship. Sanctuaries include statues and images, and Catholics believe there is precedent for praying to saints and Mary.

The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the key human authority over the church. He is infallible when speaking “ex-cathedra” (from the seat of authority on issues of faith or morals).

According to the Dallas Theological Seminary, there are seven key differences between Protestant and Catholic doctrine:

1.      The Magisterium – the body that determines the “official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church” which, “besides providing a trusted, unified voice to guide Catholics, also allows the church to make official pronouncements on contemporary issues which Scripture might not directly address” There is no equivalent to the magisterium for Protestants.

2.      Tradition – while the Protestants view only the Scripture as authoritative, the Catholic Catechism states that the Church accepts both Scripture and tradition with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.”

3.      Salvation and Grace – “Protestants often express the idea that salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone, done in Christ alone. In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church views justification as a process, dependent on the grace you receive by participating in the Church—which is seen as a repository of saving grace.”

4.      “Communion” / the “Eucharist” – the Catholic Church holds that during Mass, the elements literally become the body and blood of Christ. “In contrast, some Protestants, like Lutherans, believe in consubstantiation, where Jesus’ body and blood coexist with the bread and blood. Other Protestant churches believe that the elements are symbols of Christ’s blood and body.”

5.      Justification – Protestants believe that justification is the moment God declares that a guilty person is righteous because of what Christ has done. “Sanctification then is the process of being made righteous throughout your life. Catholics view justification as both a point and a process. What the Roman Catholic rejects is that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us at the moment of salvation, after which we are counted as fully righteous in the sight of God.

6.      Priesthood of Believers—Protestants see the church as having a horizontal structure, rather than a vertical structure as is true in the Catholic church. “From Luther on, Protestants have had the ability to confess sins to one another.”

7.      7. Veneration of the Saints and of the Virgin Mary—Catholics pray through (not to) the Saints and the Virgin Mary. They see Mary as the mother of humanity. Protestants emphasize direct access to God.”

Protestants and Catholics agree on many essentials of the faith. Yet, there are key issues that distinguish their beliefs and practices. One day, this will no longer be true. When Christ reigns, we will all truly be one.