By Jim Brown
A Regent University professor says despite long-standing theological differences between evangelical Christians and Catholics, he is encouraged by recent ecumenical talks between the groups with the goal of promoting greater understanding and respect.
Dr. Stephen Parker, an associate professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Pat Robertson's Regent University, was a representative for the Pentecostal team during the Pentecostal/Catholic International Dialogue held in Rottenburg, Germany, July 15-22.
Parker says Catholics and evangelicals have more in common than many may imagine, and the talks have helped both groups develop a deeper sense of respect for one another.
“Probably the central thing that we have in common together is a desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and to be faithful servants to Him — to try to carry out His mission here on the Earth, and to win disciples to Him and evangelize the world. On that deep level, we share a basic commitment to Christ as Lord,” he says.
The professor also says evangelical Christians who believe Roman Catholics do not affirm the right road to salvation would be surprised if they were to read the content of some statements made by the denomination in the last several years.
“The Catholics produced a document around the end of 1999, I think, that talks about Jesus as the only way for salvation — faith in Him through God's grace,” Parker says. He believes most who read the document would discover that it basically affirms the same gospel evangelicals believe.
The professor points out that the Roman Catholic Church has been carrying on dialogue with various Protestant groups, such as the Lutheran Church, for years. He says there is much mutuality on which to build relationships, although Catholics may use different language from that used by evangelicals to describe their relationship with God.
Parker observes that while evangelicals refer to salvation as a specific event that took place in their life, Catholics tend to talk about the Lord being at work in their life as an ongoing “process.”
The Pentecostal/Catholic International Dialogue was co-sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and a number of classical Pentecostal leaders and churches, including the Church of God of Prophecy, of which Dr. Parker is a member.
(This article courtesy of Agape Press).
