He seems to suggest -- regretfully -- that protestantism needs the papacy in the same way that aspirin needs headaches. As a former catholic, I'm inclined to agree with this sentiment.
I agree that this article still hold strong today and will in 100 years. Any church, community, organization, business, and even a family needs a head person. A "spokesman". Before Christ came here, God had many messengers, prophets, to speak to mankind. Then God came as a man, incarnated, as Christ. He physically walked and talked among men. He ascended back to Heaven. But sent His Holy Spirit to guide man and the Church. The Church needs a main man, the Pope. The pope isn't divine and isn't perfect. He is human and can sin. But when he speaks of the Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit guides his words and makes his words infallible because the Holy Scripture is God's word and God is infallible.
I fully understand that this is a huge concept to conceive in ones mind but when you think about it, meditate on it, pray about it, it makes perfect sense. God (Father, Son and Spirit) would not let man go about misinterpretation His Holy Word and misguide other souls. He wants us to want Him and to be with Him forever. Since He has chosen not to walk on earth forever and teach us 24/7, He has chosen to send His Spirit to His Church to keep His Word going without error. Jesus gave His apostles authority to give us the blessings of the sacraments. These apostles were lead, headed by Peter, the rock on which Jesus build His Church on earth, the first pope.
The early Protestant princes did not want a international church with a Universal Pastor that would make the church something beyond the control of the prince and his synods and/or bishops (if he had them).
Today there are 30,000+ varieties of Bible Alone Protestant Churches and there is no way that they could have a council like the Calvinists had in the early 17Th cent Synod of Dort.
I think both Protestants and Orthodox or at least the subfamilies(like Lutherans,Anglicans etc) really need some sort of pope with real authority IMHO.
the multitude of protestant churches(30,000+) have needed the catholic church for there even to be Christianity,more proof why they need the papacy. i haven't read the article yet but as a roman catholic it is apparent that the protestant churches are forever indebted to our church and may our prayers be heard that we may all be one as our father wanted in his one true church. the catholic church.
WNW.scripturecatholic.com
WNW.fisheaters.com
WNW.askmeaboutgod.org
WNW.ewtn.com
WNW.salvationhistory.com
the bible,catechism and writings of the early church fathers.
Have you heard that a Protestant professor says Protestantism needs the papacy?
