Book Talk: A Reformed Catholic
Join Ryan and me in a discussion about William Perkins remarkable book "A Reformed Catholic" published in 1598. We talked about what this book is, why it is important, and if it is still relevant today.
The central premise is that a Reformed Catholic is "anyone who holds the same necessary heads of religion with the Roman Church, yet so as he pares off and rejects all errors in doctrine whereby said religion is corrupted" (p.3). Perkins argues that the Roman church is the continuation of the Roman Empire in essence and therefore is Babylon from from the book of Revelation. Our instruction then is to "come out of her O my people" (Revelation 18:4). Perkins goes on to prove this by examining 21 crucial points of doctrine, our similarities with the Roman church on these, and our dissension.
Are the differences between Reformed Christianity and Roman Catholicism simply semantics? Is the Roman church of today fundamentally the same as the one in Perkins day? Is the Roman church a true church?
Ryan and I discuss all these questions and more, so welcome into the Reformed Corner. Thank you for joining the discussion.