01.16. Rome and the Reformation (210-213)

210. What was the reason for the Reformation?

211. How did Rome react?

212. Did the Reformation involve, as Rome asserts, heresy and schism?

213. Has the term ’Protestant’ a negative aspect and a positive aspect?

210. What was the reason for the Reformation?

Rome by her domination had corrupted the Church, and those who were faithful to the Word of God sought to restore the Church to her true doctrines.

211. How did Rome react?

Rome violently opposed the Reformation everywhere, and all the Churches of the Reformation were regarded as heretical because they sought to abolish Rome’s corruptions and rejected the claims of the Papacy.

212. Did the Reformation involve, as Rome asserts, heresy and schism?

Certainly not. The Reformers, on the contrary, regarded the Church of Rome to have seceded from Christ and the Apostolic Church, and their aim was to return to the pure Gospel and practices and principles of the New Testament.

213. Has the term ’Protestant’ a negative aspect and a positive aspect?

Yes. Protestantism involves protesting against error, but also propagating the Truth. A Protestant, therefore, in the true sense, is one who not only protests against the corruptions, abuses and apostasy of Romanism, but also bears faithful witness to the fundamental principles of the Gospel as set forth in the Word of God.