Is the Reformation Over?
Mark A. Noll and Carolyn Nystrom, Is the Reformation Over?: An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism (Baker Academic, 2005), 272 pages, ISBN 0801027977.
“Is the Reformation Over?” This is the question raised in a recent book by Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom. In this work, the authors do not attempt a “final” or “universal” assessment of Roman Catholicism” (13), instead their principle goal is an evangelical assessment of contemporary Roman Catholicism within primarily North America, with special attention given to the dramatic changes that have taken place since the Second Vatican Council (13). Understandably, then, there are large segments of Roman Catholic life and history that are not addressed in this work. As a secondary goal they seek to “provide evangelical interpretations, grounded in both classical Christian theology and the broad history of Christianity, of what we see in the contemporary Catholic Church” (14).
This exceptionally well researched book begins with an overview of the developments between Catholicism and Protestantism over the past fifty years. They note the strategy of Billy Graham and his adjustments over time as he sought to work more ecumenically with Roman Catholicism. Additionally, they offer numerous examples of evangelical individuals and organizations 50 years ago and how their reactions to Roman Catholicism ranged from deep hostility to mere suspicion, and the changes they have gone through over the decades, becoming more and more amenable to the idea that Roman Catholics are genuine brothers and sisters in Christ.
The second chapter chronicles the relationship of different groups from the time of the Protestant Reformation to the present. As before, many examples are provided that serve both as documentation and as illustration. “So Why Did Things Change?” This is not only the logical question from the preceding, but it also serves as the title for chapter three. In short, they suggest that things have changed because “God willed the changes to take place” (59). The authors see the change from hostility to friendship as the work of Divine providence, and hail it as a unity sent by God. They note significant changes within the Catholic Church, especially since Vatican II. These changes lead evangelical theologian David Wells to conclude that Protestantism must, therefore, revise its analysis of Catholic doctrine as most of it is now “obsolete” (60).
The book continues as it follows a number of the “Ecumenical Dialogues” since the time of Vatican II. These conversations have occurred among a wide range of groups, including Anglicans, Pentecostals, Disciples of Christ, Baptists, and Reformed churches, just to name a few. They continue by examining the “Catechism of the Catholic Church (chapter five), and provide a truly exceptional summary of the Catechism and its teaching. This is significant because the Catechism is “the official teaching of the Catholic Church,” and therefore it “speaks (officially) for everyone within the church” (116).
Noll and Nystrom then look at “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (chapter six). They examine the thinking behind a joint project on Evangelical/Catholic dialogue lead by Richard John Neuhaus (Catholic) and popular evangelical statesman, Chuck Colson. However, Noll and Nystrom examine other reactions as well; “Reactions [ranging] from Antagonism to Conversion” (chapter 7). Here they look at responses ranging from the deliberately antagonistic like “Jack Chick” (i.e., “Chick” publications’ illustrated booklets), to more reflective responses like R.C. Sproul. Additionally, they look at some conversions from Evangelicalism to Catholicism. Interestingly however, they make no attempt to examine conversations of Roman Catholics to Evangelicalism.
They focus in more closely on an exclusively “American Assessment” in chapter eight. They set out to sift through the “current situation by analyzing the position of evangelicals and Catholics with respect to main themes in American history” (209). As the reader turns to chapter nine, he or she discovers that they have come full-circle with the chapter title: “Is the Reformation Over?” The authors suggest that there now exists a broad and deep foundation of agreement on the central teachings of Christianity” (230). They argue that both Evangelicals and Catholics share “in the full inspiration and final authority of the Bible” (231), and that ultimately that this might suggest that “asking whether the Reformation is over may not even be the most pertinent question. It may be more to the point to ask other questions: Is God truly going to draw people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation—and major Christian tradition—to worship together the Lamb who was slain?” (251).
This work inspired mixed feelings. On the one hand, the authors examine not only some helpful history of Evangelicalism and Catholicism but also some very insightful observations. Yet on the other hand, they make some observations that appear superficial. For example, when they state that “there now exists a broad and deep foundation of agreement on the central teachings of Christianity” (230), it is difficult not to notice that precisely the same agreement existed in the sixteenth century. Additionally, their conclusion that Evangelicals and Catholics have the “full inspiration and final authority of the Bible” in common (231), seems hasty at best. Vatican II re-affirmed that “both sacred tradition and sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence” (Dei Verbum). Sam Storms rightly asks, “In what meaningful sense can Scripture have ‘final authority’ if ‘sacred tradition’ is to be accepted and venerated with equal loyalty and reverence?”1 Additionally, although there is a tremendous amount to be thankful for within Protestant/Catholic dialogues, there also remains much work to be done. Even with the highly publicized Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Lutheran World Federation, there was a blaring silence on the critical question of “imputation.” Roman Catholicism continues to regard justification as a process … rather than the imputation of righteousness.”2
Noll and Nystrom have produced an exceptional work; well researched and insightful and yet not without it weaknesses. For those interested in either Roman Catholicism or ecumenical relations between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism this book should certainly make it onto your reading list.
Reviewed by Jeffrey Anderson
1 Samuel Storms, Book Review of Is the Reformation Over? An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism, November 2006, http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/recommendations/ <accessed: September 27, 2007>.
2 Alister E. McGrath, Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification from 1500 to the Present Day (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986), 284.
Publisher’s page: bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/is-the-reformation-over/263923
