Event asks: is Roman Catholicism a legitimate form of the gospel?

'Is Roman Catholicism a legitimate form of the gospel with strange elements added, or is it something which makes contact with the gospel but is not authentic? Are we in Philippians 1 or Galatians 1 territory?'

This was the question Leonardo De Chirico explored in a Saturday morning event recently organised by the Grace Baptist Association. Over fifty leaders and trainees heard Leonardo’s fascinating analysis. Leonardo writes regularly for Evangelicals Now, and pastors Chiesa Breccia di Roma in the heart of Rome.

In two sessions, first he explored the curious balance between the Church being Roman and also Catholic.

Some recent popes, such as John Paul II and Benedict, have emphasised the Roman nature of the Church, stressing the hierarchical and traditional aspects of the Church. Frances and others emphasise the Catholic dimension, being eager to extend degrees of ‘imperfect unity.’ Is the Church Roman or Catholic? That depends on which phase it is in. The Church remains as Roman as ever, hoarding its traditions which reappear when needed. Leonardo warned against conveying some sense of unity through public united prayer, but eagerly embraces every opportunity for public dialogue.

His second session focused on how we evangelise people from an Roman Catholic background. Evangelicals have tended to be more ‘Philippians 1’ than ‘Galatians 1’ in this, but Leonardo maintains they have re-engineered the gospel into something different. He explores this further in his book Same words, different worlds. He advises us to let the Bible define our language, to let people speak and then take them to Scripture. We should be ready to wrestle with the exclusive nature of the gospel, and to show the personal elements of our Christian lives. For us, our faith is not trapped inside a building and its rituals, but lived every day.

As an association of more than 70 reformed Baptist churches in England, it was good to have fellowship with like-minded Italian churches through Leonardo. Pray for them in the light of the recent court case and their witness in Rome.