Fredrich Scheleirmacher says, “[Protestantism] makes the individual’s relation to the Church dependent on his relation to Christ, [while Catholicism] makes the individual’s realation to Christ dependent on his relation to the Church.”

Protestantism makes the individual’s relation with the Church dependent on “his relation” to Christ? I agree with this statement somewhat, but how can a person have a relationship with Christ without the revelation that God gave the Church, known as the Bible. As stated in previous posts, one cannot have the Bible without acknowledging those that put it together (remember, the Bible was not handed over by Jesus or dropped from the clouds by the Holy Spirit)?

This “relation to Christ” that the Protestant believes he has is based on his own authority, or at best a piecemeal authority that only exists as an ideology; an ideology that can never come into existence due to its foundation of esoteric anti-creationism (Gnosticism).

The temptation would be to say that Protestantism is acceptable as an immature stage in ones walk with Christ. Protestantism being a baby-stage is true to the extent of God using everything for his glory (he used an ass to speak to Balaam), but God does not sanctify and “ordain” everything he uses to be ecclesial. We do not go to the local donkey farm to hear God’s revelation and confirm our faith, even though God has used a donekey before to reveal his Word before.

The conversion of ones soul has everything to do with their conversion FROM autonomy TO authority - the authority that Christ has established for us. What authority did Christ establish for us? One will say, “The Holy Ghost.” The Holy Ghost through whom? Anyone and anything? This is known as the heresy of pantheism! Christ did not establish an authority that is esoteric, he established the Church as our authority.

We do not confirm our relationship with Christ by our own heart; our own fallen nature; we confirm our relationship with Christ through the authority that he has given us. Christians are not autonomous people! We are united to Christ’s body, which is His Church.

Regarding Protestantism as being some sort of immature step within the faith: One can certainly “grow out of” Protestantism, but that does not mean that they were once just immature. Repentance needs to be sought when one realizes they have been basing their relationship with Christ on their own sinful nature rather than Christ’s divine ordinance. Next time you Catholics have a religious conversation with your Protestant friends, ask them what is holding them back from being Catholic and you will likely find that they are opposed to the bishopric, the very office that holds the keys to their liberation (Matthew 16:19). Can one enter heaven without the keys; without what St. Paul calls “the pillar of truth?” Well, who would be so bold to chance this?