Dominus Jesus e Responses sob análise do Bacchiocchi

O pastor aposentado e brilhante teólogo adventista Sammuelle Bacchiocchi analisa os textos recentemente publicados pelo Vaticano. O mais recente, Responses, com base no anterior Dominus Jesus, afirma que a igreja católica é a única representante de Cristo e somente por lea é possível alcançar-se a salvação.

Bacchiocchi analisa os fundamentos desta idéia católica (Pedro é a pedra...), a sucessão apostólica reivindicada pelo papa, a não liderança de Pedro na igreja apostólica, os "buracos" na linha sucessória dos papas e a eucaristia católica.

A seguir alguns pequenos trechos deste texto. O estudo completo você acessa clicando aqui.

 "Times Online, a leading British news source, wrote: "Protestants at the extreme evangelical end of the Anglican spectrum accused Rome of a 'lust for power.' while welcoming the honesty of the document [Response]."  Indeed, credit must be given to Benedict XVI  for clearly stating in two major documents, Dominus Iesus and Responses. his exclusivistic view of the Catholic Church as the only true church that offers the means of salvation. Such preposterous claim is clearly negated by Scripture that teaches us that salvation is not a dispensation of the church, but a disposition of the believer.
...

The absolutistic Vatican Declarations of Dominus Iesus and Responses that salvation for any persons is ultimately possible only through the channels of grace entrusted to the Catholic Church, stands in stark contrast with the interfaith dialogue fostered by Vatican II and the ceaseless efforts of Pope John Paul II to become the undisputed spiritual leader of mankind by reaching out to people of all faiths.

...

Benedict XVI is sounding a timely and legitimate warning against the danger of moral relativism that has become so pervasive in our Western society. This problem  affects even our own Seventh-day Adventist church. An increasing number of our members are questioning the moral standards of our Adventist church, choosing instead to live by their own subjective values.
...

 The fact that these documents go into great length to reiterate this traditional Catholic teaching, goes to show that after all Ellen White was right when she wrote: "Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy" (Signs of the Times, Feb. 19, 1894, par. 4). Benedict XVI is a living and compelling example of the truth that "Rome never changes."

...

Conclusion

   The foregoing reflections on Benedict XVI declarations found in Dominus Iesus and Responses, have served to highlight the Catholic attempt to make salvation a dispensation of the church, rather than a disposition of the believer. By claiming to be the only church that has the apostolic succession and consequently the right to dispense salvation, the Catholic church is deceiving million of sincere people into believing that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church (no salus extra ecclesia). From a prophetic perspective, this deception represents the endtime efforts of the Dragon, Sea-beast, and Land-Beast to lead the whole world into the false worship of God.

     Our only safeguard against deceptive teachings, is familiarity with the teachings of the Word of God. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the church is not a hierarchical organization that has the right to dispense salvation, but a community of believers called to "declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Pet 1:9)."