The Unfinished Reformation - What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants After 500 Years

The Unfinished Reformation offers a thoughtful look at the key theological and sociological differences between Catholicism and Protestantism.
In 1517 a Catholic monk nailed a list of grievances on the door of a church in Germany and launched a revolution in the history of Christianity. That monk was Martin Luther, and the revolution was the Protestant Reformation. What followed this upheaval was flexibility and innovation in the church but also religious instability and division, particularly among the Catholic and Protestant fault line. Five hundred years later, there continues to be unresolved issues between the Protestant and Catholic churches. So, Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo ask... is the Reformation really finished?
The Unfinished Reformation is a brief and clear guide to the key points of unity and divergence between the two largest branches of Christianity. Fundamental differences in doctrine and practice are addressed in detail:

• Scripture, Tradition, and Interpretation
• Image of God, Sin, and Mary
• Church and Sacraments
• Salvation

Written in an accessible and informative style, The Unfinished Reformation provokes thought about Christian beliefs, equips you for healthy conversations with those on "the other side of the divide", and encourages fruitful discussion about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

List of contents

I.Introduction: What Happened 500 Years Ago? Is the Reformation Still Important?

II.How do our fundamental commitments differ as Protestants and Catholics?

A.Core Catholic Commitments
1.How does God speak to the world?
2.How does God save the world?

B.Core Protestant Commitments
1.How does God speak to the world?
2.How does God save the world?

Assessment

III.Where Protestants and Catholics Stand Together

A.What God is Like
B.Who God Is
C.The God Who Speaks
D.The Person of Jesus Christ
E.The Saving Work of Christ
F.The Holy Spirit
G.The Glory and Travesty of Human Beings
H.Salvation Is Initiated by God
I.God Makes Us His People
J.The Living Hope to which We Look Forward in Christ

Assessment

IV.Key Differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics (Part 1)

A.How Does God Speak to the World?
B.To What Extent is God's Word without Error?
C.Of What Does the Bible Consist?
D.How are We to Understand Scripture?
E.What Does it Mean to be Made in the Image of God?
F.What Is Sin and Its Consequences?
G.What is the Role of Mary?

V.Key Differences between Protestants and Roman Catholics (Part 2)

A.What Is the Church?
B.What Are the Sacraments?
C.How Do the Sacraments Work?
D.What is Baptism?
E.What is the Lord's Supper?
F.Why Are Men and Women Accepted by God?
G.Is One's Salvation Secure?
H.What Happens After Death?
I.What is the Mission of God to which the Church Is Called?

Assessment

VI.The Gospel of Jesus Christ: Hope for both Protestants and Roman Catholics

VII.Conclusion: Is the Reformation Over?

About the author

Gregg Allison (PhD) is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he teaches systematic theology.  Previously he served on Cru staff at the University of Notre Dame and overseas in Italy and the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. He is a pastor of Sojourn Community Church, and is the theological strategist for Sojourn Network, a church planting network of about thirty churches. He is the author of Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine; Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church; and Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment.
Chris Castaldo (PhD) was raised on Long Island, New York, as a Roman Catholic and worked full-time in the Catholic Church for several years. After eight years as pastor of outreach and church planting at College Church (Wheaton, Ill.), followed by three years as Director of the Ministry of Gospel Renewal at Wheaton College, Chris currently serves as Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, IL.  He is the author of Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic and Talking with Catholics about the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals. Chris blogs at www.chriscastaldo.com

Summary

The Unfinished Reformation offers a thoughtful look at the key theological and sociological differences between Catholicism and Protestantism.
In 1517 a Catholic monk nailed a list of grievances on the door of a church in Germany and launched a revolution in the history of Christianity. That monk was Martin Luther, and the revolution was the Protestant Reformation. What followed this upheaval was flexibility and innovation in the church but also religious instability and division, particularly among the Catholic and Protestant fault line. Five hundred years later, there continues to be unresolved issues between the Protestant and Catholic churches. So, Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo ask... is the Reformation really finished? 
The Unfinished Reformation is a brief and clear guide to the key points of unity and divergence between the two largest branches of Christianity. Fundamental differences in doctrine and practice are addressed in detail:

• Scripture, Tradition, and Interpretation
• Image of God, Sin, and Mary
• Church and Sacraments
• Salvation

Written in an accessible and informative style, The Unfinished Reformation provokes thought about Christian beliefs, equips you for healthy conversations with those on "the other side of the divide", and encourages fruitful discussion about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Additional text

'Allison and Castaldo have provided a book that is both timely and thoughtful--a book that at the same time looks fondly on the Reformation yet asks the important question of these reforms for today. Their approach is especially sensitive to the realities of divided families, one Catholic and one Protestant, yet aware of how Catholics and Protestants find themselves united on struggles to end abortion. This is a book that will educate the novice and provoke thought in the expert.'

Report

'Allison and Castaldo have provided a book that is both timely and thoughtful--a book that at the same time looks fondly on the Reformation yet asks the important question of these reforms for today. Their approach is especially sensitive to the realities of divided families, one Catholic and one Protestant, yet aware of how Catholics and Protestants find themselves united on struggles to end abortion. This is a book that will educate the novice and provoke thought in the expert.' Ryan M. Reeves, Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Dean of Jacksonville Campus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Product details

• Authors: Gregg Allison, Gregg R. Allison, Christopher A. Castaldo
• Publisher: HarperCollins US
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.09.2016
• EAN: 9780310527930
• ISBN: 978-0-310-52793-0
• No. of pages: 176
• Dimensions: 132 mm x 203 mm x 9 mm
• Weight: 154 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic, RELIGION / Christianity / Protestant, RELIGION / Christian Theology / Systematic, TOPICAL / Christian Interest