It is common
for some Protestants to argue that the differences they have among themselves
are “minor”; of course, such is simply false, as many of the doctrines affect
salvation (e.g., baptismal regeneration). As Dave Armstrong noted:
Merely Secondary Issues
A more common explanation for the wide variety
of opinions is that Christians and denominations differ mostly over secondary issues, not fundamental or central doctrines. Perspecuity is usually said to apply primarily
to those doctrines that are “essential” for salvation Accordingly, it follows
that whatever is necessary for salvation can be found in the Bible by any
literate individual without the requisite assistance of an ecclesiastical body.
This is presupposed in, for example, the widespread practice of passing out
Bibles to the newly evangelized, oftentimes with no provision made fur further
guidance and supervision.
Right from the beginning, however, Protestant
Reformers disagreed over the meaning of many things that had previously been
considered essential. For example, Zwingli and Oecolampadius, two lesser
Reformers, differed with Luther on how to understand the Real Presence of Christ
in the Eucharist, while the Anabaptists dissented completely on the Eucharist,
infant Baptism, ordination, and the function of civil authority. Luther
regarded these fellow Protestants as “damned” and “out of the Church” for these
reasons. John Calvin and Martin Bucer held to a third position on the Eucharist
(broadly speaking), intermediate between Luther’s Real Presence (consubstantiation) and Zwingli’s purely symbolic
belief. By 1577, a book entitled 200
Interpretations of the Words, “This is My Body” was published in
Ingolstadt, Germany.
Over time, this wide range of irreconcilable
differences led many Protestants to maintain that the Eucharist and Baptism are
neither primary nor essential doctrines (which is curious, since these are the
two sacraments accepted by the majority of Protestants). Jesus, however, said: “Unless
you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in
you” (Jn 6:53). This certainly sounds essential, even to the extent that a man’s
salvation might be in jeopardy. St. Paul, too, regarded communion with equally
great seriousness and of the utmost importance to one’s spiritual well being
and relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Cor 10:14-22, 11;23-30). Thus we are
already in the realm of salvation—a primary doctrine. Lutherans and many
Anglicans (for example, the Oxford Tractarians
and C.S. Lewis) believe in the Real Presence, whereas most Evangelicals do not,
yet this is not considered cause for alarm or even discomfort. (Dave Armstrong,
“The Perspicuity (“Clearness”) of Scripture” in The Bible Alone? Is the Bible Alone Sufficient? [Zanesville, Ohio:
CHResources, 2016], 11-19, here, pp. 13-14)
For a
book-length treatment of this issue, see my volume:
Not by Scripture Alone: A
Latter-day Saint Refutation of Sola Scriptura (an online version can be
found here)
