Do All Roads Lead to Rome?

“No denomination on earth made the kinds of outrageous claims that Rome made for itself. For instance, the Methodists never claimed to be the one and only true church founded by Jesus; nor did the Lutherans claim to have as their head a Pope who was Christ’s infallible vicar on earth; nor was the Assembly of God run by leaders claiming an unbroken line of succession going all the way back to Peter.” – Rome Sweet Home

In 1517, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses would spark the Protestant Reformation when he challenged the Catholic Church’s practices, such as the selling of indulgences, to reduce punishment for sin.  Rather than create a dialogue over such Catholic customs, Luther’s intent for reform instead created a new Protestant denomination, splitting the church in two.

Although Christians remain the largest single religion in the world, Luther’s intervention would result in two main branches of Christianity: Catholics and Protestants.  Today, there are 41,000 Protestant denominations worldwide under the Anglican, Baptist, Calvinist, Lutheran, Methodist, and Pentecostal branches.  Yet, it was Paul in Corinthians who urged the church to avoid factions, reminding us that Christ followers are to be unified in one mind. 

In Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s 1993 book, “Rome Sweet Home”, the Hahns tell their conversion story from Protestantism to Catholicism after a thorough theological study between the two faiths, noting their differences in salvation, authority, and practices. 

Two main Protestant doctrines separate Protestantism from Catholicism: sola fide (justification for salvation) and sola scriptura (the source of authority).  To the Protestant, salvation comes from faith alone, with the Bible their sole authority.  For Catholics, good works and sacraments are also important in salvation, while both the sacred scripture and church traditions serve as the ultimate authority.

For Catholics, the Eucharist is at the heart of every Mass, with communion reflecting the true presence of Christ rather than merely a symbolic rite.  As a result, it is practiced at every Mass.  Catholic Mass is highly liturgical; a tradition filled with rituals and prayers. For the average Evangelical church, the weekly service focuses on scripture and the sermon, with the majority receiving communion just one per month.      

Catholics often use saints for intercessory prayers, while Protestants believe in a more direct relationship with God. 

Baptism and communion are the basic sacraments to Protestants, seen as expressions of their faith, but not necessary for salvation.  Catholics, on the other hand, also view five other sacraments: confirmation, confession, the anointing of the sick, holy orders, and marriage as essential to their salvation. 

In the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the Pope is the spiritual leader and ultimate authority, with a history of 267 Popes from St. Peter to Leo XIV. In 30 CE, Jesus appointed his 12 apostles, installing Peter as the Chief, the rock of the Church.  As a result, St. Peter became the first bishop of Rome, the first Pope.   In the Protestant tradition, hierarchy varies by denominations, with some sects including bishops, while others are led only by pastors and elders. 

Is the Catholic Church the one and only true church of Christ, founded by Jesus twenty centuries ago?  The Hahn’s seem to think so.