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Christianity Today, May (Web-only), 2007 |

Q&A: Francis Beckwith

Former ETS president speaks about what he takes from evangelicalism back to the Roman Catholic Church.

Interview by David Neff | posted 5/09/2007 02:07PM

Francis Beckwith resigned on May 5 as president of the Evangelical Theological Society. One week earlier the Baylor University philosophy professor rejoined the Roman Catholic Church, his home until age ...

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Herdian Aprilani

Posted: May 22, 2007 1:11 AM

Reversion to the Catholic Church among her members, especially among those who have now occupied preeminent positions in their walks of life, both in the United States and elsewhere, is something for which we, as Catholics, should be truly grateful and about which those who used to be, or are not yet, Catholics should give serious thoughts. Dr. Beckwith's reversion to the Church hopefully will ignite some spark of interest in, and appreciation to, the Church among her dormant members, and will give conviction and comfort to her faithful members who are currently being tempted, from within or without, to question their belief in her teachings, which were truly received from Jesus her Lord, were faithfully handed down by the apostles, are carefully guarded by her present adherents, and will continue to be protected mightily until the end of the age by The Holy Spirit, by whose guidance, and at the command of her Master, she ardently proclaims the truth to the very ends of the earth.

big vin

Posted: May 20, 2007 9:41 AM


Well thought out interview/ article. The Church must always remain humble. The arrogance of the Medieval Clergy certainly contributed to the Reformation. It wasn't purely theological differences. But thats a discussion for another time. Anyway, congratulations on your Journey Home, Dr. Beckwith. And may God's graces keep us all humble.

Chironomo

Posted: May 18, 2007 6:28 AM


Welcome back to the Church that started it all! It is shameful that deep divisions stil exist in Christ's Chuch, but as we believe and proclaim, he shall come again to heal his church and his people. Sursum Corda!

Gene Church

Posted: May 17, 2007 7:22 AM


Welcome to the Catholic Church. Evangelicals do frequently love liturgical expression, and I believe that those evangelicals returning to the Church bring it a new vibrancy. I respectfully disagree with Bob K; he recites old claims, and fails to look to those sources and direction that point to the early Church as being the Catholic Church.

Luciano

Posted: May 17, 2007 1:51 AM

I have found in my own experience and in looking at others when quick judgements are made that we proceed from a shallow and uninformed view that lacks perspective and prayerful reflection. Personal opinions abounds and when disagreement is the only result what I hear is you have your opinion and I have mine. That is it for to insist on one's opinion is at the root of division among Christians for how can one explain the existence of between 30 and 40 thousands denominations each claiming to be Bible Christians and yet having so many differing views and each group view being the correct one. Certainly the fault is in ourselves. As I see it the answer can only be found in deliberately turning oneself and focusing on the Holy Spirit for light and guidance, not trusting one's views, and emphatically begging like the blind man to receive spiritual sight and be transformed by it. One last thing pray for others for in praying I'm protected from judging. God Bless everyone!

John	Posted: May 16, 2007 9:57 PM


Welcome home Dr. Bertwith, I was also a former Protestant (Lutheran Missouri Synod) until I started to read the Early Church Fathers. There many more Protestants pastors, theologians etc. that are coverting. To hear their stories http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?pgnu=3&SeriesID=-6892289 or for information on Catholic theology http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/audio.htm

Paul Bellett

Posted: May 16, 2007 5:18 AM

Beckwith is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (B.A. in Philosophy), Simon Greenleaf School of Law, Anaheim (MA in apologetics), Fordham University (Ph.D. and M.A. in philosophy) and the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis (Master of Juridical Studies), so he must at least have some clues on the correct approach to what Justification is all about! The Letter from James 1 : Ch2 verses 14-24 simply denounces Justification by Faith alone is not quite enough, by which Luther's belief he clinged to so dearly. James 1 -2:verse 24 "You see, then that it is by his actions that a person is put right with God, and not by his faith alone". Another analogy is a TV advert. in Australia, called Aussie Home Loans, whose target audience was those struggling income battlers that could not afford the home loan interest rates from the major banks. The jingle went "Aussie Home Loans, We'll Save You"- All it takes is Justification of Faith in them - and they will "Save You"!

russ rentler, M.D.

Posted: May 14, 2007 8:44 PM

CJ said: "I cannot agree with any article or group that aligns itself with the Roman Catholic church, or any other group that teaches herecy against the foundations of Christianity. " CJ, perhaps you don't realize that the writings of the Church Fathers were foundational for Christianity in its formative years. The creed was written before the Bible was canonized and the foundational Christians believed in baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and the sacrifice of the altar, meaning communion was believed to be the real body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. The catecombs have inscriptions which suggest the earliest Christians sought the prayers of the faithful after they had gone into eternity. The early Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice.

Ave MariaOnline.info

Posted: May 12, 2007 3:52 PM


Dr. Beckwith, you say very well what the Catholic Church has always defended. The fact is that Evangelicals simply have not taken time time to investigate for themselves what the Roman Catholic Church teaches, as you have - very sad.

Bill Scudder

Posted: May 11, 2007 5:55 PM


Sad that Beckwith went back to the church of Rome. It leads me to believe that he was not saved to begin with or he would not have gone back to a religion that follows a false Christ.

Zjeng

Posted: May 11, 2007 5:52 PM

If you read those who are not happy with Beckwith's decision, their posts only prove his point. His point and much of what he's said here, is that there are assumptions (Sola Scriptura, the Reformation, Justification). If the assumptions are researched, you'll most likely change your minds. "to become deep in history is to cease to be Protestant." -Cardinal John Henry Newman Try not to fault the converts, or their "faulty" understanding, or their "lack" of wisdom, but fault history. Peace

Don	Posted: May 11, 2007 11:04 AM

CJ, I firmly agree that there is an issue of heresy in what Beckwith has said and done. If we compromise on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, we are no longer evangelicals, and Beckwith is not an evangelical. Beckwith has denied justification by faith alone in several of his statements. Anyone denying justification by faith alone should be excommunicated. The attitude of too much of evangelicalism is to compromise the central truths of our faith for the sake of "political correctnesses." I was very disappointed in the interview with Beckwith in Christianity Today. I would hope for a resounding condemnation of Beckwiths statements and behavior, and all I see is political correctness and compromise of truths such as justification by faith alone. In the second paragraph to his first answer Beckwith says, "The issue of justification was key for me." Then he quickly changes the subject to sanctification as if this somehow proves a point on justification.

Bryan

Posted: May 11, 2007 10:21 AM


I wish Mr. Beckwith all the best. Regardless of affliation, we're still brothers in Christ.

Tim Deibler

Posted: May 11, 2007 8:26 AM


Sparki: As he clearly states, Frank Beckwith was referring to the Apostles Creed in the context you're referring to, not the Nicene Creed (as you mistakenly think). So Beckwith's remark is indeed factual.

shane a.

Posted: May 11, 2007 6:45 AM


The deep apostacy from the gospel that lay deep in the heart of millions who have claimed Christ through evangelicalism's shallow and human centered message is now, more and more, scandal after scandal, showing itself. Repent evangelicals! Christ will come and judge the churches!

Bob K.

Posted: May 10, 2007 9:25 PM

It just goes to show you: having impressive academic credentials doesnt automatically impart the wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit to an individual regarding the truths contained in Scripture; only God the Father does grants this(Matthew 11:25-26). It always amazes me how anyone who has enough of the knowledge of Scripture to be conversant about it and to "know ones way around it" pretty well can fail to see that the Papacy, Mariology, a celibate preisthood, et al, are about as far as one can get from the clear, plain, express declarations of the Scriptures as propounded by Moses, the Prophets and Jesus and the Apostles under the guidence of the Holy Spirit. I understand the lure of liturgical expression, having for a time worshipped at a very traditional Episcopal Church. But where traditions of any kind clearly clash with Scripture, you'd better make sure that you come down on the right side of the fence, lest you fall under the condemnation of the Lord Himself (Mark 7:1-13).

Brian

Posted: May 10, 2007 2:18 PM


When did anyone in Emergent ever say they "reject reason"? He's much closer to Emergent than he realizes...

CJ	Posted: May 10, 2007 9:52 AM

I cannot agree with any article or group that aligns itself with the Roman Catholic church, or any other group that teaches herecy against the foundations of Christianity. I will quote the Council of Trent, which declares anyone who believes what I would characterize as Evangelical Christian beliefs to be "anathema." SIXTH SESSION, CANONS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION: "If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, LET HIM BE ANATHEMA" (Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24). Although at times it is down-played and made unclear, there is a very wide and IMPORTANT gap between Roman Catholic theology and Evangelical Christian theology. It would be a mistake to ignore it.

Sparki

Posted: May 10, 2007 8:54 AM

Don't worry, Theo, Jesus is in there, too. The whole creed is about God, and Jesus gets a huge focus in the middle part: "We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, nof one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end." I don't know why Dr. Beckwith didn't count Jesus as a proper name. Christ is a title, of course. And please not that Pilate and Mary are only mentioned in relationship to Jesus.

Theo	Posted: May 09, 2007 7:25 PM


"You know, there are only two proper names in the creed—Pontius Pilate and Virgin Mary." Um, what about Jesus?

Dave Huntsman

Posted: May 09, 2007 6:52 PM


Everything you said, Tom, just said that you love certain types of ritual. Nothing about deeper meanings or reasons....or, even, what's true, and what's not. In fact, that's a problem i found with much of what Francis said; his interest seems more in discussing 'theology', and not trying to understand what is really true...and why.

Tom Fisher tom@tomfishermusic.com

Posted: May 09, 2007 5:48 PM

I really enjoyed this interview and I respect your view, but I have to speak for the evangelical circles I know: many of us love liturgical expressions of corporate worship. I have belonged to a nondenominational church in Chicago that held to a Reformed view and we had a beautiful liturgy that made the service a constant flow of worship; it was a beautiful thing. Currently, my family and I belong to an Anglican Mission in America congregation in Davidson, NC; we embrace an evangelical tradition as far as the doctrines of the Reformaiton are concerned, but also have a bond with the Church Fathers, and see ourselves as part of "one holy, catholic and apostolic Church". Fernando Ortega, a staple in many evangelicals' CD collections, recently released an album bathed in liturgical beauty. I guess I would just like to set the record straight. Thanks.

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