Description of Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant

CATHOLIC, LUTHERAN, PROTESTANT:
A Doctrinal Comparison of Three Christian Confessions

Gregory L. Jackson, STM (Yale), PhD (Notre Dame)

Available from Christian News: $24.95, plus shipping.

1. Or - http://www.lulu.com ($15 for the PDF; $24.95 for the book, plus shipping).
   
2. Or - G. Jackson, 6421. W. Poinsettia Drive, Glendale, AZ 85304. (Discount for orders of ten or more.)

Author
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson is in a unique position to write this book, a revision of the work printed first in 1993 through Christian News with the help of Timothy Otten. The original files were lost, so the book was re-written.

Pastor Jackson has studied under many Lutheran professors (Robert Preus, Kurt Marquart, Paul Holmer, Nils Dahl, Otto Heick, and Edward Fredrich. Roman Catholic professors and lecturers include Elisabeth and Frank Fiorenza (both at Harvard now), Henri Nouwen, and others not known to most CN readers. Some of the Lutherans (Richard Neuhaus, Robert Wilken, Leonard Klein) subsequently became Roman Catholic, or in the case of Jaroslav Pelikan, died Eastern Orthodox. Some Protestants heard include Billy Graham, D. James Kenneday, Paul Y. Cho, Howard Yoder, and Bill Hybels (Willow Creek).

Jackson earned an MA and PhD in theology at the University of Notre Dame, where national conferences brought many interesting speakers. Previously he earned an STM degree in Biblical studies from Yale University. After experiencing the apostasy of the Lutherans synods, he became independent and still serves people through the Word and Sacraments. He teaches at several universities and does financial planning.

First Section - Agreement
· The Scriptures and Natural Law
Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant is organized into three main sections. The first section, on agreement, lays the groundwork for showing that orthodox Lutheran doctrine is the Christian faith. The first chapter shows the overall agreement among the Catholics, Lutherans, and Protestants about the authority and inerrancy of the Scriptures. Natural law is also common ground for all Christians. Although there are obvious differences in how the Bible is treated, as various reviewers were quick to notice, there is really no chance for harmony without a foundation in the Word of God.

Second Section – Partial Agreement
· The Sacraments
The second section of the book deals with partial agreement – the Sacraments. Because all three groups name the Sacraments, the first differences become apparent when they are compared. The concept of the book was to present the material as fairly as possible, to allow Catholic/Lutheran couples to study their teachings from their own sources. As a result, many new Lutherans appreciate the book, especially when they have changed from Roman Catholicism.

Quite a few libraries were turned over to provide the information in Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. The author collected a total of 3,000 verbatim quotations to use for this book and others.

Third Section – Complete Disagreement
· Justification, Chapter Three
· Purgatory, Chapter Four
· Papacy, Chapter Five
· Mary, Chapter Six
· Luther versus the Papacy, Chapter Seven

The third section generates the most interest in classes. The differences between Roman Catholic justification (faith plus works) is compared to Biblical teaching (justification by faith alone). Also, the similarities between Protestants and Catholics are explored. The requirement of tongues for Pentecostals is no different than the requirement of good works for Catholics.

Few people know exactly how Purgatory developed in the Christian Church. Jackson had access to a papal owned seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and obtained access to its excellent library. One of the most famous Roman Catholic scholars, Father Jugie, wrote Purgatory and the Means To Avoid It, considered a good apologetic for that hideous doctrine. The Vatican seminary had a remarkable collection of books on Purgatory and Mary. There was only one name on many of them! Roman Catholic priests are more likely to be liberal Protestants. All the critiques of Roman doctrine were in that library, from Chemnitz’ Examination of the Council of Trent, to Kueng and Hasler.

The development of doctrine about Purgatory, the papal infallibility, and Mary are all enmeshed with fides formata (faith formed by works). Mary and Purgatory cannot be separated in Roman Catholic piety, which makes one wonder why some Lutheran pastors are so keen to promote Marian devotion.

The Church of Rome knows that many of its leaders have lied about Luther. The oldest work of slander (The Seven-Headed Luther) is still used as if it is factual. These deceptions are analyzed in the last chapter, where the papacy as the Antichrist is discussed.

Almost 9 pages of bibliography and 450 footnotes provide sources for the chapters and a guide for additional study.

Audience
The book began as an adult study class for couples where one person was Lutheran and the other a Roman Catholic. A brief outline of the class in Christian News led to phone calls, saying, “You must write a book on this!” Once the book was in print, pastors found it was useful for adult doctrinal classes and confirmation classes as well.

Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant Finished!

I got the proof copy of Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. The book looks good. I am printing copies for Christian News and for those who order from me. The books should arrive at both places in a week. More about ordering below.

The book is almost exactly like the previous edition, with these changes:
1. All the Biblical citations are from the KJV instead of the NIV.
2. The footnotes are at the bottom of each page, making it easier to find the references and comments.
3. I added a section on Original Sin.
4. Some sections were clarified with additional material. I quoted Robert Preus more extensively on justification by faith.
5. Norma Boeckler added artwork to the book.

Ordering information -

People can order from Lulu.com anywhere in the world, either buying the PDF or the printed, paperback book. A book is $25, but they add about $10 for shipping.

The book will be at Christian News, which is handy for people using credit cards. He will probably beat the Lulu.com price, and charge less for shipping.

CN accepts credit cards.

I will process some orders - but please make out the checks to me, not MCP. I do not have a business account. The advantage is that I will send bulk orders to congregation for a lower cost. Many congregations have used the book for confirmation class or adult study. There is no other book like it in print. so it is useful for Lutheran/Catholic couples or those contemplating marriage.

My address is:
Gregory L. Jackson
6421 W. Poinsettia Drive
Glendale, AZ 85304
623-334-8014

My email address is - the last name of Martin Chemnitz, lower case.
The email provider is cox.net.
I wrote it this way to decrease the volume of spam.

I will charge $25 for a single book, plus $5 for shipping. The costs go down with more copies.

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Norman Teigen has left a new comment on your post "Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant Finished!":

Before I send my check for thirty bucks I'd like to learn a little bit more about your book. Is this a comparison of the doctrines of the two churches? Is this a commentary on current trends within the two churches?

I'd like to know more about the book.

If you send me a freebie I will review it on my blog.

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GJ - That's a deal, Norm. Yes, I will send out review copies, even though my experience has been less than positive. There were a lot more review copies than reviews.

This work is up to date but not concerned with newspaper topics. The idea is to show people from the sources what each confession teaches. The bibliography is 10+ pages long. The book is loaded with verbatim quotations from Megatron, so anyone can check the original and go back to the printed version, if needed.

How Church and Change Apostasy Happens

The WELS group promoting anti-Lutheran and anti-Scriptural views is called Church and Change. They caused so much trouble that the word went out - Church and Change is no more. Does that remind anyone of Wayne Mueller being voted out of office - and then voted in again?

Fifteen years ago, there was no Church Growth Movement in WELS, according to Wayne. People were dull enough or conditioned by infallibility to accept the denial. Now the same apostates no longer need to deny it. Now they can say to Norman Teigen, "We have administrative controls," and that explanation is accepted and proclaimed.

How does apostasy happen?

First of all, pastors lose faith but they still need a job that suits their Old Adam. As apostates, they hate what they formerly claimed to be their confession.

Second, pastors and synodical leaders sit on their hands rather than do or say anything that would rock the boat or criticize the synod. The only real sin is criticizing the synod - a sure sign of rot from the top.

Third, seminary professors are chosen through politics, so they go along with anything promoted by the Love Shack (or the Little Sect on the Prairie, or the Purple Palace, or ELCA). These tame rabbits know they have a lifetime of little work, no scholarship, and great benefits if they stay silent.

Fourth, everyone gets used to the status quo, no matter how ridiculous that might be. Then the apostates push their agenda another step and another step. What might have started a blaze a few years before is no longer enough to force a murmur.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "How Church and Change Apostasy Happens":

I am confused. You say "Church and Change is no more" but www.churchandchange.org is still up and advertising their upcoming interfaith event. The "administrative controls" don't appear to have taken effect yet.

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GJ - That is easy to explain. WELS lied. Under the Gurgel administration, every deviation was welcomed. Church and Change was way cool. When a storm brewed over one particular conference and speaker, the C and C conference was called off, as I recall. Pastors were told that C and C was dissolved, so they were quiet. Someone told me to lay off because there was no C and C. So I asked, "Then why is their next conference advertized on the WELS.net website?"

Ditto the secret initiation rite at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary - GA. I was told that there was no GA anymore. (I did not believe. Help thou mine unbelief. GA is based on deceit, so how could anyone believe that line? So GA has two versions now. One is a bit sanitized and out in the open. The other one is very secretive. No one has sued over a knocked out tooth or a broken leg, as far as I know. WELS better hope that nothing else like that happens again. Of course the litigant and his entire family would be buried alive by WELS slander if they did expose a GA injury or its cult-like weirdness and manipulation. Yes, I have been there, Ichabodians. I am an eye-witness.

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