Matthew BarrettThe Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

As a catholic raised in a catholic home and going to a catholic school, living in the Roman Catholic Traditions, I wondered why we were told all other churches were empty cults. The Catholic line we were told claimed all other Protestant churches were lost, secular, non Christian, and doomed. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Like any propaganda machine, this myth has become the standard belief of many of my roman catholic relatives, pernicious as it is.Later when I attended an Evangelical Protestant church I realized I did not know how to pray, I knew nothing of the bible, and I never really knew Jesus. After the next 30 years finally getting to know Jesus better, studying His Word, and growing in my faith I wonder, how did the Roman Catholic church veer so far off course from the teachings of Jesus? What were the politics of the time that so twisted the view of the Roman Catholics of the time against the reformers? This book helps explain the history and the politics behind the "Holy traditions" of the Roman Catholic Church, and why so many faithful theologians of the 16th century to present want to renew the church, and bring it back to the teachings of Jesus. The reformers turned back to Jesus as the head of the church, and reinforced the classic orthodoxy of the true patriarchs. They taught that knowing God's word makes us better dicerners of the truth and whether or not our teaching pastor or priest is rooted in the truth of the Gospel.We can find unification of the true catholic church in this when we look back to what changed, why we need to reform, and how to abide in Christ and the truth of His Gospel. I have been freed from legalism, united with all true Christians in the holy catholic sense, and now I understand why. One has to know Jesus Christ to love Him, and one gets to know Him through the truths He teaches in His Word through His church. Love is what generates true obedience and faithfulness. All the rest (legalism) is puppetry.

Such a great book! It’s big so it will take some time to finish but it’s fantastic

This very long and dense book was well worth the time reading. It very thoroughly demythologizes and depropagandizes the history of the Reformation, giving a very fair and refreshing exposition of the events and ideas leading up to the Reformation and how the reformers viewed themselves and what they were doing. I certainly recommend it for anyone who has the time to read it.

The author should be commended. Beautiful, amazing, inspiring work. So interesting and written to help everyone see the real reason behind reforming. I will use this as research material for years to come. Interesting!!

This is a very important, well written book.

A beautiful articulation of the essence of the Reformation, renewing that which had been distorted. How much more would the visible Body of Christ have unity if we more fully understood the continuity of the Church. This work is a great example of always reforming.

Just got my copy and am loving it so far. What a feast! If you love theology, and catholic & reformed Church history, you'll love this tome. Surprisingly clear writing for an academic work.

I'm just putting forth an initial impression. A fascinating topic for Catholics, as well as Protestants, naturally. I am a person who appreciates the care with which a publisher publishes his book (cover, typeface, paper quality etc.) -- and this text is top notch -- really feels nice in the hands, you won't be disappointed, in my opinion.