Growth of Protestants despite persecution

Throughout history, the response of the Roman Catholic Church to dissent and reform has been negative. Instead of engaging in reasoned dialogue, the Church has at times resorted to persecuting against those who questioned its doctrines.

The protestants during the reformation period held a strong stance of “no compromise” driven by their conviction in the clear teachings of Scripture. The protestants viewed the Catholic Church to be corrupt in its doctrinal beliefs and moral failings. They openly condemned the Catholic system of indulgences and the false gospel of ‘works righteousness’ – the idea of earning God’s favor through good deeds.

This opposition sparked a significant religious and political upheaval. In response, Rome resorted to violence at the highest level. Historical accounts, such as those by Protestant historian John Dowling in his book ‘History of Romanism’, claimed that the Roman Catholic Church was responsible for the persecution and death of millions of “heretics” from A.D. 606 (the inception of the papacy) to the mid-1800s.

Martin Luther, a central figure in the Reformation, also critiqued the Catholic Church’s methods. In his address to ‘The Christian Nobility of the German Nation’, he remarked on the Church’s use of force, saying that “if the art of convincing heretics by fire were the right one, then the executioners would be the most learned Doctors on earth.”

Surely, any religion that resorts to violence to protect its doctrines should be marked and avoided as a false religion.