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Chris Castaldo, director of the Ministry of Gospel Renewal and one of evangelicalism’s most insightful dialogue partners with Roman Catholicism, has a helpful review of Christian Smith’s recent book How to Go from Being a Good Evangelical to a Committed Catholic in Ninety-Five Difficult Steps.

Here is his conclusion:

Major flaws plague Smith’s book. Here is the central one: from cover to cover he portrays evangelicalism at its worst and Catholicism at its best. As a new convert, perhaps Smith is unaware that this approach is explicitly denounced by the Catholic Church. For instance, the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity in the document titled “Summons to Witness to Christ in Today’s World” says,

We also admit that there are negative aspects of witness which should be avoided and we acknowledge in a spirit of repentance that both of us have been guilty of proselytism in its negative sense. We affirm that the following things should be avoided . . . comparing the strengths and ideals of one community with the weaknesses and practices of another community (36).

Following from the above flaw is Smith’s erroneous suggestion that the Reformation is now over. It is true that the developments of Vatican II have resulted in deep changes in the culture and theological articulation of Rome. Evangelicals should be aware of these developments, and, when appropriate, celebrate them. But as Smith himself demonstrates in his sections addressing Scripture and justification, essential theological differences between Catholics and Protestants are relevant today as they were in the 16th century, a fact that is sadly confirmed by the omitted word between Gordon-Conwell and gothic in the index (where the word gospel should have appeared).

The most disappointing aspect of Smith’s book is the realization of what it could have been. Anyone who has read Smith appreciates his amazing insight into how cultures work. At this time in history, when movements such as the New Evangelization of Pope John II and New Calvinism are stimulating discussion between Catholics and Protestants, the need for doctrinally measured, life-giving insight is greater than ever. Given his expertise, Smith is poised to serve this need in a significant way. Sadly, this book delivers more heat than light.

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