Why We're Not Roman Catholic #1 - The Allure of Rome Is Not the Voice of Christ

As we celebrate the Protestant Reformation this year, I want to offer a reminder of why we are not Roman Catholics. Celebrating the Reformation is not about fostering an “us versus them” mindset—it’s about remembering why the movement was good and necessary and why it still matters today.

There’s a growing trend among Protestants—especially among younger Christians—to look to Rome. Many are not converting out of deep doctrinal conviction, but because of an emotional pull toward tradition, beauty, and a sense of stability and certainty.

And let’s be honest: that attraction isn’t baseless. For decades now, much of the evangelical world has traded its rich theological heritage for shallowness and spectacle. Church services resemble rock concerts followed by TED Talks. Pastors have become self-help coaches or entrepreneurs. Our buildings often look like warehouses, designed for efficiency, not transcendence. The result is a spiritually anemic environment—pragmatic, consumeristic, and devoid of awe.

Meanwhile, the historic mainline denominations that once preserved a sense of liturgy and continuity have, in many cases, abandoned the gospel for liberalism and cultural accommodation (wokeism). So it’s no wonder that people—especially young men hungry for gravity and meaning—begin to look to Rome or the East. The appeal is real: intellectually rich, aesthetically beautiful, and seemingly unified.

But with all that, the question remains: should we still be Protestants?

The answer is a resounding yes. Not because the concerns mentioned are irrelevant, but because something far more important is at stake. This is where the Protestant Reformation must be rightly understood. The heart of the Reformation was not aesthetics or preference—it was the gospel. The doctrine at the center was sola fide—justification by faith alone. Luther was bold enough to say that this doctrine is the one upon which the church stands or falls.

Yes, evangelicalism has serious problems. But returning to Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy is not the solution, because those traditions have abandoned the biblical gospel. They deny that a sinner is declared righteous before God by faith alone. They add works, rituals, and sacraments to the finished work of Christ.

Roman Catholics may affirm many foundational truths: the Trinity, the incarnation, the virgin birth, the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. But when it comes to how sinners are made right with God, their answer is not faith alone. And that changes everything. It turns the gospel into a system where God’s grace is given as a reward for faithfulness, and assurance into a gamble.

So despite the messiness of the Protestant world, the Reformation was—and still is—necessary. Because sola fide still matters. Because Christ’s finished work is still enough. Because salvation is still by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.

Let’s not be lured by the gold of Rome or the incense of nostalgia. Let’s celebrate every time in history when the gospel was rediscovered, recovered, and remembered.

And let’s remain Protestant—not out of pride, but out of faithfulness to the true gospel.

Nino Marques