Cameron Bertuzzi's Conversion to Rome: Protestant Response

Here I offer a Protestant Response to the reasons why Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity offered for his conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Truth Unites is a mixture of apologetics and theology, with an irenic focus.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.

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DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM

00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - 1) Study Classical Protestantism
05:10 - Confession
10:45 - Authority
15:18 - The Old Testament
16:38 - Reverence in Worship
18:22 - Cameron's 3 Hang Ups
19:07 - The actual Protestant Concerns
23:47 - Response to Objections
26:01 - 2) Read Widely in Theology
31:24 - Typology
36:03 - Bayesian Analysis
41:41 - 3) Practical Steps Forward

[CapturingChristianity]

I knew you’d respond, and was hoping you would, but I didn’t expect one so quickly! Looking forward to working through this when things settle down. Love you and appreciate your work, Gavin!

[bairfreedom]

I am protestant and ALWAYS thought the New and Old testaments were tied together! So weird anyone would think any different.

[zakkonieczka]

As a Christian who is a member of The Catholic Church, I am often challenged (and frustrated) by your arguments. However your tremendous charity and goodwill give me an enormous amount of respect for you and your ministry. Thanks for all you do it is greatly appreciated.

[udmgraduate]

I'm only 2 minutes in and I've watched you talk a number of times on Catholic channels (I'm a traditional Catholic convert from Protestantism). I just gotta say Dr. Ortlund, you're incredibly virtuous and I have a lot of admiration for you. You're the best Protestantism has to offer. We disagree in much, but man I hope to have a cup of coffee with you one day in Heaven.

[jaymieshaw]

As a Catholic i thank you so much for your astute and sincere critique. You gave man a lot to think about. While I do not plan on becoming a Protestant I am filled with so much gratitude and respect for people like you. It gives me hope that we can share our beliefs and have discourse while encouraging and praying for one another without the ugly and nasty discord that sometimes follows.

[ΚύριοςἸησοῦς-ρε]

Catholic: Protestants can believe whatever they want
Jordan Cooper: Hold my book of concord

[newglof]

I'm a Catholic who follows you, and while I'm happy Cameron became Catholic (as I am Catholic and believe it's true), I get deeply frustrated by many (but not all) Catholics' inability to contend with Protestantism outside of caricatures. Many think rebuttals like "33k denominations" and "where in the Bible is only the Bible" are sound and are generally unwilling to make distinctions between, say, scholastic orthodox Lutheranism vs post-Second Great Awakening evangelicalism, all grouping it into the "protestant" bucket.

Catholics will be better Catholics and better Christians if they actually focused on understanding classical Protestantism, as our Protestant and evangelical friends have much to teach us.

And again, I say this as a convicted Catholic.

[kylewinter]

Gavin, I’m a Lutheran pastor a few states away from you. Brother, you are such a gift to the church. Your rigor, your charity, your tone of voice. Everyone who listens is benefiting. God bless you, brother.

[amymacmillan]

As a Protestant, I have always been taught and believed the OT and NT were connected and important!

[sgjdavidson]

You are really the final boss of online protestantism. I don't wanna like a Baptist but you really help me to stand on the Protestant ground. Thank you sir. Your voice is necessary.

[soulfulmeditation.smoothre]

Thank you Gavin! I'm a Pastor in the Philippines, educated in the states but been struggling with the arguments of Scott Hahn, Cameron from Capturing Christianity and many other Protestants converting. Been on the rocky boat lately as I have been spiritually monotonous and when I visited a Catholic Church one time, with it's architecture and maybe of the new ideas plaguing me, I felt like I was more closer to God and can sense that more intimate spiritual connection while inside that church.

Your response has been a great help to me, as I don't really find in depth sources defending our position.

Keep up the good work, we need more people like you. God bless you brother!

[feliciaciappetta]

Dr. Ortlund, I'm Catholic and I love your channel! You have such a charitable approach to debate, which I very much appreciate. I believe the sad truth is very few Christians, regardless of tradition, actually know and understand why they believe what they believe. So sad. The body of Christ can do better. May God bless you and Cameron abundantly. Thank you for your work.

[jsonS]

You speak with both such grace and clarity. It resonates with me when you said to take your time to study Protestantism. I first became Christian when I was 13 but was always drawn to the Roman church. In good conscience I didn’t convert but went ahead and got baptized in a baptist church, joined the Assemblies of God in university, the Methodists upon graduation and now am Anglican (and I’m 45 now!) I’m still not done studying the Catholic church but in doing so, it has influenced my journey in Protestantism. Your channel is so helpful to help frame so many of these discussions and makes me realize I have so much more to study and learn. I’m grateful for all that you do here - thank you.

[GustAdlph]

I am a former Catholic, and the main difference is that Catholics never have assurance of salvation. They affirm we are saved by grace, but grace in the Catholic church is the help God gives you to perform meritorious works.

[JonathanMP]

Another good insightful video. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite Protestant YouTubers (I myself am Protestant). Your emphasis on enriching modern evangelicalism with theology, church history, and theological retrieval are incredibly beneficial. Furthermore, your humility and overall attitude is very refreshing. Keep up the great work!

[stephanelarochelle]

Left protestantism after 40+ years (served as elder and deacon) and became Catholic 5 years ago. At one point you just have to follow what you believe as truth. Lost friends, but I do not regret it one second. But I have great respects for my protestant brothers as many of them put me to shame by their great love of Christ and the Bible.

[kevinalbright]

I’m currently Catholic and love that you made this video. Keep up the good work!

[kevinmc]

I have to say Dr Ortlund you have become my favorite Protestant apologist and one of my favorite apologists period. I’m Catholic but I love your heart man!

[MommyEtc]

That’s my main problem with confession. I’m required to go once a year and if I don’t I’m committing a mortal sin and if I die with a mortal sin on my soul I go to Hell. And who determines what’s a mortal sin and what’s not? The Church. I mean it would be fine to just say “you can go confess to a priest if you want and feel the desire to but you don’t have to.” But that’s not what Catholicism says.

[Adam-ueig]

I definitely agree with reading widely. I've spent 11 years voraciously reading all kinds of things from both sides, the patristics, theologians, historians, scholars, apologists, councils, the CCC, Newman, Augustine, Aquinas, Reformation history, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, the synod of Dort, Wesley, etc. I even took a church history class under Dr. Mayhew. After all the research and study I am even more deeply convinced of Protestantism. My Catholic friends would tell me if I just read the Fathers I would convert, or if I just read this or do this or that I would convert (much of the advice or reading recommendations I had already studied in detail on my own anyways) but after each challenge I would always come out more strongly convinced and reaffirmed that I am in the correct belief as a Protestant Christian.