It's been around 500 years since the Protestant Reformation. I'd like to ask my Protestant friends some questions about where they find themselves now. If you are part of the Protestant branch of Christianity, are you still protesting? Do you know what you are protesting?
The Reformers first took issue with:
- the sale of indulgences.
- the practice of buying and selling church positions
- purgatory
- Particular judgment
- devotion to Mary
- the intercession of and devotion to the saints
- most of the sacraments
- mandatory celibacy requirement of its clergy
- the authority of the Pope.
- Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
- Sola fide ("by faith alone")
- Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
- Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")
- Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")
As you can see with the links above I've written some posts in the past on many of these topics. I haven't written on all the topics yet - we will see if I get the urge to finish at some point.
But how about you, my Protestant friends?
Does this list of issues summarize where you stand today? Do you strongly feel the need to continue protesting these issues? Or are you ready to drop the label 'Protestant'? Or does being a Protestant mean something different to you today?
4 comments:
We are not technically 'Protestants'.
We are catholic (small C) Lutherans, who were not desirous of leaving the Catholic Church, but tried to get it back to the truths of the gospel.
We are constantly reforming. Ourselves, and critiqing other churches that try to add something to the work of Christ for sinners, and that work alone.
I love the idea behind small c catholic. I suspect there is only one true Church, Christ's Church. We just don't always see it that way through all the walls that have been built up.
I'm not suggesting everyone who 'goes to church' (building) or is 'a member of a church' (institution/organization) is part of Christ's church (family/body). But I don't think Jesus will use those walls to determine who is in and who is out.
You can call it wishful thinking, but I see little value in using labels to divide up Christ's Church.
Jonathan,
Good thoughts, my friend.
Jesus does know His own and I have a feeling they can be found in a wide variety of churches that profess His Name.
I'll be back to your interesting site to do a bit of perusing.
Thanks, and g'nite.
- Steve
Thanks Steve Martin for the comments and for giving some thought to my crazy out of the box thoughts. :) God bless!
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