Post by pitbull on Dec 12, 2005 9:37:50 GMT -5
Protestants Fact Sheet
When someone mentions “Protestant” or “Evangelical” what comes to your mind? This is a group of Christian denominations that protested [hence the name] and left the Roman Catholic Church during what has been called the Reformation during the 16th Century. Here is a brief timeline of beginning of the Protestant Reformation:
• 1517 – Albert of Brandenburg, archbishop of Mainz, sponsors a sale of indulgences to pay for, among other things, construction of Saint Peter's in Rome. In response, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, posts his 95 theses on the door of the castle chapel in Wittenburg, Germany, where Luther is a university professor. The theses invite debate over the legitimacy of the sale of indulgences. Copies of the theses spread rapidly over Europe. The papacy takes steps against Luther as a heretic. The Wittenburg faculty supports Luther.
• 1520 – Luther publishes his three famous treatises: "An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German National Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate," "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," and "On the Freedom of a Christian.” He wins powerful support.
• 1521 – Luther is excommunicated. He refuses to recant unless proven wrong by the Bible or by "clear reason."
• 1530 – Many German princes and cities sign the Augsburg Confession as an expression of the evangelical faith.
• 1555 – The Peace of Augsburg provides that each German prince can determine the religious affiliation of the territory he rules. The Reformation sweeps Northern and Eastern Europe.
The name Protestant was originally applied through the 1700's to Lutherans, and Anglicans. Later Presbyterians and Episcopalians were added to the lists of Protestants denominations. And today we have a few hundred different denominations that fall under this category that began by Luther’s action almost 500 years ago. You will find minor differences in each of these denominations, but many are following unbiblical practices or doctrines that have been brought over from the Roman Catholic Church. Please do remember that there are individual congregations within each Protestant or Evangelic denomination that are not doing these items, but that does not justify the denomination. These statements are only generalizations of the entire denominations.
1. Many still have some form of clerical dress, even if only for the worship service. (Matthew 23:5-6)
2. Some teach baptism by pouring or infant baptism instead of Biblical baptism by immersion for believers. (Colossians 2:12)
3. Some are still attached to religious titles, such as “reverent”. (Psalm 111:9; Matthew. 23:9)
4. Some allow unqualified men or even women to be pastors. (1 Timothy 3:2-5)
There are Protestant or Evangelical denominations that deny many basic doctrines of the faith, at least at their national levels or in their seminaries. This includes but is not limited to:
1. The Trinity [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]
2. The virgin birth of Jesus
3. The deity of Jesus
4. Jesus’ atoning and sacrificial death
5. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
6. The Bible is God’s Word
7. The KJV as God’s preserved Word for the English-speaking world
This is trickling down through their pastors into their congregations. Many have begun to compromise with the world and bring unbiblical or worldly practices into their worship services.
Techniques To Help Win A Protestant To Christ
First, do not assume that a person is saved if they tell you that they belong to a Protestant or Evangelical church. There are many today that teach a “social gospel” rather than the Biblical one. There are also Protestant/Evangelical churches that teach that you cannot know that you are saved. Some still teach a works based salvation [e.g. being baptized, partaking of the Lord’s Supper], brought over from their Catholic origins.
Second, ask them if they are 100% sure they are save or that they are going to Heaven. You may want to ask them if they know how to get saved. If they give you any answer other than some similar to “Yes, I have trust Christ as my personal Savior”, then ask to show them from the Bible how to be saved. You may be surprised how many will not actually know how to be saved but think that they are because of what they are being taught.
One of the best and easiest passages to use is the “Roman’s Road”:
Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 10:9-10, 13.
If you find an argumentative Protestant [especially when it comes to the writings of the Apostle Paul], point out the doctrines that they believe that are Biblical and that you agree with. Then take them to John 3:16-18 and ask them to explain it to you. This is one of the clearest passages on how to be saved from Jesus’ personal teachings.
When someone mentions “Protestant” or “Evangelical” what comes to your mind? This is a group of Christian denominations that protested [hence the name] and left the Roman Catholic Church during what has been called the Reformation during the 16th Century. Here is a brief timeline of beginning of the Protestant Reformation:
• 1517 – Albert of Brandenburg, archbishop of Mainz, sponsors a sale of indulgences to pay for, among other things, construction of Saint Peter's in Rome. In response, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, posts his 95 theses on the door of the castle chapel in Wittenburg, Germany, where Luther is a university professor. The theses invite debate over the legitimacy of the sale of indulgences. Copies of the theses spread rapidly over Europe. The papacy takes steps against Luther as a heretic. The Wittenburg faculty supports Luther.
• 1520 – Luther publishes his three famous treatises: "An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German National Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate," "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," and "On the Freedom of a Christian.” He wins powerful support.
• 1521 – Luther is excommunicated. He refuses to recant unless proven wrong by the Bible or by "clear reason."
• 1530 – Many German princes and cities sign the Augsburg Confession as an expression of the evangelical faith.
• 1555 – The Peace of Augsburg provides that each German prince can determine the religious affiliation of the territory he rules. The Reformation sweeps Northern and Eastern Europe.
The name Protestant was originally applied through the 1700's to Lutherans, and Anglicans. Later Presbyterians and Episcopalians were added to the lists of Protestants denominations. And today we have a few hundred different denominations that fall under this category that began by Luther’s action almost 500 years ago. You will find minor differences in each of these denominations, but many are following unbiblical practices or doctrines that have been brought over from the Roman Catholic Church. Please do remember that there are individual congregations within each Protestant or Evangelic denomination that are not doing these items, but that does not justify the denomination. These statements are only generalizations of the entire denominations.
1. Many still have some form of clerical dress, even if only for the worship service. (Matthew 23:5-6)
2. Some teach baptism by pouring or infant baptism instead of Biblical baptism by immersion for believers. (Colossians 2:12)
3. Some are still attached to religious titles, such as “reverent”. (Psalm 111:9; Matthew. 23:9)
4. Some allow unqualified men or even women to be pastors. (1 Timothy 3:2-5)
There are Protestant or Evangelical denominations that deny many basic doctrines of the faith, at least at their national levels or in their seminaries. This includes but is not limited to:
1. The Trinity [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]
2. The virgin birth of Jesus
3. The deity of Jesus
4. Jesus’ atoning and sacrificial death
5. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
6. The Bible is God’s Word
7. The KJV as God’s preserved Word for the English-speaking world
This is trickling down through their pastors into their congregations. Many have begun to compromise with the world and bring unbiblical or worldly practices into their worship services.
Techniques To Help Win A Protestant To Christ
First, do not assume that a person is saved if they tell you that they belong to a Protestant or Evangelical church. There are many today that teach a “social gospel” rather than the Biblical one. There are also Protestant/Evangelical churches that teach that you cannot know that you are saved. Some still teach a works based salvation [e.g. being baptized, partaking of the Lord’s Supper], brought over from their Catholic origins.
Second, ask them if they are 100% sure they are save or that they are going to Heaven. You may want to ask them if they know how to get saved. If they give you any answer other than some similar to “Yes, I have trust Christ as my personal Savior”, then ask to show them from the Bible how to be saved. You may be surprised how many will not actually know how to be saved but think that they are because of what they are being taught.
One of the best and easiest passages to use is the “Roman’s Road”:
Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 10:9-10, 13.
If you find an argumentative Protestant [especially when it comes to the writings of the Apostle Paul], point out the doctrines that they believe that are Biblical and that you agree with. Then take them to John 3:16-18 and ask them to explain it to you. This is one of the clearest passages on how to be saved from Jesus’ personal teachings.