Posted on 09/25/2005 4:53:52 PM PDT by NZerFromHK
I'm interested to see the criteria defining "mainline Pritestant" and "Evangelical Christian" in the topics category on this part of the board.
What is basically the difference? I was an a Christian forum (which is predominantly the "evangelical" types) and there were other brothers who ask me "I always thought that Baptists were main stream.". And why do we lump the Baptists and AOG and much of the independent Bible churches together, when theologically AOG and Charismatics are Arminian while much of the Baptist and Bible churches are actually not? (not being fully 5-point Calvinist doesn't count as Arminian - what our Calvinist brothers say aren't necessarily correct ;) )
Does the difference arise due to theology or church history, or is it defined as we like it? And how would we classify churches like Nazarene or Wesleyan (which are often breakaway Methodist churches), or the Salvation Army?
Any help would be appreciated.
It's just wacky tonight, it really is. And I'm not helping, am I?
It's OK - probably getting bored at work on Monday morning here. ;-) But seriously, the questions are there and I'm trying to figure out answers to the ques that I have.
Seriously, I don't know HOW you'd classify the Salvation Army. I love those folks, they raised my daughter up from age 2 1/2 to 6, anything good about her, they get credit for that. But they are a strange bunch, they have NO SACRAMENTS, not even baptism or communion. Isn't that strange?
They are like the secret Jesus people. I bet there are NO freepers who are SA. Interesting, but I like what they say when one of their members dies: promoted to glory. Good attitude that.
God bless them and save them everyone, Mainline, evangelical and even the cath-o-leeks, as my presbyterian mom-in-law says.
"Mainline" is an American term that basically means "propertied and long established." It doesn't say anything specific about the beliefs of the denomination.
"Mainline" Protestant denominations are Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and I feel like I'm missing one, but can't bring it to mind.
However, each of these denominations has offshoots that wouldn't be considered "mainline": Continuing Anglican (for the Episcopal), Missouri Synod Lutheran, Wesleyan (for the Methodists), Orthodox Presbyterian, and so on. These churches, except for the Anglicans, would be more likely to be classified under "Evangelical Protestant." Baptists, Church of Christ, Charismatics such as the Assemblies of God, and non-denominational congregations are generally considered "evangelical."
Being familiar with the various streams of Reformed Christian theology, you can't fail to be aware that both "mainstream" and "evangelical" include Calvinist and Lutheran-Arminian subgroups. The division is less one of theology than a sociological or cultural description, often strongly related to the church's position on moral and even political issues.
The Salvation Army (as a Protestant denomination, rather than a social-service organization) is in the Lutheran stream ... Luther to Henry VIII (Anglican) to John Wesley (Methodist) to William Booth (T.S.A.). I suppose they'd be considered "evangelical."
Plz define Arminian briefly. tx
Extremely briefly, Arminian theology believes in free will and the participation of human soul in salvation, rather than in absolute predestination, as Calvinism teaches.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01740c.htm
Although Martin Luther predates Calvin (and Arminius) and Knox, his theology, leading (more or less) to the Anglican/Wesleyan stream, is more in line with Arminian than with Calvinist belief.
"Mainline" is an American term that basically means "propertied and long established." It doesn't say anything specific about the beliefs of the denomination."Mainline" Protestant denominations are Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and I feel like I'm missing one, but can't bring it to mind.
Reformed Church of America would count as mainstream under your criteria. They've been in North America longer than most.
Thanks for the definitions. I get the heresies all tangled up.
No, it is not a heresy. I read the New Catholic Encyclopedia article you posted. Very interesting, thanks.
You lost your bet. Salvationists are evangelicals, in the Wesleyan holiness tradition. We believe in a free and full salvation open to all(Arminian) who accept Christ. I am a pro-life, rock ribbed republican as are most, but not all of those who share my religious beliefs.
Happy to help. I get the definitions confused, too. To make it even more muddled, some denominations (or non-denominational groups) hold beliefs that are self-contradictory, and try to be partially Calvinist and partially Arminian, and a little bit of "we just won't go into that."
Thanks!
'some denominations (or non-denominational groups) hold beliefs that are self-contradictory' --Yes, I hear you. Have been a Prot for a long time, til last Easter Vigil.
Congratulations! My husband and I joined the Catholic Church in 1993.
hahah, see ... good decision, too, wasn't it?
What???
Luther's classic work, The Bondage of the Will, is his treatment of the sovereign grace of God and man's inability to save himself. Luther was no Arminian.
Lutherans that hold to "free will" Arminian teaching have not read their church's doctrine as written in the Book of Concord: "... by the fall of our first parents man was so corrupted that in divine things pertaining to our conversion and the salvation of our souls he is by nature blind, that, when the Word of God is preached, he neither does nor can understand it, but regards it as foolishness; also, that he does not of himself draw nigh to God, but is and remains an enemy of God, until he is converted, becomes a believer [is endowed with faith], is regenerated and renewed, by the power of the Holy Ghost through the Word when preached and heard, out of pure grace, without any cooperation of his own."
Thanks for posting this. This discussion about Lutherans has been bugging me all day, but I figured I would not be erudite enough to discuss the topic, plus I'm a terrible typist!
I wish the leadership would get excited about the historic truths of the Reformation and ignite their congregations to understand the doctrine of their church. While I am wishing, I wish the leadership would teach their congregations about the elements of the worship service instead of throwing such a valuable experience out the window for modernism. (sigh)
Good for you to be a stay at home Mom! You have my admiration.
Welcome home!
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