Sources of the Protestant Devolution

Catholic Stand ^ | November 6, 2014 | Matthew Tyson

[NYer]

In June of this year, the largest Presbyterian denomination in America voted to allow their clergy to perform same-sex “marriages” within the church, thus joining the ranks of other Protestant denominations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Episcopalian Church, and United Church of Christ.

This “evolution” of theology and “modernizing” of church doctrine is a trend that I predict we’ll continue to see in non-Catholic Christian circles for years to come, and not just with marriage. Today, nearly all Protestant denominations support and even advocate the use of artificial birth control, and many allow at least some level of support for abortion.

Of course, not all Protestants are willing to “move with the times”, so to speak; there remains, especially among the more conservative groups, quite a bit of dissent. However, it cannot be denied that many modern day Protestant denominations are falling further into the depths of secularism.

While it pains me to see Christians turning their backs on the sanctity of life and marriage, I have to admit that whenever the media lights up with news of another Protestant church endorsing an otherwise wholly unchristian act, I find myself entirely unsurprised.

The reason for my utter lack of shock lies, interestingly enough, within two of the critical tenants of Protestant Theology: the doctrines of sola scriptura (scripture alone) and sola fide (faith alone).

Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide

As Catholics, the Bible is not our sole source of authority, nor was the Catholic Church based upon it. In fact, what we now call “The Bible” — the collected Old Testament and New Testament writings — was put together by the Church herself, and is meant to enrich and support our doctrine and Tradition.

(Consider too that the Gospel is the written testimony of the teachings of the apostles, which, due to apostolic tradition and the God-given teaching authority of the Church, precedes the written text. Thus, any authority of the Scriptures is derived from the recognition of the Church.)

Yet, the Protestant Reformation severed the Tradition from the Bible, and put all other authorities beneath it. By doing so, they created a type of religious relativism (unwittingly, I’m sure) that opened the door for an “anything goes” mentality. So long, of course, as it can be found — or not found — in the scriptures.

For years, sola scriptura was a major weapon against Catholic theology, claiming that our practices were either absent or directly forbidden by Sacred Scripture. However, since the latter part of the 20th century, the charges that “Jesus never said (x)” or “That’s not in the Bible” have turned on themselves and have now become, “Jesus never said (x) was wrong, so that means (x) must be okay.”

This idea blends well with many in my generation, the millennials, who wish to hold on to some shred of spirituality but cannot bring themselves to relinquish the desires of the flesh. It is also a base notion of “Progressive Christianity”, which is basically the feel-good parts of following Christ without any actual sacrifice.

The same problem goes for sola fide. Though the only place in the Bible where the words “faith” and “alone” appear next to one another is in James 2:24 (“See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”), it still remains a significant tenant of Protestant Christianity. However, much like sola scriptura, it has seemingly evolved into an even more bastardized version of itself that states, “As long as I’m a good person and believe in Jesus, I’m okay.”

The Beginning of the End?

Now, understand, I’m not among the ilk who believe that Protestants can’t go to Heaven, though the path is significantly more challenging (and not in a “take up your cross” kind of way). I do believe, however, that Christianity was never meant go in this direction. And I certainly believe that, should things continue in the manner they’re going for the modern-day Protestants, they’ll eventually have nothing left to call Christian at all.

Of course, perhaps that’s the only logical conclusion Protestantism could possibly come to. It is, after all, a theologically incomplete Christianity; and perhaps that is why it has such difficulty standing the test of time. Consider the continuous splintering Protestantism has seen since the days of Luther, that continues today. Sooner or later, it will be dust; and displaced Christians will be left with two choices: return to Holy Catholic Church or give themselves to the world.

[virgil]

Yeah. Catholics believe in Baptism. It’s a mark, like a brand. It means you belong to God. If you don’t believe in Baptism, then you’re not Catholic. It’s pretty simple.

[GeronL]

I want to see more Kumbaya posts on the religion thread about how we are all believers in HIS church, which is not an earthly church but a spiritual one. That is the real One True Church.

[Biggirl]

In other words, THANK the RCC for giving to the world the Holy Bible.

[cloudmountain]

We rightly put the number of individual Catholic denominations at millions, since Catholics around the world choose what they believe regardless of the positions of Rome - making their own truth.

Not necessarily so. We are obligated only to believe DOGMA, nothing else. DOGMA is explained in our religion classes, catechism, sermons, etc. There isn't THAT much DOGMA.

By the way, how do you KNOW that Catholics "around the world choose what they believe..."?? Do you have a crystal ball or something? NO ONE knows that except God. Or do YOU have some special ear to the Almighty OR to the minds/souls/hearts of all 1.6 billion Catholics [Google] around the world?

Who makes his own truth? I don't. I doubt that you do either.

God bless you and yours.

[ealgeone]

What criteria?

First of all — The Vatican is not on one of the seven hills spoken of in Revelation. It is across the Tiber.

The significance of Rome lies primarily in the fact that it is the city of the pope. source: http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10148

"Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits...Rev 17:9

ummmmmm.....

[GreyFriar]

The bashing needs to end from both sides, it merely weakens us and keeps our minds and souls diverted from Jesus and more susceptible to Satan gaining control.

[Biggirl]

.....And a good deal of these same Catholics turned their backs on Obama a few short days ago.

[ealgeone]

I bet catholics must really dislike al gore for inventing that pesky internet.

>>First of all — The Vatican is not on one of the seven hills spoken of in Revelation. It is across the Tiber.<< Well, let's see what the vatican has to say about that. "The ancient city of Rome was originally built on the topographical layout of seven separate hills. These seven hills were joined together by the ancient walls of Rome- the Servian walls. The Seven Hills of Rome lie in the east to the Tiber River. Later many more areas were annexed to the city. The city walls were extended to include them also and the city is now much bigger than its original territory. The Vatican and Vatican hill are included in the Areas that were added to the city much later in history." [http://vatican.com/articles/rome/the_seven_hills_of_rome-a4131] The Catholics using that lame "across the Tiber" doesn't work. "The Vatican and Vatican hill are included".

[virgil]

The Vatican is on the west side of the Tiber. The seven hills were the Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal, Viminal

[Rashputin]

And you can follow the dictates the Pharisees and replace the Holy Spirit with your Self and Self Alone until you're blue in the face but that won't keep you from hearing, "I never knew you" from Jesus Christ Himself.

You and your strong delusion have a nice day now, ya' hear?

[GreyFriar]

Oh well, so much for trying to get folks to think about Christian unity. Perhaps they will get unified in Heaven after they are all beheaded by ISIS because they were to busy fighting amongst each other than to fight the real enemy.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Why are you trying to tell Catholics what to believe?”

If you post on an open discussion thread, it is reasonable to assume someone will respond to what you posted. I did so.

You will believe what you choose to believe. I am only pointing out that what you posted was false.

[kosciusko51]

Likewise.

[Salvation]

You are mistaken.

[ealgeone]

.....And a good deal of these same Catholics turned their backs on Obama a few short days ago.

if so, it would be an improvement over their prior voting patterns.

year % voting for

1948: 62 (gallup) dimocrat win

1952: 52 republican win

1956: 46 republican win

1960: 82 dimocrat win

1964: 79 dimocrat win

1968: 56 republican win

1972: 39 republican win

1976: 57 dimocrat win

1980: 41 republican win

1984: 46 republican win

1988: 52 republican win

1992: 50 dimocrat win

1996: 55 dimocrat win

2000: 50 republican win

2004: 51 republican win

2008: 57 dimocrat win

2012: 53 dimocrat win

Source: National Election Studies

In the presidential elections since 1948 catholics have voted for dimocrats 76% of the time.

catholics in dim leadership positions:

note: these all vote to allow the murder of the unborn child.

D-Joe Biden (VP): Catholic

D-Nancy Pelosi (HOR): Catholic

D-John Kerry (sec state): Catholic

Sinators

D-Patrick Leahy: Catholic

D-Dick Durbin: Catholic

D-Patty Murray: Catholic

D-Mark Begich: Catholic

D-Maria Cantwell: Catholic

D-Bob Casey: Catholic

D-Joe Donnelly: Catholic

D-Kristen Gillibrand: Catholic

D-Tom Harkin: Catholic (fired)

D-Heidi Heitkamp: Catholic

D-Tim Kaine: Catholic

D-Mary Landrieu: Catholic (about to be fired we hope)

D-Joe Manchin: Catholic

D-Ed Markey: Catholic

D-Robert Menendez: Catholic

D-Claire McCaskill: Catholic

D-Barbara Mikulski: Catholic

D-Jack Reed: Catholic

[ealgeone]

You are mistaken.

hey, you're stealing versa's line! :)

[Iscool]

This guy is clueless...And I’ll bet it won’t be long and we’ll see priests holding hands during your Mass...

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Millions of Catholics in America alone make up their own theology. I base that on the consistent voting patterns, the consistent survey results they answer... And the 2.6 children per catholic family - identical to the culture the live in here in former America.

As to 1.6 billion Catholics...

Nah. There are whole nations where +85% never attend all year. It is a stretch to call them anything but people in need of a Savior. Other than puffery, it carries little meaning to count them.

Best.

Cc Daniel1212 - I seem to remember you posted extensive catholic survey results before...

[cloudmountain]

Why are you trying to tell Catholics what to believe?

This is ALWAYS a useless thread.
One can EASILY understand the Protestant Reformation. Such enmity here. I hope excommunicated and defrocked Father Martin Luther is happy with the fruits of his labor. He even has a denomination named after him.

Protestants can boast of 40,000 different denominations. One wonders WHAT separates them. Doctrine, dogma, traditions? What? And, in the end, what does it matter to you or to me? If they are content with their faith, so be it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_dogma
Catholics HAVE to believe Roman Catholic DOGMA. The other things, Apostolic tradition, for one, may NOT be dogma.

So I say, let them be. They can vent their hearts out. Maybe they need it. It doesn't bother me a bit if I am attacked because of my faith. Jesus said that would happen.
We only have to look at how so many Christians, those FIRST Catholics (Catholic means UNIVERSAL), were treated by the Roman Empire.

MOST people are Christian enough in their ideology to let people be. Also, when I hear this I wonder just HOW secure they are with their own faith if they have to denigrate others. I speak to ALL sides.

God will judge us all anyway so what we say here about others' faiths doesn't amount to a hill of beans. :o):o)

God bless you and yours, Salvation!

[cloudmountain]

God bless you and yours.