Protestants
Christianity is tthe world's largest religion, with about 2.1 billion followers throughout the globe.
Catholicism vs protestantism
Books
The Bible: Old and New Testaments The spoken word of God and of God in human form (the son) Jesus/Messiah. Also the testaments of apostles/saints and other holy persons who witnessed the time.
Nicene Creed: Christian leaders in the 4th century CE, lays out the doctrine of the Trinity. The concept of the Trinity, endorsed by nearly all Christians, posits one God in three per- sons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Nicene Creed: Christian leaders in the 4th century CE, lays out the doctrine of the Trinity. The concept of the Trinity, endorsed by nearly all Christians, posits one God in three per- sons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Euchrist/communion
Protestants themselves disagree, is whether Jesus’ body and blood are truly present – or just commemorated. Many Protestants believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which claims that the body and blood of Jesus are present in the blood and wine without transforming them. Other Protestants consider the Eucharist to be a symbolic commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of humanity.
Saints
Catholicism and Orthodoxy believe in the intercession of the saints. In Protestantism, some Anglicans believe in saintly intercession, and Lutherans hold that they can be looked to as examples of how to live and strengthen one’s faith. However, many Protestants strongly deny any inter- cession of saints.
Denominations
Lutheran
Stated in two doctrines:
***In 1865, an independent Methodist minister William Booth (1829-1912), founded the Salvation Army, which to this day carries out evangelistic and social work across the globe.
Congregational/Presbyterian/Reformed (Calvinism.... Puritans)
The Puritans/Calvinists
- Protestant Christianity began in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses challenging many central tenets of the Roman Catholic Church which had incorporated too man "pagan" and corrupt practices.
Stated in two doctrines:
- sola scriptura (by scripture alone): The Bible holds all knowledge necessary for salvation and is the only true source of authority for the Christian faithful, negating the authority of the Pope to interpret/order
- sola fide (by faith alone): believers receive salvation by vir- tue of their faith alone, as opposed to the Catholic (and Orthodox) view that God grants salvation for one’s faith and one’s works. Protestants believe that, while good works can be a sign of faith, only faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation.
- There are estimated to be over 80 million Lutherans worldwide, with significant numbers in Germany, Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden etc.) and the USA.
- There are an estimated 70 million Anglicans worldwide. All Anglican churches regard the church of England as the mother church and the Archbishop of Canterbury as the symbolic head. However, the Archbishop does not exert any controlling influence outside of England: his is a primacy of honour and not of jurisdiction.
The history of Anglicanism as a separate denomination really began with the decision of Henry VIII (1491-1547) to overthrow the authority of the Roman Catholic church in England. This followed the refusal of Pope Clement VII (1478-1534) to grant authority for Henry to divorce his then wife, Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536). Henry carried through his demands by passing the Act of Supremacy in 1534, making him "...the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England." The church of England remains as the official state church to this day, with the monarch as the head.
- The story of the Methodist church really begins with the Wesley family: John Wesley(1703-1791) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788) were born in the village of Epworth in Lincolnshire. Their parents were Samuel and Susannah Wesley. Samuel was a Anglican rector and Susannah was a remarkable woman, known to spend much time in prayer for her family. In 1709, there was a serious fire at the rectory and John Wesley nearly perished. His Mother believed he had been rescued for a special purpose - a "brand plucked from the burning".
In the 1720's, the Wesley brothers founded a fellowship at Oxford University. Here people could commit themselves to prayer and bible study. The group soon attracted the attention of other students, not all of whom were in favour of this new way of worshiping God. Various labels for the fellowship were given, including "Holy Club", but it was the term "Methodist" that stuck. - The Basic theology of Methodism is known as Arminianism (after Jacob Arminius (1560-1609), who questioned some of the doctrines held by John Calvin). Arminianism emphasises the free will of individuals to follow or reject Christ and the possibility of one losing their salvation. This was a reaction to Calvin's doctrine of predestination, by which God determines an individual's final destiny, whether it be to eternal life or damnation. Arminianism rejects all of the Five points of Calvinism *(with the exception of Total Depravity). The exception to the Arminian view is held by Methodists in Wales, who tend to be more Calvinistic in doctrine. In common with many Protestants, Methodists hold to two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (The Lord's Supper).
- Wesley also taught the doctrine of Holiness, sometimes also known as entire sanctification or a "second work of grace". The idea is a form of Christian perfection, occuring sometime after conversion and stripping away all guilt of original sin. The believer is equipped with a pure heart free of sinful thoughts and motives.
- Methodist teaching is sometimes summed up in four particular ideas known as the four alls.
- All need to be saved - the doctrine of original sin.
- All can be saved - Universal Salvation.
- All can know they are saved - Assurance.
- All can be saved completely - Christian perfection.
***In 1865, an independent Methodist minister William Booth (1829-1912), founded the Salvation Army, which to this day carries out evangelistic and social work across the globe.
Congregational/Presbyterian/Reformed (Calvinism.... Puritans)
- Congregational churches are those that emphasise the autonomy of each individual church in governing its affairs. Robert Browne (1540-1630) founded the first church based on congregational principles in 1582, after dissatisfaction with the Church of England. This desire for complete separation from the Church of England led some congregationalists to leave England as part of the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed for the USA in 1620.
- The Reformed churches generally hold to those ideas held by Ulrich Zwingli and (especially) John Calvin. In contrast to the Lutheran doctrine of electing a hierarchy of bishops (Greek: Episcopoi ) to govern the church, Reformed churches usually elect elders (Greek: Presbyteroi ) to carry out this function. The elders work together as a group but are accountable to higher groups known as presbyteries, synods or assemblies.
In 1972, many Congregationalist churches in England and Wales merged with the Presbyterian Church in England, forming the United Reformed Church.
The Puritans/Calvinists
- The Five Points of CalvinismThe Theology of John Calvin can be summarised in these five points, set out in response to the teachings of Jacob Arminius (1560-1609), and discussed in 1618-9 at the Synod of Dort, in the Netherlands. The points are often summarised by the word TULIP, from the first letter of each point:
- Total Depravity of Man - Man's nature is totally fallen and needs the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit working in him (regeneration) before he can find faith.
- Unconditional Election - Election is the act of God in choosing an individual. His choice is not based on any foreseen merit in man, but rather comes from his own mercy.
- Limited Atonement - Christ's death was effective in removing only the sins of those chosen by him (The 'Elect') and not for all mankind. This is also known as Particular Redemption.
- Irresistible Grace - The call of the Holy Spirit in bringing a person to conversion cannot be frustrated. God's grace, given freely, always results in salvation.
- Perseverance of the Saints - Those who are chosen by God, will continue in faith until the end. Those who fall away will not have had true faith in the beginning.
- Total Depravity of Man - Man's nature is totally fallen and needs the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit working in him (regeneration) before he can find faith.
- These churches emerged during the reformation era, particularly in Switzerland and The Netherlands. A group of individual reformers disagreed with the baptism of infants as practiced by the Swiss reformer Ulrich Zwingli (see the section 'The Reformers') for more information. This group of individuals was known as Anabaptists (literally: 'rebaptisers'), as they emphasised adult baptism.
Menno Simons (1496-1561), eventually emerged as leader of the movement. Persecution led many followers to flee to the USA and Canada, where they flourish to this day. There are around 1 million Mennonites worldwide and many of them follow the Dordrecht Confession of 1632.
The Dordrecht Confession
A Swiss bishop named Jakob Amman (1656-1730) led a movement for reform within the church. A resulting schism resulted in the formation of a new group of Mennonites, who came to be known as Amish. Many Amish emigrated to the USA and survive today in tightly knit communities. They are known for their rejection of modern lifestyles and reject the use of cars, electricity and other modern conveniencies. Like many Mennonites, they are a strongly peace loving people, rejecting all forms of violence.
- The first Baptist church was founded in Amsterdam in 1609 by John Smyth (c. 1554-1612). Baptist churches are distinctive in that they emphasise Baptism on confession of faith (called Believer's Baptism), and also by full immersion in water, rather than sprinkling. Infants are not baptised but 'dedicated' to Christ in a ceremony. Once the child is old enough to profess faith clearly, they may then be baptised into full membership of the church. There are over 40 million Baptists worldwide, including over 30 million in the United States.Baptists practice two sacraments (also known as Ordinances ): Baptism and Communion. Their view of Communion is known as Memorialism : The bread and wine are only symbols of Christ's body and blood.
- Organisationally, Baptist churches are led by a Pastor (Latin: 'Shepherd'), who is assisted by deacons in ministry.
- One of the most famous Baptists of the 20th century was Martin Luther King (1929-1968), the great American civil rights leader.
- As their name implies, the Pentecostal churches lay particular emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Greek: Charismata) as manifested in the life of the individual. The roots of Pentecostalism lie in the "holiness" movement as form of empowerment for the Christian through the Holy Spirit, which for example was developed by John Wesley in Methodism.
- Estimates vary, but there at least 100 Million Pentecostals worldwide. The movement is especially strong in poorer countries and is probably the fastest growing form of Christianity today.
- Evidence of speaking in tongues is taken as proof (though not the only one) that one has received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- The influence of Pentecostalism in the modern Christian scene is immense
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