Don't Pigeon-hole me as a Protestant!

[cubinity]

So, I was out with this guy tonight, and he was telling a foreign visitor how he converted from Catholicism to Christianity.

She looked so confused!

I explained to her that he meant that he transitioned from Catholicism to Protestantism, which she promptly understood.

What happened next was a misunderstanding that really blew my mind.

He began arguing with me that he was not a Protestant, but a Christian!
He did not believe what Protestants believe!
He did not recognize the Pope as authoritative.
He did not follow any kind of liturgy or recognize any church structure.
He believed in Christ alone as his Lord and Savior, and never even attended church as far as I could tell from what little I knew of him.

And, he really wanted me to know he wasn't a Protestant.
Even after I profusely apologized and left the table for over a half hour, he really refused to let it go.
He accused me of pigeon-holing him as a Protestant.
I guess when I was gone, the foreign lady drew him a picture, which he then understood, but he also shared with me that he didn't like me much, and wouldn't mind never speaking to me again.

What was he, I wondered?

 

[tadoflamb]

IF:

His bible has 66 books

He believes he is saved by faith alone

He holds the bible as his highest authority

He probably is a protestant.

 

[MKJ]

It really depends on how people use the word Protestant. It can imply different things. Personally, I think he was using it in a stupid way, but it is probably not his fault that he doesn't understand how others mean it.

 

[cubinity]

It really depends on how people use the word Protestant. It can imply different things. Personally, I think he was using it in a stupid way, but it is probably not his fault that he doesn't understand how others mean it.

In the Internet age, how can it not be your fault to not know something you believe to the point of insisting upon it for hours in a setting totally inappropriate for a religious debate?

Eh. You did say probably. There is that very realistic probability he can't read. You're probably right about this one.

 

[New_Wineskin]

So, I was out with this guy tonight, and he was telling a foreign visitor how he converted from Catholicism to Christianity.

She looked so confused!

I explained to her that he meant that he transitioned from Catholicism to Protestantism, which she promptly understood.

What happened next was a misunderstanding that really blew my mind.

He began arguing with me that he was not a Protestant, but a Christian!
He did not believe what Protestants believe!
He did not recognize the Pope as authoritative.
He did not follow any kind of liturgy or recognize any church structure.
He believed in Christ alone as his Lord and Savior, and never even attended church as far as I could tell from what little I knew of him.

And, he really wanted me to know he wasn't a Protestant.
Even after I profusely apologized and left the table for over a half hour, he really refused to let it go.
He accused me of pigeon-holing him as a Protestant.
I guess when I was gone, the foreign lady drew him a picture, which he then understood, but he also shared with me that he didn't like me much, and wouldn't mind never speaking to me again.

What was he, I wondered?

He was fed up being called a "Protestant" . I am the same way . Many are Neither Catholic , Protestant , nor Orthodox . The inclusion of all that are neither Catholic or Orthodox as "Protestant" is not correct . Catholics view Protestants as those that broke away from "them" "in protest" . They consider that Luther and Calvin and the other "Reformers" are the leaders of *all* those who are neither Catholic nor Orthodox . This leads them to all sorts of wild conclusions of *all* "Protestants" . They cannot and willfully will not understand this . At least , they enjoy making it appear that way .

Deaf ears - deaf ears .

 

[GQ Chris]

Didn't he realize that religious schisms are cool?

 

[GQ Chris]

I'm proud to be a Protestant.

 

[Tzaousios]

The person that Cubinity described sounds like someone who takes The Trail of Blood as a factual portrayal of church history. The person did this either by choice or by osmosis.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I say if he holds to the Nicene Creed then he could call himself what ever he wants.

Needless to say, his reaction seems quite strange...

Regardless of what he labels himself as, he may want to work on understanding the love of Jesus better.

 

[razeontherock]

As you can see by the new label by my avatar, i don't associate myself w/ the Pr label either. I agree his behavior seems rather erratic though ...

 

[NvxiaLee]

Some people's Christianity is so weird that I wouldn't argue with them in they claimed to not be a Protestant.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Paul said not to wear his uniforn, Peter's uniform or Opolo's uniform but recognise the unity of His (Jesus') body. That is what Christian means to me.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

imo, if you are part of the western churches which sprang from the reformation, you are a protestant.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

]We're all from the root of Jesse no less than we are all from the same church fathers. Too many think that Protestants are a new religion that began in the 1500's. They have been around as long as the church fathers in fact but were not treated as of the family of God is all.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

imo anyone who is truly of the body of Christ is a Christian no matter what they call themselves.

 

[sdmsanjose]

I guess when I was gone, the foreign lady drew him a picture, which he then understood, but he also shared with me that he didn't like me much, and wouldn't mind never speaking to me again.

This person seems to have some kind of sensitive nerve that is out of whack. Why get so bent out of shape over an honest mistake?

A person makes an honest mistake and then is told that they are not liked and desires that they not ever speak to them again. I don’t know what kind of Christian he is but he sounds a little emotionally disturbed.

That person needs a chill-pill or something!

 

[Lion King]

Im neither a Catholic nor am I a Protestant...what am I?

A CHRISTIAN.

I do not follow any man, but Christ alone: "Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:12-13

 

[Rdr Iakovos]

So, I was out with this guy tonight, and he was telling a foreign visitor how he converted from Catholicism to Christianity.

She looked so confused!

I explained to her that he meant that he transitioned from Catholicism to Protestantism, which she promptly understood.

What happened next was a misunderstanding that really blew my mind.

He began arguing with me that he was not a Protestant, but a Christian!
He did not believe what Protestants believe!
He did not recognize the Pope as authoritative.
He did not follow any kind of liturgy or recognize any church structure.
He believed in Christ alone as his Lord and Savior, and never even attended church as far as I could tell from what little I knew of him.

And, he really wanted me to know he wasn't a Protestant.
Even after I profusely apologized and left the table for over a half hour, he really refused to let it go.
He accused me of pigeon-holing him as a Protestant.
I guess when I was gone, the foreign lady drew him a picture, which he then understood, but he also shared with me that he didn't like me much, and wouldn't mind never speaking to me again.

What was he, I wondered?

Personality disordered.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder

 

[Montalban]

I'm proud to be a Protestant.

Oh, sorry!

 

[Montalban]

imo, if you are part of the western churches which sprang from the reformation, you are a protestant.

Absolutely. The only thing I disagree with you is that it's not just you opinion, it's fact... in my opinion