Protestantism.... A Friendly Rant

[CaliforniaJosiah]

I think Protestantism (I am one), with all its branches that stretch all the way back the reformation of Martin Luther, is starting to get very splintered and slightly lost, especially here in America. There is much focus on the charisma of individual Pastor's and / or on the individual views, practices and interpretations of one's own protestant subsect.

IMHO, some forms of "Protestantism" have, in some ways, gone full circle - and worse (to be honest, I prefer Catholicism to the theology I heard at the ballpark). It's the old Theology of Glory, the whole "it ultimately depends on ME," the "Jesus opened the gates to Heaven but we gotta walk through them" thing - just repackaged. And worse, IMHO. At least Catholicism doesn't demand the "totally!" "Completely!" thing - at least not this side of purgatory. To ME, the "terror of the conscience" applies more to this new version of "Protestantism" than it does to the Catholicism of which Luther was addressing. Maybe I'm wrong. I could say a few things about the power and authority of such preachers compared to the Papacy, too (again, I think it's WORSE in many cases) but I'm probaly already making waves, lol....




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[Tangible]

I think Protestantism (I am one), with all its branches that stretch all the way back the reformation of Martin Luther, is starting to get very splintered and slightly lost, especially here in America. There is much focus on the charisma of individual Pastor's and / or on the individual views, practices and interpretations of one's own protestant subsect.

That's a big reason why I followed God's leading back to the source.

When I began studying about the Baptist faith I grew up in, and not just from inside sources, I was honestly shocked to find out how recently many of their core beliefs had been promulgated - some less than 100 years! Others have more history behind them, but can be shown to have possible origins in heterical groups like Pelagians and Gnostics.

I could never see any biblical basis for their 'age of decision' doctrine, and when I pulled that brick out, the whole wall started to crumble.

I think the Confessional Lutherans have it right. Standing firm where scripture speaks, granting freedom where it doesn't, and preserving the best of the traditions from the early church.

 

[QuiltAngel]

CJ
My son had a similar experience about 2 years ago. He said they made it sound like unless "you have gone forward" there is no way you could be saved. As one baptised and confirmed in a Lutheran church, he knew that was wrong.

 

[Edial]

I think Protestantism (I am one), with all its branches that stretch all the way back the reformation of Martin Luther, is starting to get very splintered and slightly lost, especially here in America. There is much focus on the charisma of individual Pastor's and / or on the individual views, practices and interpretations of one's own protestant subsect.

Welcome to TCL!

Ed

 

[Lemmiwinks]

At least Catholicism doesn't demand the "totally!" "Completely!" thing - at least not this side of purgatory. To ME, the "terror of the conscience" applies more to this new version of "Protestantism" than it does to the Catholicism of which Luther was addressing.
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i agree

 

[filosofer]

Well, it didn't quite work for me.

We could take a poll, and your vote doesn't count.

How good to you have to be to be cute? Can't, 'cause it is God-given.
(paraphrase of a theology question)

 

[RadMan]

Give it time.

The process of cuteness is a lifetime trek.

Some are cute when 16, then look like me when 49.
Yet the cuteness factor is captured forever.

Some grow cute later on in life.

All this is work of God - something like baptism. :o
You can look back at it or look forwards to it.

Good theology and rest in Christ brings out the cutability factor right in the open.

But the main thing is this.
And this is a promise.

You will look irresistably cute in Heaven.

In Christ,
Ed

Ed cute? I didn't notice that about you. Maybe I missed something
cute

   /kyut/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kyoot] Show IPA adjective, cut⋅er, cut⋅est, adverb, noun Use cute in a Sentence

–adjective 1. attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty: a cute child; a cute little apartment. 2. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious: The child has acquired some intolerably cute mannerisms. 3. mentally keen; clever; shrewd.
–adverb 4. Informal. in a cute, charming, or amusing way; cutely: In this type of movie the boy and girl always meet cute.
–noun 5. the cutes, Informal. self-consciously cute mannerisms or appeal; affected coyness: The young actress has a bad case of the cutes.

 

[DaRev]

It's things like this that make me glad that Lutherans are not Protestant.

 

[Edial]

Ed cute? I didn't notice that about you. Maybe I missed something
cute

   /kyut/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kyoot] Show IPA adjective, cut⋅er, cut⋅est, adverb, noun Use cute in a Sentence

–adjective 1. attractive, esp. in a dainty way; pleasingly pretty: a cute child; a cute little apartment. 2. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious: The child has acquired some intolerably cute mannerisms. 3. mentally keen; clever; shrewd.
–adverb 4. Informal. in a cute, charming, or amusing way; cutely: In this type of movie the boy and girl always meet cute.
–noun 5. the cutes, Informal. self-consciously cute mannerisms or appeal; affected coyness: The young actress has a bad case of the cutes.

Well ... when I was young I was really cute.

And I had so much hair.

Now my hair grows in all the wrong places.
My cuteness is well concealed.

... And when I met you in person last year... let me put it this way - Grizzly Adams TV show came to mind ... less the hair.

By the way, you think you guys wanna meet this year in Cincinnati ... in September, for Oktoberfest?

 

[Edial]

We could take a poll, and your vote doesn't count.

How good to you have to be to be cute? Can't, 'cause it is God-given.
(paraphrase of a theology question)

Well we did have a chrome-dome convention last year.

Can you make it to Cincinnatti for Oktoberfest?

 

[RadMan]

Well ... when I was young I was really cute.

And I had so much hair.

Now my hair grows in all the wrong places.
My cuteness is well concealed.

... And when I met you in person last year... let me put it this way - Grizzly Adams TV show came to mind ... less the hair.

By the way, you think you guys wanna meet this year in Cincinnati ... in September, for Oktoberfest?

Ok Ed --- You're still cute then

 

[AngCath]

I notice there is a difference in what some call Protestant and what some would call Full Gospel, Charismatic or Evangelical which is not so much Protestant as it is its own new denomination that associates itself with Protestantism. THese congregations preach emotional sermons and base their teachings towards emotionalism and not necessarily the Word of God, using the text more as a choose-your-own adventure book instead of as a Sacred, Holy Canon. This may be more of what you witnessed at the ballpark that night, his own interpretation of what Salvation was to him, which is kind of silly. Oddly he is not the first person I have heard who has given such a response before about not fully surrendering yourself. it becoming a phenomena.

Ditto