February 13, 2004
A Test for Protestants
Here's an interesting question: Who wrote this?
There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads; this one will not admit Baptism; that one rejects the Sacrament of the altar; another places another world between the present one and the day of judgment; some teach that Jesus Christ is not God. There is not an individual, however clownish he may be, who does not claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and who does not put forth as prophecies his ravings and dreams.
I'll post the answer after I have a few guesses . . . Posted by Jay at February 13, 2004 8:21 PM | TrackBack
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Martin Luther
Posted by: Trey at February 14, 2004 12:53 AMEither GK Chesterton or CS Lewis
Posted by: alicia at February 14, 2004 8:34 AMJanet, at Compuserve's Fellowship Forum says it's Martin Luther. I can see it, but I would have guessed G.K. Chesterton. Janet seems certian though.
Posted by: Richard at February 15, 2004 9:43 AMThe correct answer is Martin Luther. It is kind of suprising - especially his treatment of Christians claiming inspiration from the Holy Spirit. I was stunned mostly because he himself started the problem he's criticizing!
God bless,
Jay
Jay,
What was your goal when you posted this "test"?
Posted by: Trey at February 16, 2004 11:49 PMTrey,
Just for us to think about the passage before understanding who wrote it. Luther is the father of all protestant religions and he seems to have a very different idea of protestanism than modern-day believers. He also seems to discount the sola scriptura notion that the Holy Spirit leads us all as individuals in our interpretation.
God bless,
Jay
I am guessing a certain professor of Wittenberg. . .
Luther is not the father of all Protestant denominations.
He originally thought he was alerting the Pope to some serious errors some Dominicans were teaching.
Conservative Lutherans still believe themselves to be Catholics. Philip Melancton to his dying day longed for the reunion of the "evanglische kirche" and the rest of the Catholic Church. Luther wasn't so forgiving of rejection.
Gottschalk can be considered the father of the various Calvinist denominations, including the Baptists.
Peter Waldo (though that may be a symbol for "Peter (pope) of the valleys" as "father" of the various Brethren groups. Jan Hus as well, though he seems basically to have been a Vatican II Catholic (letter, not "spirit of" a number of centuries too soon to escape the stake).
Posted by: Steve at February 20, 2004 12:29 AMLuther started the revolt against God's Church and changed the Bible for all of these denominations. It is difficult to imagine any of them coming about without him, therefore I think it's entirely appropriate to refer to him as the "Father of protestanism" - Note that King Henry was also a key figure . . . I'm not sure what his title should be.
God bless,
Jay
Luther translated the Bible into the people's language. He didn't change it except that now the church didn't control it.
Posted by: Allan at February 24, 2004 10:44 AMAllan,
Actually Luther changed it significantly. He removed multiple Old Testament books and added a word. You should read some information on Luther - he admitted several times that he added the word (he felt it helped the verse convey the meaning he wanted) and also wanted to throw the book of James out of the New Testament.
In fact, Luther is the only person who has changed the Bible since the Catholic Church wrote and compiled it.
God bless,
Jay
That's funny Jay. You sound almost Baptist!
Posted by: Allan at February 24, 2004 10:58 AM
