Ask a protestant a question thread.

[Syele]

OK lots of threads, as usual, are making assumptions about what protestants believe about this and that. (we all know what assume spells…)

So here is a place to ask a question, accept the answer and move on. I’m am Arminian type Protestant. Hopefully a Calvinist will jump in and state their views too.

(I don’t mean questions like “Why not be Catholic?” those type require long discussion, simple do you believe this or not type.)

Have fun!

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

From which authority does Sola Scriptura come from?

P.S. I just noticed your profile; Can I assume you’re a Protestant? And happy birthday too.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

What happens to babies who die before they are baptised?

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Can a peaceful and loving muslim make it to heaven?

 

[mark_a]

OK lots of threads, as usual, are making assumptions about what protestants believe about this and that. (we all know what assume spells…)

So here is a place to ask a question, accept the answer and move on. I’m am Arminian type Protestant. Hopefully a Calvinist will jump in and state their views too.

(I don’t mean questions like “Why not be Catholic?” those type require long discussion, simple do you believe this or not type.)

Have fun!

Concerning moral teachings, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is new?

 

[khutcheson]

Concerning moral teachings, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is new?

Nothing I hope. We’re here to follow Christ not to try to improve anything He taught.

 

[mark_a]

Nothing I hope. We’re here to follow Christ not to try to improve anything He taught.

I now see that my question wasn’t very clear. So I’ll try again.

Concerning moral teaching, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is superior to Catholic moral teaching?

 

[khutcheson]

I now see that my question wasn’t very clear. So I’ll try again.

Concerning moral teaching, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is superior to Catholic moral teaching?

Surprisingly (I was surprised when I discovered it) nothing that I can tell.

I sense that your post was intended to start a conflict, but you won’t get one from me on this issue.

 

[Syele]

From which authority does Sola Scriptura come from?

The technical definition of Sola Scriptura comes from the Reformed tradition and reads as follows:
"Cambridge Declaration:

Sola Scriptura: The Erosion Of Authority

Scripture alone is the inerrant rule of the church’s life, but the evangelical church today has separated Scripture from its authoritative function. In practice, the church is guided, far too often, by the culture. Therapeutic technique, marketing strategies, and the beat of the entertainment world often have far more to say about what the church wants, how it functions and what it offers, than does the Word of God. Pastors have neglected their rightful oversight of worship, including the doctrinal content of the music. As biblical authority has been abandoned in practice, as its truths have faded from Christian consciousness, and as its doctrines have lost their saliency, the church has been increasingly emptied of its integrity, moral authority and direction.
Rather than adapting Christian faith to satisfy the felt needs of consumers, we must proclaim the law as the only measure of true righteousness and the gospel as the only announcement of saving truth. Biblical truth is indispensable to the church’s understanding, nurture and discipline.
Scripture must take us beyond our perceived needs to our real needs and liberate us from seeing ourselves through the seductive images, cliche’s, promises. and priorities of mass culture. It is only in the light of God’s truth that we understand ourselves aright and see God’s provision for our need. The Bible, therefore, must be taught and preached in the church. Sermons must be expositions of the Bible and its teachings, not expressions of the preachers opinions or the ideas of the age. We must settle for nothing less than what God has given.
The work of the Holy Spirit in personal experience cannot be disengaged from Scripture. The Spirit does not speak in ways that are independent of Scripture. Apart from Scripture we would never have known of God’s grace in Christ. The biblical Word, rather than spiritual experience, is the test of truth.
Thesis One: Sola Scriptura

We reaffirm the inerrant Scripture to be the sole source of written divine revelation, which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured. We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.

That said, I am not of the Reformed Faith and do not believe in “Sola Scriptura”, so I cannot state the authority that declares Sola Scriptura to be true.

As an Arminian Protestant I must disagree with much of what is in the above quote. I agree more in line with Methodists Wesleyan Quadrilateral

In order of Authority:

• Scripture - *the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) (Scriptures themselves claim to be the inerrant Word of God)
• Tradition - *the two millennia history of the Christian Church (Scriptures also state the importance of Tradition)
• Reason - *rational thinking and sensible interpretation (Scriptures do not claim one must believe Blindly, but to study the Words of God)
• Experience - a Christian’s personal and communal journey in Christ (Personal revelation is presant in Scripture as well)
  Scripture is the primary authority as is is declarred the Word of God and inerrant. Scripture also declares the authority of the other 3 things listed here.

P.S. I just noticed your profile; Can I Assume you’re a Protestant? And happy birthday too.

Yes, I am Protestant. Thanks for the B-day wishes.

What happens to babies who die before they are baptised?

Babies have not reached the age of accountability for their actions and are protected my the infinite Mercy and Justice of God. (Neh. 9:31, Micah 7:18, Rom. 11:32).Infants do not sin with understanding for what is right and wrong.

While this doctrine is not spelled out word for word, we do have reason in Scripture to belief it is true.

2Samuel 12:22-23 David had reason to feel confident in his sons death.

Mark 10:14, Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 1:14 (and some others) suggest that children have great faith that is to be emulated and that they ahve angels to watch over them. The ideea that God would hold them accountable for that which they don’t understand, yet also hold them up as examples of faith and say for such is the Kingdom of Heaven, appear inconsistent.

The age of Accountably is different for different people. Some mentally ill people my never be able to understand what they need to understand about what is against God, most children have a decent enough understanding by the age of 10.

 

[Syele]

Can a peaceful and loving muslim make it to heaven?

I do not believe this is possible.
Scriptures tell us that we must be “perfect” in order to reach heaven for the punishment for any sin at all is eternal death (or hell). So if the peaceful and loving Muslim is not perfect in every way, they are bound to only be saved according to believing and following Christian scripture. This scripture tells us that only Jesus met the requirements of being absolutely perfect. God is Holy and will not allow sin into His presence. Jesus accepted the punishment of death in our places. Since he didn’t ever sin, he was able to do this when He died on the cross. This allowed Jesus to restored the honor of God by taking away our shame. God confirmed His authority by raising Jesus from the dead. This was very generous of God, to allow us this gift, to refuse to accept it and believe God is even offering it according to Scripture, is to shun God Himself.

 

[Syele]

Concerning moral teachings, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is new?

Protestant teaching is not meant to be new. God is infinitely unchanging.

Concerning moral teaching, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is superior to Catholic moral teaching?

I do not believe there is much difference between Catholic and Protestant Moral teachings. As most of them are the same, I’d say they are equal.

 

[RAR]

When you move to a new town, how do you choose a church?

Thanks. RAR

 

[bengal_fan]

From which authority does Sola Scriptura come from?

well, there is some logic to it. (i am more prima scriptura but both arguments come from the same logic). the ultimate authority of the church is the apostles’ teachings. catholics believe that some of those teachings were passed down orally and are continued to be passed down orally today (or written in the catechism). when the bible was put together (yes, by a council of the church), the main requirement for a book or letter to be admitted into the canon, it had to have ties to an apostle. the idea was to put together the apostles’ teachings into one volume. therefore, the bible is the apostles’ teachings and therefore is the only infallible/inerrant rule of faith. other authorities are needed within the church (all protestants would say this since they submit themselves to pastors) but the highest and only perfect rule of faith is scripture.
that’s where it comes from (for many i would think) in my opinion.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

What is an Arminian Protestant?

 

[Catholic_Dude]

OK lots of threads, as usual, are making assumptions about what protestants believe about this and that. (we all know what assume spells…)

So here is a place to ask a question, accept the answer and move on. I’m am Arminian type Protestant. Hopefully a Calvinist will jump in and state their views too.

(I don’t mean questions like “Why not be Catholic?” those type require long discussion, simple do you believe this or not type.)

Have fun!

Name 3 people (preferably a Church Father) that you consider to be a genuine Christian who lived between 250AD and 1000AD.

 

[bengal_fan]

What happens to babies who die before they are baptised?

i believe in a just God. an “age of responsibility” is nowhere to be found in the bible so i don’t use that argument. a baby can do nothing for itself. it is forced to rely completely on others for its survival. since that is how we are supposed to come to Christ, i think God welcomes them as they are. the thief on the cross wasn’t baptized and had to completely rely on Christ for heaven and he received it. babies will get the same. otherwise we have to think that the actions of others (i.e. parents and priests) have the ability to save us rather than the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.

 

[bengal_fan]

Can a peaceful and loving muslim make it to heaven?

yes, anyone can make it to heaven. but everyone there will have gotten there through Jesus.

 

[bpbasilphx]

What happens to babies who die before they are baptised?

This has been discussed to death elsewhere. The CCC says, in effect, that it’s God’s decision, and He has not revealed it.

 

[bengal_fan]

Concerning moral teachings, what does Protestantism bring to the table that is new?

moral teachings? hmmm.
i would say the emergence of protestantism (while there was a lot of violence involved) actually helped curb the license many priests and bishops felt when persecuting “heretics”. it has allowed Christianity to get back a small bit of it’s pacifism (not enough in my opinion but a small bit). i think “competition” has helped the leaders on both sides to strive for a higher sense of moral purity than what the church had in the middle ages.
as far as teachings go, i think we are all pretty similar.

 

[bengal_fan]

When you move to a new town, how do you choose a church?

Thanks. RAR

great question. i ask people i meet about churches. i research and i jump in. once i commit, i commit. i don’t church hop.