It’s interesting to compare how the different traditions categorize church bodies. In Lutheran circles, we tend to refer to the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. Everyone else tends to just get lumped under “Reformed,” as most of the other major branches of Protestantism flowed out of the Reformed tradition (via either Zwingli or Calvin). Whether it’s 100% accurate or not, I don’t know but we tend to stick with it.
I think doing this runs the risk of lumping THe Church into just another christian sect or denonmination. It is not just another denomination but “The Church” Christ started and Christ centered.
Yea - but I can type “protestant” a lot faster and most everyone knows who I mean.
I think doing this runs the risk of lumping THe Church into just another christian sect or denonmination. It is not just another denomination but “The Church” Christ started and Christ centered.
Peace!
Do you tend to refer to the Anglican as reformed as well?
Yes. There are some churches which call themselves Anglican which are more catholic on the sacraments, but they’re few and far between.
Yep, though we avoid any real distinction between Arminian and Calvinist church bodies, because they are both Reformed, in the sense that they sprang from the same source. So we just call them Reformed.
Keep in mind that some Lutherans [ELCA] are in full communion with Reformed Christians including Presbyterian and Methodist. That doesn’t mean that those Lutherans do not believe in the Real Presence and the sacraments but that we extend the Eucharist to all Christians who are baptized and do or do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Mass. It is like witnessing to the Catholic faith.Yes. There are some churches which call themselves Anglican which are more catholic on the sacraments, but they’re few and far between.
The main difference between the Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran churches (in our view), and the Reformed is that the Reformed have an invalid Eucharist. In that sense, to us, they are not quite catholic. We see them as a hodge podge of sectarian movements that are largely divorced from apostolic faith and practice.
If it sounds harsh…well, it is
Yep, though we avoid any real distinction between Arminian and Calvinist church bodies, because they are both Reformed, in the sense that they sprang from the same source. So we just call them Reformed.
I knew you were going to say that – and I’m neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophetYea - but I can type “protestant” a lot faster and most everyone knows who I mean.
Peace
James
Exactly, we can drop the term when they stop (protesting).
Strictly speaking, we’re not protesting anything. Originally, the term Protestant (at least as it applies to Lutherans), does not mean to protest the Roman church. It was strictly a political term. (There were Roman Catholic protestants!) Yes, other groups may use it to refer to protesting Catholicism.If you can come up with another term that is equally descriptive and easy to use…I’ll be happy to use it.
As I mention in my post above…I tried this for a while and it really didn’t work out too well.
I agree that most “protestants” don’t consider themselves to be protesting anything, the vast majority of “protestants” (including “former Catholics”) I dare say don’t know what the Catholic Church teaches - so how could they be “protesting” it??
The Catechism even makes the case that we cannot charge those born into “protestant” communities with the sins of those who originally broke with Holy Mother Church. So again - what are they protesting?
Yet - as I said, the term remains the one that is the simplest and most commonly understood and so we continue to use it.
All that said, I would love to see the term retired…When all the Christians come home to the original - the Bride of Christ - Holy Mother Church.
Peace
James
I can not speak for the “rest of Christianity” but would refer you to the Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue on all the questions your raise. You might be surprised by the remarkable convergence of belief.
I knew you were going to say that – and I’m neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet
I am quite aware at the great strides that Lutherans and Catholics are making. I’m very encouraged by these developments. Lutherans have been some of our best allies in debates here on CAF against other Protestants who may not share some of our common beliefs and practices.
No. Since Protestant originally meant that the person was protesting the decrees of the Diet of Speyer.
i’m not sure about this one either, because it still defines my christianity relative to another denomination. to put it another way, sure i’m a non-catholic christian. i’m also a non-lutheran christian, a non-methodist christian, a non-presbyterian christian, a non-adventist christian and a (giggle) non-non-denominational christian.