Poll for Protestants: Does the term "Protestant" offend you?

[Joe_5859]

Would you be offended if someone called you “Protestant”? And, if so, why?

I do not want this to be a debate thread, but hopefully a friendly place to voice your thoughts.

I have heard some non-Catholic Christians get indignant at being called “Protestant” because the name seems to imply that their identity is inextricably linked to the Catholic Church (whom they are “protesting”). But, then I’ve seen others who have no problem identifying themselves by that moniker. Personally, I can see both sides of it and generally have no problem avoiding labels that others deem offensive.

Since I usually do my best not to intentionally offend someone, I thought it might be helpful for me to hear some feedback. Any (name removed by moderator)ut is greatly appreciated.

 

[Adam14]

Would you be offended if someone called you “Protestant”? And, if so, why?

I do not want this to be a debate thread, but hopefully a friendly place to voice your thoughts.

I have heard some non-Catholic Christians get indignant at being called “Protestant” because the name seems to imply that their identity is inextricably linked to the Catholic Church (whom they are “protesting”). But, then I’ve seen others who have no problem identifying themselves by that moniker. Personally, I can see both sides of it and generally have no problem avoiding labels that others deem offensive.

Since I usually do my best not to intentionally offend someone, I thought it might be helpful for me to hear some feedback. Any (name removed by moderator)ut is greatly appreciated.

It doesn’t offend me at all. I’m Lutheran (currently), and I’ve heard other Lutherans consider themselves “reformists”, as opposed to “protestant”. But niether bothers me, personally.

I DO, however, think it’s slightly misleading. I don’t think non-Catholic christians are really “protesting” the Catholic church (maybe *some * are), but for the most part I don’t think protestants are standing outside Catholic churches with picket signs and chanting against the church.

 

[Joe_5859]

It doesn’t offend me at all. I’m Lutheran (currently), and I’ve heard other Lutherans consider themselves “reformists”, as opposed to “protestant”. But niether bothers me, personally.

I DO, however, think it’s slightly misleading. I don’t think non-Catholic christians are really “protesting” the Catholic church (maybe *some * are), but for the most part I don’t think protestants are standing outside Catholic churches with picket signs and chanting against the church.

I’ve never seen that either! I wonder if they did that back in the 1500s?

 

[Rightlydivide]

It is too general and has no real meaning.
The only thing it really means is non-Catholic Christian.

 

[Joe_5859]

It is too general and has no real meaning.
The only thing it really means is non-Catholic Christian.

I think you are on to something here. There are so many different kinds of non-Catholic Christians that the “Protestant” label doesn’t really tell you anything about the person it is being applied to except for the fact that they are not Catholic.

 

[Syele]

I’m not offended by it BUT I don’t like it. I don’t see an option for me up there.

It’s not usually offensive because most people aren’t using it to be offensive. Though the whole “Protest-ant” jokes are old.

I don’t like the term because:

• too general
• implies that people are protesting the Catholic Church (Most Protestants never left the Catholic church and/or don’t know enough about it in order to formally protest it or even know if they want to.)
• People using the term tend to talk about “protestants” as if they are one and the same as “reformed”
• Several times in threads about “Protestants” Protestant was defined in such a way so that I’m not one, yet I am one.

 

[Publisher]

As a Friend I have no problem being called a “Protestant”…some Friends feel that Quakerism is a “third way”…neither truly Protestant and of course not Catholic.

Friends feel that the reformers had valid issues, but did not take the “reformation” far enough in recapturing “ancient Christianity”…some Quakers see Quakerism as a “rediscovery of authentic Christianity”…meaning that Christ’s work and ministry paved the Way for direct access to God without the need of another acting on our behalf…we share in His Priesthood, no one can act on our behalf, we can approach God directly…no ritual or “outward form” of a sacrament is necessary…life itself took on sacramental quality, all acts done in the Spirit of Christ “confer” grace…no priest or minister is necessary to act on our behalf.

While the reformers moved believers in that direction…they didn’t go far enough…they didn’t remove the “need” for someone to act on our behalf through performing a “ritual” as a means of grace.

Friends, along with Mennonites and Brethren have been called part of the “Radical Reformation”…Friends have gone even further in rejecting all outward forms as necessary for access to God in Christ.

Friends rejected “sola scriptura” and claim direct revelation…“we live in that virtue of life which the apostles lived”…“thee tells me what the prophets say…thee tells me what the apostles say…but what can thee say”…“He is among His people to teach us Himself”. We live in eschatological times where His law is written on our hearts and His Spirit is poured out upon all flesh. No priest, minister or ritual replaces the Real Presence in our midst as our True Teacher and Priest.

 

[Joe_5859]

Interesting perspectives, Syele and Publisher. Thank you for sharing. If I could add another poll option for you, I would, but once it’s there, there’s no changing it.

 

[Cat]

Try putting this poll on a non-Catholic (AKA Protestant) online forum.

I belonged to an evangelical Protestant forum for several years, and found that most of themembers were highly offended by the term “Protestant.” The most common retort was, “I’m not protesting anything!”

Many of the non-denoms that I know will tell you pointedly that they prefer to be called “Christians.”

(BTW, the only reason I’m not a member of that forum anymore is that the moderating got so slip-shod that I didn’t feel safe anymore. The rules changed daily. Not well moderated at all. The forum recently closed and then reopened after reorganization, and I’ve checked it out, but it seems so limited in it’s topics now that I’m not sure if I’ll ever rejoin again.)

 

[estesbob]

Would you be offended if someone called you “Protestant”? And, if so, why?

I do not want this to be a debate thread, but hopefully a friendly place to voice your thoughts.

I have heard some non-Catholic Christians get indignant at being called “Protestant” because the name seems to imply that their identity is inextricably linked to the Catholic Church (whom they are “protesting”). But, then I’ve seen others who have no problem identifying themselves by that moniker. Personally, I can see both sides of it and generally have no problem avoiding labels that others deem offensive.

Since I usually do my best not to intentionally offend someone, I thought it might be helpful for me to hear some feedback. Any (name removed by moderator)ut is greatly appreciated.

I prefer “Our Seperated Bretheren”.

 

[Hilde89]

No, it doesn’t offend me. I know what it means, but I don’t care so much about the meaning if someone calls me that, it’s a commonly accepted term.

 

[Syele]

I do prefer “Christian” as Cat said… that is why thats what I have in my profile.

 

[Hilde89]

I do prefer “Christian” as Cat said… that is why thats what I have in my profile.

I didn’t put Protestant there either, but Lutheran-Evangelical, because it may be important if I ever got into a debate(which I rarely do).

BTW: I’m not trying to argue against you here.