What would the early Protestant "reformers" say of the 21st century Protestant Churches

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Martin Luther, John Calvin, Philipp Melanchthon, John Knox, Huldrych Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer, et. al…if they could see the Protestant Church of the 21st century, what do you think that they would say?

Specifically, in the areas of the Church’s:

- Theology (what Protestants believe)
- Morality (how Protestants live)
- Worship (how Protestants worship and pray and the nominally non-sacramental system)

Would they be pleased at the way their Church has apparently changed (or stayed the same)?
 
JoeyWarren said:
Martin Luther, John Calvin, Philipp Melanchthon, John Knox, Huldrych Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer, et. al…if they could see the Protestant Church of the 21st century, what do you think that they would say?

Specifically, in the areas of the Church’s:

- Theology (what Protestants believe)
- Morality (how Protestants live)
- Worship (how Protestants worship and pray and the nominally non-sacramental system)

Would they be pleased at the way their Church has apparently changed (or stayed the same)?
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Maybe Zwingli would thumb his nose at Luther and Calvin 😛
 
I think the first thing they would say is, “What happened to our veneration of Mary!!!”
 
I believe they would all be shocked to how the Roman Catholic church withstood the protestant revolt,amidst the persecutions without changing its doctrine, and keeping to the apostolic teachings and Traditions handed to the Catholic church. I think they would of loved John Paul the Great sitting in Peters Chair.
 
“Its good to march with the saints in the presence of the Lord!”

well think about it, the reformers were able to observe the present because they went to heaven. 😃
 
AgnosTheist said:
“Its good to march with the saints in the presence of the Lord!”

well think about it, the reformers were able to observe the present because they went to heaven. 😃
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Provided that they are actually in Heaven…😉
 
Perhaps something like “They totally misunderstood what I was trying to do…”
 
Martin Luther probably wouldn’t know his church.

But, in some ways, that’s probably a good thing. His contemporaries were wise enough in some cases to back off of some of his more extreme comments theologically.

I think the liturgy changes would be the big thing though, moreso than theology… And how churchgoers live, I think he’d probably be scandalized. Though, to be fair, if you brought a Pope from the middle ages into today, they’d probably be scandalized at parts of THEIR flock as well. Attitudes have changed all around among the lay folk in 500 years.

But the liturgy part of it, yeah, I think would be the big one. I see a bit of this myself- church as social hour instead of quiet reverence- endorsed by everyone from the preacher on down. Like it’s some sort of sin to sit there and be quiet and contemplative instead of making other people feel good about being at church, charming them up as you wait for the pastor to walk out at the end of the service.

I’m not so sure Luther himself would have held the same attitude, but I’d need to read his writings more to prove it. 🤷
 
They would say:

“What have I done?!! God have mercy on my soul!”
 
JoeyWarren said:
Martin Luther, John Calvin, Philipp Melanchthon, John Knox, Huldrych Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer, et. al…if they could see the Protestant Church of the 21st century, what do you think that they would say?

Specifically, in the areas of the Church’s:

- Theology (what Protestants believe)
- Morality (how Protestants live)
- Worship (how Protestants worship and pray and the nominally non-sacramental system)

Would they be pleased at the way their Church has apparently changed (or stayed the same)?
Click to expand...
That depends on which catholic you are asking.
 
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