EPISODE 0109 | Protestant Denominations, Evangelicals and Unity
THESE NOTES ACCOMPANY EPISODE 0109
The Church has a rich and complex history, shaped by theological debates, reformations, and the birth of many denominations. In this episode, we explore the foundations of the Protestant Reformation, the development of different Christian traditions, and how evangelicalism emerged as a global movement. While differences exist, unity in Christ remains our greatest strength. Discover how we can stand firm in biblical truth while embracing the diversity of the body of Christ.
The Protestant Reformation: Foundations The Protestant Reformation was a seismic event in church history, beginning in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg. Luther protested the selling of indulgences and argued that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works or human merit.
Key features of the Reformation:
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
· Born in Eisleben, Germany, Luther initially studied law before becoming an Augustinian monk. A deep sense of personal sin led him to rigorous study of Scripture, where he discovered the doctrine of justification by faith.
· In 1517, he published his Ninety-Five Theses, sparking debate and leading to his excommunication in 1521.
· He ministered primarily in Wittenberg, where he translated the Bible into German and wrote hymns such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
Romans 1:17 (NLT): "This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has life.'"
John Calvin (1509–1564) Born in Noyon, France, Calvin trained as a lawyer before being influenced by Reformation ideas. He fled France to escape persecution and settled in Geneva, Switzerland.
o Calvin’s "Institutes of the Christian Religion" (1536) became a cornerstone of Protestant theology.
o In Geneva, he implemented church reforms emphasizing biblical preaching, church discipline, and the sovereignty of God.
Ephesians 1:11 (NLT): "Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan."
Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) Born in Wildhaus, Switzerland, Zwingli studied theology in Basel and Vienna. He was deeply influenced by Erasmus and became a priest in Zurich.
o He initiated reform by preaching directly from Scripture and removing Catholic practices not found in the Bible, such as indulgences and the veneration of saints.
o Zwingli died in battle during the Second Kappel War while defending the Reformation in Switzerland.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT): "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
Anabaptists (1520’s)
Emerging in the 1520s, the Anabaptists were considered radical reformers. Leaders like Conrad Grebel and Menno Simons emphasized believer’s baptism, pacifism, and the separation of church and state.
Many Anabaptists faced severe persecution from both Catholics and Protestants due to their rejection of infant baptism and political alliances.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT): "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
The Development of Denominations
As the Reformation spread across Europe, new denominations emerged, differing in doctrine and practice from the Catholic Church and each other:
Lutheranism Differed from Catholicism by rejecting the authority of the Pope, emphasizing justification by faith, and retaining a structured liturgical style.
Calvinism/Reformed Churches Emphasized God’s sovereignty, predestination, and a simpler form of worship, rejecting Catholic sacraments and clerical hierarchy.
Anglicanism Blended elements of Catholic tradition and Reformation theology. Retained bishops and liturgical practices but placed the English monarch as head of the Church.
Methodism Stressed holiness, personal conversion, and social justice, distinguishing itself from Calvinistic predestination.
Baptists Rejected infant baptism and emphasized believer’s baptism, local church autonomy, and Scripture as the sole authority.
Episcopal Church Originated from the Anglican Church, establishing itself in the United States after the American Revolution. Retains liturgical worship and sacraments while emphasizing inclusivity and autonomy from England.
Denominational History in the United States
The early United States was a melting pot of Christian denominations, shaped by religious liberty and the influx of European settlers. Each group contributed to the religious landscape of the nation:
Puritans (Congregationalists) Settled in New England during the 1600s, seeking to purify the Church of England from within. They emphasized personal piety, biblical literacy, and covenant theology.
Anglicans (Episcopalians) Predominantly settled in the Southern colonies. The Episcopal Church in America formed after the Revolution, separating from the Church of England but retaining liturgical practices.
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) Settled primarily in Pennsylvania, emphasizing pacifism, simplicity, and the "Inner Light" of God’s presence in every person.
Baptists Flourished in the South and frontier areas, emphasizing believer’s baptism, religious liberty, and congregational autonomy.
Methodists Spread rapidly through the circuit-riding preachers of the 18th and 19th centuries, emphasizing holiness and personal conversion.
Presbyterians Established by Scottish and Irish immigrants, focusing on Reformed theology and governance by elders.
The Church’s Role in Abolishing Slavery
The church was central in the abolitionist movement in the United States, often leading the charge for justice and human dignity based on biblical principles. While not all churches opposed slavery, many denominations and Christian leaders made profound contributions to the abolition of slavery:
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) Among the earliest groups to denounce slavery as incompatible with Christian teaching. Quakers actively worked for abolition, hosting meetings and aiding the Underground Railroad.
James 2:1 (NLT): "My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?"
Methodists and Baptists Many Methodist and Baptist leaders, especially in the North, spoke out against slavery, emphasizing the equality of all people before God.
Galatians 3:28 (NLT): "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Presbyterians and Congregationalists Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches provided theological arguments against slavery, publishing abolitionist literature and supporting anti-slavery organizations.
Isaiah 1:17 (NLT): "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."
African American Churches African American churches became centers of abolitionist activity, combining faith with the fight for freedom and justice. Leaders like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were deeply influenced by their faith.
Exodus 3:7–8 (NLT): "Then the Lord told him, 'I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians.'"
Underground Railroad Many Christians, both black and white, participated in the Underground Railroad, risking their lives to help enslaved individuals find freedom. Churches often served as safe havens.
Proverbs 31:8–9 (NLT): "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice."
Modern Movements & Evangelicalism
· Azusa Street Revival (1906–1915) Located in Los Angeles, California, this revival marked the birth of modern Pentecostalism. Differed from traditional denominations by emphasizing the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
The Jesus Movement (1960s–1970s) Originated among hippies in California, emphasizing personal conversion, communal living, and contemporary worship styles. Distinguished itself from traditional church structures by focusing on simplicity and relational discipleship.
Calvary Chapel: Founded by Chuck Smith, blended expository teaching with a relaxed worship style, distinguishing itself from both formal denominations and the charismatic excesses of some Pentecostal groups.
Pentecostalism Emerged later but had significant growth, especially in the South and Midwest, emphasizing Spirit-filled worship and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Three Debates Among Evangelicals:
1. Calvinism and Arminianism Debate Calvin emphasized predestination, the belief that God sovereignly chooses who will be saved. Arminius, a Dutch theologian, emphasized free will, arguing that individuals can choose to accept or reject salvation.
Romans 9:16 (NLT): "So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it."
1 Timothy 2:3–4 (NLT): "This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth."
2. Cessationism and Continuationism Debate
The debate between cessationism and continuationism centers on whether miraculous spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues, continue to operate in the church today.
Cessationism holds that these miraculous gifts ceased with the apostolic age. Proponents argue that such gifts were intended to authenticate the apostles' ministry and the foundational period of the church. Once the New Testament was completed and the apostles passed away, the need for these signs diminished. For instance, theologian B.B. Warfield asserted that the gifts ceased with the death of the last apostle, as only apostles could confer these gifts upon others.
Continuationism, on the other hand, maintains that all spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament are still active and should be sought after by believers today.
Continuationists believe that there is no biblical basis for the cessation of these gifts and that they are essential for the edification and mission of the church. They often reference passages like 1 Corinthians 12, which describes a variety of spiritual gifts meant for the common good.
1 Corinthians 14:1, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to "Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy."
3. Church Government Debate Specifically congregational or biblical
Ephesians 4:11-13 "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."
Three types of gifts in scripture: Gifts of the Father (intrinsic to each individual), Gifts of the Holy Spirit (supernatural gifts given in measure by God for the spreading of the Gospel) and Gifts Given to some to lead the church. Period.
Hebrews 13:17 (NLT) "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God."
1 Peter 5:1-4, the Apostle Peter exhorts elders to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight... being examples to the flock."
As we close, It is important to talk about the difference between Doctrinal and Tertiary Issues
The Bible has a lot to say about doctrine, next Wednesday we will discuss heresies and cults. A heresy is a departure from sound biblical doctrine:
In the New Testament, believers are cautioned to remain vigilant against those who might lead them astray. Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24:4 (NLT): "Don't let anyone mislead you." Similarly, the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:26 (NLT): "I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray." These passages emphasize the importance of discernment and staying rooted in the truth of God's Word to avoid deception.
The Bible provides numerous warnings about false teachers, emphasizing the importance of discernment and adherence to sound doctrine. In 1 Timothy 4:1–2 (NLT), Paul cautions that "in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead."
Similarly, 2 Peter 2:1–3 (NLT) warns that "there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In their greed, they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed."
Jesus also advised vigilance, stating in Matthew 7:15–16 (NLT), "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act."
These passages underscore the necessity for believers to remain steadfast in their faith, continually studying Scripture to recognize and avoid false teachings.
Doctrine is simply what you believe about God.
The Bible We believe the entire Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God and should be the supreme and final authority in our lives and faith. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
One God We believe in one God who exists and reveals Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and is the creator of all things seen and unseen. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16; Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
Jesus Christ We believe Jesus Christ is God the son, the second person of the trinity. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles and died on a cross for our sins. He was raised from the dead on the third day in accordance with scriptures, ascended to heaven where he is at the right hand of the Father, and will return again to establish his eternal rule as King over the new heavens and new earth. (John 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 3:1; Matthew 1:18-25; Romans 9:5; Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 2:5-6; Revelation 1:7)
Humanity We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image and likeness of God. We believe life begins at conception and that our gender and sexuality are good gifts from God and likewise determined by God from conception. We believe every life is sacred because God is the originator of every life. We believe that sin separated man from God. Despite sin and separation, we believe all humans, male and female, from every tongue, tribe, and nation, are valuable to God, deserving of love and respect, and should be afforded the opportunity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13-16; Matthew 19:4; Romans 5:12-21)
Salvation We believe that salvation is offered by grace through faith in accordance with repentance and belief in the death, burial, resurrection, and reality of Jesus Christ. His shed blood for our sins and resurrection from the dead means that we can be forgiven and restored into fellowship with God. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; 5:1; 6:23; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 10:9-10)
The Church We believe that the Church is comprised of all those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, and that scripture instructs believers to identify and regularly assemble with other believers to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Bible, fellowship, and works of service. (Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47, 16:5)
The Holy Spirit We believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the god-head, and at the point of salvation the Holy Spirit fills each believer as a down payment of salvation to be a source of strength, assurance, and wisdom for daily life. (1 Corinthians 2:9- 14, 6:19-20; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:4, 38, 39)
The Infilling of the Holy Spirit We believe in a subsequent experience where the Holy Spirit fills a believer to overflowing and is empowered to preach the gospel with boldness and operate in spiritual gifts. (Joel 2:28-19; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 10:38, 44-47)
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit We believe the Holy Spirit has supernatural gifts to distribute to Christians for the instruction and empowering of every believer to demonstrate the power, reality and supremacy of God to the world. All believers are commanded to earnestly desire the gifts of the spirit. These gifts always operate in harmony with the Scriptures and when operated with balance and order, these gifts will bring glory to God and the light of truth to the lost. (1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-40; John 16:13-14; Hebrews 2:4; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7)
Water Baptism We believe all believers should obey Jesus in water baptism, by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe baptism is both a public profession of their faith in Christ as well as a spiritual sacrament where the old man is buried with Christ and a new man is raised to life. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 8:36–38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38, 10:47-48; Romans 6:3-7)
Eternity & Second Coming of Christ We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the bodily resurrection of all people unto judgment. This judgment will bring everlasting life in the new earth for the saved and the punishment of hell and eternal separation from God for the lost. (Acts 1:11; 2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 1:7, 20:4-6, 11-15, 21:1-5)
Communion We believe that the holy ordinance of Communion should be received regularly by believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as a remembrance and celebration of what the broken body and shed blood of Christ accomplished for them on the cross. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)
Biblical Marriage We believe marriage is a covenant relationship between God, one man and one woman, for life for the purposes of mission, companionship, procreation and demonstration of Christ’s relationship with the Church. The Bible limits the expression of human sexuality to a marital relationship between a man and a woman, which is the only legitimate and acceptable sexual relationship according to scripture. All sexual activity apart from this context should be abstained from. (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 7:2)
Tithing & Giving We believe that Christians are called to be generous givers and to trust God with their finances. We believe the starting place for Christian giving is to return the first tenth of their income back to their local church as a way of honoring God and recognizing Him as first in their lives. Returning the tithe comes before the giving of other offerings and is the foundation of biblical stewardship. We believe all tithes and offerings should be given cheerfully, out of obedience and in response to God’s word and God’s goodness towards us. (Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; Leviticus 26:30; Matthew 23:23; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Acts 2:42 (NLT): "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer."
Unity Not Diversity is Our Strength
The diversity of Protestant denominations raises an important question: How can we maintain unity amid differences?
Psalm 133:1 (NLT): "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
Ephesians 4:3 (NLT): "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."
Unity does not mean uniformity but requires love, humility, and a focus on Christ.
Resources
The Better Planner™ is a personal planner designed by Pastor Stephen to help you map out all the different aspects of success and personal growth on your way to better.
The foundation of the Better Planner™ is the practice of defining and reaching your personal vision. The other principles for growth all integrate with and flow out of this essential step. As you develop and record the insights you receive from God and His design for your life, the Better Planner™ will lead you through a step-by-step process to become better.
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