Protestants?
Many claim to be Protestants. I have been wondering recently what Protestants are protesting? The term Protestant was given to those who protested against the Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings. What are Protestants protesting today? They follow the Catholic Church in keeping Sunday. They believe in the future reign of the Antichrist in accord with Catholic teaching designed to take the heat off the Papacy at a time when the Protestant Reformers were pointing to the Papacy as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy concerning the Antichrist. Protestants teach the immortality of the soul in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church which today we realize came from the strong platonic influences when Catholic dogma was being worked out. One of the hallmarks of the Protestant Reformation was sola Scriptura, the Bible alone. The Protestants protested against traditions that had replaced Bible teaching. Today, most “Protestants” are steeped in traditions that can easily be proven as unbiblical, yet they will not listen to any explanation as to their origins. I believe it is high time for another “Protestant Reformation.”
What would the great Reformers say if they came back from their graves to witness their followers? They would probably agree with Jesus that the “blind are leading the blind.” I was once giving a series of public meetings on prophecy. When we came to the subject of the reign of the Antichrist, I showed clearly from the Bible how the Papal system of the dark ages met all the qualifications as laid down in Daniel 7. After that study, one of the students quit coming and called to let me know that she wasn’t continuing. She wanted me to make a home visit so she could tell me why. I visited her and this was her story. She was Lutheran, and when I addressed the subject of the Antichrist, she went to her pastor to ask him where I got such a teaching. He said he didn’t know, but probably I just made it up. As she told me this experience, I remembered a book I had in my car. I excused myself for a moment to get the book. Opening the book, I said, “Here is where I learned the teaching.” Then I read from Martin Luther. She could hardly believe it, yet she never returned to the meetings.
The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus also asked, “When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith in the earth?” Luke 18:8. Faith is a must, and faith is scarce, yet many claim to have it. A close study of Hebrews 11 reveals that those who God considered worthy of holding up as examples of faith were people who obeyed God even when it didn’t seem to make sense. Noah built a huge boat, even though it had never rained and there were no oceans, because God said to do it. Abraham left Ur and went where he knew not, because God said to go. Abraham went to offer his son of promise because God said to offer him. Moses gave up the throne of Egypt and chose to lead a stubborn people through the wilderness because God asked him to. Rahab, the giant harlot, believed some midgets who said their people were going to overthrow Jericho because God was with them. Faith is obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense to us. I have come to believe that most people follow Christ because it makes sense to them. Faith is still a rare commodity.
Obedience and faith are inseparable. Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life,” John 3:36. John said, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him,” I John 2:4. Revelation says of the people who avoid the mark of the beast, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus,” Revelation 14:12. In Acts 5:32, we are told to whom is given the Holy Spirit: “and the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Daniel 7 pinpoints the Church of the dark ages as the power that would “think to change times and laws,” (Daniel 7:25). The Church did indeed change God’s by removing the second commandment and changing the Sabbath commandment to apply to Sunday. Today, “Protestants” follow blindly along, unwilling to do their homework by studying the Bible and history. Yes, they study the Bible, but only to find texts that seem to prop up their weak positions.
Today, we need another “Protestant Reformation.”
Until next week,
Dennis
www.dennispumford.com
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