Protestants, who are they? Protestants are Christians who belong to one of several branches of Christian teaching. Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians adhere to the fundamental principles of Christianity. For example, they all accept the Nicene Creed, adopted by the first Council of the Church in 325.
Symbol of faith.
We believe in One God, Almighty Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible. And in the One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, born of the Father before all ages, the Light from the Light, the true God from the true God, born, not created, the consubstantial Father, through whom everything happened; for us men and for our salvation descended from heaven, and incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and incarnate; crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered, and was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; and who entered Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and again to come with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose kingdom will never end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, life-giving, proceeding from the Father, worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, speaking through the prophets. Into the One, Holy, Ecumenical and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the century to come. Amen.
All of them believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in His Divine essence and the coming Coming. All three streams accept the Bible as the Word of God and agree that repentance and faith are necessary in order to have eternal life and avoid hell. Together, these three groups make up the largest religion in the world - Christianity. Worldwide there are about 400 million Protestants, 1.15 billion Catholics and 240 million Orthodox (Wikipedia encyclopedia).
However, the views of Orthodox Catholics and Protestants on some issues differ. Protestants, or Evangelical Christians, believe the Bible is the most authoritative source of teaching for Christians. Orthodox Christians and Catholics generally believe that church traditions carry a lot of weight and believe that the Bible can only be understood in the context of church tradition. The main differences between these three faiths are rooted in this foundational palette of opinions. However, despite their differences, all Christians agree with the prayer of Christ recorded in the Gospel of John 17:21 "May all be one ...".
Who are Protestants in terms of history?
Strictly speaking, the very term "Protestants" was applied to five German princes who protested against the sanctions adopted by the Catholic Church against Martin Luther - Doctor of Divinity, a monk who, studying the Bible, came to the conclusion that the Church had deviated from the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. Martin Luther urged Christians to return to the Bible (which few people read in the 16th century) and believe as the ancient Christian Church believed. Later, the name "Protestants" was assigned to all followers of the German reformer. And also for all Christians who, in one way or another, proclaimed their fidelity to Scripture and the gospel simplicity, the image of which they saw in the Primary Apostolic Church. Historically, it is believed that Protestantism originated in Europe in the 16th century. It spread throughout the planet, covering different countries and continents, giving rise to outwardly different, but internally uniform Christian confessions and denominations. The "first wave" of Protestantism, which arose in the 16th century, is customary to include Lutherans, Calvinists (Reformed churches). In the 17th and 18th centuries in the movement of Protestants of the "second wave" such movements as Baptists and Methodists appeared. Evangelical Christians (evangelists), the Salvation Army, Pentecostals and charismatics are usually referred to as the "third wave" of Protestantism, which arose in the 19th and 20th centuries. Ardent preachers of ideas that would later be called Protestant were the early church teachers Tertullian and Augustine the Blessed, preachers John Wyclif and Jan Huss (burned at the stake for their beliefs), and many others.
However, this raises another question: Who are Protestants from the point of view of theology?
What do Protestants consider the foundation of their faith? First of all, the Bible is the Books of Holy Scripture. This is the infallible written Word of God. It is uniquely, verbally and completely inspired by the Holy Spirit and is unmistakably captured in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the ultimate and ultimate authority on all matters it touches. In addition to the Bible, Protestants recognize the symbols of faith generally accepted for all Christians: Apostolic, Chalcedonian, Nikeo-Tsargrad, Afanasyevsky. Protestant theology does not contradict the theological decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.
The whole world knows the famous five theses of Protestantism:
1. Sola Scriptura - "Only by Scripture" "We believe, teach, confess that the only and absolute rule and standard according to which all dogmas and all teachers should be evaluated are only the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Covenants."
2. Sola fide - "By faith alone" This is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, regardless of the performance of good deeds and any external sacraments. Protestants do not devalue good deeds; but they deny their significance as a source or condition for the salvation of the soul, considering them inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.
3. Sola gratia - "Only by grace" This is the doctrine that salvation is grace, ie. a good gift from God to man. A person cannot deserve salvation or somehow participate in his salvation. Although man accepts God's salvation by faith, all the glory for man's salvation is to be given to God alone.
4. Solus Christus - "Only Christ" From the point of view of Protestants, Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and salvation is possible only through faith in Him. Protestants traditionally deny the mediation of the Virgin Mary and other saints in the work of salvation, and they also teach that the church hierarchy cannot be a mediator between God and people. All believers are the "Universal Priesthood" and are equal in rights and in an equal position before God.
5. Soli Deo Gloria - "Glory to God alone" This is the doctrine that a person should honor and bow only to God, since salvation is granted only and solely through His will and actions. No person has the right to equal glory and reverence with God.
And although Protestant theology is not limited to this, nevertheless, it is customary to distinguish Protestants from among other Christians on these grounds.
What are Protestants protesting against?
The word “Protestant” has come into use since the days of Martin Luther, when German princes protested at a church council in Spirea in 1529 against formal worship, the sale of indulgences, and the purchase of church offices. Now all evangelical-Christian organizations are called Protestant. Contemporary Protestants in Russia are protesting against abortion, alcoholism, drug addiction - against sin and against formal religion.
How Do Protestants Interpret the Bible?
Protestants believe that every Christian is responsible for the quality of his spiritual life. Everyone can understand the basic doctrines of the Bible for themselves with God's help by meditating on Scripture and studying it carefully.
What do Protestants think of church traditions?
Protestants have nothing against church traditions, except when these traditions contradict Scripture. They substantiate this primarily by the remarks of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark 7: 8 "For you, having forsaken the commandment of God, hold on to the tradition of man ..." in this way, you have eliminated the commandment of God by your tradition. "
Why don't most Protestants baptize babies?
Protestants believe that all children go to heaven after death. The Bible says that children do not know good and evil. Romans 5:13 says: "... But sin is not imputed when there is no law." The Bible does not describe a single case of infant baptism.
Why are Protestants baptized in water again when they become adults?
In Acts 19: 1-7, the Apostle Paul baptized 12 people who had been baptized before. Many Protestants believe that baptism without repentance is meaningless, and since a baby cannot repent because of his ignorance of good and evil, adults are often advised to be baptized again after they repent. Most Protestants follow biblical examples in which baptism occurs after repentance, and not vice versa (Matthew 3: 6; Mark 1: 5, 16:16; Luke 3: 7-8; Acts 2: 38,41,8 : 12.16: 15.33.18: 8.19: 5.22: 16).
Why are there no icons in the churches and homes of Protestants?
Protestants believe that the ten commandments (Exodus 20: 4) prohibit the use of images for worship: "Do not make yourself an idol and any image of what is in heaven above, and what is on the earth below, and what is in the water below the earth." In the Book of Leviticus (26: 1) it is written: “Do not make for yourself idols and statues, and do not put pillars in your place, and do not put stones with images on your land to bow before them; for I am the Lord your God. " In Deuteronomy 4: 15-16, the Lord says: "Hold firmly in your hands that you did not see any image on that day when the Lord spoke to you ... so that you do not become corrupted and make yourself images, images of some idol ..." ... Therefore, Protestants do not use images for worship for fear that some people may worship this image instead of God.
Why don't Protestants pray to saints or the Virgin Mary?
Protestants say there are no examples in Scripture of anyone praying to Mary or saints. They believe that the Bible forbids addressing prayers to people who have died, even to Christians in Paradise. They base this on Deuteronomy 18: 10-12, which says, "You must not be with you ... asking the dead." “Inquiring the dead” means one who communicates with the dead (from the Hebrew “darash” - to consult, find out, seek or pray to the dead). God condemned Saul for coming into contact with Saint Samuel after his death (1 Chronicles 10: 13-14). 1 Timothy 2: 5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ."
Who are Protestants in terms of public opinion?
Soviet religious scholars give Protestantism very calm and not flashy assessments: “Protestantism is one of the three, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, the main directions of Christianity. It is a collection of numerous independent Churches and denominations associated by their origin with the Reformation ... Sharing common Christian ideas about the existence of God, His trinity, the immortality of the soul, Protestantism put forward three new principles: salvation by personal faith, priesthood for believers, the exclusive authority of the Bible as the only source of doctrine ". Encyclopedia "Krugosvet" gives Protestantism the following definition: "Protestantism, a religious movement that includes all those Western denominations that do not go beyond the Christian tradition." The encyclopedic dictionary "History of the Fatherland from Ancient Times to the Present Day" calls Protestantism one of the main directions in Christianity. People who are not alien to Russian Christian spirituality are even inclined to speak about Protestantism in a very way. A.S. Pushkin in a letter to P.Ya. Chaadaev wrote that the unity of the Christian Church is in Christ and that is exactly how Protestants believe! Pushkin recognized Protestantism as a truly Christian Church. F.I. Tyutchev highly appreciated Protestantism, which is reflected in his poem "I love Lutherans," where the poet admires the faith that leads people to God and encourages prayer.
Protestantism, like any religious movement, is very diverse. Protestantism is the faith of the composers I.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, writers D. Dafoe, K.S. Lewis, scientists I. Newton and R. Boyle, religious leaders M. Luther and J. Calvin, fighter for human rights M.L. King and the first laureate of the competition. Tchaikovsky Van Cliburn. And our contemporary, leading researcher at IMEMO RAN, doctor of sciences, orientalist I.V. Podberezsky writes: "Protestant Russia - what nonsense?" - ironically asked at the end of the last - the beginning of this century, in the midst of the persecution of Protestants. And then the answer was given, the essence of which can be repeated now: "Protestant Russia is a God-fearing Russia, hard-working, non-drinking, not lying and not stealing." And this is not nonsense at all. And really, it’s worth getting to know her better. ” And although public opinion is not a criterion of truth, as well as the opinion of the majority (there was a time in human history when the majority considered the Earth flat, but this did not change the truth about the sphericity of our planet), nevertheless, many Russians find Protestantism a positive phenomenon in Russian spiritual life.
And, although people's opinion is very interesting and important, surely many want to know: Who are Protestants from the point of view of God?
Since God has left us His opinion in the Bible, then we can dare and say that God likes people who protest! But they are not protesting in the general sense of the word ... Their protest is not a manifestation of a quarrelsome character. It is directed against sin, pride, sectarian disgust, ignorance, religious obscurantism. The early Christians were called "the world's troublemakers" because they dared to examine Scripture and prove their faith on the basis of Scripture. And the troublemakers are rebels, Protestants. The Apostle Paul believed that the Cross of Christ is a scandal for the unbelieving world. The unbelieving world is put in an awkward position, God, the very thought of existence, Which makes the life of millions of sinners uncomfortable, suddenly showed his love for this world ...
God became Man and died for their sins on the cross, and then rose again and conquered sin and death. God suddenly clearly showed His Love for them. Love is like the first downpour of spring, ready to fall on the heads of the inhabitants, washing away sins, carrying along with it garbage and fragments of a broken and worthless life.
Yes, Protestants are people who are against. Against a sluggish religious life, against evil deeds, against sin, against a life contrary to Scripture! Protestants cannot imagine life without faithfulness to Christ, without a heart flaming in prayer! They protest against an empty life without meaning and God!
___ Maybe it's time for all of us to join this protest? ____
Protestantism is one of the main trends in Christianity, along with Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Broke away from Catholicism during the Reformation of the 16th century. It unites many independent movements of churches and sects. Protestantism is characterized by the absence of a principled opposition of the clergy to the laity, the rejection of the complex church hierarchy, the simplified cult, the absence of monasticism, celibacy; in Protestantism there is no cult of the Virgin, saints, angels, icons, the number of sacraments is reduced to two (baptism and communion). The main source of doctrine is Scripture. In the XIX-XX centuries. some areas of Protestantism are characterized by the desire to give a rationalistic interpretation of the Bible, the preaching of religion without God (that is, only as a moral teaching). Protestant churches play a major role in the ecumenical movement. Protestantism is spread mainly in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Latvia, Estonia. The total number of adherents of Protestantism is about 325 million people. The organizational forms of modern Protestantism are very diverse - from the church as a state institution (in Sweden, for example) to the almost complete absence of any unifying organization (for example, among the Quakers); from large confessional (for example, the World Union of Baptists) and even interfaith associations, the ecumenical movement) to small isolated sects.
Lutheranism is the largest branch of Protestantism. Founded by Martin Luther in the 16th century. In Lutheranism, the main tenets of Protestantism were first formulated, but Lutheranism implemented them (especially in the church organization) less consistently than Calvinism.
Calvinism is one of the three main branches of Protestantism (along with Lutheranism and Anglicanism), which adopted the ideas of John Calvin. From Geneva, Calvinism spread to France (Huguenots), the Netherlands, Scotland, and England (Puritans). The Dutch (16th century) and English (17th century) revolutions took place under the influence of Calvinism. For Calvinism, the following are especially characteristic: the recognition of only Scripture, the exceptional significance of the doctrine of predestination (the predetermination of a person's life, his salvation or condemnation emanating from God's will; success in professional activity confirms his chosenness), denial of the need for help from the clergy in saving people, simplification of church rituals. Contemporary Calvinists - Calvinists, Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational
Anglicanism is one of the main directions of Protestantism, in the dogma of which the provisions of Protestantism about salvation by personal faith and Catholicism about the saving power of the church are combined. In terms of cult and organizational principles, the Anglican Church is close to the Catholic Church, it is a state one in Great Britain. The head of the Church of England is the king, who appoints bishops. The Primate of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury. A significant proportion of the bishops are members of the House of Lords.
Old Catholicism - a trend that broke away from Catholicism after the Vatican Council 1869-1870; originated in Germany on the basis of the denial of the dogma of papal infallibility. The creed of the Old Catholics occupies an intermediate position between Catholicism and Protestantism. Preserving a number of aspects of the Catholic cult, the Old Catholics do not recognize the supremacy of the Pope, reject the veneration of icons, church relics, obligatory celibacy for the clergy, etc. In this, the Old Catholics are especially close to the Anglicans.
The Mennonites are a Christian sect. They preach humility, rejection of violence, believe in the second coming of Christ. Baptism of people in adulthood is characteristic of Mennonites. Church hierarchy is denied, communities are independently governed.
Baptism is one of the branches of Protestantism. Baptists have simplified worship and church organization. Not recognizing the sacraments, they consider baptism and communion as church rites that do not have a mystical meaning. Baptism is performed on adults.
Quakers are a Protestant sect that arose in England in the 17th century. They deny the institution of priests, church sacraments, external rituals. They believe in the constant improvement and development of the spiritual nature of man. They demand unconditional honesty in relation to each other, compulsory labor, strict adherence to marriage relations, respect for elders, etc. They preach pacifism and widely practice charity.
Methodism is one of the major church formations within Protestantism. The Methodist Church emerged in the 18th century, separating from the Church of England, demanding consistent, methodical observance of religious precepts. Methodists preach religious humility, patience.
The Salvation Army is an international religious and philanthropic organization created in 1865 and reorganized in 1878 on a military model by the Methodist preacher W. Boots, who became its first general, for religious propaganda among the poorest segments of the population of London. Now I operate in many countries of the world. Having emerged on the basis of Methodism, The Salvation Army shares the basic tenets of its doctrine, and especially the doctrine of salvation. Baptism and the sacrament are not considered prerequisites for achieving eternal bliss. It is believed that one should take care not only about the salvation of the soul and the otherworldly existence, but also about making life easier for the lower strata of society. To this end, public canteens with free meals have been created, brigades to help alcoholics, prisoners, campaigns against prostitution, etc.
Adventists - a Protestant church, arose in the 30s. XIX century. They preach the proximity of the second coming of Christ and the coming on Earth of the "millennial kingdom of God." The most numerous are Seventh-day Adventists.
The Jehovists, or the Society of Jehovah's Witnesses * is a Protestant sect founded in 1872 in the United States. Jehovah's Witnesses recognize Jehovah as one God, and Jesus Christ as a product of Jehovah and the doer of his will; reject the basic Christian dogmas (the trinity of God, the immortality of the soul, etc.). According to the views of Jehovah's Witnesses, the earthly world is the kingdom of Satan, in the close battle (Armageddon) between him and Jehovah, mankind will perish, with the exception of the Jehovists themselves, the kingdom of God will be established on earth.
The Mormons, or Latter-day Saints, are a religious sect founded in the United States in the first half of the 19th century. The main source of the doctrine - the Book of Mormon ”(allegedly a record of the mysterious writings of the Israeli prophet Mormon, who migrated to America) - includes the provisions of Judaism, Christianity and other religions. According to Mormons, their teaching is designed to give a person happiness both in earthly and in the afterlife. The world and development are subject to the "law of progress", and life strives for greater perfection. This also applies to God. Man is “God in the bud”. The Fall was programmed by God. The essence of evil, sin is not disobedience to God, but rebellion against the law of progress. " Mormons expect the imminent end of the world, the final battle with Satan. See themselves as the Chosen People of Israel. They carry out missionary work all over the world, but they are hostile to other churches and the ecumenical movement.
Christian Science is a Protestant religious organization. Its main principles are that healing people from all kinds of diseases is possible only with the help of religious faith. At the same time, medical methods of treatment are categorically rejected, since they allegedly interfere with a correct understanding of the nature of human diseases, their suffering and even death. The cause of all evil is the widespread misconception about the existence of matter as an objective reality. It is enough to abandon this delusion, resort to prayer and faith in order to be cured of any ailment.
Pentecostals are a Protestant movement, the basis of the doctrine of which is the myth of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles on the 50th day after the ascension of Christ, as a result of which they received the "gift of prophecy" - "speaking in foreign languages." In the doctrine of Pentecostalism, the preaching of the nearness of the second coming, the end of the world and the thousand-year reign of Christ occupies an important place. Pentecostals observe the rituals of baptism and the bread-maker, and attach great importance to mystical communion with God. Pentecostalism is characterized by a mystical atmosphere of prayers, belief in appearances and visions, the cult of prophets and prophetesses.
What are we talking about? Protestantism is one of the three main trends in Christianity, which arose in the 16th century. during the Reformation.
How many Protestants? Protestantism ranks second among the world movements of Christianity in terms of the number of followers after Catholics (over 600 million people; according to some sources - about 800 million people). In 92 countries, Protestantism is the largest Christian denomination, in 49 of them Protestants make up the majority of the population. In Russia, Protestants make up about 1% of the population (1.5 million people).
Where did the term come from? The term "Protestants" originated in Germany at the Speyer Reichstag of 1529, at which it was proposed to cancel the decision of the previous Reichstag that the princes, etc. imperial cities have the right to choose their religion prior to the convening of an all-German council. Supporters of the Reformation did not agree with this and, having drawn up a protest document, left the meeting. Those who signed the protest began to be called Protestants. Subsequently, this term began to be applied to all followers of the Reformation.
What do Protestants believe? At the heart of Protestantism are five "only":
a person is saved only by faith ("only by faith", sola fide)
one should believe in only one Mediator between God and man - Christ ("only Christ", solus Christus);
man gains faith in Him only through the mercy of God (“only grace,” sola gratia);
a person does good deeds only by the mercy of God and only for God, therefore all glory must belong to Him ("only glory to God", soli Deo gloria);
Who are Protestants? Protestantism, having arisen as a combination of various trends, has never been united. Its largest areas include Lutheranism, Calvinism and Anglicanism, which are commonly called "classical" Protestantism or the first wave of the Reformation. Other independent denominations that arose in the 17th-19th centuries are associated with them. (second wave of the Reformation), which differ from each other in dogma, cult and organization: Baptists, Quakers, Mennonites, Methodists, Adventists, etc. Pentecostalism, which appeared in the twentieth century, is attributed to the third wave of the Reformation.
And who is not? Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Last Days (Mormons), the Society for Christian Science, the Church of Christ (Boston Movement), which are genetically related to Protestantism, but in their ideological development have gone far beyond its framework (as well as Christianity in general), are usually referred to as new religious movements.
How to deal with confessions, when who arose and what they believe in? Let us consider the history of Protestantism one by one. Speaking in 1517 in Wittenberg with 95 theses against indulgences, Luther initiated the process of the Reformation and a new denomination - Lutheranism. Later, Luther's doctrine of justification by faith, which became the cornerstone of Protestantism in general, caused a wide resonance in society and condemnation from the papacy; in 1521 papal bull Luther was excommunicated. Luther's special attitude to Scripture (his translation of the Bible into German became a great contribution to culture), especially to the New Testament texts as the main authority, caused his followers to be called Evangelical Christians (later this term became synonymous with the word "Lutherans").
The second major center of the Reformation arose in Switzerland among the followers of the Zurich priest Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli's doctrine had similarities with Lutheranism - reliance on Scripture, sharp criticism of scholastic theology, the principles of "justification by faith" and "universal priesthood" (denial of the ordained priesthood as a mediator for human salvation, priesthood of all believers). The main difference was a more rationalistic interpretation of the Eucharist and a more consistent criticism of church rites. From the middle of the 1530s. the development of reformation ideas and their implementation in Switzerland are associated with the name of Jean Calvin and his activities in Geneva. The followers of Calvin and Zwingli came to be called Calvinists. The main provisions of Calvin's teaching are the teaching of predestination to salvation and the inextricable connection between the state and the church.
The third major trend of Protestantism, Anglicanism, emerged during the reformational reforms in the Church of England, initiated by King Henry VIII. Parliament in 1529-1536 adopted a number of documents that formed a national church independent from Rome, subordinate to the king in 1534. The main ideologist of the English Reformation was Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. Carrying out the Reformation "from above", the compromise nature of the reforms (a combination of the positions of the Catholic Church and Calvin), the preservation of the church hierarchy with the apostolic succession of ordinations make Anglicanism the most moderate Protestant trend. Anglicanism is ideologically divided into the so-called. the high church (it advocates the preservation of pre-Reformation worship), the low church (close to the Calvinists), and the broad church (advocates Christian unity and distances itself from doctrinal controversy). The Anglican Church is called Episcopal, usually outside the UK.
From the second half of the XVI century. divergences in Protestant theory and practice led to the formation of various trends in the reformation movement. In Calvinism, there was a division according to the principle of the organization of communities into Presbyterians (governed by an elective consistory headed by a presbyter) and Congregationalists (who proclaimed complete autonomy of the communities). Communities of continental European origin, mainly French, Dutch and Swiss, began to be called Reformed. Reformed churches generally recognize centralized government, and some of them, unlike Presbyterians and Congregationalists, have bishops. Puritans appeared in England who advocated the cleansing of the Church of England from the Catholic heritage in the spirit of Calvin's ideas. The Spanish theologian theologian Miguel Servetus, who polemicized with Calvin, became one of the first preachers of Unitarianism, a doctrine that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the God-manhood of Jesus Christ. In the second half of the XVI century. Unitarianism spread to Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, in the 17th century. - in England, in the XIX century. - in the USA.
The Reformation found wide support from all layers of European society, representatives of the lower classes were given the opportunity to express social protest with an appeal to the biblical commandments. In Germany and Zurich, Switzerland, the Anabaptists began an active preaching about the establishment of social justice in society, whose doctrinal features were the requirement to baptize only adults and not take up arms. Subjected to severe persecution from both Catholics and "classical" Protestants, the Anabaptists fled to Holland, England, Czech Republic, Moravia (Hutterites), and later to North America. Some of the Anabaptists merged with the followers of the so-called. Moravian Church (followers of Jan Hus, a preacher who lived in the 15th century) and in the 18th century. formed the Herngutor community. The most famous Anabaptist denomination is Mennonism (1530), named after its founder, the Dutch priest Menno Simons, whose followers emigrated as a sign of social protest. From the Mennonites in the second half of the 17th century. split off the Amish. Influenced by the ideas of the Anabaptists and Mennonites in the middle of the 17th century. in England, Quakerism appeared, characterized by the doctrine of "inner light", unusual for the 17th century. social ethics (denial of social hierarchy, slavery, torture, capital punishment, uncompromising pacifism, religious tolerance).
For Protestant theology of the 17th – 18th centuries. characteristic is the idea that the church should consist only of consciously converted people who have experienced a personal encounter with Christ and active repentance. In "classical" Protestantism, this idea was expressed by the pietists (from the word pietas - "piety") in Lutheranism and the Arminians (who proclaimed free will) in Calvinism. At the end of the 17th century. in Germany, a closed community of dunkers emerged from the Pietists into a separate denomination.
In 1609 in Holland, a group of English Puritans formed a community of followers of John Smith - Baptists, who borrowed the Anabaptist teaching on adult baptism. Subsequently, the Baptists were divided into "general" and "private". Baptism emerged in North America in 1639 and is now the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. The followers of Baptism are famous preachers and writers: Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892), Martin Luther King, Billy Graham (b. 1918).
The main feature of Methodism, which arose from Anglicanism in Great Britain at the beginning. XVIII century, is the doctrine of "sanctification": a person's free conversion to Christ takes place in two stages: first, God sanctifies a person with the righteousness of Christ ("justifying grace"), then gives him the gift of holiness ("sanctifying grace"). Methodism quickly spread, primarily in the United States and in English-speaking countries, thanks to peculiar forms of preaching - mass outdoor worship services, the Institute of Itinerant Preachers, home groups, and the annual conferences of all ministers. In 1865, the Salvation Army, an international charitable organization, appeared in Great Britain on the basis of Methodism. The Church of the Nazarene (1895) and the Wesleyan Church (1968) also emerged from Methodism, reproaching Methodism for excessive doctrinal liberalism.
Reformation processes also affected Orthodox Russia. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. among the Russians appeared the so-called. spiritual Christianity - Christovers (Khlysty), Dukhobors, Molokans, whose creed was partly similar to the Protestant one (in particular, the denial of icons, the veneration of saints, the rejection of rituals, etc.).
Denomination of the Plymouth Brothers (Darbists), which appeared in Great Britain in the 1820s. from Anglicanism, adheres to the doctrine according to which the history of mankind is divided into sections. periods, in each of which the law of God characteristic of it (dispensationalism) operates. In the 1840s. there was a split into "open" and "closed" darbists.
Adventism emerged in the 1830s. in the USA based on the interpretation of the biblical texts about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the possibility of its accurate calculation. In 1863, the organization of the largest movement in Adventism, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was created. During World War I, Reform Adventists emerged, dissatisfied with the Adventists' partial rejection of pacifism. Seventh-day Adventists are distinguished by denying the immortality of the soul and eternal torment (sinners will simply be destroyed during the Last Judgment), honoring the Sabbath as the "seventh day" of serving God, recognizing the restoration of the gift of prophecy and visions through the founder of the church, Ellen White, as well as a number of food prohibitions and prescriptions healthy lifestyle ("health reform").
A distinctive feature of the New Apostolic Church, which arose in the second half of the 19th century. in the UK based on the so-called communities. Irvingians (a community that broke away from the Presbyterians) is the cult of "apostles" - the leaders of the church, whose word is the same doctrinal authority as the Bible.
In the XIX century. there was a tendency towards the unification of Protestant churches. In the English-speaking world, this was facilitated by the so-called. Revivalism is a movement that called Christians to repentance and personal conversion. The result was the emergence of the Disciples of Christ (Church of Christ), the so-called. Evangelicals and United Churches. Disciples of Christ (Church of Christ) appeared in the early 1830s. in the USA from Presbyterianism. This denomination included Protestants who proclaimed a complete rejection of any dogmas, symbols and regulations not specified in the New Testament. The disciples of Christ allow dissent even on such important issues as the Trinity, believing that this and many other dogmas are not accurately explained in Scripture. Evangelicals who appeared in the United States in the 19th century preach non-denominational personal conversion, “being born again” with a special action of God changing the heart of the believer, faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and active missionary work. The conservative wing of the evangelicals created dispensationalism, the liberal wing - social evangelism (changing social reality in order to bring it closer to the Kingdom of God). On the basis of evangelicalism, fundamentalism arose (named after a series of brochures entitled Fundamentalia, published in 1910–1915). Fundamentalists insisted on the absolute authenticity of common Christian dogmas and a literalist reading of the Bible. T. n. Neo-evangelicalism emerged in the 1940s, bringing together those who criticized liberal evangelicals for moral relativism and fundamentalism for closeness, and advocated active preaching by modern means. Neo-evangelicalism gave birth to the so-called. megachurches - church organizations in which there is a "center" (the main church, led by a leader, which develops the style of worship and preaching, manuals for Sunday schools and social work, etc.) and "branches" (numerous church communities located in direct and strict subordination to the "center").
In the middle of XIX – early. XX centuries. the so-called united churches as a result of the merger of various Protestant denominations - Lutherans, Anglicans, Reformed, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, etc. In most cases, the merger was voluntary, sometimes imposed by the state. The unifying basis of these churches is their historical involvement in the Reformation and doctrinal closeness. At the end of the XIX century. appeared so-called. free churches - Protestant communities that exist independently of the state Protestant churches.
The development of the theology of Protestantism in the XX century. characterized by the ideas that the mystical gifts of the ancient church should return to the church and that Christianity needs to be adapted to non-European cultures. So, at the beginning of the XX century. from the Methodist group "The Holiness Movement" Pentecostalism was formed, which is characterized by an exclusive role in the church of the Holy Spirit, the gift of glossolalia (uttering specific sounds reminiscent of unknown languages during prayer), etc. In the 1960s and 70s. Pentecostalism received a new impetus for development due to representatives of Christian denominations using Pentecostal practices. Under the influence of the so-called. Pentecostalism in the XX century. original Asian and African churches arose, distinguished by a combination of Christian and pagan practices.
How the secessions happened
The Orthodox Church has kept intact the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles. But the Lord Himself warned His disciples that from among those who would be with them, people would appear who would want to distort the truth and muddy it with their inventions: Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves(Matthew 7, 15).
And the apostles also warned about this. For example, the apostle Peter wrote: you will have false teachers who will introduce harmful heresies and, rejecting the Lord who redeemed them, will bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their debauchery, and through them the path of truth will be reproached ... Leaving the straight path, they lost their way ... the darkness of eternal darkness is prepared for them(2 Pet. 2, 1-2, 15, 17).
Heresy is understood as a lie that a person follows deliberately. The path that Jesus Christ opened requires from a person selflessness and efforts in order to show whether he really entered this path with a firm intention and out of love for the truth. It is not enough just to call yourself a Christian; you have to prove by your deeds, words and thoughts, with your whole life that you are a Christian. The one who loves the truth, for its sake, is ready to abandon all lies in his thoughts and his life, so that the truth will enter into him, purify and sanctify.
But not everyone embarks on this path with pure intentions. And so the subsequent life in the Church reveals their unfit mood. And those who love themselves more than God fall away from the Church.
There is a sin of deed - when a person by deed violates the commandments of God, and there is a sin of the mind - when a person prefers his lie to Divine truth. The second is called heresy. And among those who called themselves Christians at different times, there were both people devoted to the sin of an act, and people devoted to the sin of the mind. He and the other person opposes God. That and the other person, if he made a firm choice in favor of sin, cannot remain in the Church, and falls away from it. Thus, throughout history, all who chose to sin left the Orthodox Church.
The Apostle John spoke of them: They went out from us, but they were not ours: for if they were ours, they would have remained with us; but they went out, and through that it was revealed that not all of our(1In. 2 , 19).
Their fate is unenviable, for the Scriptures say that the betrayers heresies ... the kingdom of God will not inherit(Gal. 5 , 20-21).
Precisely because a person is free, he can always make a choice and use freedom either for good, choosing the path to God, or for evil, choosing sin. This is the reason why false teachers arose and those who believed them more than Christ and His Church.
When heretics appeared, bringing lies, the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church began to explain to them their errors and called for them to abandon fiction and turn to the truth. Some, convinced by their words, corrected themselves, but not all. And about those who persisted in lies, the Church pronounced its judgment, testifying that they are not true followers of Christ and members of the community of the faithful founded by Him. This is how the apostolic council was fulfilled: After the first and second admonition of the heretic, turn away, knowing that he is corrupted and sins, being self-condemned(Tit. 3 , 10-11).
There have been many such people in history. The most widespread and numerous of the communities founded by them that have survived to this day are the Monophysite Eastern Churches (they arose in the 5th century), the Roman Catholic Church (which fell away from the Ecumenical Orthodox Church in the 11th century) and Churches calling themselves Protestant. Today we will consider what is the difference between the path of Protestantism and the path of the Orthodox Church.
Protestantism
If a branch breaks off from the tree, then, having lost contact with the vital juices, it will inevitably begin to dry out, lose its leaves, become fragile and easily break at the first onslaught.
The same can be seen in the life of all communities that have separated from the Orthodox Church. Just as a broken-off branch cannot keep the leaves on itself, so those who separate from genuine church unity can no longer preserve their inner unity. This is because, having left God's family, they lose touch with the life-giving and saving power of the Holy Spirit, and that sinful desire to resist the truth and put themselves above others, which led them to fall away from the Church, continues to act among the fallen ones themselves, turning already against them and leading to ever new internal divisions.
So, in the 11th century, the Local Roman Church separated from the Orthodox Church, and at the beginning of the 16th century, a significant part of the people separated from it, following the ideas of the former Catholic priest Luther and his associates. They formed their communities, which began to be considered the "Church". This movement is collectively called Protestants, and their very secession is called the Reformation.
In turn, the Protestants also did not retain their inner unity, but they began to divide even more into different trends and directions, each of which claimed that it was precisely this Church of Jesus Christ. They continue to share to this day, and now there are more than twenty thousand of them in the world.
Each of their directions has its own peculiarities of doctrine, which would take a long time to describe, and here we will confine ourselves to analyzing only the main features that are characteristic of all Protestant nominations and which distinguish them from the Orthodox Church.
The main reason for the emergence of Protestantism was the protest against the teachings and religious practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
As St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) notes, indeed, “many delusions have crept into the Church of Rome. Luther would have done well if, rejecting the errors of the Latins, he replaced these errors with the true teaching of the Holy Church of Christ; but he replaced them with his own delusions; some of the errors of Rome, very important, he fully followed, and some strengthened. " “The Protestants rebelled against the ugly power and divinity of the popes; but since they acted on the prompting of passions, drowning in debauchery, and not with the direct aim of striving for the holy Truth, they did not prove worthy to see it. "
They abandoned the mistaken idea that the Pope is the head of the Church, but retained the Catholic fallacy that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son.
Scripture
The Protestants formulated the principle: "only Scripture", it means that they only recognize the authority of the Bible, and they reject the Holy Tradition of the Church.
And in this they contradict themselves, because the Holy Scripture itself indicates the need to honor the Holy Tradition coming from the apostles: stand up and keep the traditions that you have been taught either by our word or message(2 Thess. 2 , 15), - writes the Apostle Paul.
If a person writes a text and distributes it to different people, and then asks to explain how they understood it, then it will probably be discovered that someone understood the text correctly, and someone incorrectly, having put their meaning in these words. It is known that any text can have different versions of understanding. They can be correct or they can be wrong. The same is with the text of Holy Scripture, if you tear it away from Holy Tradition. Indeed, Protestants think that you need to understand Scripture the way you want to. But this approach cannot help to find the truth.
Here is how Saint Nicholas of Japan wrote about this: “Sometimes Japanese Protestants come to me, asking me to explain a passage of the Holy Scriptures. “But you have your own missionary teachers - ask them,” I say to them. “What do they answer?” - "We asked them, they say: understand as you know; but I need to know the true thought of God, and not my personal opinion" ... It's not so with us, everything is bright and reliable, clear and solid - because we are apart from the Sacred We also accept Holy Tradition, and Holy Tradition is a living, unbroken voice ... of our Church from the time of Christ and His Apostles to this day, which will remain until the end of the world. It is on him that the whole of Holy Scripture is affirmed. "
The apostle Peter himself testifies that no prophecy in Scripture can be resolved by oneself, for the prophecy was never uttered by the will of man, but the holy men of God spoke it, being moved by the Holy Spirit(2 Pet. 1 , 20-21). Accordingly, only the holy fathers, moved by the same Holy Spirit, can reveal to a person the true understanding of the Word of God.
Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition form one inseparable whole, and this was the case from the very beginning.
Not in writing, but orally, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles how to understand the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament (Luke 24, 27), and they orally taught this to the first Orthodox Christians. Protestants want to imitate the early apostolic communities in their organization, but in the early years the early Christians did not have a New Testament scripture at all, and everything was passed from mouth to mouth, like tradition.
The Bible was given by God for the Orthodox Church, it was in accordance with Holy Tradition that the Orthodox Church at its Councils approved the composition of the Bible, it was the Orthodox Church that, long before the appearance of Protestants, lovingly preserved Holy Scripture in its communities.
Protestants, using the Bible, not written by them, not collected by them, not preserved by them, reject the Holy Tradition, and thereby close for themselves the true understanding of the Word of God. Therefore, they often argue about the Bible and often come up with their own, human traditions that have no connection either with the apostles or with the Holy Spirit, and fall, according to the word of the apostle, into empty deception, according to human tradition .., and not according to Christ(Col. 2, 8).
Sacraments
The Protestants rejected the priesthood and sacred rites, not believing that God could act through them, and even if they left something similar, only the name, believing that these are only symbols and reminders of historical events left in the past, and not a holy reality in itself. Instead of bishops and priests, they got themselves pastors who had no connection with the apostles, no succession of grace, as in the Orthodox Church, where on every bishop and priest is the blessing of God, which can be traced from our days to Jesus Christ Himself. The Protestant pastor is only an orator and administrator of the life of the community.
As Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) says, “Luther ... with fervor rejecting the unlawful authority of the popes, he rejected the legitimate one; Holy Scripture testifies that it is impossible to receive remission of sins without confessing them. " Rejected by Protestants and other sacred rites.
Veneration of the Virgin and the saints
The Most Holy Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ through humanity, prophetically said: from now on all generations will please me(OK. 1 , 48). This was said about the true followers of Christ - Orthodox Christians. And indeed, since then and to this day, from generation to generation, all Orthodox Christians venerate the Most Holy Theotokos the Virgin Mary. And Protestants do not want to honor and humor her, contrary to the Scriptures.
The Virgin Mary, like all saints, that is, people who have followed the path of salvation revealed by Christ to the end, have united with God and are always in harmony with Him.
The Mother of God and all the saints became the closest and most beloved friends of God. Even a person, if his beloved friend asks him for something, he will try to fulfill it, and God willingly listens and soon fulfills the requests of the saints. It is known that even during His earthly life, when they asked, He certainly responded. So, for example, at the request of the Mother, He helped the poor newlyweds and performed a miracle at the feast in order to save them from shame (John 2: 1-11).
Scripture says that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for with Him all are alive(Luke 20:38). Therefore, after death, people do not disappear without a trace, but their living souls are contained by God, and those who are holy retain the ability to communicate with Him. And the Scripture directly says that the departed saints turn with requests to God and He hears them (see: Rev. 6, 9-10). Therefore, Orthodox Christians venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints and turn to them with requests that they intercede before God for us. Experience shows that many healings, deliverances from death and other help are received by those who resort to their prayerful intercession.
For example, in 1395 the great Mongolian commander Tamerlane with a huge army went to Russia to capture and destroy its cities, including the capital - Moscow. The Russians did not have enough strength to withstand such an army. The Orthodox inhabitants of Moscow began to earnestly ask the Most Holy Theotokos to pray to God for their salvation from the impending disaster. And so, one morning, Tamerlane unexpectedly announced to his commanders that it was necessary to turn the army and go back. And to questions about the reason, he answered that at night in a dream he saw a great mountain, on top of which a beautiful shining woman stood, who ordered him to leave the Russian lands. And, although Tamerlane was not an Orthodox Christian, he obeyed Her out of fear and respect for the holiness and spiritual strength of the Virgin Mary who appeared.
Prayers for the dead
Those Orthodox Christians who, during their lifetime, could not overcome sin and become saints, after death also do not disappear, but they themselves need our prayers. Therefore, the Orthodox Church prays for the dead, believing that through these prayers the Lord sends relief for the posthumous fate of our deceased loved ones. But Protestants do not want to admit this either, and refuse to pray for the dead.
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The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking about his followers, said: the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days(Mark 2, 20).
The Lord Jesus Christ was taken away from his disciples for the first time on Wednesday, when Judas betrayed Him and the villains seized him to lead him to judgment, and the second time - on Friday, when the villains crucified Him on the Cross. Therefore, in fulfillment of the Savior's words, Orthodox Christians from ancient times have been fasting every Wednesday and Friday, refraining for the Lord's sake from eating animal products, as well as from all kinds of entertainment.
The Lord Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and nights (see: Matthew 4: 2), setting an example for His disciples (see: John 13, 15). And the apostles, as the Bible says, with puddled the Lord and fasted(Acts 13, 2). Therefore, Orthodox Christians, in addition to one-day fasts, also have many-day fasts, of which the main one is Lent.
Protestants deny fasting and fasting days.
Sacred images
Anyone who wants to worship the true God should not worship false gods, which are either invented by people or by those spirits that fell away from God and became evil. These evil spirits often appeared to people in order to mislead them and distract them from worshiping the true God to worship themselves.
However, having ordered to build a temple, the Lord even in these ancient times commanded to make in it images of cherubim (see: Ex. 25, 18-22) - spirits who remained faithful to God and became holy angels. Therefore, from the very first times, Orthodox Christians also made sacred images of saints who were united with the Lord. In the ancient underground catacombs, where in the II-III centuries Christians, persecuted by the pagans, gathered for prayer and rites, they depicted the Virgin Mary, the apostles, stories from the Gospel. These ancient sacred images have survived to this day. In the same way, in modern churches of the Orthodox Church there are the same sacred images, icons. When looking at them, it is easier for a person to ascend his soul to prototype, concentrate your energies on a prayer appeal to him. After such prayers in front of holy icons, God often sends people help, often miraculous healings occur. In particular, Orthodox Christians prayed for deliverance from the army of Tamerlane in 1395 at one of the icons of the Mother of God - Vladimirskaya.
However, Protestants, by their delusion, reject the veneration of sacred images, not understanding the difference between them and between idols. This stems from their erroneous understanding of the Bible, as well as from the corresponding spiritual mood - after all, only those who do not understand the difference between a holy and an evil spirit can fail to notice the fundamental difference between the image of a saint and the image of an evil spirit.
Other differences
Protestants believe that if a person recognizes Jesus Christ as God and Savior, then he already becomes saved and holy, and no special deeds are needed for this. And Orthodox Christians, following the apostle James, believe that faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself(James 2 , 17). And the Savior Himself said: Not everyone who says to Me: "Lord, Lord!" Will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven(Matthew 7, 21). This means, according to Orthodox Christians, that it is necessary to fulfill the commandments that express the will of the Father, and thus by deeds to prove their faith.
Also, Protestants do not have monasticism and monasteries, while the Orthodox have them. Monks earnestly work to fulfill all the commandments of Christ. And besides, they take three additional vows for the sake of God: the vow of celibacy, the vow of non-possession (lack of property) and the vow of obedience to the spiritual leader. In this, they imitate the apostle Paul, who was celibate, not covetous and completely obedient to the Lord. The monastic path is considered higher and more glorious than the path of a layman - a family man, but a layman can also be saved, become a saint. Among the apostles of Christ were married people, namely, the apostles Peter and Philip.
When Saint Nicholas of Japan was asked at the end of the 19th century why, although the Orthodox in Japan have only two missionaries, and the Protestants have six hundred, nevertheless, more Japanese converted to Orthodoxy than to Protestantism, he replied: “It's not about people, but in teaching. If a Japanese, before adopting Christianity, thoroughly studies it and compares it: in the Catholic mission he recognizes Catholicism, in the Protestant mission - Protestantism, we have our teaching, then, as far as I know, he always accepts Orthodoxy.<...>What is this? Yes, that in Orthodoxy Christ's teaching is kept pure and whole; we added nothing to it, as Catholics, did not subtract anything, as Protestants. "
Indeed, Orthodox Christians are convinced, as Saint Theophan the Recluse says, of this immutable truth: “What God has revealed and what He has commanded, nothing should be added or subtracted from that. This applies to Catholics and Protestants. Those add everything, and these subtract ... The Catholics have muddied the apostolic tradition. The Protestants undertook to fix the matter - and they did it even worse. Catholics have one Pope, and Protestants, whatever Protestant, is a Pope. "
Therefore, everyone who is really interested in the truth, and not in their own thoughts, both in past centuries and in our time, will certainly find their way to the Orthodox Church, and often, even without any efforts of Orthodox Christians, God Himself leads such people to the truth. For example, we will give two stories that happened recently, the participants and witnesses of which are still alive.
Case in the USA
In the 1960s, in the American state of California, in the cities of Ben Lomon and Santa Barbara, a large group of young Protestants came to the conclusion that all Protestant Churches they knew could not be a real Church, since they assume that after the apostles the Church of Christ disappeared , and it seems that it was only in the 16th century that Luther and other leaders of Protestantism revived it. But such a thought contradicts the words of Christ that the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church. And then these young people began to study the historical books of Christians, from the earliest antiquity, from the first century to the second, then to the third, and so on, tracing the continuous history of the Church founded by Christ and His apostles. And so, thanks to their many years of research, these young Americans themselves became convinced that such a Church is the Orthodox Church, although none of the Orthodox Christians communicated with them and did not inspire them with such an idea, but the history of Christianity itself has borne witness to this truth for them. And then they came into contact with the Orthodox Church in 1974, all of more than two thousand people accepted Orthodoxy.
Case in Benin
Another story took place in West Africa, in Benin. In this country there were no completely Orthodox Christians, most of the inhabitants were pagans, a little more professed Islam, and some more were Catholics or Protestants.
One of them, a man named Optat Bekhanzin, had a misfortune in 1969: his five-year-old son Eric fell seriously ill and was paralyzed. Bekhanzin took his son to the hospital, but the doctors said that the boy could not be cured. Then the grief-stricken father turned to his Protestant "Church", began to attend prayer meetings in the hope that God would heal his son. But these prayers were fruitless. After that, Optat gathered some close people at his home, persuading them to pray together to Jesus Christ for the healing of Eric. And after their prayer a miracle happened: the boy was healed; this strengthened the small community. Subsequently, all new miraculous healings took place through their prayers to God. Therefore, more and more people moved to them - both Catholics and Protestants.
In 1975, the community decided to form itself as an independent church, and the believers decided to pray hard and fast in order to know the will of God. And at that moment Erik Bekhanzin, who was already eleven years old, received a revelation: when asked how he should call his church community, God answered: "My Church is called the Orthodox Church." This greatly surprised the Beninians, because none of them, including Eric himself, had ever heard of the existence of such a Church, and they did not even know the word "Orthodox". Nevertheless, they called their community “the Orthodox Church of Benin,” and it was only twelve years later that they were able to meet Orthodox Christians. And when they learned about the real Orthodox Church, which has been called that since ancient times and originates from the Apostles, they all joined together, with over 2,500 people, transferred to the Orthodox Church. This is how the Lord responds to the requests of all who really seek the path of holiness leading to the truth, and brings such a person into His Church.
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). The concept of heresy and schism.
St. Hilarion. Christianity or Church.
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Lutheranism.
In 1054, after the Great Schism, the two branches of Christianity began to build their relationship with God the way it, from their point of view, should be. Several centuries later, among the Catholics, there appeared those who doubted the purity of the Catholic faith. They were called Protestants. Several centuries later, they presented their claims to the Orthodox Church.
Who are Protestants and Orthodox
Protestants- adherents of the religious teachings of the Protestant Church, which broke away from the Catholic Church in the 16th century as a result of the Reformation.
Orthodox - believing Christians who profess the Orthodox faith and belong to the Eastern Church, formed as a result of the split of the Ecumenical Church into two branches - Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox).
Comparison of Protestants and Orthodox
What is the difference between Protestants and Orthodox Christians?
The Orthodox recognize both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition as absolute authority. Protestants deny Tradition, calling it human fiction.
Orthodox Christians baptize babies, according to the Lord's words that whoever is not born with baptism will not inherit eternal life. But if a person was not baptized in infancy, he can receive this sacrament at an older age. Protestants are baptized at a conscious age, since they believe that baptism is unthinkable without repentance, and a child cannot make a promise of fidelity to God. If a child dies, they say, then he goes straight to heaven, since he has no sin.
Icons, a cross, the relics of saints are an absolute value for any Orthodox Christian. Known are the stories of the creation of the first icons - the Image of Christ Not Made by Hands and the images of the Mother of God, painted by the Apostle Luke during the life of the Most Pure. Protestants consider this to be idolatry. They argue that, praying in front of the icon, a person does not worship God, but the depicted prototype.
The Orthodox worship the Most Holy Theotokos and God's saints. Protestants reject the cult of the Mother of God and do not recognize the saints, since they were people, although they were of righteous faith, but people cannot be prayed to. In addition, they argue that the Virgin Mary is the image of an ideal Christian woman, meek and obedient, but she is not a deity.
The Orthodox do not undertake to interpret the Bible themselves. To know Scripture better, a Christian can turn to the interpretations of the Holy Fathers of the Church. Protestants believe that a person himself can interpret the texts of Holy Scripture by carefully studying them.
For the Orthodox Christian, there is a dual concept of the Church. First, it is a gathering of believers who turn their prayers to God. To offer these conciliar prayers, believers gather in the temple, or, in other words, in the church. A temple for Orthodox believers is a shrine where there is no place for filth. God Himself is there.
For Protestants, the church is an invisible spiritual community of people, not walls, and not a roof. They can hold meetings in cinemas, in stadiums, no matter what event was held in that location before.
Protestants do not recognize the sign of the cross, because the Bible does not teach it. For Orthodox Christians, the sign of the cross is a special sign symbolizing belonging to the Christian faith, protection, protection from evil. Protestants do not wear a cross.
Protestants believe that man's salvation took place at Calvary. A person can only believe and from that moment receive full assurance of salvation. It doesn't matter how much a sinful life he led before and, perhaps, will continue to lead. The Orthodox believe that life is given to man for repentance and moral growth. Salvation will depend on this.
Protestants deny the doctrine of the posthumous ordeal of the soul, do not sing the funeral service for the departed and do not pray for them. The Orthodox constantly remember in their prayers the deceased earlier, there is a special rite of funeral service, and the soul, in their opinion, goes through ordeals after death.
TheDifference.ru determined that the difference between Protestants and Orthodox Christians is as follows:
For the Orthodox, the absolute authority is Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Protestants only accept Scripture.
The Orthodox believe that personal moral deed is important for salvation. Protestants argue that faith alone is enough.
Protestants do not recognize the sign of the cross.
Protestants interpret the Bible themselves, not relying on the spiritual experience of people of righteous faith, as is customary among the Orthodox.
Orthodox services are held in churches. For Protestants, the place of meeting does not play a special role.
Protestants reject the Orthodox teaching about the ordeal of the soul, they do not sing the funeral service for the dead and do not pray for them.
Protestants do not recognize the deity of the Most Holy Theotokos, saints, and also deny icons and other signs of Christian symbolism.
Protestants do not wear a cross. The Orthodox, even in exceptional cases, do not remove the cross from themselves.
Protestants are baptized only at a conscious age. Orthodox Christians even baptize babies.