Why can't people see how Protestantism has led to a confusion of Christian doctrine?

Question

I see a lot of people questioning the most basic principles of what it means to be a Christian. For example, the divinity of Christ.

This is because they have no earthly shepherd with authority given by God. In other words, they have no pope. It's every man and woman to fend for themselves in this world which has Satan roaming around looking for people to confuse.

Protestants are left with the confusing task of trying to reinvent Christianity.

As a result, we now have over 33,000 conflicting and competing Protestant denominations trying to say what it means to be a "Christian". But not one of these has any apostolic authority.

Christ founded only one Church. Look into history and do a process of elimination to which Church has been universally united in doctrine for the past 2,000 years.
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Answer 1

I agree. It always struck me a stupid. If I were a Christian I'd have to be Catholic.

I don;t see how you can say you believe in Scripture Alone and reject the authority of the men who chose which books went into those scriptures. If you believe the book, you have recognized the authority of the people who put it together.

Also, what do they think, truth was gone from the earth for 1400 years until Martin Luther arose? Who they then disagree with on most things.

Answer 2

Dude I can see it. But Catholics disagree on alot too. I found out here on Yahoo Answers that some catholics think the sign of peace is bad liturgy at mass. And some nut job in Kansas declared himself the true Pope. I don't follow the Church's teachings solely because I believe the Church is Apostolic. I follow them because I believe they are true. And some teachings I wish would change and I bet they will during my lifetime. I guess I think like a protestant that way. Ever church has her place, and God bless them all. Spiritual growth can be compared to physical or mental growth. Some people do better at a different gym, some people grow faster at a different school. Why can't the same be true of religion? The Pope said we do not have a monopoly on truth.

Answer 3

Oh Golly! With respect I suggest you read history of Christianity much more closely and critically. Christ didn't establish a "Christian" Church, with or without a Pope. He seems to have set out rather to reform Judaism. The edifice we know now as Christianity, in all its forms from Roman Catholicism to Eastern Orthodox, Protestentism, and wierder variants, is man-made - as are most of the beliefs and interpretations supporting each one. How would one argue that the statements of an RC Pope are more valid than the declarations of a Buddhist Dalai Lama for instance? The authority of the Pope is based on beliefs (which is different from faith, which has no assumptions or expectations). Beliefs are merely things we are told. The Buddhist offers propositions which can be argued on evidence - with "beliefs" used as discardable aids to the process of acquiring insight (which is more challenging than mere belief). I don't think you can ascribe social decay to abandonment of the RC Church and Papal Authority, any more than to the abandonment of the Gods and Priests of Ancient Greece or Rome. You might consider that, perhaps? Good life.

Answer 4

I am thinking you wanted a reply so here goes. I am one of these reinventing confused unguided popeless protestants.

GOD became flesh and died on the cross to redeem a lost and dieing world back to himself. Once we accept Jesus finished work on the cross as atonement for our sins then we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit or another form of GOD himself. This is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and the same Spirit that will guide us into all truth.
If we can agree on this point then I have some news for you.

You are my brother. I will see you in Heaven weather you like it or not. You and I are saints. We are a royal priesthood. A peculiar people. The children of GOD. We sir are the body of Christ. We are the one true Church. We are the believers. There will be many Catholics in Hell. There will be many Protestants in Hell also. It will all come down to our relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ. If you were standing in front of me I would kiss you on your cheek and hug you until you realized we are family. By the way. I'm a Southern Baptist.
May the Lord richly bless you.

Answer 5

Christ did found only one church!

People should abandon the Reformation movement and become a part of the Restoration movement! (To be clear the Restoration movement is an effort to restore the Church that was established on the day of Pentecost.)

You seem to be implying that that was the Catholic church & I don't find that in scripture. For more information on the history of the Restoration movement check out the following links...
http://www.thebible.net/ISBS/journal/archives/0904/X0006_restorationplea-dh.html
http://www.therestorationmovement.com/

Answer 6

Protestants being thus impious enough to make liars of Jesus Christ, of the Holy Ghost, and of the Apostles, need we wonder if they continually slander Catholics, telling and believing worse absurdities about them than the heathens did? What is more absurd than to preach that Catholics worship stocks and stones for gods; set up pictures of Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and other saints, to pray to them, and put their confidence in them; that they adore a god of bread and wine; that their sins are forgiven by the priest, without repentance and amendment of life; that the pope or any other person can give leave to commit sin, or that for a sum of money the forgiveness of sins can be obtained ? To these and similar absurdities and slanders, we simply answer: "Cursed is he who believes in such absurdities and falsehoods, with which Protestants impiously charge the children of the Catholic Church. All those grievous transgressions are another source of their reprobation."

Answer 7

Satan has fragmented the church. The protestant movement sought to educate people in the word of God. If it we're for the Protestant movement we would still be ignorant of His word because it would still be considered a sin to have the Bible translated into any other language than Latin.

On the subject of the Pope, I'm really not interested in having any association with any man on earth (other than Jesus himself) who thinks he's infallible, God's lone representative on earth and thinks he's so powerful that he can even cast angels out of heaven.

I believe the concept of "sola scriptura" (scripture alone). We will be united if we all read God's word and follow Him. Because of our sinful condition we will probably not reach this goal on earth but the Bible says we will all worship and be as one in heaven. All means Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, etc. etc. etc. together. God's people (and He knows who they are" will all be saved because that's why Jesus died. Everyone will be saved because of their own personal heartfelt relationship with God, not because the follow a pope or a pastor. God knows what's in our hearts and what's in there in relation to God will determine whether someone is saved or not.

Answer 8

I agree with you except for the last point. Roman Catholics are notorious for claiming Jesus of Nazareth instituted the Roman Catholic Church. He did not! The Church is the only authentic Western Christian institution, however, the Eastern Orthodox Churches are equally valid, so be careful. Rome has ALWAYS claimed a supremacy over the East that it does Not have.

Answer 9

If you start a club and tell everybody you're coming right back, you shouldn't be surprised that some 71 thousand days later a few splinter groups have shot up.

But, you know, Protestantism arose out of the hypocrisy and idiocy of the Catholic Church. Come on, selling indulgences? Paying money to get people's souls out of hell? Is that really was Jesus was all about? Or had your own church, the Catholic Church, turned Christianity into a huge money machine?

Answer 10

He founded only one Church but that church is not a specific building, denomination or leadership
the "Church" are the people who truely believe in Christ and give their lives to Him - God will not be asking what was your denomination when you die - He will be asking did you believe that Jesus died for your sins