Chapter 12: Satan's Big Lie: All Non-Catholics are Protestant
Chapter Twelve
Satan's Big Lie: All Non-Catholics are Protestant
The lie, that all non-Catholics are Protestants...
...has been fostered by Satan throughout the world, and he continues to deceive people into believing this lie. We are told in God's Word that Satan is a murderer and a liar.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44).
Through out America, and parts of the world, Satan has people identified as belonging to one of three religious groups. Therefore, if you are not a Catholic, or a Jew, then all others are classified as Protestant. If this were true, then all denominations, churches, and religious groups would be classified as Protestant. This would then include all religions, such as Mormons, Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, Armstrongism, Unity School of Christianity, Lutherans, Baptist, Methodists, Episcopalians, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, and on, and on we go!
Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason Satan loves this lie is because he wants you to believe that the Roman Catholic organization, saturated with its false teachings, is really the Universal Church. Anyone who does not endorse their teachings is "anathema" (i.e., accursed) and in PROTEST; therefore, labeled as Protestants. In verification of this, their Catechism states on Page 48, Par. 181, that "No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother." This is another of Satan's lies, found nowhere in the Bible. Where did the word "Protestant" first come into existence? And who were the Protestants?
We are going to see that ONLY those who were part of the Roman Catholic organization, but in protest of their teachings and withdrew or were excommunicated, were called Protestants.
On October 31, 1517, Luther, at the age of 33, nailed his 95 Theses on the door the castle church, located in Wittenberg, Germany. His main opposition was that the Catholic Church was selling indulgences for their sins to be forgiven.
In the early part of 1517, a man by the name of Johann Tetzel had begun selling indulgences on the border of Saxony. Among his "customers" were some of Luther's parishioners. Luther noticed that fewer people were coming to confession.
Luther believed the priest, as well as himself and his preachers, could forgive your sins, as he states in his Small Catechism on Page 188:
"CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION:
What is confession? Confession embraces two parts. One is that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the pastor AS FROM GOD HIMSELF, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven."
What Luther opposed was the people having to pay for this "forgiveness." This is what prompted him to nail his 95 Theses on the church door.
Twelve years later, after Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, an important council was called; little recognized; but, of the utmost importance in History.
In 1529, February 21 through April 22, the Second Diet (i.e., Council) of Speyer was held. This was a Roman Catholic Council, convened for the purpose of taking action against Luther and his followers, and others who were not cooperating with the Pope and in protest of some of the church's teachings.
Several Lutheran princes appeared before this Roman Catholic Council with a formal written protest against those teachings which, in their opinion went contrary to their faith. This protest was signed by: Elector John of Saxony; Margrave George of Brandenberg; Dukes Ernest and Francis Braunschweig-Luneburg; Landgrave Philip of Hesse; Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, and the representatives of fourteen (14) imperial cities. The protest was designed to protect them from the decisions of the Council.
Philip Schaaf, a great church historian stated in his History of the Christian Church, Vol.VII, P.692, the following:
"From this protest and appeal, the Lutherans were called PROTESTANTS."
It was also originally used of those German princes and free cities who declared their opposition to the decision of the Diet (i.e., Council) of Speyer, which denounced their reformation and opposition to the Pope and Catholic teachings.
One can easily see the origin of the word "protestant" as it was first applied in the Sixteenth Century. They are Lutherans, the Reformed and others, who were once Roman Catholics and left the Roman Catholic organization and its false teachings to start denominations of their own, as did Martin Luther.
The word "Protestant" did not come into existence until the 16th Century. Prior to this, there were no Protestants, as the word was non-existent.
Those trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior, plus nothing, are called Christians from the time of Christ until the Rapture. They, along with the apostles, Paul, Peter, James, John; Timothy, Titus, Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila, and all the saved in the New Testament; those in Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, and etc., never bore the name of Protestant. They were just plain Christians.!
As time progressed, from the Council of Speyer in 1529 to the present, the name of Protestant has been applied to anyone who is not a Roman Catholic. Satan loves this idea as people, in general, have their minds implanted with the idea and claims of the Roman Catholic Church that they are the only true, universal church of all. Therefore, all others are just "protestants;" but, not of the true faith. How deceiving this is!
The Word of God tells us what the Universal Church is, who it is composed of and who is the Head. Every person who has accepted Jesus Christ, and Him alone, as their personal Savior has been placed into the spiritual Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13 makes this perfectly clear.
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13).
The HEAD of this universal body of Christians is Jesus Christ, NOT the Pope, Cardinals, nor his so-called priests. Ephesians 5:23 states,
"...Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." (Not the Pope!) (Ephesians 5:23 b).
Ephesians 5:24 a states that a Christian's allegiance is to Christ.
"Therefore as the church (every Christian) is subject unto Christ,..." (Not the Pope!)
Ephesians 5:25 lets us know, of a certainty, that it was Jesus Christ who gave Himself for the church on the cross; followed by His death and resurrection, so that every believer would make up the Body of Christ.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Not the Pope!)
I could write a volume of pages in continuation of this subject; but, that is not my purpose at this time. I have only inserted this brief coverage to give people a little information about the word "protestant," which is so misused and misunderstood.
Personally, I am now speaking of myself. My faith is in the payment Christ made for me on the cross. Christ's last words on the cross in John 19:30 were, "It is finished." My faith is in Jesus Christ, and Him alone, who paid for my sins on the cross; therefore, I know I possess eternal life. John 3:16 is my assurance and I hope it is yours.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Returning to Martin Luther, this man is recognized as the "great reformer." As I have studied the Catholic organization and its religion, I cannot find where Luther changed, or reformed, hardly anything within that organization. Because of Luther's protest, he, along with his followers were labeled as "Protestants." Today we have his followers, preachers, and churches founded on and teaching Luther's philosophy as contained in his writings.
It is a misconception to believe that Luther voluntarily left the Catholic Church. He was excommunicated. He left that organization bringing with him many of its false doctrines; especially two damnable doctrines concerning salvation, that Satan has used to deceive millions into eternal damnation. They are:
The doctrine of infant baptism, found nowhere in the Bible. The doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Luther taught that unless you are baptized, you cannot be saved. When you boil it down, Luther's reformation resulted in churches today named after him, and the projection of the many lies he inherited from the Catholic organization. One would have to conclude since the Catholic organization is still with us, that he was a miserable "reformer." Instead of being a spark to light the Dark Ages, he is the Master Deceiver and Executioner who swings the trap door open to the burning fires of Hell!