Blessings everyone,

I do believe one issue particular needs to be cleared up in this discussion.

The Reformation had a very powerful agenda;

1) To open the Scriptures in the common languages.
2) To promote Liberty of Conscience as a divine concept.
3) To proclaim to the world that the Roman Papacy is the little horn power in Daniel and the antichrist power in Thessalonians.

And this is just to name a few.

The Protestant Reformation was not hap-hazard or aimless in its purposes, but it was driven by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a return to primitive Godliness that was most desired by the Reformers.

There is very little respect of even consideration for these ideals today, even among Protestant churches.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit carefully avoids giving the same ‘sacerdos’ priest, to any of the apostles or to any other office. Rather he accepts this name to the baptized, or Christians, as their birthright and heredity name…none of us is born an apostle, preacher, teacher, pastor; but there all of us are born solely priests - See more at: http://tifwe.org/resources/the-priesthood-of-all-believers/#sthash.KkcC7mBk.dpuf

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

German reformer and founder of the Lutheran church
Martin Luther. A portrait by Lucas Carnach. (Lerner 452)


Luther is the most famous of all the reformers, for he is credited with initiating the Protestant reformation on October 31, 1517 when he nailed his now famous "95 Theses" objecting to the Catholic indulgence doctrine to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Martin Luther was originally a Roman Catholic monk and scholar who soon found himself objecting not only to the abuses in his Church, but more crucially, to some of its doctrines, or teachings. After the publication of his "95 Theses," Luther found himself in more and more trouble with Church authorities so that by 1519 he finally broke with the Church and went on to write and preach and through these activities, continue the work of the Reformation.

Theological premises

Luther finally came up with three main premises, which are also accepted by many other Protestant groups. Christians should believe in:

Justification by faith (it is through faith only that Christians will be saved, not by Good Works as the Catholic Church maintained)

The primacy of Scripture (the literal meaning of the Bible should be preferred to any traditional or learned readings, and anything not specifically grounded in Scripture was to be rejected)

The "priest-hood of all believers" (ordained priests were not the only ones who should be considered members of the "true spiritual estate," so here Luther did away with the priesthood, though many Protestant groups still use ministers or pastors to lead others)

The 95 thesis may still hang on the door, but, Protestantism has lost its savor in the world.

Johann wrote;

"
http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/English_Literature/religion/PROTESTANTISM.html

When was this changed?

The 95 thesis were still hanging on the church door in Wittemberg last time we visited the place, and also when a son was there recently.

We stayed at the Adventisit church in Wittemberg. They have a reasonable lodging for visitors.The communist regime helped the Adventists build a new church."

The 95 thesis may still hang on the door, but, Protestantism has lost its savor in the world.

The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium. {GC 588.3}

Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God. {GC 589.1}