On Protestant Day

Dr Douglas G Frank

This marks the 500th anniversary of 's visit to the door to post his ninety-five theses. It is the birthday of the Protestant Reformation. And yet, on Protestant Reformation Day 2017, I find that I am reluctant to call myself a Protestant.

Ironically, I am probably more Protestant than many who now carry the label. This is because I am Protestant in the original sense of the word. I openly protest corruption and abuses in the establishment churches, and I explicitly cherish and promote the core values (the solas) of the reformers Luther and Calvin, particularly solus christus, sola fide, sola gracia, and sola scriptura (Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, scripture alone).

There is Only One Church

As Christians we recognize that there is only one holy catholic and apostolic Church (Nicene ). This Church is the Bride of Christ. It is His Church, and not a human institution. It is the Body of Christ, with Jesus Christ as the head. Period. Not the Pope. Not Calvin. Not Luther.

So then what of denominations? Why Catholic vs Protestant? East vs West?

Because all human institutions are corruptible. They have vested interests, including bureaucratic, political, and financial. They have flawed and corrupt leaders and members. They divide into factions because it is expedient to do so. And in so doing they emasculate the Church.

Martin Luther's ninety-five theses were not intended to divide the established church. Luther wanted to reform the church, not create a potpourri of new denominations. It certainly needed reform, and thoughtful and honest modern Roman Catholics acknowledge this. I wish the church had reformed instead of splintering! But the establishment church at that time had several vested interests, and like all human institutions it was also corrupt. The rest is history.

Luther brought attention to several areas where the church was in dire need of reform, and his writings (and the new ability to produce printed materials for the masses) resulted in a devastating schism of the church, the largest since The Great Schism of 1054 between East and West.

In college, I took a History of semester course. I was required to write a term paper on the Protestant Reformation. I titled it, "The Devastation," because instead of the reform Luther sought, the church suffered a massive schism. Clearly, being Protestant does not make me anti- Catholic. Instead, I seem to identify with the pre-reformation Martin Luther. In the true sense of the word, perhaps I really am Catholic?

The Genuine Article

Certainly I am a genuine Christian. By this I mean that I really believe this stuff, and accordingly I've studied it aggressively since I was a youngster. I was that kid who always read his Sunday School lesson before class. I was the middle-schooler who was always asking the pastor and elders difficult questions. I was the teenager preaching on the street corners in Berkeley and leading the Christians on Campus group in high school.

And yet, if it weren't for great thinkers and writers like St Augustine, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and C.S. Lewis (and some college professors who were also genuine Christians who could introduce me to other great Christian thinkers), I sometimes wonder if my faith would have survived into adulthood. Our Protestant churches are simply too corrupt, and too full of people who don't have a clue what they believe. It isn't just the Catholic churches in need of reform; our Protestant churches do not behave like the Bride of Christ either. This was very discouraging to me as a youngster.

Christ's Church is Diverse

But that is not to say that Christ's Church is empty. It certainly is not. In my fifty-six years, I have met many genuine followers of Christ bearing several different labels. Please don't misunderstand me: my claim is not a wishy-washy, all paths lead to God claim. Remember: solus Christus.

For example, as a youngster I had little use for the Roman . The kids that attended our local parish seemed to be the most flagrant violators of the commandments--after all, they had the confession. But now as an adult, some of the finest Christians I know are devout Roman Catholics. I am in awe of their Christian families, their Christian commitment, and their passion for scripture, apologetics, and doctrine. So much so, it's made me consider reverting to Catholicism. Certainly enough to read and study their catechism, and I have. But I am not in awe of their churchtheir human organization. It is quite corrupt today, with scandalous behaviors by its leaders actually being perpetuated by the institution. Despite rumblings of reform movements, I remain unimpressed. Nonetheless, I am inspired by and in love with the Bride of Christ, and I am convinced that many of the body parts are Catholic.

I've spent so many hours with Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Non-Denominational, Unitarians, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc, and I can bring to mind genuine followers of Christ bearing each label. I know in my heart that I will be spending eternity with many of these lovely people, because I've personally experienced our Holy Spirit connection:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God... And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:14-16, NIV)

How do I know? Because of their particular church or brand of Christianity? Or because I am qualified to judge? No, and no. Because sola gracia. Because sola fide. Because it is Christ's Church, and He decides, not me. And because the Holy Spirit speaks to the heart and draws individuals to God, not corrupt human institutions. Clearly, the institutions in my list above have significant theological differences, so it's a good thing that membership in Christ's Church is not contingent upon one's theology.

Oh, I almost forgot. For over twenty years I've been worshiping with a lovely congregation of Reformed Jews on the Jewish High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). I've even studied and supped with some very conservative orthodox Jews (that was tricky business). And I fully expect to be spending eternity with some of these Jews as well. If you Christians have a problem with this, you'd better re-read the book of Revelation... there are going be many Jews in heaven. Sola scriptura.

I've also shared some profound spiritual moments with lovely people from a variety of non Judeo- Christian faiths, and I dearly love many of them. Perhaps they are "of the order of Melchizedek?" (Look it up!) To be honest, I'm not completely sure about some of their eternal standings; but I know that Christ is. And one thing is for certain: Jesus Christ loves them too. So much, that he gave his own life to redeem them. Perhaps I am really non-denominational? The Perfect Church

As my father once told me, "If you find the perfect church, don't join it. You'll ruin it."

Wouldn't it be lovely to show up on a Sunday morning (or Saturday with my Adventist and Church of God friends) to worship with a diverse group of genuine believers? People on genuine spiritual journeys, seeking understanding and intimate relationships with God? All denominations are welcome here.

Let's worship and study holy scriptures together: Wowyou believe what? Whatever for? Please explain that. Check out this cool new book I read; I don't agree with all of it, but this cosmology idea here seems to have merit. Now, enough of study; let's share in some worship and prayer time together. And let's picnic and fellowship together afterward. Oh, your kids and mine go to the same school? Let's carpoolboth to school and to youth group.

The complete Body of Christ, with all of its parts. Not just an amputated pile of hands or legs (some seem like butts), and with Christ as the head. Diverse talents and gifts. Diverse forms of thinking. Diverse forms of worship. Diverse theologies. Where we explore and celebrate together the diversity that God has created, because:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:4- 6, 12-16 NIV)

A Reforming Church?

Today, I find that my own particular brand of Christianity is approaching its final days. The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) used to aspire to the solas, but no more. Now, it pursues social, political, and bureaucratic agendas in place of spiritual ones, and perpetuates the establishment. Now, it is in desperate need of a reformation.

Today, the PCUSA is abandoning the authority of scripture (sola scriptura), and instead cherry- picks only the portions it finds palatable. Only about thirty percent of its beginning seminary students can even pass the Bible content exam, revealing motivations for ministry that are not bible- based. Presbyterians are traditionally known for their biblical scholarship while being tolerant of theological diversity (God alone is Lord of the conscience).

But today, the PCUSA promotes a progressive, politically-correct agenda at the expense of The Great Ends of the Church, and its leaders are increasingly intolerant and disrespectful of the faith and beliefs of the majority of its membership, worshiping at the altar of political correctness. Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda! ("Reformed, and always reforming!") is the motto of the PCUSA. Sadly, its leaders currently use the slogan as an excuse to abandon the solas. Not only are they conveniently ignoring the original intent of the slogan, but they also ignore the balance of the slogan itself: Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbi Dei. meaning, "Reformed, and always being reformed according to the Word of God." Reform must be grounded in scripture. Sola scriptura.

So it should come as no surprise that the PCUSA is losing members and churches at an exponential rate. And without genuine reform, I suspect that within a decade or two the PCUSA will essentially be dead. And deservedly so.

On Reformation day my comments ring familiar, and I find myself empathizing with an obscure named Martin Luther. So I've been following his example, employing my own versions of the Wittenberg door and the modern version of the Gutenberg press: social media.

And since I am already part of Christ's Church, I am in no hurry to switch my label to a different corrupt human institution, nor to leave and establish yet another new Protestant flavor. Instead, I will worship and study with anyone who is genuinely seeking God, and relish the journey together.

So instead of leaving, I will follow Luther's example and nurture reform at the church where I currently worship and work. After all, I've worshiped with and raised my family with these particular people for twenty years, and I love them dearly. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

So I'm celebrating Protestant Reformation Day 2017 with more posts and letters... on the modern Wittenberg door. Yeah, I'm that guy.

Dr. Douglas G. Frank 31, 2017