Questions regarding beliefs and practices of Protestantism. Also, questions that are seeking answers from a Protestant viewpoint.
29
votes
11answers
573 views
What is the basis of my fractured understanding of “Sola Scriptura”?
As a Catholic, I'm often baffled by other Christians who base their faith purely off personal interpretation of the Bible as the be-all-end-all proof for everything under the sun (which is what I mean ...
19
votes
5answers
728 views
Is murder allowed if God tells you to do it?
The Bible pretty clearly says not to murder (Exodus 20:13).
But if we examine Numbers 25 or 1Kings 18:40, we see God (or more accurately, his prophets) telling us to kill people. Indeed, entire ...
15
votes
3answers
355 views
Protestant arguments for perpetual virginity of Mary
It's common knowledge that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy have the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Protestants generally don't have that belief.
Less known is that Zwingli and ...
10
votes
2answers
348 views
What is the basis for Cessationism?
Cessationism is the belief held by some protestants that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, do not occur in present day. The general thinking is that these gifts "ceased" at ...
16
votes
3answers
387 views
Are Catholics like pagans, in Evangelical vision?
This question is based on my personal experience. Some time ago I had a discussion with a friend of mine who's an evangelical pastor.
In a very subtle way, he was asserting that I actually believe ...
10
votes
4answers
562 views
What is the biblical basis for salvation by faith alone (sola fide)?
One of the key issues in the Reformation was the doctrine of Sola Fide, that is, that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works.
What, then, is the biblical basis for this belief?
21
votes
7answers
1k views
Sex outside of marriage is a sin. But what about “less than sex”?
Inspired by Is masturbation a sin?
This is a tough subject that I've grappled with my whole life. It's clear in God's word that sex outside of marriage (adultery) is a sin.
But, what is acceptable ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
Does God test us?
I was working on a different question and I found that I couldn't actually find anywhere that shows that God actually tests us.
Psalms 26:2 (NIV)
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and ...
11
votes
7answers
333 views
How do schisms in the church fit into the plans of a monotheistic God?
Before 1054 a reasonable claim could be made that there existed "one holy catholic and apostolic Church", as the Nicene Creed puts it. Since then, the visible church has divided into at least three ...
12
votes
5answers
306 views
Is God of Anger or of Love?
Numbers 25 shows God as a god who destroys and kills anyone who aligns him/herself with the wrong deity. However, Matthew 5:39 talks about how we should "not resist an evil person".
How can we ...
6
votes
2answers
287 views
Counterarguments to “KJV-only”?
Some people believe the King James Version of the Bible is the only version English-speakers should be using, as it is the only inspired translation. (This is referred to as "KJV-onlyism.")
...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
How does the Protestant OT canon differ from the Jewish scriptures? [duplicate]
Is the OT canon currently accepted by Protestants the same as the Jewish scriptures? If not, where and how do they differ?
11
votes
2answers
229 views
When was the OT canon as used by Protestants finalized?
At what date (and/or event) was the Old Testament canon currently recognized by most Protestants finalized? What is the earliest occurrence we have of it being referenced in it's current form and who ...
10
votes
4answers
294 views
When did the one-way monologue sermon first become a normal feature of church assemblies?
Of course Jesus preached a lot of monologue sermons, but I have noticed that Jesus did not usually preach sermons like nearly every church does today. He never seems to have, or at least rarely ...
8
votes
4answers
403 views
Why do many protestants congregations not require attendance at services on Christmas and Easter?
It came to my attention from living, driving around and listening to Christian radio that many Protestants do not have any services on what Catholics would consider solemnities (Christmas and Easter ...
6
votes
1answer
278 views
Protestant numbering of the 10 Commandments
With the exception of Lutherans (who apparently use the same numbering system for the Decalogue as Catholics) Do other Protestants have a consistent method for numbering the 10 commandments?
...
4
votes
4answers
265 views
What do Protestants say was the source for the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary?
Not counting Martin Luther, who appears to have believed in the doctrine of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, what do other Protestants think is the source and reason for Catholic adherence to the ...
4
votes
3answers
283 views
How do Protestants deal with pre-Reformation heresies?
Have any of the old heresies (i.e. Manichean, Arian, Nestorian, Iconoclasm) been resurrected and repackaged by main-line denominations
-or-
Do Protestants, in general, still accept the ...
3
votes
2answers
95 views
What happens when a Protestant doesn't tithe?
I heard in another question that some Protestants have to tithe. That is, they must give one-tenth of their salary, or more broadly, a specific amount or percentage. That seems a bit strange to me, ...
3
votes
2answers
69 views
How much are psalms and other prayers from Bible understood as actual prayer in Protestantism?
I know psalms and other Biblical songs are often sung as hymns, read and cited, but I wonder to which extent is this understood as a prayer by Protestants.
To be more concrete, is the use of psalms ...
18
votes
7answers
2k views
What are the practical applications of “two will become one flesh”?
Mark 10:8 (NIV)
and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
What does this mean for a marriage? What are the practical applications of this? Obviously, this is ...
13
votes
3answers
443 views
What is the difference between Evangelical and Protestant?
Just the other day, I heard somebody talking politics and contrasted the Roman Catholic church's political influence with "the Evangelical vote". In this sense, as is often done in US media, the word ...
4
votes
1answer
82 views
What is the Catholic biblical or canon basis saying some moral works without grace (transient or permanent) are good (or not have the nature of sin)?
I am trying to clarify the difference in my own mind between a traditional Catholic and traditional Protestant view of grace, specifically in terms of the 'works of unbelievers'. It seems hard to ...
11
votes
1answer
307 views
Is there a hierarchy in the Trinity?
It seems that there is some form of hierarchy within the Trinity.
For example, these passages seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit is subservient to the Father and Jesus:
John 14:26 (NIV)
...
11
votes
8answers
815 views
How can Jesus, born of mankind, be sinless?
Very simple question really. If the sin of Adam is passed down through the generations, so that all of us are born with a sin nature, how can it be that Jesus was born of Mary (a human being), yet ...
10
votes
3answers
268 views
Did Jonah fail the test of a prophet?
I came across an article on the FAIR Mormon wiki that discusses the prophetic test (Deut. 18). It applies the test on some Biblical prophets, and shows how someone could claim these prophets fail the ...
10
votes
2answers
161 views
How do Protestants interpret “baptized for the dead” in 1 Corinthians 15:29?
1 Corinthians 15:29 (KJV)
Else what shall they do which are baptized
for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized
for the dead?
I know that the LDS Church ...
7
votes
1answer
308 views
When (and why) did the empty cross v.s. crucifix split happen?
Today, we have Catholic and Orthodox churches (and a few others) using the crucifix whereas most Protestant denominations have an empty cross. Did this empty-cross split happen around when Martin ...
6
votes
2answers
117 views
Why is Infant Baptism considered to be invalid by so many Protestant denominations?
Catholics and several Protestant denominations (and maybe even Orthodox churches) practice Infant Baptism, while many other Protestant denominations do not.
This question addressed the argument for ...
6
votes
1answer
520 views
What are the protestant arguments against a sacramental economy?
Given that all the 7 sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation) are each explicitly mentioned in the Bible as commands put forth ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the difference between Protestantism and Evangelicalism?
What is the difference between Protestantism and Evangelicalism? Are all Protestants also Evangelicals? Are all Evangelicals also Protestants?
5
votes
3answers
144 views
Who do mainline Protestants believe an “archangel” (such as Michael) to be?
Some sects including Jehovah's Witnesses believe the archangel Michael to be one in the same with Christ. The basic premise of this claim seems to stem from the unique usage of the role archangel ...
5
votes
3answers
194 views
Do Evangelical leaders (televangelists, megachurch pastors, etc…) not consider themselves Protestants?
Kind of based off this question contrasting Evangelicalism and Protestantism. My assumption as a Catholic (which you are certainly more than free to trounce upon) is that since modern day ...
4
votes
2answers
88 views
Why did Protestants abandon Liturgy of the Hours?
In Divine office or Liturgy of the Hours as it is practiced in Catholic Church there's nothing bad for Protestants (or at least nothing of which I know that Protestants consider bad); prayer is good ...
4
votes
1answer
116 views
How does Reformed theology interpret 1 Corinthians 9:27
This questions is aimed at those Christians who frequently refer to living people as "saved" or "unsaved", and especially to those who believe that someone saved can't become "unsaved" later.
At least ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Protestant rejection of the Catholic implementation of confession
(Pardon the length - my original post was more concise, but wasn't clearly conveying my question.)
Background:
I am currently studying the Spiritual Disciplines at a Protestant seminary. For those ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
What is the Protestant biblical basis for those concluding that 'all moral works' without grace have no good in them (or have the nature of sin)?
I am trying to clarify the difference in my own mind between a traditional Catholic and traditional Protestant view of grace, specifically in terms of the 'works of unbelievers'. It seems hard to ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
In general, in the Protestant branch, who can baptize a new believer?
I know quite well that the plethora of Protestant denominations means that there are almost no universal traditions. However, there are a number of particular traditions or beliefs that are held by ...
