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Find Me a Protestant!
Script: Gal. 1.6-10
Intro: One wonders what people thought as they walked by the bulletin in
the narthex and saw the assertive title of this morning's sermon. Find me
a Protestant. Roman Catholics attending the Ecumenical Lay Academy I am
sure wondered what might be resurrected to fire up what is known in
Protestant circles as Reformation Sunday.
Well, where does one look for a Protestant? One might reply simply by
suggesting that one go to a Protestant church. I readily discard that possi
bility after having addressed a number of churches whose people claimed to
be Protestant only to find that they knew nothing of their reformation heri
tage. Possibly one might look to the hospital roles, the largest group of
cards including the Roman Catholics. In the best of American tradition
everyone must be either Jew, Roman Catholic or Protestant.
According to recent surveys done on religion in America, Protestantism
numbers are fewer than ever among the major denominations. Only 25% of the
membership will be seen at worship. Though donations have increase within
Protestant churches inflation has eaten up the increases so there is little
gain in programing.
What does it mean to be Protestant? Are United Methodists Protestant?
Are Lutherans? Presbyterians? Are Presbyterians less so than Lutherans?
We sing that Protestant hymns: We are not divided, all one body we, one in
hope, in doctrine, one in charity — Onward Christian Soldiers. Is the family
Sprung from October 31, 1527 the date of the nailing of the 95 theses
the most legitimate, or John Calvin in France, or John Wesley in England ?
And which theological families within these groups? The Fundamentalists
who are attempting to purge the Lutheran Theological seminary in Springfield?
Those who "stand for certain beliefs". Phyllis McGinley puts in a poem
what might describe the liberal family. If there is any proof of the
patience of God it is with the Protestants. We might ask what is fundamental
to understanding the reformation? what do we do to reform now? but before
we do let's strike at some of the false notions.
I. Some erroneous notions
A. Being a Protestant frees you from the church.
1. True, if one means the legalisms that make up the substance of man
churches. What kind of freedom? Freedom to think, do, and feel about
God as I wish. You can be nothing and do that! Not need to put the
label of Protestant on that posture.
2. When Luther talked about the freedom of tbs Christian man:"A Christian
man is the most dutiful servant of all and subject to everyone."
at once free and a servant.
3. Wesley so often quoted: "On matters of opinion we think and let
think." But there was clarity about what was opinion and what wasn't.
B. Being a Protestant lets you worship as you please.
1. True, if one means that the Protestant is not bound to a formula
promising to produce G2. But if one means that natoure can tdake the. place of God' s gift
of Jesus Christ then there has been made a drastic mistake.
Object Description
| Title of Sermon | Find Me a Protestant! |
| Author | Landwehr, Arthur |
| Subject | Protestantism, Grace |
| Date of sermon | n/a |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Number of Pages | 3 |
| Language | English |
| Biblical Book | Galatians |
| Verses | 1:6-10 |
| Rights | For permission to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise use this image, please contact The Styberg Library by phone (847)866-3909 or email styberg.library@garrett.edu |
| Collection | The Arthur Landwehr Sermon Collection (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) |
| Identifier | 799 Find Me a Protestant!.pdf |
Description
| Title of Sermon | Page 1 |
| Biblical Book | Biblical Book |
| Collection | The Arthur Landwehr Sermon Collection (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary) |
| Transcript | Find Me a Protestant! Script: Gal. 1.6-10 Intro: One wonders what people thought as they walked by the bulletin in the narthex and saw the assertive title of this morning's sermon. Find me a Protestant. Roman Catholics attending the Ecumenical Lay Academy I am sure wondered what might be resurrected to fire up what is known in Protestant circles as Reformation Sunday. Well, where does one look for a Protestant? One might reply simply by suggesting that one go to a Protestant church. I readily discard that possi bility after having addressed a number of churches whose people claimed to be Protestant only to find that they knew nothing of their reformation heri tage. Possibly one might look to the hospital roles, the largest group of cards including the Roman Catholics. In the best of American tradition everyone must be either Jew, Roman Catholic or Protestant. According to recent surveys done on religion in America, Protestantism numbers are fewer than ever among the major denominations. Only 25% of the membership will be seen at worship. Though donations have increase within Protestant churches inflation has eaten up the increases so there is little gain in programing. What does it mean to be Protestant? Are United Methodists Protestant? Are Lutherans? Presbyterians? Are Presbyterians less so than Lutherans? We sing that Protestant hymns: We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope, in doctrine, one in charity — Onward Christian Soldiers. Is the family Sprung from October 31, 1527 the date of the nailing of the 95 theses the most legitimate, or John Calvin in France, or John Wesley in England ? And which theological families within these groups? The Fundamentalists who are attempting to purge the Lutheran Theological seminary in Springfield? Those who "stand for certain beliefs". Phyllis McGinley puts in a poem what might describe the liberal family. If there is any proof of the patience of God it is with the Protestants. We might ask what is fundamental to understanding the reformation? what do we do to reform now? but before we do let's strike at some of the false notions. I. Some erroneous notions A. Being a Protestant frees you from the church. 1. True, if one means the legalisms that make up the substance of man churches. What kind of freedom? Freedom to think, do, and feel about God as I wish. You can be nothing and do that! Not need to put the label of Protestant on that posture. 2. When Luther talked about the freedom of tbs Christian man:"A Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all and subject to everyone." at once free and a servant. 3. Wesley so often quoted: "On matters of opinion we think and let think." But there was clarity about what was opinion and what wasn't. B. Being a Protestant lets you worship as you please. 1. True, if one means that the Protestant is not bound to a formula promising to produce G2. But if one means that natoure can tdake the. place of God' s gift of Jesus Christ then there has been made a drastic mistake. |
