To celebrate the 489th anniversary, I'm posting a sermon (about Reformation) that was preached here at Bible College of East Africa yesterday by Richard Tiu, a missionary from the Philippines.
DISCLAIMER: Let me first warn you that you may be offended, especially if you are a Catholic. In fact this sermon has a lot of attacks against the Roman Catholic Church. But if you are offended by reading this, remember that it is not an attack against you (unless you're the Pope), but it is against the religion. Of course, it is natural for any religion to say that other religions are false (unless you're postmodern). If you think any of the statement made in the sermon is false, feel free to comment. But I suggest you make constructive criticisms, and not attack me or Pastor Richard. If you think Pastor Richard doesn't really know about Catholic Church because he's a Protestant, remember he's from the Philippines and he used to be a Catholic. And yes, he is a legit pastor.
As for me, I used to think there isn't any significant difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, because I all I knew about Catholicism came from interacting with Catholics, who outwardly didn't show any difference from the Protestants. But as I learn more about the teachings of the Catholic Church, I realize they're not different like Baptists are different from Methodists or Fundamentalists. It's not a mere difference in the interpretation of the Bible. It is clear that the Roman Catholic Church have perverted the teachings of the Bible by adding so much junk to it (read on if you want know what I'm talking about). I'm beginning to think that Catholicism is almost as bad as the Jehovah's Witness and the Mormon churches. Yes, I said that. Sorry to all my friends who are JWs or LDSs, but you knew I'm Christian, right? And if you know my belief, you know that I think your belief is completely bogus. I know I'm not "politically correct" by saying all this, but standing up for Jesus is so much more important than that.
I hope you'll find (at least some) truth by reading this. Like Jesus said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (or in this case, if you have eyes to read, let him read). Basically, it means there's no point in arguing. If something is presented to you as truth, it's up to you and you alone to accepted it or not.
P.S. Did you know that the Roman Catholic Church teaches immaculate conception of Mary (like Jesus was immaculately conceived), so she was sinless, and that that she never died but was taken up to heaven like Jesus was. Maybe it's not a big deal (let people believe whatever they want to believe, whether it's true or not). But what's interesting is that such teaching is not found in the Bible OR the Apocrypha! Then where did they get such an idea? I think it was because some pope said it (I haven't confirmed this). But this teaching was added even after the Protestant Reformation. Now that makes me think... why wasn't Mary crucified instead? If she was sinless, couldn't she take away our sin as well? Another interesting thing is that the Catholic doctrine teaches the infallibility of the Pope, which was also added relatively recently. Of course, that must be true, right? Just look at the current Pope! I'm sure it wasn't a mistake that he was "misunderstood" on his speech about Muslims. Alright, alright. No more making fun of other people's beliefs. I'm not here to offend people. Everyone's got to rant a little sometimes. But I doubt most Catholics who aren't so devout really know what they believe, though I may be wrong.
Title: Why am I a Protestant?
By: Pastor Richard Tiu
Passage: Isaiah 59:1-21
BCEA Sunday evening service – 29th October 2006
Once again we shall take a break from our series on the 12 Apostles as we take time this day to remember an important event in the history of Christianity. If we may recall, the period from AD500 to AD1500 is what is known in church history as the “Dark Ages of the Church.” This was the period when the power of the papacy in the Roman Catholic Church was at its zenith; a period when the gospel of salvation was hidden under a maze of deception. It was a period when God needed to raise up a standard.
The passage we have read characterizes the religious cycle of the nation of Israel. Israel sins > God sends judgment > Standard is lifted > Truth prevails > Church is revived. The standard raised is the Word of God and its truth can only prevail when God raises faithful men to stand for it.
The same situation described from verse 1 to 11 existed in the dark ages of religion. When the Roman Catholic Church was at its mightiest, the true gospel of salvation was replaced by a gospel of deception. For one to be saved, faith in Christ is no longer enough. The RC says you must also do good works; you must observe their seven sacraments, and offer prayers to Mary and the so-called “canonized saints” of their church. In other words, one must need to work his way to heaven if he is to be saved – a teaching which is clearly condemned all throughout the Bible.
The Catholic Church cleverly tried to cover their errors by a web of deception. But our text in verse 6 says, “Their webs shall not become garments.” This refers to the garment of salvation offered in Christ alone. And the verse continues “neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.”
Verse 7 continues, “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood…” At that time when the reformers were trying to return to the teachings of the Bible, they were killed and burned at the stake. One such martyr of the Reformation was a man named William Tyndale who was strangled to death and his body burned. The reason was simply because he translated the Catholic Latin Bible into English which has become the common language of the people by that time.
Another reformer John Wycliffe started this translation before he died. After his death his corpse was exhumed in order to be burned. It was for the same reason that he defied the pope’s order not to translate the Latin Bible into English. Wycliffe also vehemently opposed the false teachings of the church and was branded a heretic. That was how the Roman Church hated to see the Bible being read and understood by the common people; because the Bible will reveal all their erroneous doctrines and thus expose them as a false church.
Then in verse 8 it says, “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” Romans 5:1 tells us that the way of peace with God is “being justified by faith…through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But the Catholic Church directs its members to a crooked path leading to a place called purgatory; a crooked path leading to the way of Mary worship instead of Jesus who is the only way, the truth, and the life.
Those who follow the crooked way is being described from verses 9 to 11, “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.” This was exactly the situation during the dark ages of church history. Salvation was very far off because the truth was hidden. Verse 15 sums up that period, “Yea, truth faileth.”
Throughout the history of Christianity, Satan has always been trying to undermine the Word of God and subvert biblical doctrines of the faith; but each time God has always raised up His standard. So we are told in verse 19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
The Protestant Reformation was a rediscovery and return to biblical Christianity which began in Europe and America and later on spread to the whole world. We owe it to the 16th century Protestant Reformation not only the reformation of the church but more importantly the restoration of genuine biblical Christianity.
In two days time, we mark that very special day in history, October 31. It is the day we remember (not Halloween) the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. And this afternoon we will travel back in time to that day, October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses at the castle door of the Wittenberg Church in Germany challenging the heretical doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. It was the day that the Lord lifted up a standard against the enemies of His word. It was the day when the 16th Century Protestant Reformation officially started. And this coming Tuesday marks the 489th year anniversary of that event. It is important for us to remember this event because it will answer the question: Why am I a Protestant? I have five reasons in answer to this question.
1) I am a Protestant because I stand for the Word of God – Nowadays, to protest is somewhat viewed as a negative action. People seem to protest at just about anything and everything. Just recently, university professors in Kenya were protesting that they receive lesser salaries than the MPs – a protest motivated by greed. And as a result, some of the protesters were eventually terminated. Protesters are often labeled as radicals or troublemakers and because of this the word “protest” or “protestant” seem to carry a negative connotation.
But in the original sense, to pro-test has a good meaning. The word “protest” is actually the Latin pro-testari. It is a compound of two words, pro which means “for” or “in favor of” and testari meaning “testament.” So to be protestari simply means to stand for or in favor of the testament. In the context of the Reformation, to be “protestant” simply means to be standing for the Testaments, both the Old and New. Hence, to be a Pro-testant is a biblical term, because to be a Pro-testant is to stand for the Word of God.
So if to be Protestant is to stand for the Word of God, how do you call those who con-tradict the Word of God? Con-testants? I’ve always believed there are only two religions in the world. Either you are a pro-testant – standing for the Word of God, believing, teaching, and defending it; or, you are a con-testant – contradicting, denying, adding, and or subtracting what God says through His word. So, which one are you? Are you Pro-testant or con-testant? Are you defending or denying the Bible?
We are Protestants because the Word of God alone is our basis for the rule of life and faith. This is the doctrine of sola Scriptura and we owe it to the Reformation for rediscovering this doctrine. Before the Reformation, it was kept hidden underneath the pile of Roman traditions and superstitions for more than a thousand years. Sola Scriptura is rooted in the principle that “when God says it; that settles it. I believe and obey it.” Departing from this biblical principle is always a step towards heresy. This was what happened to the Roman Catholic Church as well as to all the cults and heretical churches around us today.
2) I am a Protestant because I believe in the cardinal doctrines of salvation – The cardinal doctrines of salvation can be summed up by the other 4 Solas – sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, soli Deo Gloria. It stands for salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.
a. Sola Gratia – Salvation is by grace alone totally apart from works. This truth is repeated so many times in the Bible. (Eph 2:8-10; Tit 3:5). This doctrine becomes very clear in Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Salvation is a free gift. If we have to work for it, then that would no longer be free, isn’t it? And besides, the Bible also says in Isaiah 64:6 that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Man’s works of righteousness can never bring him to heaven nor can it justify him because we are told that even these are tainted by sin.
b. Sola Fide – Justification is by faith and again the key word is “alone.” Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4 all say the same thing. “The just shall live by faith.” This is the heart of the gospel of Christ. The gospel is summed up by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” All who believe in this truth shall be justified unto salvation.
c. Solus Christus – Almost all religions in the world says DO. But true Christianity says DONE. Christ says in John 19:30, “It is finished” to tell us that the work of redemption has been completed by His death on the cross. Nothing more has to be done except to believe in Him. Christ was the one crucified – not Mary or any of the so-called “saints.” That is why our faith must rest in Him and Him alone.
d. Soli Deo Gloria – For the glory of God alone is the natural result of the first 3 solas. This will set the proper perspective of where we stand before God. It will put sinners in their rightful place – down in the dust – and exalt God on high. Because it is sola gratia, sola fide, and solus Christus then it should be to the glory of God alone and not of men. Thus the tendency to glorify other gods or savior, or even our own works will be removed. God’s says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
3) I am a Protestant because I believe in the perspicuity of the Scriptures – Perspicuity of Scriptures means that the word of God is clearly expressed and therefore can be easily understood. The Reformers argued that the Scriptures is plain enough for the ordinary Christian to read and understand. But the RC Church teaches otherwise and they strongly forbid their followers to read the Bible on their own. They say that because it is difficult to understand it must be read only according to the interpretation of the church. Only RC priests were authorized to interpret the Bible at that time. But the question is: How could the early Christians have known and understood God’s Word when the RC was not yet in existence? We must take note that the epistles were written to ordinary Christians and not to priests & popes.
What actually made the Scriptures difficult to read at that time was because it was available only in the Latin Vulgate. The Catholic Church has forbidden the translation of the Bible into the common language of the people. So when the Bible was translated into English and put in the hands of the lay people, the Protestant Reformation soon broke out. When the people started reading a Bible that they could understand, they soon discovered how RC has diverted and departed from the Word of God. That was not the case before the Reformation. Today we have in our hands a Bible that we can read and understand because the reformers fought for that right.
4) I am a Protestant because I believe in the universal priesthood of believers – Before the reformation the believers cannot come directly to God the Father for the confession and forgiveness of sins. They were taught to come first under the intercession of dead saints, to confess to the priests, or even the Pope.
But the Bible says in 1Pe 2:9 that we who believe in Jesus are a royal priesthood because Christ as our great high Priest has opened the way for us to commune directly to the Father in heaven. Thus we do not need any intercession of dead saints nor de we need another mediator or mediatrix because Christ is the only mediator between God and man as 1Timothy 2:5 clearly tells us. That is why we don’t need to confess to a priest either. 1John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
That every believer is a priest also refutes wrong notion that only celibate priests can represent us before God. That is why we have married pastors in Protestant churches instead of celibate priests. The Bible clearly supports the practice of having married ministers. 1Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6 all say that, “A bishop [or elder] must be husband of one wife.” On the other hand, the Bible says that celibacy or forbidding of marriage is a doctrine of devils. 1 Timonthy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry…”
What is ironic is that if these RC priests are supposed to be unmarried, why are they given the title “fathers?” A father without having children? Ironic isn’t it? Well, they may say they are spiritual fathers. Still, this is unbiblical. In Matthew 23:9 Jesus says, “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Spiritually we are born of God not of men. That’s why in our church we have Pastor Lazarus, Pastor Kiarie, Pastor Bernard, and Pastor Eben. We don’t call them Father Lazarus, Father Kiarie, or Father Bernard, or Father Eben.
Another irony is that while they call themselves as “fathers” but in reality some of them really wanted to be mothers. You know what I mean? Many members of the Catholic clergy are gay! And we often read them in the news sexually molesting young boys, causing great scandals in the church and in effect bringing shame to the name of Christ. We certainly don’t need immoral priests or any RC priest for that matter. As Protestants, we are a universal priesthood of believers. The Bible says so.
5) I am a Protestant because I worship God in spirit and truth – The Protestant Reformation also brought back the true worship of the living and true God. When Jesus was talking with the Samaritan woman by the well of Jacob in John 4, He gave her the description of who are the true worshippers of God. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
Before the Reformation, people were worshipping God in RC rituals and images. If you have ever attended a Roman Catholic worship you can see that the main attraction would be this ritual called the Eucharist or the Mass. The Word of God is still read but it is consigned only to the sidelines. The centerpiece of the altar will be an array of idols and images of wood and stone – a clear defiance of the 1st and 2nd commandment of God.
Today, we can practice the true worship of God in spirit and truth because someone protested against the rituals and idolatry of the RC Church. Though we don’t see Him, we worship God and sing hymns of praises unto Him because by faith we are assured that His Spirit is in our midst. We worship Him in sincerity of the spirit and not in formality of rituals. We worship Him in truth because we follow what His word tells us how He should be worshipped. We worship Him in truth by listening to His word being preached and applying them to our lives. God is not an image but a Spirit; He is not a ritual but the truth. As such, true worshippers ought to worship Him in spirit and in truth. We also owe this proper understanding of biblical worship to the Protestant Reformation.
So there we have it. The five answers to the question: Why I am a Protestant? Firstly, it is because I stand for the word of God. Then I believe in the cardinal doctrines of salvation (4 Solas). Thirdly, I believe in the perspicuity or clarity of Scriptures. Fourthly, I believe in the universal priesthood of believers. And lastly, I worship God in spirit and in truth. All five beliefs based solely from the Bible.
But the sad reality is that many who call themselves Protestants are no longer pro-testing in the true sense of the word. Some of them are no longer pro-Scriptures. They are no longer pro-Bible. No more pro-God. The word and the will of God is no longer the rule of their life and faith. Churches have gone back to the pomp and pageantry of entertainment worship with rock music and dancing. The word of God is no longer preached faithfully in many Protestant churches. Sin is no longer an issue. Health and wealth is more important. Evangelism takes a back seat for miracles and signs and wonders.
What is even sadder is the fact that Protestant churches are now taking efforts to unite back with Rome through the ecumenical movement. In so doing, it is as if to say that the Protestant Reformation is, after all, a big mistake. And so we need to go back to the Roman Catholic Church and say, “I’m sorry.” Is being protestari a mistake? Is being pro Word of God an error?
Thus we really need to ask this question over and over again that we may not lose the focus of our Christian faith. Why am I a Protestant? If you know the answers then ask yourself: Am I still pro-testing?
May the rich heritage of the 16th century Protestant Reformation be always remembered and preached in this pulpit.
