Home » Short Answers: Does Protestantism Violate Scripture?
- ByNate Guyear
- 27 July AD 2024
- 9 Comments
In a previous article, I wrote about the Christ-given originality and authority of the Catholic Church (click here to read it). In this article, I will demonstrate how Protestantism, which consists of numerous perpetually factious entities, violates Scripture and God’s will by its very existence. Please note that I am addressing the problem of Protestantism specifically and not the spiritual condition or sincerity of individual Protestants.
The Gospel
In Luke 11:17 (RSV-CE), Jesus tells us, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and house falls upon house.” Protestantism is a kingdom divided against itself. Their ecclesial bodies perpetually reject the Catholic Church and one another. Their fruits are contradictions, divisions, and chaos. See also John 17:20-23.
The Book of Acts
Acts 15:24 states,
Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions….
Similarly Acts 20:30 adds,
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
This also applies to those Catholics who utter perverse teachings.
The Epistles
Romans 16:17 states,
I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them.
Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and Henry VIII, the four main Protestant rebels, were Catholics who created dissensions and difficulties. The Church excommunicated all four men. See also 1 Timothy 1:3.
In 1 Timothy 6:20, Paul tells Timothy,
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.
Wherever a contradiction exists, a lie exists too.
Paul instructs Titus,
As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned (Titus 3:10-11, see also Romans 2:8).
Paul admonishes the Corinthians, writing,
For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.So, it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:2-15, see also Galatians 1:6-7).
Finally, Paul reminds the Hebrews,
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:7-8).
A few verses later he adds,
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account (v. 17).
The Protestant rebels refused to obey their leaders in the Catholic Church, and chaos ensued. Dear Protestants, come home to the Catholic Church.
Additional Resources
For more on this topic, please clickhere.
The Coming Home Network has excellent material for those who are thinking about becoming Catholic.
If you have questions about a Catholic teaching, please visit Catholic Questions by clicking here.
[Social media appeal: Hello, readers! If you think my article, or any other article at Catholic Stand, will help others better understand and/or spread the faith, please post a link to your social media account(s). Thank you!]
- Bible, Catholic Church, Nate Guyear, Protestantism, Scripture
Nate Guyear returned to the Catholic Church in 2012, immediately gravitated toward apologetics, and recently completed his M.A. in Theology. He is excited about sharing the good news of God's love and the truths proclaimed by Jesus Christ’s one and only, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. Nate served 10 years in the Air Force and 20 years as a Special Agent with the federal government. Other education includes a B.A. in Criminal Justice and M.A. in Political Science. He and his wife, Cecilia, live in California, are active in their parish, volunteer as catechists and bring Communion to the hospitalized. Nate also writes for catholicismexplained.com.
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9 thoughts on “Short Answers: Does Protestantism Violate Scripture?”
July 28, AD2024 at 9:03 am
I agree with everything you wrote, Nate, but as a devout Catholic and fellow writer on Catholic Stand, I think our approach to unifying the Church with our Protestant brothers and sisters must take a different approach. If we a simply calling out the ways they are wrong, unity will never come. Saint Pope John Paul II wrote about this in Ut Unum Sint.
“The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigour to the Council’s call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation. These brothers and sisters of ours, united in the selfless offering of their lives for the Kingdom of God, are the most powerful proof that every factor of division can be transcended and overcome in the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel.” These are our brothers and sisters and, just as in a family divided, we approach with love, discussion, and lots and lots of prayer. That, I believe, is how we begin to forgive and move forward. We can’t unify the Body of Christ, but God can.Loading...
Reply
Nate Guyear
July 28, AD2024 at 5:18 pm
Thank you, Natalie! I agree with everything you and the pope wrote, which is why the third sentence of this article states, “Please note that I am addressing the problem of Protestantism specifically and not the spiritual condition or sincerity of individual Protestants.”
Part of the process of unity entails identifying that which opposes unity. And Protestantism is clearly antithetical to unity. It is antithetical even to its own unity; it is intrinsically divisive. As a Catholic, I tell the whole truth, even the truths people don’t want to hear. What I wrote is part of the whole truth.
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July 29, AD2024 at 7:43 am
Thank you for responding, Nate. It is hard to separate Protestantism but a practicing Protestant, though, isn’t it? It’d be like someone saying Catholicism isn’t Jesus’ true church and listing reasons. As a Catholic, wouldn’t we feel defensive and angry? I guess my question is this: What is the goal of calling out the ways that Protestantism is in error? Do you hope that a Protestant will read this and think, “Hey, this guy is right. We’re the problem.” Or “Since we are the ones causing disunity, I better go join the Catholic Church.” If this is your hope, and it is an honorable one, I just ask if the method you use is the most effective. I think you and I likely have the same goal, which is to unify the Body of Christ under one church. The way we achieve this is not by using Truth as a weapon. It’s by loving and creating relationship, modeling the way, and praying like crazy for the Spirit to direct their hearts.
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July 29, AD2024 at 8:07 am
Hello, Natalie. I was more than gracious in my first response. So, I will simply say that I wrote this article for Protestants, and not for you. Although I don’t need to justify to you why I wrote this article, the reason I wrote it should be self-explanatory. Many Protestants do not know their own history. They see the Catholic Church as one of many churches and their own churches as being on equal footing. My article points out the FACT that they are not on equal footing. This is something Protestants need to see. Conversation over.
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Bev
July 29, AD2024 at 10:13 am
Natalie, you wrote, “These are our brothers and sisters and, just as in a family divided, we approach with love, discussion, and lots and lots of prayer.”
Isn’t that what Nate was trying to do?Loading...
bill bannon
July 28, AD2024 at 7:55 am
Nate….the Protestant revolt was sinful but was a temptation supplied partly by Popes. When Martin Luther was nine years old, Pope Alexander VI became Pope and he had 7 children by fornication during his Cardinal years and Pope years and one of them by adultery with a married 25 year old as Pope. He held lavish parties. When Luther was 20 years old, that Pope died and was succeeded by Pope Julius II who had three daughters as Cardinal from fornication. He died when Luther was 30 years old. So…from the time Luther was 9 til he was 30 years old….he knew only two Popes and both would have made Paul sad in the extreme. God spared Paul from ever seeing corruption at the very tip top of the Church. God did not spare hundreds of thousands of folks of the 16th century from that peace that Paul had about Peter and his immediate successors. Not an excuse for Luther but Protestantism was partly a response to wealthy, hedonistic Popes “living large” partly on donations from northern Europe. In short, Protestantism was a joint effort of bad thinkers and bad Popes….not just bad thinkers.
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Reply
Nate Guyear
July 28, AD2024 at 8:25 am
Thanks Bill! Everything you wrote is true, and certainly many sinners (including popes) were/are to blame for Protestanism. Nevertheless, we don’t leave Jesus because of Judas, and we don’t leave Jesus’s bride because of sinners. Rather, we should proclaim and live the truth with love even more boldly in times of turbulence. This is what the true reformers did in the 15th and 16th centuries. Regardless, I understand your point, and it’s a good one. God bless!
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Beverly
July 27, AD2024 at 1:49 pm
Great article!
I have to add though, we as Christians need to unite, otherwise we fall.
It seems the secret societies, freemasonry, etc.. have infiltrated the church. They are the real enemies Jesus is speaking of.
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Reply
Nate Guyear
July 27, AD2024 at 3:53 pm
Thank you, Beverly! I agree with you, but I would also add, without sarcasm, that the spirit of Protestantism is a real threat that has entered the Church. This is the spirit of “I don’t agree with what the Catholic Church teaches” about this or that doctrine; the spirit of “I don’t have to go to Confession;” the spirit of “I don’t believe that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ;” the spirit of “I don’t have to go to Mass to be a good Christian;” the spirit of “let’s agree to disagree.” You get the picture. This is the spirit of relativism, and this cancer has allowed freemasonry and the other subversive groups to gain influence in the Church. If we don’t unite under one Truth, then we will never be united. Jesus gave us a visible Church, His bride, through which He unites us to Him and to one another. God bless!
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