October 31st, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther published his 95-theses document challenging doctrines of the Catholic church. The importance placed on the practice of selling indulgences, the false security it gave to those who purchased them and the true destination of the collected money offended Luther.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
Martin Luther’s 2nd thesis states “This word (“repent”) cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.” Thesis 35 states “They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges, preach unchristian doctrine.”
Luther greatly missed the mark by not denying the existence of purgatory or the ability of the church to sell indulgences. He was just alarmed that “Indulgence Preachers” were selling indulgences as a catch-all for anyone and any sin even if there was no remorse or contriteness. In addition, more importance was placed on selling indulgences than teaching the Catholic church’s interpretation of the Word of God. Luther’s thesis 53 states “They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.”
Martin Luther points to the true purpose of indulgences, funding the building of St. Peters Basilica in Rome. His 86th thesis states “Again, ‘Why does not the pope, whose wealth is today greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build this one basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?’”
Catholicism Re-Branded
Martin Luther’s challenge to the authority of the Pope initiated a 500-year history of divisions within the “Christian” religions as seen below. Episcopal, Methodists, Baptists, Calvinists and of course Lutherans all stem from the same root of Catholicism.
Unfortunately, Luther’s recognition of the corrupt teachings of the Catholic church barely scratched the surface of false doctrines, lies and manipulations. All Protestants, although considered different religions, still have roots in many of the same false interpretations of God’s Word. Many of these religions chant or recite the “Apostles Creed” which is contrary to God’s Word. The Christian religions celebrate the false feast days such as Christmas and Easter. These religions have some form of confession or “believe and receive” in response to repentance. None of them recognize that to repent literally means to think differently, to reconsider morally. To truly repent is to stop going against God’s Laws and to keep His Commandments. Worst of all, these religions are teaching doctrines as if they are from God, when in fact they are not.
Jesus Points to Law
Consider the following from Jesus; Many will come in my name saying I (Jesus) am Christ and shall deceive the majority (Matt 24:5). If people come in the name of Christ that would make them Christians. The Christian religions are the majority among religions.
Jesus said he came not to destroy that Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). Many Christian religions teach one simply has to “believe” in Jesus to be saved. Christianity also teaches to confess your sins, but sin is the transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). First one must understand the Law, after which if one sins, there is no forgiveness (Heb 10:26). Jesus made it clear that not one jot or tittle of the Law will remain unfulfilled (Matt 5:18). How did Jesus keep the Law? How do you keep the Law? Neither Catholicism or the Protestant religions teach God’s Law.
The Protestant Reformation is nothing more than a re-branding of more or less the same false religion.
The Roman Catholic Church IS the Whore of Babylon spoken of in Revelations. The Protestant Reformation was the breaking away of the harlots from the “mother of harlots” (Rev 17:5) which has deceived the majority. Get away from the Catholic Church and all of her Protestant harlots, Come OUT of Her!
Where did you get this chart from? Roman Catholicism most definitely did not start in the 16th century. Some people may falsely attribute a late day to RC by claiming it began in the 4th century with Constantine’s conversion, but I have never seen a chart that has RC beginning over a thousand years after that historic event!
Agree 100%. The chart is not intending to imply Catholicism started in the 16th century, only that what was Catholicism at that time split into Eastern and Western. Follow the dark blue line back to 70AD where it divests from “Jewish Believers”. Catholicism is based on ancient Babylonian religious practices, but grafted itself into the history and teachings of “Jewish Believers” at a time before this chart. The intent of sharing this chart is to show the many branches of the Catholic religion practiced under different names and identities from the time of the Protestant Reformation to today.
Thank you for clarifying the dating for me. I appreciate that! Well, in this article it urges its reader to get out of the Catholic church and the Protestant church. But they can both be ultimately traced back to 70AD on this chart. And this chart shows nothing else before that to follow (Beside Judaism which I assume you aren’t advocating). Therefore my question is: What exactly are you advocating for? It seems there is nothing left to choose from after these eliminations. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for the question. It is awesome that you are asking! I am advocating for God, not any religion. David wrote in the Psalms that God looked down from Heaven to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God, but there were none that did good (Psalm 53:2-3). Paul wrote the same in the New Testament in Romans 3. It is still the same today, except for one difference. Is it time for the lost sheep of the House of Israel (Jer 50:6, Matt 10:6) to wake up and learn who they are and who God is. Please keep reading the articles on this site, ask questions and if you would like to learn more, request a sign-up for the advanced learning classes.