|
|
|
Explain the relationship between the Catholic Church and Protestants
For the first three hundred years the church was just the church. You risked your life to tell someone you were a Christian. Then in 325 AD the Roman Emperor converted to Christianity. It was a mixed blessing. Now it was “cool” to be a Christian and everyone started joining in. Many had little idea what it was all about. Over time political power and church power became one. During the middle ages one Pope actually went to war against the Emperor! At one time there were two Popes and each excommunicated the other. Eventually corruption and doctrinal problems in the church became so great that many people had had enough. In outlying countries like Germany there was a grassroots movement to reform things. Those in power didn’t want to be “reformed” so a new branch of the church began. Now you had the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church. While the Catholic Church made some reforms, the break was permanent because of the commitment by Protestants to the Scripture alone and faith alone.
But the Baptists added another dimension, separation of church and state. Baptists or the “free church” believed that the church should not hold secular power, or be controlled by the state because of the corrupting influences of power, or fear that people would be forced to convert to the religion of the State. Of course, Christians should be a godly influence! |
|
|
