lOMoARcPSD|21919833
Discussion Thread First
Question
Survey of History of Christianity (Liberty
University)
lOMoARcPSD|21919833
Discussion Thread: Protestantism from 1600-1900
•What characteristics that marked the Reformation period (1517–1661) are still present
in evangelical Christianity today, and which are no longer present?
It is important to know that all the Reformation characteristics during 1517-1661 are still
influencing Christianity in present time. But some more than others. Sola gratia, sola fide, sola
Scriptura is one of those characteristics, which is the central message of Protestantism., this means
“salvation was by grace alone through faith alone as communicated with perfect authority in the
Scriptures”. Most churches stand by this evangelical message to this day and in most churches is
essential. Another characteristic is the Priesthood of all believers. This shares the idea that every
believer is in itself a priest, no matter his occupation. The thought that Believers have direct access to
God, this along side Sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriptura are the main ideas of the Protestant
Reformation. Another characteristic is “Bible available in language people can understand”, this fits
well with Priesthood of all Believers, since all believers are Priest, then they must be able to have access
to the Word of God so that they can do their priesthood duties. Ever since Luther translated the New
Testament into German, the language people could understand, many Protestants have translated the
Bible into a language other people can understand. Mass education of believers, is the other
characteristic of the Reformation we still see nowadays, when Johannes Gutenberg invented the
printing press to propagate the reformation, this became a great tool to teach and train future leaders,
this aspect of the Reformation we still see nowadays, having modern ways to teach and train
Protestants to teach others. This goes along with “believers are all priests” characteristic, as well as the
characteristic of restoration of sacrament, few things happened here, the sacraments were restored to
the people and were reduced by Luther to only be Baptism and Eucharist, other changes occurred like
clerics being able to marry which is another characteristic. 500 years after this and Catholic Clerics still
don’t marry unlike Protestants that have families and marry. Another characteristic is money; this is the
root of many schisms in the evangelical churches in present day.
Just like there are characteristics that stuck through time, there are some that are no longer part
of Christianity nowadays. Such things as a tense political and religious climate with fierce opposition
from the Catholic church and the Empire. The political and religious tension that existed under Emperor
Charles V reign and the pope, isn’t around today. The emperor felt he had to protect Catholicism for he
believed it was the true faith, mixed with a pope who wanted to keep his power and protect his income,
this created an environment of fear and constant tension. The State churches are another characteristic
that are not currently around. When the protestant split from the Catholic church, other regions had
national churches which often paid loyalties to monarchs. Executions and Burning at the stake.is a sad
fact of our history that thankfully no longer predominates our culture. It was common in those days that
the church had power to label its opponents as heretics and execute them as punishment, usually in a
public gruesome manner like burning at the stake. Predestination and Sacrament, these characteristics
are part of Luther’s believe, that very few protestants share today. As we can see few characteristics are
present just like few others have been forgotten through time
lOMoARcPSD|21919833
Bibliography
Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moment in the History of Christianity, 3rd ed. (Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academics, 2012), 219.
Noll, Turning Points, 146
Noll, Turning Points, 162
“Archives | KingLove Church.” Accessed September 20, 2022.
https://www.kinglove.org/archives-2/.
