The Platform of Protestantism

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 22, 1906

The Platform of Protestantism

A CLERGYMAN in Rochester, N. Y., recently gave his reasons for being a Protestant, being led to do so by the fact that a Catholic priest was delivering lectures to non-Catholics in the same city. From the Rochester Herald we take the following abstract of the clergyman's sermon:—

Believing as I do in the apostolic duty of readiness to give a reason for our faith, I submit these reasons: First, I believe in the doctrine of justification by faith. Luther saw how the notion of salvation by penance, by compliance with human ordinance, by obedience to human commandments, by conformity with human ceremonial, had possessed practically the whole church, and over against it he placed the word of an inspired apostle: “The just shall live by faith.”

The Reformers said: “We shall appeal to the Bible as our supreme authority; and that all men may think aright, let us give the Bible to them in their own tongue, and let them see whether salvation is by faith or works.” This Rome refused to do, affirming the supreme authority of the church rather than of the Bible. I am a Protestant because I believe in the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures. “Thus saith God” is more conclusive than “Thus saith the church.” The Roman Church puts side by side with the Bible oral traditions, and honors them as an authoritative revelation of God.

Out of respect for oral tradition has come many of the fallacious teachings and practises of the Latin Church, such as the multiplication of the sacraments, confession to priests, praying to the saints, etc. We believe that such teachings are against the spirit of the Scriptures, and if argument ensues, we say: Let every man search the Scriptures and judge for himself. Here we part company with the Roman Church for a third time, for that it will not allow—the right of private judgment in the interpretation of the Bible.

I am a Protestant because I believe in the sacred privilege and duty of every man to interpret for himself the written Word of God. What about confession? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Who is faithful and just to forgive—the priest? There is nothing in the Bible enjoining us to confess to men. James bids us confess our faults one to the other, but that does not support the practise of the Catholic Church known as auricular confession.

Here, then, are the chief reasons why I am a Protestant: I believe in the doctrine of justification by faith, in the supreme authority of the Holy Scriptures, and the right of private judgment. Numerous other reasons exist, but I have not time to elaborate.

If professed Protestants would be true to this confession of faith, and would follow the principles of the Reformation, the effort now being made to restore a pure gospel as it was taught in apostolic days would meet with no opposition. This third angel's message is the logical outgrowth of Protestant principles. It brings every man face to face with the Bible.