...He states rather emphatically that the traditional Christian Church has it's roots deeply embedded in the Roman Catholic Church.He states that the RCC got alot of it's teachings from paganism and that the Christian Church picked up on those teachings and spread them around the world.
Well, Protestant Churches have their roots in Roman Catholicism. Most of the reformers were not looking to break away from the Roman Catholics but instead wished to reform Roman Catholicism from the inside out. But they were ex-communicated and the RCC looked to reform herself. And she continues to do that - Vatican 2.
So, it should not come to anyone's surprise that many of the doctrines and practices of modern protestant churches have at their doctrinal bases, Roman Catholic doctrines. However, they have modified most of those doctrines (the majority of which were gotten from the multitudes of early Latin Church Fathers). And many new doctrines have sprung up and are often less than a hundred years old. Some even younger.
To rewind a little, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli etc. had quite a few different opinions on what was right and wrong. However, when they founded their churches, they were still liturgical and somewhat sacramental (with the exception of Zwingli and Calvin). The majority of protestant churches are no longer liturgical and or sacramental with the exception of a few. So for the first time in the history of Christianity, churches ceased to be liturgical/sacramental, with noted exceptions. However, I did read that Calvin wrote liturgy, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't sacramental. Though don't quote me on that because I don't know if that only relates to the Eucharist (communion) or the other (I don't know if the RCC have 7 sacraments) six sacraments.
Also, for the first time in the history of Christianity and at the root of Protestantism come the Solas. Sola scriptura (scripture alone). Sola fide (faith alone). Now many will make the argument that the original Christians (those that wrote the bible) were also Sola scripturaists and believers in sola fide. Many protestants feel James contradicts Paul when he said that faith without works is dead. Many protestants believe Paul is spot on with his statements against (all) works (good and bad) in regards to salvation. However, when it comes to James simple statement which appears to contradict Paul, they often feel that they must interpret that to mean something else. The reason for the multitude of different arguments over this faith vs works debate is because Protestants charge that Catholics believe that "being saved" is dependent upon works and faith whereas the Protestant, sola fide approach, is by faith alone. However, both sides often misunderstand each other because Salvation means very different things to both sides. So naturally they aren't going to agree b/c they're speaking two entirely different languages. When you apply the protestant understanding of Salvation to the "how do you get saved" of Roman Catholicism, they won't match because Salvation itself means something entirely different.
Also, protestants have no real hard and fast doctrines on Salvation. Once Saved Always Saved for instance, though it's of protestant origin isn't accepted by the majority of protestants. Though those numbers seem to be narrowing.
So, though Luther etc. didn't plan on ditching all the traditions of the Church, protestantism wound up pretty much rejecting any notion of Holy Tradition (and for good reason in many cases). However, I do believe that it's a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Do a concordance check for the word Tradition in the scriptures and you'll see that certain traditions were indeed transmitted to the Church and were to be preserved/kept.
Sabbath-they changed the day we worship from the traditional 7th day Sabbath to the first day of the week.
The early Church recognized the Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday evening when the three stars appeared in the sky) on the Saturday. They even commemorated it. However, they did not change it to Sunday. The reason they gathered on Sunday was because Jesus resurrected on Sunday. I won't get into it but it has to do with the New Heaven and New Earth. Jesus resurrection is often called the 8th day of creation (the first day of the beginning of the New creation).
communion-was only supposed to be held annually.
The reason why this Texan dood believes it was only to be held annually is because many believe that the Lord's supper simply replaced Passover which is an annual (though not always) celebration.
Passover-substituted Easter for Passover
Again, this is just a lack of understanding in regards to the traditions. Passover relates to the Exodus. Exodus is a huge theme in Christianity and I believe both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox (not to be confused) see the Passover as Christological.
Maybe the misunderstanding comes from the Calendar that the RCC chose to follow. For the RCC, Easter (Orthodox call it Pascha) sometimes comes before Passover.
The formula for Easter—"The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox"—is identical for both Western and Orthodox Easters, but the churches base the dates on different calendars: Western churches use the
Gregorian calendar, the standard calendar for much of the world, and Orthodox churches use the older,
Julian calendar.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also applies the formula so that Easter always falls after Passover, since the Crucifixion and Resurrection of
Christ took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. In the Western Church, Easter sometimes precedes Passover by weeks.
I don't know about the Roman Catholics in regards to Passover but Eastern Orthodox fast during the passover period.
Resurrection-states that Jesus arose Sunday morning,which allowed for Sunday service.He died Wednesday afternoon and arose Saturday afternoon.RCC teaches Jesus died on Good Friday and arose Sunday morning,which is not three days.
Yeah, I don't know where they get Wednesday. But if he died Friday, that's 1. Saturday, that's 2. Sunday until he rose, that's 3.
Trinity-RCC teaches that the Holy Spirit is a separate spirit being.
Again, perhaps I'm unfamiliar with the RCC but this might just be a case where the Texan doesn't realize that Trinity means 3. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. I don't know if he's suggesting that the Trinity is 2 in one.
Christmas-RCC teaches Jesus was born in late December,allowing for the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.Almost all religious scholars state Jesus was born closer to September.
Probably has to do with the Calender but I don't know. The Orthodox (Catholic) celebrate it on January 6 because they use the Julian calendar. But I don't know if the RCC Pope changed it.
I took these examples directly from his book.Being a new Christian I am worried that I may join the wrong church and end up missing out on Gods' plan for me.I would greatly appreciate any and all opinions on this subject and please keep in mind these are not my personal examples.
Well, it's always a journey toward God. Seek first the Kingdom of God and He will add unto you all the other stuffs.. Fo' sho.
Personally, I'm Orthodox Catholic but I started out at a Pentecostal church and church shopped like crazy and prayed and prayed and prayed and read my bible and asked a gazillion questions and prayed and prayed.
So seek and you will find. I wish you well on your journey toward God and I will keep you! in my prayers.
God bless!
