The Bible

This is the introductory, first discuss on the website. What topic would be more appropriate for this introduction other than Protestantism. Today, people have misidentified the reaction of the German princes, their protest against the practices of the Catholic Church, as Protestantism. There are many who claim and believe that the protest, which began on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis, is over. Hence, Protestantism is over/dead. However, Protestantism is not founded upon nor based upon a protest. Protestantism itself is a set of beliefs and principles which the German Princes stood for. Below is an excerpt from the Great Controversy 1911 by Ellen White which clearly establishes this point/premise:

One of the noblest testimonies ever uttered for the Reformation was the Protest offered by the Christian princes of Germany at the Diet of Spires in 1529. The courage, faith, and firmness of those men of God gained for succeeding ages liberty of thought and of conscience. Their Protest gave to the reformed church the name of Protestant; its principles are “the very essence of Protestantism.”— D’Aubigne, b. 13, ch. 6 (GC197.1)

…A solemn declaration was therefore drawn up and presented to the Diet (by the German Princes):  (GC202)

“We protest by these presents, before God, our only Creator, Preserver, Redeemer, and Saviour, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures, that we, for us and [203] for our people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner whatsoever to the proposed decree, in anything that is contrary to God, to His holy word, to our right conscience, to the salvation of our souls.” (GC203)

“What! we ratify this edict! We assert that when Almighty God calls a man to His knowledge, this man nevertheless cannot receive the knowledge of God!” “There is no sure doctrine but such as is conformable to the word of God…. The Lord forbids the teaching of any other doctrine…. The Holy Scriptures ought to be explained by other and clearer texts; … this Holy Book is, in all things necessary for the Christian, easy of understanding, and calculated to scatter the darkness. We are resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure and exclusive preaching of His only word, such as it is contained in the biblical books of the Old and New Testaments, without adding anything thereto that may be contrary to it. This word is the only truth; it is the sure rule of all doctrine and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us. He who builds on this foundation shall stand against all the powers of hell, while all the human vanities that are set up against it shall fall before the face of God.”(GC203)

“For this reason we reject the yoke that is imposed on us.” “At the same time we are in expectation that his imperial majesty will behave toward us like a Christian prince who loves God above all things; and we declare ourselves ready to pay unto him, as well as unto you, gracious lords, all the affection and obedience that are our just and legitimate duty.”—Ibid., b. 13, ch. 6.

*Another account/explanation maybe found in Chapter 2 What is Protestantism in the Book “Lessons on the reformation” by A.T. Jones

There you have it. Protestantism is a principle, the Bible only, the freedom of one to read and interpret the Bible for himself, and the freedom of one to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. As a principle, Protestantism cannot die. People may choose to ignore or reject the principle, but the principle itself cannot die.

The principles of the Bible can be found in 2 Tim. 3:16-17, Deut. 8:2-3, and Ps. 119:105, 130. The principle of freedom of conscience is found in Deut. 30:15-20, Josh. 24:14-27, Isa. 1:18-20. The sanctuary service also incorporates the word of God (Bible) in its principles. The Table of Showbread in the Holy Place is symbolic of one imbibing/eating/reading the word of God. Protestantism is a fundamental principle/belief of the Philadelphia church. As Philadelphians, let us be true to, embrace and practice the Protestant Principles.