Expert: Marvin Howard - 1/13/2007

Question
WELL, to be fair, from a neutral perspective the Church of Christ woudlnt be the one CHurch, alone.

I can understand why WExperts.com woudln't classify it as "The one true CHruch and the rst are fakes", but, the main problem is that the Church of CHrst is seen as Protestant, when it clealry isn't even from a neutral, extenral viewpoint.

And yet, the Anglicans are soemhow not Protestant, dispite their origin in the Reformaiton, and the 39 Articles of Religion clealry stating they adhere to the principels of the reformaiton.

Anglicans are a seperate Category for the reasony ou said, because they donot fit the Catholic or Protestant lable most have assigned. THey then are awarded their own Category.
This is largley due to the fact that Anglicans nowadays do sem to incorporate many of the Catholci theological points.(A nd as noted, amny are "ANglo-Catholic", thus adhere to a near identical to identical Catholic theology.)

Owign tot his, they are, perhaops rightly, granted their own place.

But the Churches of Christ are seen as Protestant, even though, like the Anglicans, they have no real connection to Protestantism.A nd unlike Anglicansim never taught Protestant Doctirne.

Settign aside Hisotry, or even assumign the Stone-Cambell restoraiton mvoement was the sole origin for the CHruch of Christ, one has to still admit tis not Protestant base don its teachings, the same thing that affords Anglicans their special placement.

Protestant is a word that is defined as a Western Chruch that grew out of, or developed form,t he reformaiton, and adheres to its principles.

The Principle unifyign dotineew of Protrestantism, as I noted in an earlier letter, was "Sola Fide", the idea that we are saved by Faith Alone.

Indeed, all Protestants teahc thuis, and to be labled Protestant means you are at elats seen as adherign to  Salvaiton by Faith Alone.

The CHruches of CHrist do not.

Moreover, the Restorationist theology is a good deal different on other points.


So, speakign on a theological aspect, this si what I was asking.

And is their any real way to contact the site itsself, as opposed to the readers, as the queasiton is not rlelay oen for an expert but the sire.

With thanks.



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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I like Experts.com, however, the categories for the Christain section are a bit bemusing.

Mainly because it lists the Churches of Christ as "Protestant." Having both grown up in the Churches of Christ, and having studied theology, I find this odd.Especially since the Anglicans aren't labled "Protestant."

Let me explain why.

The Churches of Christ do not consider themselves Protestant. And, as much as others, such as some Baptists, make this same claim, the Churches of Christ can prove they are not.

A Protestant is one of the western Chruches foudned either at the time of the Reformaiton, or that develope dout pf the reformation adna dhere to the basic tenets of the reformaiton.Namely the five SOlas.

Now, all Christains share the three Solas, Sola Gracia, Sola Christus, and SOla Gloria Deus.

But the two distinctives of Protestantism are Sola Scriptura, and SOla FIde.The most inportant being Sola Fide.

Indeed, Martin Luther, Father of Protestantism, said that the SUbject of Justificaiton was the one on which the CHruch rose or fell.

Now, all Protestants teach that oen is saved by Faith Alone, and htis is the key componant of Protestant Christaintiy that defines it as Protestant.

Yet, the Churches of CHrist, and indeed the enture restoration movement, rejects htis, which defines the entitely of Protestantism. The Chruches of CHrist donot teach that you are saved by Faith Alone.


WHats more, Anglicanism, which is classified as a Protestant Chruch, and forme dout of the reformaiton, and in the 39 Articles of religion clealry demontrates itsself ot be Protestanrt, gets its own category.

THus, we have "CHristainity: Protestantism: CHurches of Christ" and "Christainity: Anglicansim".

Now, I understand why many woudl argue agsisnt labing the Anglcians as Proterstant as amongst the CHruches they are, ouside Eastern Orthodoxy and Old Cahtolsiism, the most obviosuly closd to Cahtolic theology, and many are Anglo-Cahtolics, but still, why make then the CoC a Protestant CHruch when it rejects Protestantism, and is a Restorationist Church?


Why shoudl a restoraiton Church be falsely labled as Protestant to thus confuse others? Especialy when it itsself disclaism this?


Sorry for he spelling and poor wording.I am dyslexic, and happen to be tired whilst writing.

In Gods name.
-----Answer-----
Hi!

Zarove, you are correct that the church is not protestant. Neither are we catholic. We recognize this, and teach this, even at this site.

Where the problem lies is not with us. The operators of this site are ignorant that there is a distinction between the church and denominationalism. The majority of the world claims to follow Christ, even if they do so in error. Of this large number, everybody who is a member of one of the imposters (the denominations; including catholicism) believes we are just another denomination. They firmly believe that Campbell started the Restoration instead of O'Kelly, and that he just created a new denomination. They are taught this with a purpose and as an agenda. If they were taught otherwise, then they would know that they were wrong.

Anglicans (episcopalians among them) often describe themselves as "catholic lite." They believe they adhere to the basic tenets and ceremony of catholicism, without having much of the guilt. They do not recognize the catholic doctrine of separation between mortal and venial sins. As such, they have taught the world that they are neither catholic nor protestant. They have done a much better job of this than has the church.

Without a denominational heirarchy, the church does not have the volume with any form of media to teach the difference. We must do it one soul at a time. I am just thankful that the view of the humanistic news media, that the church is a cult, is not accepted by denominationalism. Elsewise, our door of opportunity to teach otherwise would be slammed shut.

Once again, in summary, the protestants have to claim we are protestant, or they show themselves to be fakes. Likewise, the catholics have to claim we are protestant, or they are proven to be apostates and imposters. Most adherents to these religions actually believe the teachings of their unbiblical masters, and remain in ignorance. It is up to us as individuals to demonstrate a difference.

I am not happy to be classed with protestantism. I have gone to AllExperts about this, but they believe otherwise. Their minds are set, and they will not be confused by evidence. I was actually told something to the effect of, "You have always been protestant since your inception. You cannot invent a false history at your whim and have us change something that is already correct and needs no change."

You found us. Others do, as well. Most people who do understand the difference also recognize the world does not believe there is a difference. For now, we must use the available outlets to teach, even if mistakes are made by sinners as to who we are.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962

Answer
Hi!

Zarove, I agree with you. We do not believe in faith alone, for this is anti-Biblical (James 2:24-26), and therefore anti-Christ(ian). The leaders of the imposters realize we teach this in accordance with Scripture, but the rank and file members are often shocked.

The heirarchy here at AllExperts.com has changed a little. However, it is still, in all likelihood, run by people who are not experts or leaders in their respective religions. I would like them to change and fix the inaccuracy. It might actually be better if a user approached them with the idea than having an expert do it. AllExperts instituted an Expert for the category of AllExperts. Her name is Katie. Perhaps if you showed her we are not protestants, but Christians, then the site would be more open to change. I think, as an outsider, you may ask her a question just like you would any expert. Here is her category that you may try:

http://allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=4&expID=72371&catID=3324

Just copy and paste that into your browser window. I am eager to know if you are allowed to send her a question, and also what she says. Please let me know.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http:360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962