Do Christadelphians belong to Protestantism

The last few weeks a lot of articles have been published on the net about the Reformation and Protestantism.

When we look at those articles and hear what most authors say what Protestantism means we can question if Christadelphianism belongs to Protestantism or to something else.

why we're prot According to Dr. of Ministry from Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, Washington, David Steele who spends most of his time with his family and preparing to preach and teach God’s Word, serving as Senior pastor at Christ Fellowship in Everson, Washington, Nate Pickowicz beautifully summarizes the spirit of the Reformers in his most recent book, Why We’re Protestant: An Introduction to the Five Solas of the Reformation.

Mr. Steel writes

First, the author clearly describes the “gospel crisis” that emerged in the sixteenth century. The crisis involves a fundamental disagreement on how sinners are justified. The answers proposed by Rome and the sixteenth century Protestants are clear. The answer proposed by Rome falls short of the biblical benchmark and leads sinners to a pathway of destruction. The Protestant reply is faithful to Scripture and leads sinners on a pathway to the Celestial City. {Why We’re Protestant – Nate Pickowicz (2017)}

Looking at many other descriptions of Protestantism in recent articles we are confronted with the idea that many consider it essential to Protestantism to believe we all are saved and have nothing to do any more to enter the Kingdom of God, because

The essential message of the Reformation is captured in the five solas – grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, and to God alone be the glory. Pickowicz guides readers on a journey that unfolds these remarkable truths in a way that is winsome, historically accurate, and faithful to Scripture. {Why We’re Protestant – Nate Pickowicz (2017)}

for lots of protestant preachers the gospel of grace and the celebration of the the accomplishments of our Saviour is what makes Protestantism so different form Roman Catholicism. Many look up at Martin Luther, saying

One act of courage sparked a theological firestorm in Germany that set the world able in a matter of days. Spreading like wildfire, thousands were introduced to the gospel, which is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. {The Legacy of Luther – R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols, Ed.}

For many it is that teaching which brought light in Christendom.

Anyone familiar with the Reformers understands the motto, post tenabras lux (after darkness light). This little Latin phrase suggests that there was a darkness in the land in the days preceding the Reformation. Such an assertion is true. {Long Before Luther}

Many Protestants still do have to learn that the doctrine of justification by faith alone is not an invention of the Reformers. It is also not like Dr. Steel says that

Rather, they unearthed and recovered this doctrine which can be traced back to the apostles. {Long Before Luther}

long He looks at Alistair McGrath’s book, Iustitia Dei, which Dr. Nathan Busenitz admits is

“widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive treatments of the subject.” {Nathan Busenitz, Long Before Luther: Tracing the Heart of the Gospel From Christ to the Reformation Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2017, 243 pp}

McGrath essentially argues that Luther and his Reformation buddies concocted what we understand now as justification by faith alone. Busentiz adds,

“Because the doctrine of justification lies at the heart of the gospel, the implications of this charge are serious.” {Nathan Busenitz, Long Before Luther: Tracing the Heart of the Gospel From Christ to the Reformation Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2017, 243 pp} {Long Before Luther}

when we look at previous theologians we can see that the doctrine of justification by faith alone was taught by certain church fathers, but not by the apostles like some may think. The apostles where clearly and hoped that everybody came to understand that faith without works is death.

Strangely enough some protestants are aware that

“All people must at some point in their existence stand in the presence of God and be judged. There are two possible outcomes, either a guilty or not-guilty verdict. Or, in biblical terms, God will either condemn or justify the person who stands before him. In order for God to justify a person, he requires absolute perfect righteousness, that is, obedience to his law.” {What is Justification by Faith Alone? by J.V. Fesko}

but continually fight against those people who say people should not only come to recognise Jesus as the Way to God but should also have to make sure they do away with their old self, a very hard work for many,and have to live according to God’s Will, which shall demand many efforts in this world with so many temptations.

Many Protestants consider Christadelphians and other non-trinitarians not as Christians as well as heretics. Perhaps you may consider us as devationists, because we have many beliefs which are not in accordance to the doctrines of Trinitarian Churches. But our faith is not heresy but the just following of the teachings of Jesus Christ. As such Christadelphians are more true followers of Jesus than lots of people who call themselves Christian.

Protestors you may call them also because they are against the many false human doctrines, which have come into Christendom. They demand a return to the source of Christianity, looking back at the first century Christians or real followers of the Nazarene master teacher Jeshua, the Kristos or Christ the Messiah.

Christadelphians preach that Nazarene Jew is the promised sent one from God by whom all received salvation; But they are also aware when we do nothing with that Grace of salvation we shall be nothing with that free Gift. For Christadelphians it is clear that people have to come to God and have their relationship with the Divine Creator to be restored. To come back to a good relationship with God a person has to repent of his wrong doings (one first work a person has to do). Next, after regretting his wrongdoings or faults, he has to accept Jesus as his saviour (an other step to be taken) and has to be willing to become a member of those who follow Jesus which has to be sealed by baptism (again a work to be done). After baptism it is not yet finished. Lots of protestants may think once born again it does not matter any more what they do wrong. But Christadelphians are very well aware of such false teachings and listen more to the lessons Jesus gave with parables of how people still can miss that entrance to the Kingdom of God. Jesus has given those stories for a good reason. We better listen to his voice instead of going for such false teaching of certain protestant ministers who want you to believe you do not have to do any works any more.

Sorry, you shall still have to work against many temptations. It is not that because you have become a Christian that you would not have any ideas any more which want to lure you in wrong doings. Be aware that you too may be tempted to look at people of the other or even same sex to go in a sexual adventure with them. The New Testament writings warn us for the dangers of adultery and fornication. It is wrong to think a baptised person would never see pornographic material or would never have certain dreams which are not in accordance with Scripture.

The funniest thing about a lot of those preachers who claim people have to do no works any more that they still frighten a lot of their church-members with eternal hellfire, though such teaching is also very unbiblical. And why making their folks afraid of eternal punishment when they have not to do any works; It is just a contradiction. Because when their folks would receive an eternal punishment because they would have done something wrong it also means they could have avoided such punishment by doing it right.

Because not agreeing with that idea of “no works” and “ever given grace of salvation” several say Jehovah Witnesses, Church of God, Restoration Church members and Christadelphians (just to name a few) can not be Protestants. In case the “Justification by Faith Alone” determines Protestantism, than such restriction would mean Christadelphians can not be called Protestants. But what should they than be called? And to which group should they and the so many other churches have to belong?

When Christadelphians are real followers of the teachings of Christ, they in essence are real Christians. But when people consider Christians to be trinitarians than that is not the ideal groups-name and than they would better choose for a name like “Jeshuaists“, laying down that they commit themselves to follow Jeshua, the son of God.

Preceding articles

Two new encyclopaedic articles

Evangelisation, local preaching opposite overseas evangelism

Additional reading

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Further reading also looking at those who do not understand Christadelphianism and/or depict it wrongly

1. 1. Christian Denominations & Cults
  2. Christadelphian Error [236d]
  3. June 10 – Spiritual authority the word and the testimony
  4. WCS of America Our Beliefs And Creed
  5. Island Life
  6. Losing My Religion – Part 1 – Losing My Religion – Part 4 These well written story is something we can find similarly with many religious groups in Christianity. It presents a personal struggle with the self and the surroundings. It also shows how hiding own feelings is no help at all. It also shows how sometimes it can be helpful to step away from something when your feelings on it aren’t clear. – Losing My Religion – Part 5, The Bitter End
  7. The history of the BASF
  8. How to read fellowship statements
  9. A response to the IEAC Creation Statement
  10. Fellowship is with God and judged by Jesus
  11. Yes, the Gospel alone can save
  12. Things That Bug Me About Christadelphians seems very confusing and does not bring “fake Christadelphian news” it brings real “fake news” and even does not allow Christadelphians or others to correct all that nonsensical writing about our brotherhood. The missionary who works in Durban, South Africa may be a creationist or wanting others to believe that all Christians believe everything was just made in exactly 6x 24 hours days, though most of us not believing that and still believing the world still evolves, though he does not want to see that, we would ask our our readers just to look at their own family and look at differences in build and looks of each each member as times has passed. EG Henry Sulley wrote already long ago
    “As to the period occupied in the six days of the work of creation, we have no means of knowing how long a “day” is from the Divine point of view.”
    Bro Walker stated similar thoughts a number of times, one example should suffice
    “we cannot agree to restrict the “days” of creation to literal days, and the original “rest” of God likewise to twenty-four hours! Critics will please be merciful to us“[2]
    possibly a fair request!
    And please remember that a day in God’s eye is as 1000 years in the eyes’ of man.
  13. How to win the race of life
  14. Christianity Sects
  15. The Coming Christian Unity
  16. Professor Lloyd Geering of New Zealand: Christian Heretic and Resurrection denier
  17. Reasons to Believe!
  18. Influences
  19. Christianity And The Heretics
  20. The Unity of Heretics
  21. Feral Christians
  22. The Ex Christadelphian [240b]
  23. The dark side of the Reformation: John Calvin and the burning of heretics
  24. When the bottom drops out: What’s a Catholic to do when their pope is a heretic?
  25. Jeshuaists, Carrying the name of Christ