Two Kinds of Protestantism versus Judaism

King Henry VIII – Founder of the Anglican Religion

As I mentioned in a previous post, the religion of Judaism was born after the second Temple was destroyed.  Judaism was formed by Jochanan ben Zakkai for the Jews who didn’t want to follow the Messiah.  One thing about Judaism is that it is a tribal religion.  A few converts come in here or there, but overall, it’s a tribal religion.  Usually when someone converts the born Jews say: “Welcome to the tribe!”

In the 16th century when Protestantism emerged, two brands of Protestantism were born.  These are what I call the national churches and the rogue churches.  The national churches are the Church of England, the Confessional Churches of the Swiss Cantons, the Lutheran Churches of Scandinavia and the German Principalities and other similar churches.

Today the national churches are in shambles.  Any meaningful potent Protestantism exists only in the rogue churches.  Why did the national churches collapse?  Because they followed the path of Judaism into a tribal religion.  Christianity is about universality.  Our Lord said:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

– Matthew 28: 18 – 20

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

– John 17: 22 – 23

Christianity is a universal, united, and a non-tribal religion.  The reformation came to be because of nationalism.  The local monarch would rather have his friend as the local religious leader rather than some stooge of a celibate Italian thousands of miles away.  A German religion for a German people.  An English religion for an English people.  A Swiss religion for a Swiss people.  A Jewish religion for the Jewish people.  It’s all the same thing.  The national Protestant churches have rejected universality for tribalism.  Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, King Henry VIII and others have done exactly the same thing as Jochanan ben Zakkai.

It’s quite interesting that the national churches have just gone along with what the tribe says.  The tribe wants socialism, the tribal religion endorses socialism.  The tribe wants homosexuality, the tribal religion endorses homosexuality.  The tribe wants eugenics, the tribal religion endorses eugenics.  The tribe dictates what the religion is, not Scripture or Tradition.  It’s no mystery that Michael Coren left the universal religion for the religion of his English tribe.

Now, the rogue churches for the most part have stuck with a high view of Scripture.  This is why I can have dialogues with them about key issues.  Both the rogue Protestants and I would agree that the culture degradation must be opposed and the fact that whatever the culture teaches doesn’t automatically become religious dogma.

At this point in history, the national churches serve absolutely no purpose.  If you’re a member of one of these churches and are serious about the Christian faith, I would recommend looking to Rome.  The national churches are dead, and it looks like their host countries will soon follow.