In his book Church History In Plain Language, Bruce L. Shelley, he gives a definition of Protestantism and the Church in general that I've found to be useful. It is a "modification of Catholicism" in which Catholic problems remain, but different solutions are given". (pp.238) He then goes on to list four questions that I think the Church is still grappling with today.

1. How is a person saved?
2.Where does religious authority lie?
3.What is the church?
4.What is the essence of Christian living?

Of course, Martin Luther, when he started reading and studying the Bible for himself, realized that the Church had gone astray. The Catholic church at the time was teaching faith and good works, and perhaps the purchase of indulgences. So it leaned more towards a purchasing of salvation, rather than the free gift of God it is. There had been people before Martin Luther who had tried to reform the church, but they were usually excommunicated and executed for their efforts. When he came to Romans 1:17, "The just shall live by faith.", he realized just how far off the church was from God. This realization obviously didn't happen overnight. Sometimes I think that's what happens with us...This realization of Martin Luther's may be obvious to us today, but if it hadn't been for him, perhaps it wouldn't have been so obvious? I mean, that's why God created Martin Luther. And despite his severe anti-Semitism and his anti peasant stances, God used him anyway. I will discuss the next few questions in the next few blog posts.