While we are Evangelicals, the name was introduced in the early 1900's as a fundamentalist response to the growing threat of Darwinian Evolution and theological liberalism.

Protestantism is a religious movement that began officially with a German monk, Martin Luthor.

THE BEGINNING OF

Originally, he sought to reform the Roman Catholic church; to rid of the doctrines he believed to be unbiblical such as the Sales of Indulgence, the belief that the Pope alone can interpret holy scripture, and the corruption that pervades in the church at that time.

In 1517, he (or someone else), nailed the monumental 95 Theses or grievances on the doors of the Wittenburg Cathedral. The Catholic Bishops and rulers ijnvited him to a haaring, began to question him on his doctrine, but judged him as a heretic.

They then called on him to repent, and threatened to not just excommunicate him but to execute him if he does not. At this, he had said the following words:

"... here I stand, I can do no otherl God help me."

And the rest is history.

PROTESTANT DOCTRINES

I think there is a mistaken belief that, to be Protestant, you need only to stand against the Catholic church and there you are a Protestant. That is incorrect.

To be Protestant is to hold to the historic doctrines that are universally believed by them. In it's basic form, it comes in 5 Soli (in Latin, Sola means Only, and the plural form of Sola is Soli)

THE FIVE SOLI

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone
2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17, Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 22:12, 19-21, 30:5-6, Matthew 4:4-10, John 10:35

Sola Fide - Faith Alone
Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:19-24, 4:2-5, 11:6, Galatians 1:6-9, 2:21, 3:1-2, 5:4

Sola Christus - Christ Alone
Isaiah 48:16-17, John 14:6, Philippians 2:6-11, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 1:1-9, 10:11-12, 13:8

*Sola Gratia - Grace Alone
Ephesians 2:8-9, John 6:44, Romans 8:29-30, 9:11-12, Ephesians 1:4-6

Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God Alone
Genesis 1:1, Psalm 90:2, Exodus 20:3-7, Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10, 48:16-17, John 17:2, Acts 2:3-5, Matthew 4:10, 1 Corinthians 10:21-22, Romans 11:33-36

You may notice a (*) at the beginning of the forth Sola. Johnj Arminius began to ask questions about the doctrines of St. Augustine (4th century) that men are totally depraved, & that by grace alone we're saved (in opposition to Pelagius). The Augustinian doctrine was widely held by the Reformers of his day.

After his death, a debate insued between those who took the side of Arminius & those like John Calvin, & the result was the first split between Reformers, Arminianism as an alternative soteriology (1) of what we call Calvinism today, and the beginning of Denominationalism.

Today, only the 4 Soli is believed by most Evangelicals as they believed that all have the power & ability to believe, while the doctrine of Eternal Security [a.k.a.: Once Saved Always Saved(2)] is believed only by some. However, there is a reassurgance, beginning in 2006 (3), that the media dubbed "Neo Calvinism", & it's followers described as the "Young, Restless, and Reformed".

Whether it will dominate the world of Evanelicalism is an open question, but no doubt, the soteriological position of Calvinism & Arminianism will continue to be debated by believers until the 2nd Advent of Christ.

Note:
1. Soteriology means the study of salvation
2. Once Saved Always Saved is a bit of a misnomer because while it remains true that a believer is saved and always saved when s/he believes, salvation is actually a process but not done by believers but, but by God alone (John 5:25, Romans 8:11, & Philippians 1:6
3. Calvinism began to grow in the 1950's but it did not became popular until Paul Washer's "Shocking Youth Sermon" that was recorded in 2002. Then in 2006, someone downloaded the sermon in Youtube, and it went viral. For more on the whole story, please watch "The Calvinist" directed by Les Lanphere

Wow, basically everything that I already believe and have learned about but with context. I've never heard of the 5 Soli before I stumbled upon this stream, but they're really accurate to what I believe and stand for.

Speaks of which, I've noticed that the list affirmed everything you believed in; are you also a Calvinist?

I'm not sure, I've been working on learning more about Calvinism, but I'm interested and from what I can see I do agree with the fact that they believe that we are saved by grace alone. The bible literally says it's by grace we have been saved, but I also believe it's His love as well. So I'm more figuring out where I stand, I suppose you could say.

Other than grace alone?

Yeah, I do believe it was out of His grace but I also believe that grace came from His love for us. Idk if that's also a Calvinist believe or what.

From a Calvinist's perspective, God also loves all but He does not love all equally.

He loves humanity as He was the one who created them (Acts 17:26-29), but He also hates sinners (Psalm 5:4-5). And all of humanity sinned as you well know (Genesis 8:21). So in that, we deserve His hatred. So how can it be said that He loves us? The simple answer is that He chose to love us as He did with the Hebrews (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).

This I think is the reason why there is what's called "Common Grace"; according to that doctrine, God is good to both the wicked and the just (Mattthew 5:45); this includes the things we enjoy on a daily basis or on occasion such as movies or good food; video games and success. It also applies to restraining our sinful nature that if it is unrestrained, we would act on our deepest and darkest impulses.

But with that, though He loves all, He does not love equally which is reflected on His decision to elect people to salvaiton, and He either leaves the rest to their own devices, or makes sure that the unelected are not saved. The former notion is called "Single Predestination" as the latter is called "Double Predestination". Double Predestination is not a widely held belief amongst Calvinists themselves and as for me, I certainly do not believe it. Having been recently been "Converted" to Calvinism, the former notion is just too much.

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If you're interested, here's a video I've found on Youtube called "Calvinism vs. Arminianism - which view is correct?" by GotQuestions ministry; it is fair on both sides of the argument, doesn't pick a side, and it takes less than 5 minutes to watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q4Z66lF2CA

Thanks for the video, I have to say I agree mostly with the statement at the end that God is sovereign and all humans are called to accept Christ rather than the arguments. I have a few friends who are Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists, and I believe that those religions had roots in a human, who is sinful in nature, attempting to explain what God has not called us to explain. I believe that He gives us peace that passes all understanding for a reason because we don't need to understand, we just need to have faith.

It's a tough subject and as a Calvinist ,myself it's never completely easy. Are you familiar with the differences between both Arminians and Calvinists?

Not very much on the subject. I know that the Arminians basically said if Calvin's teachings were correct than God was an orchestrated of evil, or something like that. So Calvinists believe in predestination, being saved by His grace, and Arminians disagree wholeheartedly.

The Arminians are right on that.

Yeah

You are without a doubt, an Evangelical. :)

How is evolution a threat?

Evolution was never discussed here.

The top comment says evolution is a threat.