In this final episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle step back from the 16th century to ask a pressing modern question: what does it actually mean to be Protestant today—and what have we gained (and lost) since the Reformation?

Greg frames Protestantism with a memorable realism: it isn’t perfect—it’s the “least problematic” of the major options(Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism). From there, the conversation explores Protestantism’s strengths—Scripture in the common language, broad engagement with the Bible, the dignity and responsibility of ordinary believers, and the freedom to test tradition against God’s Word—while also naming the hazards that come with that freedom.

James and Greg dig into one of the central tensions of modern Protestant life: authority without a pope must still include accountability. The Reformation wasn’t a call for every individual to interpret Scripture with equal authority; it assumed a teaching office and depended on catechesis to form faithful readers. But in today’s digital ecosystem—where influence is often determined by charisma, algorithms, and audience-size—Protestantism can drift into fragmentation, echo chambers, and “pastor-as-pope” dynamics inside independent churches.

This episode also turns practical and pastoral: how should Christians live faithfully amid online outrage cycles, misinformation, and slander—especially when “everyone is a publisher”? Greg and James connect these issues to biblical ethics (truth-telling, false witness) and to the urgent need to rebuild theological formation in the local church.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

• Why Protestantism is a “best worst” option—and why that matters
• The strengths of Protestant diversity (and why it’s also dangerous)
• Why the teaching office matters—and what happens when it collapses
• How the loss of catechism has weakened Protestant interpretation
• The modern digital “echo chamber” problem and credibility collapse
• Why truth, slander, and false witness apply directly to social media
• Practical next steps: near-term wisdom + long-term formation

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

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🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

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This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pivot to one of the defining features of Protestant tradition: the Reformation Solas—and why they still matter for Christians today.

Rather than beginning with a list of “five solas,” Greg frames the Reformation around three theological questions that generated the solas:

1. What is the Church? (ecclesiology)
2. How am I saved / how do I stand before God? (soteriology)
3. Who or what has ultimate authority to define belief and practice? (authority)

From there, Greg explains the contrast between 16th-century Roman Catholic and 16th-century Protestant answers—especially the difference between church-as-organization (a hierarchical structure) and church-as-organism (the priesthood of all believers). That “priesthood” isn’t only about rights; it also includes responsibility—the idea that ministry is not a spectator sport, and that clergy exist chiefly to equip the saints through the Office of the Word.

The conversation then traces how the solas flow from these questions:

• Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as final authority)
• Sola Fide (justification by faith alone)
• Solus Christus (Christ alone)
• and how these reshape Protestant ideas of salvation, grace, and the church’s mediating role.

James also presses into a key modern confusion: “Bible alone” does not mean “my interpretation alone.” Both hosts argue that the Reformation assumed a teaching office, catechesis, and doctrinal boundaries—something many modern churches have lost. They connect this to contemporary debates about faith as mere intellectual assent versus faith as a way of lifemarked by trust, repentance, and fidelity.

This episode includes discussion of:

• The three Reformation questions behind the solas
• Church as organism vs. church as organization
• Priesthood of all believers: rights and responsibilities
• The “Office of the Word” and why it still matters
• Catholic sacramental mediation vs. Protestant justification by faith
• Why authority (Sola Scriptura) is the “non-negotiable” dividing line
• Faith as lived trust and repentance—beyond a one-time decision
• Why modern American Protestant individualism isn’t the same as Reformation Protestantism

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.