Misconceptions About Moravians
A Protestant Denomination or It's Own Religion
The Moravian Church has sometimes been thought to be its own religion. People commonly tend to think that Moravians have their own religion such as the Amish or Mormon religions.However, the Moravian Church is part of the Protestant religion. The Moravian Church is a denomination within the Protestant religion such as Baptists Church or Lutheran Church. All Protestant denominations believe in the same core things such as that Jesus Christ was born, died, and resurrected, but practice
it differently in each church. The Moravian church is commonly mistake as its own religion by others in part due to the fact that the Moravian Church has never really been a very well-known denomination of the Protestant religion. In eighteenth century, Moravians felt that they needed to live apart from others as they had in Europe in their settlements and villages to preserve their culture and beliefs. Moravians at this time did not feel the need to form congregations and spread their church. “Had the Moravians, with their exceedingly well
organized and tightly disciplined ministry, set to work organizing congregations, they probably could have become one of the great protestant forces in America. Instead of becoming a part of the fats moving currents in the raw, new land they remained aloof and apart and their time of opportunity passed beyond their reach. But, by the same token aloofness enabled them to protect their unique ways (Davis, 1959).” Even though the Moravian Church has not been a very well know Protestant denomination, they have preserved their historic culture and beliefs in such that it is honored by many and still widely
practiced today.
it differently in each church. The Moravian church is commonly mistake as its own religion by others in part due to the fact that the Moravian Church has never really been a very well-known denomination of the Protestant religion. In eighteenth century, Moravians felt that they needed to live apart from others as they had in Europe in their settlements and villages to preserve their culture and beliefs. Moravians at this time did not feel the need to form congregations and spread their church. “Had the Moravians, with their exceedingly well
organized and tightly disciplined ministry, set to work organizing congregations, they probably could have become one of the great protestant forces in America. Instead of becoming a part of the fats moving currents in the raw, new land they remained aloof and apart and their time of opportunity passed beyond their reach. But, by the same token aloofness enabled them to protect their unique ways (Davis, 1959).” Even though the Moravian Church has not been a very well know Protestant denomination, they have preserved their historic culture and beliefs in such that it is honored by many and still widely
practiced today.
Moravians vs. Mormons
People sometimes tend to confuse Moravians with Mormons.
People think that Moravians are a part of the Mormon Church. However, this is not true. Moravians are a part of the Protestant religion. Moravians are Christians. They believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. Moravians put Christ at the center of their church and its teachings. Their faith and trust in Jesus Christ makes them Christians. Moravians also believe that the Bible is God’s way of speaking to them and use it as a basis of teaching in the
Moravians Church. They believe that God meant for the His follower to be in fellowship with one another and to serve each other and worship Him together.(Nicholas, 1998) “Moravians do not like to argue about many of the things that have divided Christians from one another, such as the methods of baptism, the time of Christ's return, the way we receive Holy Communion, whether our ministers wear robes, etc. We don't think the way in which Christians practice these non-essential things makes us any more or any less a Christian. It is faith in Christ that makes us Christian. That is the essential of essentials (Nicholas, 1998).”
In comparison the Mormon Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
have a very different set of beliefs. Mormons believe that the Bible is the word of God but they also believe that God’s word is the Book of Mormon that was spoken to Joseph Smith. Mormons believe do not believe in the trinity as Moravians do. They believe that God and Jesus are separate beings. Mormons also believe “that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost ("13 articles of faith,").” The Mormon Church and its belief system are similar to that of Moravians, but at the cord of the church doctrine they are vastly different. Moravians strongly emphasize their relationship with Jesus Christ and their faith in Him. Mormons are more legalistic of the Bible’s law and the laws of the Book of Mormon. Mormons believe that they have to do good works to please God and receive His favor. Moravians believe that once Jesus Christ died on the cross for sins, they were set free from doing do works to receive entrance to Heaven. When examined closely, the Moravians and Mormons are definitely not the same religion and at its core hold vastly different view of Jesus Christ, God, the Bible, and the means to get to Heaven. ("13 articles of faith,"/ Scott, 2004/"Jesus christ,")
*Image1:http://ricklobs.blogspot.com/
*Image2:http://www.nairaland.com/717285/jesus-christ-muslim
People think that Moravians are a part of the Mormon Church. However, this is not true. Moravians are a part of the Protestant religion. Moravians are Christians. They believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. Moravians put Christ at the center of their church and its teachings. Their faith and trust in Jesus Christ makes them Christians. Moravians also believe that the Bible is God’s way of speaking to them and use it as a basis of teaching in the
Moravians Church. They believe that God meant for the His follower to be in fellowship with one another and to serve each other and worship Him together.(Nicholas, 1998) “Moravians do not like to argue about many of the things that have divided Christians from one another, such as the methods of baptism, the time of Christ's return, the way we receive Holy Communion, whether our ministers wear robes, etc. We don't think the way in which Christians practice these non-essential things makes us any more or any less a Christian. It is faith in Christ that makes us Christian. That is the essential of essentials (Nicholas, 1998).”
In comparison the Mormon Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
have a very different set of beliefs. Mormons believe that the Bible is the word of God but they also believe that God’s word is the Book of Mormon that was spoken to Joseph Smith. Mormons believe do not believe in the trinity as Moravians do. They believe that God and Jesus are separate beings. Mormons also believe “that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost ("13 articles of faith,").” The Mormon Church and its belief system are similar to that of Moravians, but at the cord of the church doctrine they are vastly different. Moravians strongly emphasize their relationship with Jesus Christ and their faith in Him. Mormons are more legalistic of the Bible’s law and the laws of the Book of Mormon. Mormons believe that they have to do good works to please God and receive His favor. Moravians believe that once Jesus Christ died on the cross for sins, they were set free from doing do works to receive entrance to Heaven. When examined closely, the Moravians and Mormons are definitely not the same religion and at its core hold vastly different view of Jesus Christ, God, the Bible, and the means to get to Heaven. ("13 articles of faith,"/ Scott, 2004/"Jesus christ,")
*Image1:http://ricklobs.blogspot.com/
*Image2:http://www.nairaland.com/717285/jesus-christ-muslim