Protestantism. Jesus Lower than God. Christianity and New Year's Day.
by the Rev. Walter Snyder

Q: What exactly is Protestantism? What are the speculations and traditions of this
religion?

A: Protestantism is a generic title for much of Christendom that broke with the Roman Catholic
Church during or after the time of the Reformation, especially followers of Calvin, Arminius, or
Wesley. It's difficult to define, since there are many conflicting theologies that are lumped
together under the Protestant banner.

Initially, the Evangelical or Lutheran group were the "Protestants" because of an official protest
they lodged with the emperor. Later, others also claimed the name so they could enjoy certain
legal benefits it offered. Because of this, many Lutherans now reject the title of Protestant, since it
lumps them together with others who believe and teach differently.

Some Protestants are "high church," with elaborate ceremonies similar to those of Catholicism.
Others have "low church" services with little or no liturgy. Most have pastors who don't wear
special clergy clothing, but some Protestant bodies have vested clergy. Many ordain and
encourage woman pastors; many don't. Some believe in strict double-predestination, where God
has decided from all eternity who goes to heaven or hell while others believe that it's totally man's
free will making the choice; still others fall somewhere in-between. In short, it's impossible to
fully define "Protestantism" without writing a fair sized book.

Q: An elder in my church said that Jesus is a little lower than God. Where is Jesus in
relationship to God?

A: I don't know what church you belong to, but according to Scripture, Jesus is God. He is
"lower" than the Father only in that He is eternally begotten of the Father and will always serve
and obey Him. However, He is also the Father's equal as touches His being God, as Jesus says
Himself in John 10:30, "I and the Father are One."

Regarding His incarnation and birth, the Bible (Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2) testifies to the Messiah,
Jesus, being made lower than the heavenly beings or angels "for a little while." This is sometimes
called Christ's "state of humiliation" by the Christian Church. In this state, even though He
remained fully God, He did not fully use all His divine powers. "Now in putting everything in
subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in
subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely
Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of
God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:8-9)"

Q: Is there any Christian religious significance to January 1, New Year's Day?

A: There's no Biblical significance. The date was inherited from the Roman calendar, not the
Hebrew or something from the early Christian Church. However, since the Church decided that
the birth of Christ would be remembered on 25 December, 1 January is the eighth day and so
commemorates the Circumcision and Naming of Our Lord. Both of these are important, the
naming because He received the "Name that is above every name, (Philippians 2:9)" the name that
was also His "job description," since Jesus means "He saves." His circumcision placed Him in the
Abrahamic Covenant and made Him subject not only to the general moral law but to the Mosaic
Law given to God's chosen people. He thus was not only the "new Adam" but also the "perfect
Israel," fulfilling what Israel could not.

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Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor, © 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this
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