Protestantism is messy. It’s decentralized, fragmented, and filled with competing voices. Heretics? You’ll find a few here and there. Bad theology? Plenty of it. And yes, some of it’s like roaches hiding in the back kitchen—hidden where most people don’t see but definitely there. Yet, this messiness isn’t a bug of Protestantism; it’s a feature. Protestantism thrives on its key principle: truth. And in the free-market system of Protestantism, competition drives excellence toward that truth.
Alister McGrath, in his book Christianity’s Dangerous Idea, captures the essence of this free-market dynamic: “Protestantism’s emphasis on the Bible as the ultimate authority opened the door to multiple interpretations, fostering both creativity and fragmentation. Yet it is this very diversity that ensures its resilience and capacity for renewal.”
The Danger of Ear-Tickling Theology
Like any free market, Protestantism has its weaknesses. A free market often caters to what people want rather than what they need. In the theological marketplace, this can mean ear-tickling theology that appeals to emotions or desires while neglecting the deeper, harder truths of Scripture. These shallow teachings can look successful—they fill pews, pack stadiums, and generate buzz—but they often leave people spiritually malnourished.
It is with this caveat that I move forward, recognizing this weakness, but also recognizing that it is a necessary weakness. The benefits far outweigh the deficiencies. And the deficiencies are so destructive that we dare not alleviate ourselves of this free market theology in order to stay “safe.“
Demonstrating the Difference
Here’s where Protestantism’s free market shines. While unhealthy theology can gain traction, good theology—grounded in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit—produces visible results. Over time, you can see the difference between someone living on spiritual junk food and someone nourished by solid doctrine. You can see it in their eyes. I’ve seen it hundreds of times as I look into the rejoicing soul of someone who truly believes based upon the freedom not to believe. Only Protestantism gives this freedom.
This is part of the argument we must make. It’s not just about saying our theology is better; we have to demonstrate it. People will know the difference by the way we live: our joy, our perseverance, our love, and our effectiveness in the world. Good theology produces good fruit, and that fruit becomes our strongest argument.
Truth as the Foundation
Ultimately, Protestantism isn’t driven by competition alone; it’s driven by truth. Sola Scriptura places the ultimate authority in God’s Word, not in any person, institution, or tradition. Protestantism hands you a Bible and says, “Discover. Learn. Test everything.” It’s not about blind acceptance; it’s about engaging with Scripture and wrestling with its truths until they become real and personal.
This contrasts sharply with other systems. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy often claim, “This is right because we say so,” or “This is right because it’s always been this way.” These centralized systems rely on tradition and authority to enforce belief and uniformity, but they stifle the kind of faith and refinement that competition necessarily fosters. While such systems may maintain order, they lack the fideistic dynamism that Protestantism offers.
Protestantism, on the other hand, trusts that truth is robust enough to withstand scrutiny. Ultimately, in the face of the dangers, it trusts God. It invites doubt, questions, challenges, and debate—not to tear down, but to refine and strengthen. This is why competition within Protestantism drives excellence is theology. It’s not about winning arguments for the sake of winning; it’s about a relentless pursuit of truth with authenticity and perseverance.
Why Protestantism Works
Protestantism works because it places God at the center. The competition isn’t an end in itself; it’s a means to an end. It’s the process that sharpens our understanding, deepens our convictions, and ensures that our theology remains vibrant and alive. It gives people a chance to be a heretic in order to make them truly orthodox.
Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it has its weaknesses. But Protestantism is the only system that empowers believers to seek, wrestle, and find truth for themselves. It’s not about force-fed belief; it’s about conviction born of engagement.
In the end, the measure of Protestantism’s success isn’t just its growth or its appeal—it’s the truth it produces and the lives it transforms. As McGrath points out, “Protestantism’s diversity is its strength, ensuring that it never becomes stagnant, but remains a movement constantly reforming, always seeking greater faithfulness to the gospel.”
It’s not perfect, but it’s honest. It’s not always pretty, but it’s “always reforming” (semper reformanda). The ability to reform. I suppose that is it. That is why Protestantism makes sense. It’s not just that the church is an institution where the body of Christ is always reforming, it’s the individuals who are always reforming. It takes seriously the policy statement that we “see in a mirror darkly.” we believe that while there’s a lot of stuff we have right – the most important issues, there’s a lot of stuff we need to refine and understand better, and sometimes even change. That’s why it works. Truth, when sought with integrity will always rise to the top. Why? Because God is sovereign. He is not wringing his hands not sitting on them. his providence is evident in theology.
Protestantism, for all its flaws, like free-market capitalism, for all its flaws, remains the best system for pursuing that truth.
