Are We All Lutherans?

I was recalling something an old college professor of mine once said while making a point about the Protestant Reformation. He said that if not for Martin Luther, there would be no Baptists, Methodists or other Christian denominations.

Now, I won't say that his statement was colored by the fact that he himself is a Lutheran. He is seriously one of the most open-minded people I've ever met and I learned more from him than most teacher's I've had. (I suppose it's possible he could've been bragging just a bit, though.)

Normally, I'm not bashful about asking questions or making comments, but, for some reason, I didn't ask the question that popped into my head that day. The thought occurred to me: Does that mean that at one time on this planet, every single, last Christian, without exception was a Catholic? Are we supposed to think that there was ever once a time when there were no dissenters whatsoever. This made no sense to me.

Now, more importantly, what are the implications of my thoughts? If there were and always have been dissenters, who were they and what happened to them? Are their descendants still around? Are there churches/congregations out there whose roots precede those of what we know as the Catholic church?

It may seem an insignificant point to most modern day Christians. I'm sure it wouldn't have seemed insignificant to those who were thrown into dungeons during the Dark Ages for refusing to align themselves with the nearly all-powerful Church of Rome when it was at the zenith of it's glory.

If they paid a price for not joining the crowd, then they are worthy of being remembered for what that choice cost them. We should, with God's good help, search for the truth and latch onto it for dear life.

One last point: If these stalwart souls were never part of the Catholic Church, it would be incorrect to call them "Protestants." It would seem you would have to be part of something, to truly protest against it. It might be better to refer to them as something else: the Church of Christ.

Matthew 16:18 - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.