what is a protestant

A Protestant is a Christian who belongs to one of the many branches of Christianity that have developed out of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began in the 16th century with the goal of reforming the Catholic Church from perceived errors, abuses, and discrepancies. The term "Protestant" initially referred to a member of any Western church that subscribed to the main Protestant principles, but it later acquired a broader sense. Protestants reject the Catholic priesthood system and instead give allegiance to God alone, affirming the giftedness of every follower of Jesus Christ. Protestant Christians emphasise the grace of God, God’s unmerited favour, and believe that being at one with God (‘saved’) is God’s gift to us, not something we can or need to earn. Protestants refer to specific groupings of congregations or churches that share in common foundational doctrines and the name of their groups as denominations. The Protestant church is the second largest form of Christianity in the world, and with many Christian denominations under its umbrella, it is continually growing and evolving all throughout the world.