C
CatholicServant
Guest
I agree with this - my encounters normally go like this: an evangelical finds out I am Catholic and they will say something like “oh, well I am Christian”…
- Status
I
ignatius777
Guest
Its happened to me as well and my response is usually to chuckle out loud.
S
smellthecoffee
Guest
this is a common – question – as are all the basic Q’s
as a raised catholic of 45 years-- i found – there were not any Good – kids in my catholic elementary school-- well maybe a few-- but in high school-- everyone was like the NON catholics at the public school–
i did dicsover that the AOG, and other baptist groups – knew the bible better than catholics-- and the kids my age – growing up – knew how to function as a follower of Jesus-
and i did find that there is and was a spiritual “Anointing” that was present during the worship service – at many of these churches–
now catholics-- are educated differentlhy-- and out side of the applied application of the scriptiures-- when compaired to AOG – or baptist type of churches–
non catholics or "Christians – are focused on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and how to hear – from the holy spirit and function in the power and presence – as in Acts – you shall receive power – when the Holy spirit comes upon you–
and each church is depend on the Holy Spirit
the following is an example-- of the Catholic version of how to function as a Beliver
I have been involved with RCIA for over 30 years.
I use four main sources when developing a lesson plan…
.1…
…Holy Scripture…
.2.The Catechism…
3…The teaching of the early Church Fathers (to show a continuity of belief from the very beginning)…and finally
4… my personal experience as living as a Catholic for the past 65 years.
5… I spend a lot of time with topics that protestants have a hard time accepting…
6…The Papacy…
7.The Real Presence…
8…Saints…
9…Sola Scriptura…and
10especially devotion to Mary.
so the obvious difference – of the educational goal – of how to function as a deciple –
some people obviously believe that – Quoting scripture – is fwhat makes them a deciple of Jesus–
as a raised catholic of 45 years-- i found – there were not any Good – kids in my catholic elementary school-- well maybe a few-- but in high school-- everyone was like the NON catholics at the public school–
i did dicsover that the AOG, and other baptist groups – knew the bible better than catholics-- and the kids my age – growing up – knew how to function as a follower of Jesus-
and i did find that there is and was a spiritual “Anointing” that was present during the worship service – at many of these churches–
now catholics-- are educated differentlhy-- and out side of the applied application of the scriptiures-- when compaired to AOG – or baptist type of churches–
non catholics or "Christians – are focused on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and how to hear – from the holy spirit and function in the power and presence – as in Acts – you shall receive power – when the Holy spirit comes upon you–
and each church is depend on the Holy Spirit
the following is an example-- of the Catholic version of how to function as a Beliver
I have been involved with RCIA for over 30 years.
I use four main sources when developing a lesson plan…
.1…
…Holy Scripture…
.2.The Catechism…
3…The teaching of the early Church Fathers (to show a continuity of belief from the very beginning)…and finally
4… my personal experience as living as a Catholic for the past 65 years.
5… I spend a lot of time with topics that protestants have a hard time accepting…
6…The Papacy…
7.The Real Presence…
8…Saints…
9…Sola Scriptura…and
10especially devotion to Mary.
so the obvious difference – of the educational goal – of how to function as a deciple –
some people obviously believe that – Quoting scripture – is fwhat makes them a deciple of Jesus–
It is not only shameful, it is disrespectful, and unconditionally false.
OTOH, properly qualified with the “Evangelical”, I’m unwilling to cede the name “Catholic”.
Jon
G
guanophore
Guest
What could possibly form the basis of such a belief?
G
guanophore
Guest
Doesn’t that make you unpopular?
Is it hard to be an Anglican attending a southern Baptist church in Texas?
G
Georgia
Guest
In my hometown, Catholics are very much a minority. I cannot begin to number the times I head something like “Christians, Catholics, and …”
M
Mystophilus
Guest
.
C
cajunhillbilly
Guest
Yes i am unpopular there. I also correct those who speak about the preTrib Rapture. But that is another topic.
B
benhur
Guest
I struggle with your first statement. I might be on the fence. Individuals can vary in being Christian in any church. But as a church on the whole does the CC have a Christian gospel ? Are they evangelical in doctrine? I know of a few good brothers who would say not. Most here have been quite charitable in their comments and I struggle in being so yet not wanting to offend nor to give any catholic false hope. It is your second comment that might help me and others. It is indeed the flip side of the argument. If the CC and it’s members wants evangelical Protestants to truly and deep down consider them as Christian then can The CC and it’s members truly and deep down consider Protestants as Catholic and equally so ? Do we each have the full gospel of Jesus Christ, enough to truly make us new creatures in and following Christ? Is there such a thing as a “separated” brethren on the flip side ? Can you be separated from Christ and still be “Christian”? We certainly would not say Catholics were “separated” by not being a baptist or Lutheran or Presbyterian etc… Some might say they were separated if they were not evangelical, having a personal relationship with Christ, being born again. They would then say there is no such thing as being a separated Christian. You either are or not by personal experience and by your church’s doctrine…just some thoughts
G
guanophore
Guest
Are you serious? You have been here all this time, and you still ask this?
This question is a bit more difficult, because responding to it depends upon how one defines the term “evangelical”.
Can you clarify why not? Do they not recognize that we believe we are saved by grace, ,through faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast? Have they never read the JDDJ?
Is it false hope to tell a Catholic that they are not really Christian, since they don’t believe whatever theological distinctives Lutherans have adopted that the CC has not received from the Apostles?
No. We are not at liberty, as Luther was, to depart from the once for all sacred deposit of faith we have received from the Aposltes. We cannot add to it, or subtract from it, as occurred during the Reformation. Neither can we embrace a “different gospel” as we would find our selves accursed.
These are not the same thing, from a Catholic perpective, since we do not separate out justification from sanctification. A person is made new in baptism, but Jesus was very specific in how He wanted us to follow him, and there have been sigificant departures from His teaching over the year. This is why the term “imperfectly joined”.
You ask a just question. I think of most non-Catholics standing in the tradition of Apollos, fervent about what they know, but only having received part of the revelation of God in Christ. Or perhaps those Jews who had only received the baptism of John but were still trying to live according to his teachings.
There are Catholics that do not seem to have a personal relationship with Christ. Nowadays they are being called “sacramentalized but not evangelized”. It is an outcome of poor catechesis both at home and at the parish. These are the ones most likely to wander away.
Yes, there is significant Catholicity in this statement. Jesus does not justify us so that we can go back to living like we did before. Yet many people have unwittingly embraced ideas and doctrines that the Apsotles would consider heretical, or significantly separating one from the faith.
Just a note on the terminology, for Catholics, the term “personal relationship” is a modern innovation that is not found anywhere in the Tradition of the Church or the Scripture, which is why Catholics don’t use it, or conceptualize Christianity that way. That being said, a person cannot be a disciple, either, without a close personal relationship with the Master.
P
Peter_J
Guest
Well, we call you our “separated brethren” (as you know) … and I can’t see why you wouldn’t refer to us as your separated brethren.
A
andrewstx
Guest
There are Anglican/Episcopal churches in Texas. Why not go to one instead of a Baptist church where you are unwanted?Yes i am unpopular there. I also correct those who speak about the preTrib Rapture. But that is another topic.
It might take a bit of driving. Where I live is predominately Baptist as well. I have to go 30 miles to the next Orthodox or Anglican church. But it is well worth it.
I personally would not go to church at all, if all there was was a Baptist ‘praychin’.
You can pray the offices Morning and Evening prayer by yourself and get more benefit from it.
B
benhur
Guest
Because, as you may know or have read from my post, there is no such thing in evangelical protestantism. You either are a Christian or you are not. You are for Christ or you are not.Well, we call you our “separated brethren” (as you know) … and I can’t see why you wouldn’t refer to us as your separated brethren.
G
guanophore
Guest
D
DaveBj
Guest
Hey, guanophore, are you a neighbor?
P
Peter_J
Guest
Catholics, too, once saw things in such black-and-white either-or, you’re-either-one-of-us-or-you’re-not, terms. Personally I’m glad we don’t anymore.
P
Peter_J
Guest
Actually, I guess some would say that we still do, but I won’t go into that at the moment.Personally I’m glad we don’t anymore.
I
Isaiah45_9
Guest
Yes.
It might depend on how one defines “evangelical”. As defined by some communions in America, even I am not evangelical.
Again, it depends on which Catholics you talk to. My sense, however, is that Catholics see the term “Catholic” as distinctly their communion, those in communion with the Bishop of Rome.
My honest answer is that, from my POV, Catholicism has a stronger claim on the full Gospel than those who reject the sacraments, and the forgiveness of sins that come with them. I do not wish to offend any with this comment, but it is for this very reason - the sacraments, count them however one wishes - I consider myself far closer to Catholicism than any protestant communion, except perhaps Anglo-Catholic.
Well, they come from the POV that the Church on Earth has its center in the Bishop of Rome, whom they call the Vicar of Christ. I don’t believe that “separated brethren” refers, specifically to separated from Christ, but instead separated from His Vicar. Of course, I may be wrong.
Jon
- Status