Arguing with a Protestant?

[Cranch]

I was born again august 19 1974 at 3 am in the morning.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.—John 3:5 Jesus taught baptism by water was necessary for salvation. Do you separate being “born again” and being baptized? I ask because I assume you were not baptized at 3:00 am but perhaps you were? In the Church, baptism is a sacrament:
1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”

In John chapter 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. Ephesions 1 :1-5 shows us that we are considered by God to be dead in trespasses and in sins. When a person is born again they are made alive unto God.

You of course meant Ephesians 2:1–5 here. Your last sentence could have been from the Catechism.

Unless they can come to the place that they are lost and a sinner in need of God’s saveing grace they will never be born again. Next they go through a process of repentance where they turn from their sins and cry out to God for Him to save them from their sins.

Is this in Scripture somewhere? We are all literally born sinners. This is why the Church baptizes babies. In your formula, must a child wait for baptism until he can be conscious of his own sin and “cry out to God,” “lost”? Jesus wants all to be saved. He founded a church and promised “the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” In the West, for the first 1500 years after Christ, that church was the Catholic Church. Do you believe Jesus forgot his promise for 1500 years and allowed the Church to teach falsely of salvation?

After I was born again my whole life changed I knew that God had forgiven me of my sins For the first time in my life I had peace. I knew that I was saved and going to heaven.…I couldnt get enough of God I fell in love with Him over and over again and I have never been the same since.

It is obvious that your Christian faith has had a wonderful influence on your life for which I rejoice. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus redeemed all through His sacrificial death and so we hope for salvation. Listen as Saint Paul teaches baptized believers: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.…No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.—1 Corinthians 9:24, 27
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.—Pilippians 2:12–13

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.—Titus 3:4–8

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…—Ephesians 1:18

 

[Rosinante]

When are you born again?
Catholics beleive it happens at baptism.Whether it be when one is an infant or adult.
Why does one need to be born again?
Catholics believe one needs to be born again cause they are dead due to orginal sin.
How do you repent of original sin

I was born again august 19 1974 at 3 am in the morning.

In John chapter 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. Ephesions 1 :1-5 shows us that we are considered by God to be dead in trespasses and in sins. When a person is born again they are made alive unto God.

…

Is there anything like this in the Catholic church ? Have any of you ever had something like that happen in your life. ?

John chapter 6, also says that “…unless you eat of the FLESH of the Son of Man, and Eat his Blood, you have no life in you”. v. 53. "…Whoever eats my FLESH and drinks my BLOOD has eternal life, and i will raise him up on the last day. v. 54.

He goes on for a while about eating his flesh, and drinking his blood; refers to it as FOOD & DRINK INDEED; asked to clarify these outrageous claims, essentially given an out, He doesn’t take the ‘out’, back peddle, rationalize, spin or anything of the sort…no m’am–HE DOUBLES DOWN…

…and in response His doubling down, we see pre-figured the proto-PROTESTANTS:

v. 60: "Oh hearing it, many of his disciples said “this is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

…and further on down–

v. 66: . “FROM THIS TIME, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES TURNED BACK AND NO LONGER FOLLOWED HIM.”

Also, in St. Paul’s first letter to Corinthians, he recounts the last supper in Ch. 11, begining in v. 23: "For I received from the Lord what also passsed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrated, took bread, and wehn he had given thanks, he broke it, and siad “THIS IS MY BODY, which is for you; to this in remembrance of me…in the same way he took the cup…”

NOTE: these words are spoken at the Eucharist, at every mass (variations, that is).

Now, here’s the kicker:

v. 29: “for anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing (discerning, in some translations) the BODY of the Lord, eats and drinks JUDGMENT on himself”.

Now…why do you suppose St. Paul would state that anyone who eats/drinks mere bread and wine, would eat and drink judgment on himself, if it were indeed, merely bread and wine???

This is the Faith that Yeshua entrusted to His hand-picked Apostles, and the Faith they conveyed their successors…on down the line…

The Church Fathers affirmed this belief in the Real Presence, unanimously.

The Reformers’ version, is nothing more than secularized compromise–pre-figured in John 6:66 (coinicidence???)

---

***…and so I ask you: do Protestants have anything as beautiful, as powerful, as compelling, as surreal, yet so real, as the Blessed Sacrament, aka, the Holy Eucharist???

---

NB: this is why we throw those big, wonderful celebrations, when our children get to partake of the Eucharist–and actually get to EAT the FLESH of the Son of Man, and DRINK his BLOOD–exactly as He comanded–rather than merely pretending, with a wafer that remains but a wafer, and grape juice, that remains…grape juice.

VIVAT JESUS!

 

[Rosinante]

^^^follow up–to Hope 7, and/or any other pro’s sniff’n around here:

Suggestion:

Seek out a Cat. Church that has a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

Spend some time in the Chapel, in earnest prayer.

An hour or more, if you have it to spend; but at least half an hour.

Feel the presence…

…the REAL PRESENCE…

VIVAT JESUS!

 

[Aschecte]

When are you born again?
Catholics beleive it happens at baptism.Whether it be when one is an infant or adult.
Why does one need to be born again?
Catholics believe one needs to be born again cause they are dead due to orginal sin.
How do you repent of original sin

I was born again august 19 1974 at 3 am in the morning.

In John chapter 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. Ephesions 1 :1-5 shows us that we are considered by God to be dead in trespasses and in sins. When a person is born again they are made alive unto God.

Before I recieved Christ as my saviour I came to the place in my life that I knew that I was a sinner and that I was going to hell. I also knew that there was nothing that I could do to save myself, even if I lived a good life and went to church. I knew that it wouldnt help. I was under such conviction. I knew I was going to hell if I died. I remembered a preacher saying if you wanted to be saved read the book of John and it would tell you how. I also remembered a scripture that said seek and ye shall find . This is how I found salvation. Or better said it is how the Lord saved me.

Before one is born again there is a time that they realise that they are not saved. Unless they can come to the place that they are lost and a sinner in need of God’s saveing grace they will never be born again. Next they go through a process of repentance where they turn from their sins and cry out to God for Him to save them from their sins. God hears their prayer in His time. I will add this here that they even though they are turning away from there sins they do not escape them, only God can set them free from them. This prosess has no set length of time That is up to God as to how long it takes.

After I was born again my whole life changed I knew that God had forgiven me of my sins For the first time in my life I had peace. I knew that I was saved and going to heaven. I was brought into a relationship with God through Jesus His son where when I called Him Father it was real. My whole life changed after that point. I was different from the inside I was a new person. I no longer wanted to live in sin. I actually despised them and I found myself free of them. I also had such a hunger for God’s word and prayer. I even loved going to church services something that I used to not like. I couldnt get enough of God I fell in love with Him over and over again and I have never been the same since.

I hope this give an answer to your questions.

Is there anything like this in the Catholic church ? Have any of you ever had something like that happen in your life. ?

Amen !!! I’m so happy for yu that you had this revelation and I wish nothing more than for every Christian regardless if there denomination to feel that connection with Christ. Here is my story as a Catholic it was August of 1995 and I was bad really bad you name the sin I was guilty either in flesh or in heart. I hated myself and saw no way out, here I was 24 years old and alone most of my family had died or was currently dying. Somehow or another I ended up in my chapel where we had 24 hour adoration. Mind you I hadn’t been to church for almost 10 years. Before this I was a youth counselor a altar boy etc but the secular world at 24 had me beat into believe it was te truth. So this night that I ended up in the chapel I broke down hard begging literally beggin on my hands and knees to help me I couldn’t live this life anymore. It’s really hard to describe it but a overwhelming peace came over me from that day foward that I knew I was not alone that it was me that moved away from God but he becer left me. It took awhile for me after that to really get my life on track and to this day I still fall but I never stop trying and I know that God is always there for me when I need him most. Now I would argue that in the catholic faith we are technically born again at our confirmation when we have the choice to continue in the church or leave. We are also forgiven of original sin at baptism. I would still argue that even after this it should be a daily task to become closer to God with every breath. We also in the catholic faith have a fullness of the sacraments instituted by Jesus himself as well as sacramentals such as holy water though sacramentals are in no way needed for salvation. I strongly do believe in reconciliation otherwise called confession… In confession the priest acts as the intermediaries between us and Christ but it should never be confused in that God himself forgives is in confession not the priest. God bless you and I’m truly happy that you found God thanks for sharing your story.

 

[hope_7]

Well ther has bee quite a few questions since I was here a while ago. I will try to answer them as best I can.

Cranch — I do believe that being born again is not the same as being baptised in water. I do believe that both can happen at the same time. I believe born again is first because when a person that is born again is baptised it is the answer of a clean conscience to God. when a person who has never been born again is baptised it does them no good because they have not repentanted of their sins they have never recieved Christ as saviour and therefore they are still lost. Conversion has not taken place.

Yes a person has to see their need to be saved If one cannot admit that one is lost and needing God’s mercy they will never find salvation.I hope this answers some your questions.

Rosanantie You seem angry at those who are protestant

I also believe that the euchrist is the real body and blood of our Lord Jesus
I have wated before euchristic adoration and have found it the highlight of my day.

where I have gone to church only those who are born again are allowed to partake of holy communion.
A person who is not born again should refrain because they are unworthy’.
One who is saved needs to examine himself for this is serious Paul gives specific instructions and warns us of not discerning the Lord’s body

…and so I ask you: do Protestants have anything as beautiful, as powerful, as compelling, as surreal, yet so real, as the Blessed Sacrament, aka, the Holy Eucharist???

In answer to your question

When a person has been born again the sacraments take on new meaning They do not look the same way as before because they speak of the work that Christ has done deep within ones soul

Aschecte
Thank you for telling of your experiance I do believe that within the catholic church there is this place where one is born again although it may not be described as that I hope more will share .

 

[Used2beSherryG]

It is strange how you say that the mind of protestants are closed and that it is imposible for them to come to know the truth abput the catholic church.

Earlier I madre a post in this thread talking about being born again but no one wants to address this or talk about this. They do not want to even know what it is or is it for them. but when it comes to argueing about statues the pope infant baptism and so on this is all that I have found that the catholics on this forum want to do . Its like they need to prove themselves right and not hear anything that I am trying to say.I have found it extremely hard and all but impossible to really have any kind of a positive discussion about being born again which is really the key issue for protestants.

Please reread my post. I rffered to “a protestant whose mind is closed”. I am not generalzing. Your mind may indeed be open to hearing the truth. Nowhere in the bible, since this is your point of rerence does it say “no baptism for infants”. In fact, we are all asaked to repent (those who have consciously sinned) and be baptized, No refence is ever spoken to excluded infants or small children. As for being born again, we are all born again in the sense that Christ’ death and resurrection gives us the opportunity to be united with Christ and our sins forgiven.i as Jesus himself tells us, not everyone who cries out “Lord, Lord” will be recognized by Him. The key to ur dele

 

[irisfromohio]

Just a little FYI, I do believe that I have experienced the “born again” experience as described by many non Catholics and as Hope7 mentions. Now, I was born to Protestant parents, my father being Baptist and held a Catholic prejudice. My mother, however, brought us all up in the African Methodist Episcopal church (A.M.E.), but I always felt drawn to Catholicism; I just FELT Catholic. So, when I finally joined the Church at the age of 19, I must admit I was rather stoked. I glowed like a woman with child. Those of us who are Catholic refer to it as a “Conversion of the Heart”.

The experience that surprises most, however, is that when I went through the annulment process, I was made to engage in real soul searching and self evaluation. At the end, I realized that in spite of all of the naysayers and those filled with resentment for needing to do it at all, I had to really face things about myself, something I had never done before. I had to admit that regardless of any of my ex’s transgressions, he did not do anything in a vacuum. I had to take responsibility in my part in failing to make a marriage that was sacramental. I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I found my faith anew and I can only guess that this experience is that of which is being spoken. There are many who don’t experience such an epiphany, but who are devout just the same. I suppose that what I am saying is that once again, we find ourselves dealing with semantics as opposed to “differences” in our Christian faith.

My sister who is 61 just entered the Church this past Easter, but I saw her entrance as a smooth, calm and collected acceptance of the faith. I do not doubt that just because she did not “quake” that hers was not just as deep nor sincere.We each come to the Father in our own way, in the way He has preordained and with equal portions of zeal. So, there is no great need for discussion or “argument”.

My personal opinion.:bowdown2:

 

[michaelhager]

It is strange how you say that the mind of protestants are closed and that it is impossible for them to come to know the truth about the Catholic Church.

Earlier I made a post in this thread talking about being born again but no one wants to address this or talk about this. They do not want to even know what it is or is it for them. but when it comes to arguing about statues the pope infant baptism and so on this is all that I have found that the Catholics on this forum want to do . Its like they need to prove themselves right and not hear anything that I am trying to say.I have found it extremely hard and all but impossible to really have any kind of a positive discussion about being born again which is really the key issue for protestants.

Alright Hope 7, let’s talk about being born again.

First, let me state that I was raised by a Southern Baptist mother and a Presbyterian father. I considered myself to be Presbyterian until three years ago when I finally understood the beauty and truth of the Catholic Church. So I am not speaking as a lifelong Catholic, steeped in the “bells and smells” tradition by force of birthright or years of religion classes, but as a Christian looking for the truth.

In my Protestantism, I was born again a few times, first when I was about 12 and was baptized for the first time. I don’t remember it well, it was around 1961. Then again in High school when I came forward at an alter call at an emotional Baptist service with other teens, and again in a Marine Corps chapel, just before I was deployed to South Vietnam. They were all emotional moments and I felt alive and glorified each time. But we’re all sinners and life takes hold of us and we stray.

There is, of course no problem with being born again. Catholics may not refer to it that way, but we believe in it in our own way. In the protestant church, an alter call is an interesting concept. The choir sings, the pastor makes an inspiring sermon, he calls for all who are touched by the grace of Christ to come to the alter and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Two or three, sometimes a dozen or more people approach the front of the church and emotionally proclaim their acceptance if Jesus while the Pastor and the congregation pray over them. It really is an inspiring and beautiful moment. It completely changes the life of a true believer for the best and I have many friends who are devout born again Christians in the truest sense. It is often that alter call that they relate to as the day they were born again into the grace of Jesus Christ.

So why aren’t Catholics “born again”? Why do you think they are not? The experience I had at Easter Vigil, 2010, when I was confirmed into the Catholic Church was beyond all the emotions I felt combined from all of my past experiences. To accept the Lord once again, not only into my life but in the ultimate sacrament of the Eucharist was beyond words. To fully understand the words Christ spoke at the last supper, “This IS My body… This IS My blood,” and to completely understand their true meaning is the closest we will get to heaven in our mortal lives.

In the Catholic Church, we have an alter call EVERY DAY at daily mass if we choose to attend and of course on Sunday. And each time we are called to the alter, EVERYONE comes and accepts Jesus all over again, day after day, week after week, year after year. We don’t do it once and expect our lives to be miraculously transformed forever, but we approach the alter at every mass, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are born again every single time and we work at being worthy to accept the sacrifice He made on the cross for every one of us. It is profound, it is real and it is our most humbling honor to be given this gift continuously in our lives.

We believe that we are born once into this world and born into the unified church of Christ at our baptism, then confirmed into the church at an age of reason and understanding. Therefore you can’t really be born again, but we’re only talking semantics here. At every Eucharist we renew our faith and communion with the Lord and in that sense our lives are renewed in Christ at every mass.

I’m a skeptic. I question everything. Why do we do this? Why do we believe that? I often found that my Baptist or Presbyterian Pastors could not logically answer every question I had. I married a Catholic girl. A cradle Catholic born into a Catholic family, but we respected each other’s beliefs and neither made an effort to change the other. We attended Catholic and Presbyterian services together and I had occasion to question those things I did not understand about the Catholic Church. Here is what I was amazed to find: There was not a question I could pose that did not have a solid answer based on the traditions and teachings of the church, fully backed by a strong foundation in the understanding of the scriptures. Test it. Keep asking, but try and get past the emotions of both sides in posts such as these. You may be surprised to learn some of these truths. I’m still learning. I’m not a theologian, just a man who has found the truth of the Church that Christ himself founded for us. Keep questioning, keep searching and may the peace of Christ be with you always…

Michael Hager
a Born Again Catholic… and again, and again, and again…

 

[rfournier103]

Want to talk about “Born Again”? How about this?

I was born to my earthly mother 38 years ago. Just over one month later I was BORN AGAIN through the Sacrament of Baptism. Freed of Original Sin, I was accepted into “Christ’s Camp”; as opposed to the camp of Satan. You’re either in one camp or the other, right?

And for good measure, as seen in Acts 8:14-7 and Acts19:5-6, I recieved the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation, where I recieved the Holy Spirit AND officially, consciously, willingly, and wholeheartedly accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. Just like in the Bible. :dancing:

Question: How many times must a Christian be born again? Answer: You tell me…

 

[fbl9]

When are you born again?
Catholics beleive it happens at baptism.Whether it be when one is an infant or adult.
Why does one need to be born again?
Catholics believe one needs to be born again cause they are dead due to orginal sin.
How do you repent of original sin

I was born again august 19 1974 at 3 am in the morning.

In John chapter 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. Ephesions 1 :1-5 shows us that we are considered by God to be dead in trespasses and in sins. When a person is born again they are made alive unto God.

Before I recieved Christ as my saviour I came to the place in my life that I knew that I was a sinner and that I was going to hell. I also knew that there was nothing that I could do to save myself, even if I lived a good life and went to church. I knew that it wouldnt help. I was under such conviction. I knew I was going to hell if I died. I remembered a preacher saying if you wanted to be saved read the book of John and it would tell you how. I also remembered a scripture that said seek and ye shall find . This is how I found salvation. Or better said it is how the Lord saved me.

Before one is born again there is a time that they realise that they are not saved. Unless they can come to the place that they are lost and a sinner in need of God’s saveing grace they will never be born again. Next they go through a process of repentance where they turn from their sins and cry out to God for Him to save them from their sins. God hears their prayer in His time. I will add this here that they even though they are turning away from there sins they do not escape them, only God can set them free from them. This prosess has no set length of time That is up to God as to how long it takes.

After I was born again my whole life changed I knew that God had forgiven me of my sins For the first time in my life I had peace. I knew that I was saved and going to heaven. I was brought into a relationship with God through Jesus His son where when I called Him Father it was real. My whole life changed after that point. I was different from the inside I was a new person. I no longer wanted to live in sin. I actually despised them and I found myself free of them. I also had such a hunger for God’s word and prayer. I even loved going to church services something that I used to not like. I couldnt get enough of God I fell in love with Him over and over again and I have never been the same since.

I hope this give an answer to your questions.

Is there anything like this in the Catholic church ? Have any of you ever had something like that happen in your life. ?

Thanks
now could you answer how you repented of orginal sin?
How did you repent of something you did not commit? But were born with it.

 

[Cranch]

To accept the Lord once again, not only into my life but in the ultimate sacrament of the Eucharist was beyond words. To fully understand the words Christ spoke at the last supper, “This IS My body… This IS My blood,” and to completely understand their true meaning is the closest we will get to heaven in our mortal lives.

In the Catholic Church, we have an alter call EVERY DAY at daily mass if we choose to attend and of course on Sunday. And each time we are called to the alter, EVERYONE comes and accepts Jesus all over again, day after day, week after week, year after year. We don’t do it once and expect our lives to be miraculously transformed forever, but we approach the alter at every mass, accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are born again every single time and we work at being worthy to accept the sacrifice He made on the cross for every one of us. It is profound, it is real and it is our most humbling honor to be given this gift continuously in our lives.

Beautifully put!. Thank you!

 

[michaelhager]

Yes, they do like to say that.

…and I like to turn it right back on them. Ticks 'em off something fierce, because they know I’m right–after I spell it out for them.

E.g.–Sola Scriptura itself–man made ‘turdition’. Same with Sola Fide.

Neither are in the Bible, or otherwise biblical concepts. They are fabrications/contortions manufactued by ‘St. Marty’ (Luther), et. al. IOW: Men. These are their ‘turditions’ of men.

My wife is protestant. I enjoy ‘arguing’–or, as I prefer to think of it–“comparing and contrasting differences in our respective perspectives and bases of the Faith”.

FWIW: My wife doesn’t enjoy these exchanges anymore; nor do any members of her family–many of whom are ‘pastors’.

…and that would be because it’s hard to argue with the Truth.

I would like to suggest that Protestants are not the enemy. They are in fact, for the most part, fellow Christians. I might further suggest that the best way to convince them of your truths would be through gentle persuasion and intelligent answers, not bad mouthing their beliefs, and certainly not belittling them in any way. As soon as you accuse someone of closed mindedness, your own mind has been closed to the possibility of making your point in an intelligent manner. Before you post negative comments, pray on what you intend to get across, and write it in a way that you would be proud to show Jesus…

God bless you for standing up for your beliefs, now show everyone that you actually believe and live what you profess.

May the peace of Christ be in you.

 

[m3rc3d3s190]

yes because the peopel whorshipped it and named it, thus having another god. the statues in the Church are not another god. no catholic treats the statues as another god so they are not idols get it yet.

Not sure what “get it yet” means but it looks like you haven’t got it and never will. Stop following the traditions of men, and stop creating images. Did you or did you not read Exodus 20:4?

 

[michaelhager]

When are you born again?
Catholics beleive it happens at baptism.Whether it be when one is an infant or adult.
Why does one need to be born again?
Catholics believe one needs to be born again cause they are dead due to orginal sin.
How do you repent of original sin

You cannot repent of original sin. Neither Catholic or Protestant. That is why Christ died on the cross. For our sin.
hope 7:

I was born again august 19 1974 at 3 am in the morning.

In John chapter 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God. Ephesions 1 :1-5 shows us that we are considered by God to be dead in trespasses and in sins. When a person is born again they are made alive unto God.

Before I recieved Christ as my saviour I came to the place in my life that I knew that I was a sinner and that I was going to hell. I also knew that there was nothing that I could do to save myself, even if I lived a good life and went to church. I knew that it wouldnt help. I was under such conviction. I knew I was going to hell if I died. I remembered a preacher saying if you wanted to be saved read the book of John and it would tell you how. I also remembered a scripture that said seek and ye shall find . This is how I found salvation. Or better said it is how the Lord saved me.

Before one is born again there is a time that they realise that they are not saved. Unless they can come to the place that they are lost and a sinner in need of God’s saveing grace they will never be born again. Next they go through a process of repentance where they turn from their sins and cry out to God for Him to save them from their sins. God hears their prayer in His time. I will add this here that they even though they are turning away from there sins they do not escape them, only God can set them free from them. This prosess has no set length of time That is up to God as to how long it takes.

After I was born again my whole life changed I knew that God had forgiven me of my sins For the first time in my life I had peace. I knew that I was saved and going to heaven. I was brought into a relationship with God through Jesus His son where when I called Him Father it was real. My whole life changed after that point. I was different from the inside I was a new person. I no longer wanted to live in sin. I actually despised them and I found myself free of them. I also had such a hunger for God’s word and prayer. I even loved going to church services something that I used to not like. I couldnt get enough of God I fell in love with Him over and over again and I have never been the same since.

I hope this give an answer to your questions.

Beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. God truly is great and gracious in his love and when we return that love, we come to feel the full joy of His grace.
hope 7:

Is there anything like this in the Catholic church ? Have any of you ever had something like that happen in your life. ?

Absolutely, all the time. Spend a weekend with 65 teens at a retreat, playing games, swimming, participating in skits, lessons and crafts and be amazed when they tell you that their favorite part of the weekend was adoration.

Visit their Facebook pages and read the scriptures they post and the prayer requests they respond to.

Come to mass and accept the sacrament of the true body and blood of Jesus Christ in the full belief of its truth.

Kneel before the Lord in adoration and feel the true and real presence of our God before you, beside you and inside you.

Go beyond what you might think of as the rules enforced by the church and understand them as the beautiful opportunities, nay, the precious gifts we are given to fully commune with our Lord. Yes, this happens to us all the time.

Michael Hager

 

[m3rc3d3s190]

E.g.–Sola Scriptura itself–man made ‘turdition’. Same with Sola Fide.

Neither are in the Bible, or otherwise biblical concepts. They are fabrications/contortions manufactued by ‘St. Marty’ (Luther), et. al. IOW: Men. These are their ‘turditions’ of men.

This is a fascinating insight, thank you for sharing. Can you show me where the “office” of the pope is in the Bible? In fact, where is “pope” mentioned? Do you know when Mary was last mentioned? What made her attain her current position? The answers are all based on fabrications/contortions. If you were to examine specific commands and check whether they are being followed by the so-called “church founded by Christ,” why not look at Mark 9:42? Jesus said “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” When was the last time you saw a young child valued more than the reputation of your church? Where did the tradition of turning a blind eye come from?

 

[MaryT777]

It is strange how you say that the mind of protestants are closed and that it is imposible for them to come to know the truth abput the catholic church.

Earlier I madre a post in this thread talking about being born again but no one wants to address this or talk about this. They do not want to even know what it is or is it for them. but when it comes to argueing about statues the pope infant baptism and so on this is all that I have found that the catholics on this forum want to do . Its like they need to prove themselves right and not hear anything that I am trying to say.I have found it extremely hard and all but impossible to really have any kind of a positive discussion about being born again which is really the key issue for protestants.

Mary: Please share. Being “born again” is not the key issue for all protestants.
Many practice infant baptism. Some teach that you can be born again and then sin enough and be “backslidden” The Protestant Church is not one Protestant Church it is divided into thousands of sects. Then add to the confusion of it all there is dissent even among Lutherans; divided into synods, LCMS ELCA, WELS etc.

So we just don’t always know what a Protestant says when they say they are born again and if that’s permanent or can be lost etc.
We are not trying to be unkind
Mary.

 

[chero23]

Not sure what “get it yet” means but it looks like you haven’t got it and never will. Stop following the traditions of men, and stop creating images. Did you or did you not read Exodus 20:4?

You seem the be so obsessed on your argument of us Catholics idolizing statues and idols. You know St. Luke, the one who has writtings in the New Testament which you and I read, made a statue, of the Virgin Mary and Jesus as a baby. Ironically, Protestants like yourself that this is wrong, yet you read St. Luke in the bible. According to you, St. Luke is breaking a big law, yet why is his writtings in the Bible, if he was idolizing?

 

[m3rc3d3s190]

The Protestant Church is not one Protestant Church it is divided into thousands of sects. Then add to the confusion of it all there is dissent even among Lutherans; divided into synods, LCMS ELCA, WELS etc.

So we just don’t always know what a Protestant says when they say they are born again and if that’s permanent or can be lost etc.
We are not trying to be unkind
Mary.

This is a great post! There are “thousands of sects” in Christians, and the Roman Catholic church is 100% united, or so you think. Reality is always different. Please give me your thoughts on the holy prepuce. Why exactly was it venerated, and was it reasonable to do so? What about La Santa Muerte? Are the folks who venerate that saint in communion with your church or not? If they are not, do you think this suggests that there are sects in the Roman church as well? What about Saint Guinefort? How did this saint become a saint in the first place? When praying to a saint who is later invalidated, what happens to the so-called “faithful”? Any thoughts about Jose Rizal, or have you not heard about him? When people worship Jose Rizal as God, are they in communion with your flavor of Catholicism? It would also help for you to reflect on the validity of women as priests, and consider the fact that some Roman priests accept it while the majority do not. Apparently, sects are more common in your church than you knew.

And as far as “thousands of sects” in Christianity is concerned, you probably need to do some introspection at this point and ask why the Roman church persecuted people whose beliefs were different from its pagan beliefs. Jesus’ own disciple asked “Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us,” and Jesus said “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50). Not sure when Jesus said to burn people at the stake but that’s what the Roman church did and when that happened, groups of people separated and worshiped in secret, and the so-called “sects” that you refer to were born.

 

[m3rc3d3s190]

You seem the be so obsessed on your argument of us Catholics idolizing statues and idols. You know St. Luke, the one who has writtings in the New Testament which you and I read, made a statue, of the Virgin Mary and Jesus as a baby. Ironically, Protestants like yourself that this is wrong, yet you read St. Luke in the bible. According to you, St. Luke is breaking a big law, yet why is his writtings in the Bible, if he was idolizing?

Luke did no such thing. Please don’t pamper your beliefs with erroneous notions about what actually happened and what your church tells you to believe. Luke knew about Exodus 20:4 and made no such statue. Please tell me when Mary was last mentioned in the Bible (If you know).

 

[chero23]

Luke did no such thing. Please don’t pamper your beliefs with erroneous notions about what actually happened and what your church tells you to believe. Luke knew about Exodus 20:4 and made no such statue. Please tell me when Mary was last mentioned in the Bible (If you know).

Look at your history man, Protestants think that all of sudden when their Pastor started their congregation Christianity picked up again. Overthrowing what their early Chuch Fathers were doing, before we were given the new Testament.Go to google man, put the Black Madonna of Częstochowa, and guess who made it, St. Luke. This is one of the reasons why he is the Patron Saints of Artists
Referring to our Mother, be careful in the way you speak of her, remember that’s God Mother, he told us to Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother, he said that in both Old and New Testament, so have respect for her. In reference to were she appears, I’m going to give you several verses, that happened after Jesus Crucifixation
The Most common one is Revelation 12:! (read that several times carefully man) look at Acts 1:12, read how their picking a succesor for Judas were Peter is leading the meeting, read the names of who was there, the Apostles and Mary the Mother of God. Isn’t that ironic man? Open up your heart to Virgin Mary man, Jesus gave he to all of us when he was at the cross, Jesus said I’m leaving her to you. She is not at the same level as God, but man guess what, Jesus will never turn down his mom.