Ask A Baptist Pastor

[BeeCatholic]

I don’t believe that a saint is God or has the powers of God. For anyone to imply that I do is unfounded.

As to the devotion to (not worship of) Mary, it was explained to me like this: Say you want to go out on Saturday night, but your not sure if your dad will let you because last week you were late. So you go to your grandmother. She is, after all, your father’s mother. She knows better than anyone else how many times he was late, or lied as a child, or whatever. You plead your case, of course promising that this time you will watch the clock and not be a second late. Grandma goes off to talk to dad who then lets you go.
Before you go off on Jesus not being like your earthly father and having never sinned, please remember this is just an example for those of us who are not great theologians. The point is, that is how most Catholics basically view Mary. If she can talk Jesus into turning water into wine, she would probably be pretty good about asking Him to help me see my children turn into good God-fearing adults. It is basically the same with the saints. God let the saints see his miracles. Why would he not let them intercede on my behalf? BTW, to say that a saint can’t hear the petitions of everyone all over the world at once is silly. Do you really think that everyone all over the world is petitioning one saint at the same time?
BeeCatholic

 

[CroCatholic]

I grow weary of protestants… Look! We all know that protestantism was created for lazy catholics…Don’t like your wife? Create a religion so you can divorce her. Want to go to heaven and still “knock off” that pesky neighbor? Just accept Jesus as your savior! As long as you’ve done that, you’re A-OK! Got Pope envy? Become Martin Luther and persuade people that they should listen to you cause your hat is cooler than the Pope’s…

I say that Illinois should secede from the States. You should remove 1/3 of the text contained in the constitution becuase that part is fake and false anyway and then declare that you are the TRUE America and proceed to tell everyone else that if they don’t repent and accept it, one day they’ll end up in Canada and then it’ll be too late I’m Canadian (and catholic) so it’s okay! SEE CATHOLICS DO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!! (it’s easy to have one when you’re making fun of someone else huh?)

And as a side note, I know that this post contributes nothing in the means of constructivity to this conversation…but heck, even my eyeballs are dry after reading all of this!

 

[reformissionary]

I grow weary of protestants… Look! We all know that protestantism was created for lazy catholics…Don’t like your wife? Create a religion so you can divorce her. Want to go to heaven and still “knock off” that pesky neighbor? Just accept Jesus as your savior! As long as you’ve done that, you’re A-OK! Got Pope envy? Become Martin Luther and persuade people that they should listen to you cause your hat is cooler than the Pope’s…

I say that Illinois should secede from the States. You should remove 1/3 of the text contained in the constitution becuase that part is fake and false anyway and then declare that you are the TRUE America and proceed to tell everyone else that if they don’t repent and accept it, one day they’ll end up in Canada and then it’ll be too late I’m Canadian (and catholic) so it’s okay! SEE CATHOLICS DO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!! (it’s easy to have one when you’re making fun of someone else huh?)

And as a side note, I know that this post contributes nothing in the means of constructivity to this conversation…but heck, even my eyeballs are dry after reading all of this!

Martin Luther’s hat was not cooler than the Pope’s. His haircut was, though.

 

[BeeCatholic]

“Because if I ask you there is presence required.”

Where is your presence? You are thousands of miles away from me in front of a computer screen. Oh, I see, you are present because I am “talking” to you. Wait, aren’t I “talking” to a Saint who has gone to Heaven? Aren’t I in my Lord’s presence? I can’t see his face before me. I can’t reach out and touch his hair.

Humbly,
BeeCatholic

 

[reformissionary]

“Time” is an earthly concept. They live in Eternity. Eternity is not “a really long time” - it is the absence of time. Events do not occur sequentially in Heaven. Those who are in Heaven can experience any event they want, in any order they want, for as long as they want, and in relation to time here on earth, it can be like one minute, or thousands of years.

No joke. I gasped at this answer. There is no evidence in Scripture that the human experience of eternity is anything but an unending succession of moments. You have indeed attributed to humans an element of deification. Your last sentence directly borrows from 2 Peter 3:8, which is an explanation for God’s experience of time, and gives it to humans. Wow. Just wow.

Can anyone point to where this is official Catholic teaching? I’d love to see this one on paper.

 

[davidv]

No joke. I gasped at this answer. There is no evidence in Scripture that the human experience of eternity is anything but an unending succession of moments. You have indeed attributed to humans an element of deification. Your last sentence directly borrows from 2 Peter 3:8, which is an explanation for God’s experience of time, and gives it to humans. Wow. Just wow.

Can anyone point to where this is official Catholic teaching? I’d love to see this one on paper.

One only has to go to scripture to see that what you were aghast at is not as far fetched as you imagine.
RSV:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him,” 1Cor 2:9

 

[CroCatholic]

Martin Luther’s hat was not cooler than the Pope’s. His haircut was, though.

His hat was more “with” the times than the pope’s

I know it’s not easy in here…I’m still waitng for some clincher that’s going to make me at least think you guys are on to something… I know it’s hard becuase you’re being asked so many questions on different areas. Keep up the good work! And I’ll say a little prayer for you… Heck, I’ll even ask Mary to say a little prayer too, I know she won’t mind

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

That’s a great question and I appreciate you asking it. I’ll answer, and I’d like you to answer your own question for me too. What would it take for you to convert to Protestantism?

There are many hangups for me. I imagine a number of those would have to be dealt with sufficiently.

It’s Scripture that keeps Protestants from Catholicism. So I’d have to see the entire system of Popes and Catholic leadership from one brief passage in Mt 16. I’d have to see Scripture pointing to an equal authority outside itself. I’d have to see praying to Saints from Scripture. I’d have to see baptizing infants in Scripture. I’d have to see real presence from Scripture. Etc.

Well…I do see all those in scripture. What would it take me to convert to Protestanism…scripture…proof that your church is right…after Luther…which I just don’t see. Oh–wait…been there done that…bought the T-shirt…not going back!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

How can they hear everyone from around the world at the same time? How can they possibly bring all those petitions to Jesus? You are giving them attributes that are only of God. Not even Satan can be given those.

Ahhh…but Satan does know scripture…and he has his own “personal” interpretation…

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

We have-thats why we are Catholic.

 

[reformissionary]

His hat was more “with” the times than the pope’s

I know it’s not easy in here…I’m still waitng for some clincher that’s going to make me at least think you guys are on to something… I know it’s hard becuase you’re being asked so many questions on different areas. Keep up the good work! And I’ll say a little prayer for you… Heck, I’ll even ask Mary to say a little prayer too, I know she won’t mind

Knock yourself out. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[jmcrae]

No joke. I gasped at this answer. There is no evidence in Scripture that the human experience of eternity is anything but an unending succession of moments.

I almost get the feeling that you get your concept of Heaven from “Simpsons” cartoons (people standing around on clouds, playing harps); not from the Bible.

You have indeed attributed to humans an element of deification.

Not at all. The attributes of the Deity are: He has no creator; He creates from nothing; He created all that is seen and unseen; He is the source of every good thing and every blessing; He is three persons in one God.

These are the things that no human being will ever be, or possess. The rest of it, God means to share with us, in Heaven.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Catholics, please take note. I responded honestly and Linda has refused to answer in any meaningful way the same question she asked me.

I fail to see how she did not answer in a meaningful way. I think it is in a way that YOU did not want to hear. And in one you refuse to believe.

 

[jmcrae]

Well…I do see all those in scripture. What would it take me to convert to Protestanism…scripture…proof that your church is right…after Luther…which I just don’t see. Oh–wait…been there done that…bought the T-shirt…not going back!

Me, too. I looked at every religion, compared them all to what I was reading in the Bible, and realized that there were only two possibilities - the Plymouth Brethren (every man for himself and his family) or the Catholic Church. Once I started really looking at history, the Plymouth Brethren got knocked out of the race, which left only the Catholic Church - and so here I am.

 

[ConvertHereYay]

I grow weary of protestants… Look! We all know that protestantism was created for lazy catholics…Don’t like your wife? Create a religion so you can divorce her. Want to go to heaven and still “knock off” that pesky neighbor? Just accept Jesus as your savior! As long as you’ve done that, you’re A-OK! Got Pope envy? Become Martin Luther and persuade people that they should listen to you cause your hat is cooler than the Pope’s…

I say that Illinois should secede from the States. You should remove 1/3 of the text contained in the constitution becuase that part is fake and false anyway and then declare that you are the TRUE America and proceed to tell everyone else that if they don’t repent and accept it, one day they’ll end up in Canada and then it’ll be too late I’m Canadian (and catholic) so it’s okay! SEE CATHOLICS DO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!! (it’s easy to have one when you’re making fun of someone else huh?)

And as a side note, I know that this post contributes nothing in the means of constructivity to this conversation…but heck, even my eyeballs are dry after reading all of this!

So funny! Yes! Catholics can have a sense of humor! I’m so glad I converted shortly before starting undergraduate university. We college Catholics studied, prayed, and partied hard (within moderation). I still have fond memories of those Easter, St Patrick’s, patron saint parties. Oh what fun. I’m not even Irish.

 

[reformissionary]

I almost get the feeling that you get your concept of Heaven from “Simpsons” cartoons (people standing around on clouds, playing harps); not from the Bible.

Not even close. Revelation says there will be a new heavens and new earth on which we will live in resurrected bodies forever. According to this thread we can go anywhere at any time there, since it’s timeless.

Not at all. The attributes of the Deity are: He has no creator; He creates from nothing; He created all that is seen and unseen; He is the source of every good thing and every blessing; He is three persons in one God.

Some of those are attributes. Some are not. You don’t get to pick and choose what attributes God gives us in His likeness. One that we don’t get is timelessness. Rev 22:2 is one example of how successive moments will be a necessary part.

 

[reformissionary]

I fail to see how she did not answer in a meaningful way. I think it is in a way that YOU did not want to hear. And in one you refuse to believe.

No, she simply didn’t answer it.

 

[Byzman]

How can they hear everyone from around the world at the same time? How can they possibly bring all those petitions to Jesus? You are giving them attributes that are only of God. Not even Satan can be given those.

So are you saying that Satan can only tempt one person at a time?

 

[Byzman]

I do say they aren’t God-breathed. But guess what, we have 66 in agreement that compose nearly all of our theology.

So, where does your belief in the Trinity come from, which book? By the way, there are Oneness Pentecostals who dont believe in the Trinity, yet claimed to be guided by the Holy Spirit and use the same 66 books to prove their doctrine.

 

[reformissionary]

So, where does your belief in the Trinity come from, which book?

Lots of places. Mt 28, is one example.

By the way, there are Oneness Pentecostals who dont believe in the Trinity, yet claimed to be guided by the Holy Spirit and use the same 66 books to prove their doctrine.

Yeah, they are heretics.