Baptist & Catholic - I need help!

[Cathhsmom]

I think that many Baptists have a misimpression of Catholics and mass. Invite your friend to Mass with you. I know that one of my friends was questioning me about the Catholic church. She had been told that we don’t read the Bible, and all kinds of other things. Another friend and I invited her to come to Mass with us and see what we do. She was shocked at how much of the Bible we actually hear at mass. She couldn’t believe how other people had told her that we don’t read the Bible when we have 4 different passages read at every Sunday Mass. It really opened her eyes to questioning the other things that had been told to her. She is now in the RCIA program and will be joining the church this Easter Vigil with her family. At 1st, she didn’t think her dh would even step into a Catholic church, but not only did he, but he decided to join with her and 2 of their 3 kids. The oldest is married and is thinking about joining next year with her husband. Now, I am not saying that because of me, she decided to join the church. I know that it was totally God. We were just an instrument that He used to help our friend and her family. I am grateful that we knew enough to answer her questions and that we were humble enough to say that we didn’t know but would find them for her. It helped us all to grow in our relationship with God and His church.

My point is don’t be scared off. Many people have been told things and don’t know the truth. You can be that person that can answer some of those questions. We did this through many emails. I highly recommend that way because they can articulate the question in full and you have a record of what it is that they think. Then you can look it up specifically if you don’t know the answer. I found the following websites to be good sources of information: www.scripturecatholic.com , www.catholic.com , www.usccb.org , and www.ewtn.com . (EWTN may be .org ) I really like the EWTN audio library where you can download mp3 files for free. They have a program called The Journey Home hosted by Marcus Grodi. They have his programs available for audio download. He has had many Baptists on his show that have converted to Catholocism. Some of them are also former preachers. They are a good starting point since they talk about how they came to realize the truth about the Catholic church.

Other resources would be some good books on apologetics and convert stories, since they tend to give the Biblical support for their change. My top picks would be *Surprised By Truth I, II, and/or III, Born Fundamentalist Born Again Catholic, Rome Sweet Home, *and *Beginning Apologetics *.

 

[steve_b]

Well, I am a c

atholic, baptized catholic, done communion etc. I can say that I am trying to become devout because I love my faith as much as the next person.

But recently one of my best friends who is a Baptist, got into a debate with me about the Catholic** c**hurch and the Baptist Church.

And He got pretty snappy about it, he told me that the Catholic** c**hurch is only partly correct, and that we ignore the bible, and only follow man made traditions and care only about Mary *(after he told me that she was not a virgin after having Jesus, WHICH IS NOT TRUE!!) *. I immediately defended my faith, and I was not happy with the discussion.

So I was wondering, is the baptist church necessarily right? Because he says he is a committed christian and he seems like it, do you think his church is right?

I love the catholic church but it’s seems like he seems to be saying that we are not 100% authentic which makes me nervous. Can someone help me?

What is the difference between Baptist and Catholic?

If you get into any debate, no matter the subject, you need to know the subject…agreed? Don’t assume because you are Catholic that you are prepared to defend the faith you profess. If you don’t know how to defend your faith, it’s best to say to your friend, give me your objections and I’ll get back to you. Don’t try and wing it, you will get frustrated and it will go badly especially if the one you’re debating is better prepared than you are.

Your Baptist friend by definition is following a tradition that not only is the tradition of men, but invented out of dissent by one man John Smyth in the 17th century. And from the dissent of one man, the Baptists further became a plethora of fractured and different dissenting Baptist congregations. Notice I didn’t say church. They aren’t a church. There is only ONE Church. That’s the Catholic Church. Division and dissent leading to fracturing the Church is an activity soundly condemned by Paul. [Rm 16:17…, Gal 5:19…]

If he says he is a committed Baptist, then know intimately and with conviction why you are Catholic. Catholics are the first Christians. The Catholic Church wasn’t started in the 17th century it was started in the 1st, by Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church has all the promises in scripture given to her. Not even the gates of hell will prevail against her. Believe it.

 

[lostandconfused]

So I was wondering, is the baptist church necessarily right? Because he says he is a committed christian and he seems like it, do you think his church is right?

I will add, I dont know if theyre super right, but theyre certainly not wrong. They ARE committed to Christ and theyre happy…theyre not anymore wrong than we are, I think. We have very specific beliefs, and they do too. But we’re all brothers in Christ, so definately don’t think that there is a rightness that you have to establish.

I actually don’t remember ever hearing much about the Catholic church in any Baptist church. Sure, they do neglect to teach church history, but that may be because there would be an admittance that they broke from the Catholic church. The teachings I did hear was that Catholics are certainly going to heaven. There was certainly some who looked down on Catholics for their lack of Bible knowledge, but that’s primarily because they don’t know the mass or the religion. Much like you don’t know theirs.

I will say, yes youre right about Christians not worrying about each other, I agree. And all Baptist churches arent the same, I definately agree. I attended one when I was young that did actually talk about Catholics. I have had Baptists come to me (that were my friends and shouldve known better about my beliefs) and have treated me exactly how I explained above.

The only reason why I replied is because I know quite a bit from personal experience. Is everything the same across the board? Of course not, but it doesnt make a variety of (name removed by moderator)uts invalid.

Definitely, OP, as said above and here, I completely agree, theres no total rightness or wrongness, (while everyone is going to say “WERE the RIGHT ones!”) we all have our own opinions and our notions of “right” but at the end of the day we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[DallasCatholic]

Just because Baptists aren’t completely right doesn’t mean they can’t be committed Christians.
There are many differences between Catholics and Baptists. Beliefs vary between Baptists, this is just from what I know by talking to one of my Baptist friends.

• Baptists believe in using the Bible only (sola scriptura, some believe in prima scriptura) and in Bible freedom, that each individual can choose to interpret the Bible for themselves
• they believe only adult believers should be baptized because infant baptism is unbiblical; emphasize baptism quite a bit. Baptism is for those who are saved.
• no higher authority or hierarchy, each congregation decides on doctrine and administration
• Faith alone

There’s a lot of good articles on this site (catholic.com) you can read about Catholicism… it might help you when discussing with your friend

I would highly recommend the advice of Sedidomi. Ask your friend to choose one position and dive deeply into that one. Not all Baptists believe the same thing…my wife is Baptist and her Church doesn not hold to either Sola Scriptura or Sola Fide. What I have found in discussions with my wife is that it is important to establish a common vocabulary first. So many of the words used by Baptists or Catholics are loaded with baggage. Example: Mortal sin, my wife at first insisted that Catholics were wrong about Mortal sin. I then walked through an exercise with the Bible where I showed her (in scripture) that there was indeed sin that could cause one to lose their salvation…then it was easy to make the connection: sin that causes one to lose their salvation = Mortal Sin…etc. When we got through and defined all these words without the emotional baggage we have found there is much more in common then she thought. There are still some differrences but I am working on those.

 

[Erich]

I like “An Interactive Detective Story”

 

[jmcrae]

Where does Gods word say that peter was pope. thanks

John 21:15-19 shows that Peter was the chief Shepherd, or highest leader, of Christ’s Church, and was given the responsibility for every Christian soul on earth, just as every Pope since then has been, up to and including Pope Benedict XVI.

All of our Catholic Popes trace their succession back to St. Peter in an unbroken line.

 

[kage_ar]

What is the difference between Baptist and Catholic?

Catholics can say “Hello” to each other in the liquor store.

 

[jmcrae]

Catholics can say “Hello” to each other in the liquor store.

 

[pismopal]

Catholics can say “Hello” to each other in the liquor store.

Thanks for that…I loved it! When you go fishing with a Baptist friend you need to take another Baptist along…otherwise your friend will drink all of your beer!

HelloImJohn

First…your friend is not only capable of being wrong…he is in this case very wrong. I am a convert from that denomination of non Catholics and I am very glad to have found the Church of the fullness of truth…of all the Sacraments…the Church that doesn’t blow in the wind of popular opinion…the Church that welcomes sinners and will take you back no matter what…the Church founded by Christ and protected for all time…even against the sin of those among us in the Church who should know better. Your so called friend is an anti Catholic who is spouting that stuff because of ignorance and a predudice that comes from NOT knowing the truth. You can love that person and educate him at the same time but don’t you fall into that trap they set. " Once saved always saved" is a Baptist invention and that alone gives you reason to stay clear. Ask your friend for a copy of the “Catechism of the Baptist Church”. He will not have one because there is no such thing. You, however can present him with a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and ask him to read it along with the Bible citations in support of the Catechism. That will keep him busy for quite awhile and maybe knock the scales from his eyes. You don’t need your friend at this time…he needs you.

 

[rinnie]

It does not. ?

Peace,
David

Actually yes it does. If you look back you will see that Peter is translated to Papa which is translated to Pope. There you go. Peter indeed means Pope!

 

[pnewton]

This is my favorite in your situation:

Ask him if we do not have some authority, then what should we follow? The obvious answer is the Bible. Ask him what else. The answer is that there is not authority except the Bible. The Bible for Baptists and most Protestants is the one authority.

Then ask him to show you where in the Bible this most important of questions is answered.

 

[jmcrae]

Actually yes it does. If you look back you will see that Peter is translated to Papa which is translated to Pope. There you go. Peter indeed means Pope!

“Peter” means “Rock.” “Pope” means “Papa” - the head of the family.

Peter and his successors are the head of God’s family on earth; that’s why he is called the Pope, or “Papa.”