Behavior of average Evangelical vs. Catholic

[Mannyfit75]

I don’t get what "less passionate’ means.
Passion is all well and good but emotional responses to religion only takes one so far. Those MegaChurches seem to have alot of passion but how long does it last?

It will die out

 

[deb1]

I don’t get what "less passionate’ means.
Passion is all well and good but emotional responses to religion only takes one so far. Those MegaChurches seem to have alot of passion but how long does it last?

I am not saying that megachurches are cults. Let me repeat that before I go any further, megachurches and Protestants are not cults.

Various religions and cults have members who have strong religious experiences and are very passionate. Passion and emotion does not equal truth.

I saw a program on the celebrity fad of the Kabbalah. And the people involved in the services acted exactly as some churches do today. They were emotional and weeping with joy.

If you watch shows on cults you will see people who are very emotional and are very passionate in their believes.

Notice that the leader of Iran has a peaceful look on his face and is always smiling.

Yes, the Holy SPirit can create great and deep emotions in a human being. I, myself, have cried during Mass but emotions and dedication to a cause does not make that cause correct.

 

[santaro75]

Most of the Catholics that do not believe do take the eucharist. Shouldn’t that by nature of what it is, regardless of what you believe it is, produce fruit in Catholics? Just a thought i had at Mass

 

[Syele]

By “average” I have to simply go by the people I know who claim to be “Catholic” or “Christian but not Catholic”. The average Catholic I know (not including this forum) Was Baptised Catholic, Attends Mass for Christmas, Ash Wednesday, and Easter. Some were confirmed, some weren’t. I have met only one who could talk about what they believe like those on this forum. The only reason I know the rest are Catholic is because they a) told me or b) they mentioned Ash Wednesday. None of them live a particulary “Christian” lifestyle. As far as The Protestants, People I know tend to either claim they are Christians and at least try to act like it or they don’t claim Christianity at all.

 

[lak611]

Most of the Catholics that do not believe do take the eucharist.

That’s one of the differences I’ve noticed between Catholics and Evangelicals. Catholics have more of a tendency to be “cafeteria”, and only go to Mass Christmas and Easter, go to Communion without Confession, etc. Evangelicals typically do not even bother with church unless they are fervent in their beliefs.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Most of the Catholics that do not believe do take the eucharist. Shouldn’t that by nature of what it is, regardless of what you believe it is, produce fruit in Catholics? Just a thought i had at Mass

Hi,
If anyone takes the Eucharist and does not believe or has unrepented sin that is considred blasphemous I think the Scripture says something like drinking to their own damnation. I would say those catholics you are talking about will be in big trouble with God!!

P.S. Just for the record this evangelical thinks the same thing about our communion.

 

[Julianna]

That’s one of the differences I’ve noticed between Catholics and Evangelicals. Catholics have more of a tendency to be “cafeteria”, and only go to Mass Christmas and Easter, go to Communion without Confession, etc. Evangelicals typically do not even bother with church unless they are fervent in their beliefs.

Evangelicals will also “church shop”. You may see a family at Bible Beleiving Evangelical church in 1999, and in 2003, they might be at Temple Believing Evangelical church and in 2006, they might be attending Tabernacle Believing Evangelical church…remember they “hire” their preachers. If that particular preacher ticks off a large group of the fellowship…he’s outta there…if he ticks off a small group of the fellowship…that group leaves and goes somewhere else.

In the case of the “cafeteria” Catholic who shows up Christmas, Easter, etc…he/she/family goes to the “universal” Catholic Church, usually in the area where they live. The mass may be NO, TLM, or the masses I have heard so much about considered liberal, but there is a priest, appointed by the Bishop…the Eucharist is there and as Catholic is engrained in the brain…this is where the “cafeteria” Catholic is called to be. I dislike the term, but I will use it as it is done here.

 

[mozart-250]

I
I admit that I am not open minded about Evangelicals and feel they have Anti-Catholic agenda. I also have a stereotypical view that most Evangelical view the Pope as the Anti-Christ, and that we worship Mary (which none of the claims is true).

You do have a stereotypical view.

The fact is that Evangelicals are divided on how they view Catholicism. The Pope as the anti-christ is just one wing (and a minority wing IMHO).

Google “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” and you will observe the division in EvangelicalLand on this.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Evangelicals will also “church shop”. You may see a family at Bible Beleiving Evangelical church in 1999, and in 2003, they might be at Temple Believing Evangelical church and in 2006, they might be attending Tabernacle Believing Evangelical church…remember they “hire” their preachers. If that particular preacher ticks off a large group of the fellowship…he’s outta there…if he ticks off a small group of the fellowship…that group leaves and goes somewhere else.

Hi,
I get what you are saying here.

In the case of the “cafeteria” Catholic who shows up Christmas, Easter, etc…he/she/family goes to the “universal” Catholic Church, usually in the area where they live. The mass may be NO, TLM, or the masses I have heard so much about considered liberal, but there is a priest, appointed by the Bishop…the Eucharist is there and as Catholic is engrained in the brain…this is where the “cafeteria” Catholic is called to be. I dislike the term, but I will use it as it is done here.

Im a little confused by your statement above Are you saying that it is ok to behave like this just because they are going to a CC that has a priest appointed by a Bishop and the other reasons you stated? Im sure you are not condoning this type of catholic–right?

 

[Julianna]

Im a little confused by your statement above Are you saying that it is ok to behave like this just because they are going to a CC that has a priest appointed by a Bishop and the other reasons you stated? Im sure you are not condoning this type of catholic–right?

no I am not condoning it…I am saying it “done”, because it is engrained in the brain…once a Catholic, always a Catholic. Now, keep in mind…oh please…that is just my OPINION.

 

[colliric]

Interesting that Evangelicals attend church more regularly than Catholics, even though for Catholics it is considered a sin.

How often do you attend church or synagogue – at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month, seldom, or never?

Gallop polls Based on interviews conducted 2002-2005

Weekly attendence, by denomination/religion

Prot: Church of Christ 68%
Mormon 67%
Prot: Pentecostal 65%
Prot: Other 61%
Prot: Southern Baptist 60%
Prot: Other Baptist 56%
Prot: Non-denominational 54%
Other Christian 51%
Other 47%
Catholic 45%
SAMPLE AVERAGE 44%
Prot: Methodist 44%
Prot: Presbyterian 44%
Prot: Lutheran 43%
Prot: None 37%
Prot: Episcopal 32%

The conclusions of this poll, by the way, are completely in line with those of the poll I listed above regarding “importance of faith”: Evangelical (and mormon) churches lead, Catholics in the middle and Episcopals at the bottom.

By the way, please don’t start questioning George Gallop’s credibility as a pollster, just because you don’t like the conclusions. I cannot think of a more respected pollster. And his Church, the Episcopal, always comes out worst, so you cannot charge him for any bias.

Again, I ask why Roman Catholics are less passionate about their faith, less interested in attending mass than their Evangelical brothers?

Why have you forgotten about the English?

This is a flawed poll, it puts catholics second last, and doesn’t even bother to mention Anglicanism which is arguably the biggest Non cathiolic denomination at least in my country. Talk about an anti-catholic anti-Anglican bias.

 

[lak611]

Why have you forgotten about the English?

This is a flawed poll, it puts catholics second last, and doesn’t even bother to mention Anglicanism which is arguably the biggest Non cathiolic denomination at least in my country. Talk about an anti-catholic anti-Anglican bias.

You’ll need to ask him where the polls were conducted. It may be a poll of USA churchgoers.

 

[Jennifer123]

JFM-

You are wrong about there not being a decline in Church attendance among mainstream denominations as a whole. I have heard this many times even among Protestant ministers, especially within the Youth Ministry.

christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/americanchurchcrisis.html
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_n26_v113/ai_18720688
ellisonresearch.com/ERPS%20II/Release%204%20Future.htm

I also find it interesting that you choose to not specifically answer or address my posts regarding Truth. That tells me what I need to know. I can tell you know very little about the Catholic Church, regardless of the fact that your wife is RC, so in my mind this thread is of little value.

Good luck JFM. I do appreciate your work and zeal for Jesus, and I hope someday you’ll know Him in the same way I do!!

 

[MariaG]

Well you may get a visit but it would likely be more geared toward why you don’t pay attention to announcements lol.

So True.

J4M seems to know so much about the Catholic Church but is completely ignorant about the many, many, many things the Catholic Church does in each parish and throughout the world.

He appears to think that Evangelicals are the only ones bearing any fruit for Christ, and is trying to reinvent the wheel that Catholic Christians have been moving along on for hundreds of years.

 

[Jennifer123]

Of course truth is important and clinging to the notion that, “at least we have the truth” is what a lot of mainline denominations that are in ineluctable decline seem to relish. I have even heard some liberal Episcopalian explain away declining membership by remarking, “well, the truth hurts”.

Anyway, I think the topic here is Christlikeness, not veracity. In that sense, mormons may be very Christlike without even being Christian.

John 14:6, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life. No one comes to me except by the Father”

John 17:20-21, “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”

Luke 11:17, But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. "

Veracity is *everything *- “Christlikeness” is Truth. Jesus doesn’t tell the truth, He is Truth.

Don’t confuse style with substance, friend.

Is it troubling that Church attendance is down among Catholics? Yes, of course. But one doesn’t have to look too hard at the world to see the writing on the wall. Catholics, having the “fullness of Truth” have a hard cross to bear. No contraception, no homosexuality, reconcilliation, etc. But all these things that appear to be “stumbling blocks” to the modern secular world are actually freeing us from our selfish bondage. But it is too easy today to think that man has all the answers, it is a promise of freedom as only the evil one could construct, and many people are falling for it unfortunately.

How can one Protestant preacher claim baptism saves, but another says it is only a symbol? Impossible.

 

[Della]

As for crossing the Tiber, that would be a complete disaster.
Leaving aside all theological differences, my style would not fit in with your local parish and you would ask me to leave in about 6 months.

I wouldn’t be so sure about that!

Month 1: I request 30 minutes of praise and worship time before mass. I bring in the rock group. The parish priest reluctantly complies.

Many parishes pray the Rosary before Mass, which takes from 15 to 30 minutes. Our parish has Perpetual Adoration, so we’re covered at all times, not just before Mass! Besides, the whole of the Mass is praise and worship, as it is. And there is LifeTeen Masses that have modern music.

Month 2: I request 30 minutes of “ministry time” after mass, during with time people are free to confess to one another, pray for one another, lay hands on one another and use whatever Spiritual gift they feel appropriate, within the guidelines set out by St. Paul in I Cor. 12 and 14.

This is what Catholic prayer groups and Lay Orders do. You could get involved in one of them.

Month 3: I request that we begin an Alpha course or other evangelistic outreach. I suggest that I lead it.

Our parish has evangelical outreach programs, too. Parishes are always looking for good people to serve.

Month 4: I request that we begin a number of programmes to help the needy, including drug abuse recovery and homosexual recovery. I bring in the guys to lead the groups.

We’ve got those, too!

Month 5: I get hundreds of little cards printed up with the name of our parish and directions on how to get there. Then I visit every street person, homosexual bar and prostitute in your town and invite them all to mass, same time as you and your family. We sit behind you and take up more than half the pews.

We have people who do this, as well. In my area, the Little Brothers of the Poor care for these people, as well as others in such ministries.

Month 6: You and the parish priest ask to visit me. My home. You suggest another local parish would be “more appropriate” for me. Your parish priest nods his head in approval.

It would never happen. He’d be there to see what other things you’d like to get involved in doing at his parish!

 

[Sixtus]

Originally Posted by JesusforMadrid

Again, I ask why Roman Catholics are less passionate about their faith, less interested in attending mass than their Evangelical brothers?

WHO SAYS SO!!!

I have rarely met an evangelical who is really moved by thier worship. Yes, some get passionate, some are very happy, but never seen a ‘flight from the alone to the Alone’!

Not saying it does not happen, just that I have never seen it!

See some catholics when they are about to receive our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist and then tell me we are less passionate

 

[Sixtus]

I do not know the answer, the reason why I am asking: how many evangelicals will change their lives accepting a poorer existence so that they can attend church worship on a daily basis?

I have never known an evangelical to go to church daily for worship. I am not saying it does not happen, just that I have never known it.

I have known of thousands of catholics who ‘will move heaven and earth’ to get to mass either daily, twice daily or at least four or five times a week

 

[JimO]

I voted that they are the same because behavior has more to do with how serious one takes one’s relationship with Jesus than where they go to church. I know devout people and hypocrites in all denominations.

 

[Sixtus]

Evangelical Christians have much to learn from us and us from them. It is a shame the obsession with the pope being the anti-Christ cannot be seen for the clever trick that it is.

The anti-Christ is according to the bible is ‘the one who says that Christ is not the Christ’!

Which catholic pope or bishop or priest or deacon or nun or sacristan or member of the laity has ever said that?

I have never read of any catholic church speaking ill of another denomination.I have never read of a catholic press doing likewise. Instead, the thrust of the attention is on our personal relationship with God. All else is trivia