Can Catholics learn things from Protestants... things they need to learn?

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Cat said:
I want to speak to those who believe that Protestants don’t really study the Bible, but only know a few verses out of context.

I think you’re kidding yourselves.

Perhaps this is becoming the case nowadays with younger Protestants.

But if you think that’s the way many older Protestants are, you’re really kidding yourselves.

I’m 52, and I spent my first 47 years in the evangelical Protestant churches.

We studied the Bible intensively. Constantly.

As a teenager, I voluntarily memorized most of the Book of James, and studied it verse by verse for several months.

I did several “Memorization” programs, and as a result, memorized hundreds of verses of Scripture.

Most of these studies were done by studying the verses in context, so we didn’t just memorize out-of-context words.

In the Christian and Missionary Alliance (a denomination) Bible quizzing program, teenagers memorize entire books of the Bible, and study them verse by verse. During the Regional and National Quiz Competitions, they are asked questions that require them to not only spit out memorized verses, but also to understand those verses.

Although the AWANA Clubs require rote memorization of verses without necessarily requiring understanding, there are plenty of other Protestant children’s clubs in which kids not only memorize verses, but apply various learning techniques to help them understand the verse. For example, in Pioneer Clubs, we would ask, “Is there a promise? A command? An encouragement? A warning?” And we would train the kids to apply the verses to their lives and help them come up with practical daily strategies to truly live God’s word (Be ye doers of the Word, not just hearers.)

During most of my adult and teen years, I attended at least one Bible study each week, usually more than one. Some of the Bible studies were quite intense. In college, I attended a study of the Gospels in which the pastor helped up to put all the stories and events in chronological order–very fascinating and quite useful.

I attended many book studies; i.e., we would spend a season or an entire year studying one book of the Bible.

On my own, I did many Bible studies of individual books. One of the most fascinating studies that I did was of the Minor Prophets. I was determined to learn and understand the context and history of these small books in the Old Testament.

Many Protestants get involved with multi-year intense studies like Bible Study Fellowship. These programs run for a few hours one evening a week, and the student is required to study for several hours outside of the classes. Truants are not allowed to continue the study.

Finally, most Protestants feel compelled to have a daily Quiet Time (or Morning Watch or Daily Devotions or Personal Bible Study time). They read and pray over the Scriptures.

I could go on and on, but I hope you’re getting the idea. Many Protestants really, truly do have an incredible knowledge of the Bible. If you meet up with Protestants and assume that they know little, you are setting yourself up for defeat bigtime.

IMO, this is one of the major reasons why Protestants convert to Catholicism–because they DO know their Bibles, and when they finally take the time to actually visit a Catholic Church and attend a Mass, they recognize everything as Scriptural! That’s what happened to my husband and me–we couldn’t believe how many things in the Catholic Church made so much sense when we compared it with our Bibles! And many things in our Bibles that had always been confusing to us now made sense!

So be glad that Protestants know their Bibles. It makes your job as a Catholic easier!

Keep in mind that many evangelicals are so involved in various ministries in their churches that they usually don’t have time to visit a Catholic Mass. It was a rare, rare Sunday when I wasn’t playing the piano or teaching a children’s Sunday school or Children’s Church on Sundays. I very seldom missed church, unless I was giving birth or being very sick. I would not have had the time to attend a Mass other than a wedding or funeral Mass. So when Protestants visit your parish and attend Mass, something is happening or has happened. Be kind just in case it was something awful. In our case, we were kicked out of our Protestant church, and attending Mass was our way of obeying Hebrews 10:25.
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Thank you.
 
Cat said:
I want to speak to those who believe that Protestants don’t really study the Bible, but only know a few verses out of context.

I think you’re kidding yourselves.

Perhaps this is becoming the case nowadays with younger Protestants.

But if you think that’s the way many older Protestants are, you’re really kidding yourselves.

I’m 52, and I spent my first 47 years in the evangelical Protestant churches.

We studied the Bible intensively. Constantly.

As a teenager, I voluntarily memorized most of the Book of James, and studied it verse by verse for several months.

I did several “Memorization” programs, and as a result, memorized hundreds of verses of Scripture.

Most of these studies were done by studying the verses in context, so we didn’t just memorize out-of-context words.

In the Christian and Missionary Alliance (a denomination) Bible quizzing program, teenagers memorize entire books of the Bible, and study them verse by verse. During the Regional and National Quiz Competitions, they are asked questions that require them to not only spit out memorized verses, but also to understand those verses.

Although the AWANA Clubs require rote memorization of verses without necessarily requiring understanding, there are plenty of other Protestant children’s clubs in which kids not only memorize verses, but apply various learning techniques to help them understand the verse. For example, in Pioneer Clubs, we would ask, “Is there a promise? A command? An encouragement? A warning?” And we would train the kids to apply the verses to their lives and help them come up with practical daily strategies to truly live God’s word (Be ye doers of the Word, not just hearers.)

During most of my adult and teen years, I attended at least one Bible study each week, usually more than one. Some of the Bible studies were quite intense. In college, I attended a study of the Gospels in which the pastor helped up to put all the stories and events in chronological order–very fascinating and quite useful.

I attended many book studies; i.e., we would spend a season or an entire year studying one book of the Bible.

On my own, I did many Bible studies of individual books. One of the most fascinating studies that I did was of the Minor Prophets. I was determined to learn and understand the context and history of these small books in the Old Testament.

Many Protestants get involved with multi-year intense studies like Bible Study Fellowship. These programs run for a few hours one evening a week, and the student is required to study for several hours outside of the classes. Truants are not allowed to continue the study.

Finally, most Protestants feel compelled to have a daily Quiet Time (or Morning Watch or Daily Devotions or Personal Bible Study time). They read and pray over the Scriptures.

I could go on and on, but I hope you’re getting the idea. Many Protestants really, truly do have an incredible knowledge of the Bible. If you meet up with Protestants and assume that they know little, you are setting yourself up for defeat bigtime.

IMO, this is one of the major reasons why Protestants convert to Catholicism–because they DO know their Bibles, and when they finally take the time to actually visit a Catholic Church and attend a Mass, they recognize everything as Scriptural! That’s what happened to my husband and me–we couldn’t believe how many things in the Catholic Church made so much sense when we compared it with our Bibles! And many things in our Bibles that had always been confusing to us now made sense!

So be glad that Protestants know their Bibles. It makes your job as a Catholic easier!

Keep in mind that many evangelicals are so involved in various ministries in their churches that they usually don’t have time to visit a Catholic Mass. It was a rare, rare Sunday when I wasn’t playing the piano or teaching a children’s Sunday school or Children’s Church on Sundays. I very seldom missed church, unless I was giving birth or being very sick. I would not have had the time to attend a Mass other than a wedding or funeral Mass. So when Protestants visit your parish and attend Mass, something is happening or has happened. Be kind just in case it was something awful. In our case, we were kicked out of our Protestant church, and attending Mass was our way of obeying Hebrews 10:25.
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Cat,

Your experience as a Protestant does not represent all Protestants. There are always Christians who change from Protestant to Catholics, and Catholics who convert to being Protestants. I bet there are usually more Catholics who become Protestants than the other way around.
 
2nd_Adam said:
I’m sorry you feel that way. However, the principle of sola scriptura to define the biblical gospel of grace through faith alone is the cause of the Protestant Reformation and our continued division. These are historical divisions that have not be resolved in 500 years.
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Sola Scriptura is a false doctrine. It isn’t in the Scriptues, wasn’t taught by the Early Fathers. It is a complete fabrication.
 
distracted said:
so if some born-again person who believed in OSAS came at you to kill you and/or your family, you would just think (assuming you survived ) that god was just going to let him into Heaven as soon as he died… doesn’t even need to do the “work” of repentance…? I don’t understand how protestants can justify acts of evil… which i feel is what osas is saying… that evil acts are not that bad and won’t keep you out of Heaven…
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You feel this way because you are living under the law; even if you refuse to admit it. It is not a matter of believing in OSAS; is is believing in the Person of Christ. When the Son sets you free from the bondage of the Law you are truly free and it is because of that freedom that you only desire is to please Him in thought, word and deed. Novel isn’t it?
 
JohnnyBeth said:
You feel this way because you are living under the law; even if you refuse to admit it. It is not a matter of believing in OSAS; is is believing in the Person of Christ. When the Son sets you free from the bondage of the Law you are truly free and it is because of that freedom that you only desire is to please Him in thought, word and deed. Novel isn’t it?
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Jesus never released us form following the Moral Law. Quite to the contrary, he said “If you love me, keep my commandments” He never said “Yous sins are forgiven, continue on as you were” He said “Go and sin no more”
 
Cat said:
I want to speak to those who believe that Protestants don’t really study the Bible, but only know a few verses out of context.

I think you’re kidding yourselves.

Perhaps this is becoming the case nowadays with younger Protestants.

But if you think that’s the way many older Protestants are, you’re really kidding yourselves.

I’m 52, and I spent my first 47 years in the evangelical Protestant churches.

We studied the Bible intensively. Constantly.

As a teenager, I voluntarily memorized most of the Book of James, and studied it verse by verse for several months.

I did several “Memorization” programs, and as a result, memorized hundreds of verses of Scripture.

Most of these studies were done by studying the verses in context, so we didn’t just memorize out-of-context words.

In the Christian and Missionary Alliance (a denomination) Bible quizzing program, teenagers memorize entire books of the Bible, and study them verse by verse. During the Regional and National Quiz Competitions, they are asked questions that require them to not only spit out memorized verses, but also to understand those verses.

Although the AWANA Clubs require rote memorization of verses without necessarily requiring understanding, there are plenty of other Protestant children’s clubs in which kids not only memorize verses, but apply various learning techniques to help them understand the verse. For example, in Pioneer Clubs, we would ask, “Is there a promise? A command? An encouragement? A warning?” And we would train the kids to apply the verses to their lives and help them come up with practical daily strategies to truly live God’s word (Be ye doers of the Word, not just hearers.)

During most of my adult and teen years, I attended at least one Bible study each week, usually more than one. Some of the Bible studies were quite intense. In college, I attended a study of the Gospels in which the pastor helped up to put all the stories and events in chronological order–very fascinating and quite useful.

I attended many book studies; i.e., we would spend a season or an entire year studying one book of the Bible.

On my own, I did many Bible studies of individual books. One of the most fascinating studies that I did was of the Minor Prophets. I was determined to learn and understand the context and history of these small books in the Old Testament.

Many Protestants get involved with multi-year intense studies like Bible Study Fellowship. These programs run for a few hours one evening a week, and the student is required to study for several hours outside of the classes. Truants are not allowed to continue the study.

Finally, most Protestants feel compelled to have a daily Quiet Time (or Morning Watch or Daily Devotions or Personal Bible Study time). They read and pray over the Scriptures.

I could go on and on, but I hope you’re getting the idea. Many Protestants really, truly do have an incredible knowledge of the Bible. If you meet up with Protestants and assume that they know little, you are setting yourself up for defeat bigtime.

IMO, this is one of the major reasons why Protestants convert to Catholicism–because they DO know their Bibles, and when they finally take the time to actually visit a Catholic Church and attend a Mass, they recognize everything as Scriptural! That’s what happened to my husband and me–we couldn’t believe how many things in the Catholic Church made so much sense when we compared it with our Bibles! And many things in our Bibles that had always been confusing to us now made sense!

So be glad that Protestants know their Bibles. It makes your job as a Catholic easier!

Keep in mind that many evangelicals are so involved in various ministries in their churches that they usually don’t have time to visit a Catholic Mass. It was a rare, rare Sunday when I wasn’t playing the piano or teaching a children’s Sunday school or Children’s Church on Sundays. I very seldom missed church, unless I was giving birth or being very sick. I would not have had the time to attend a Mass other than a wedding or funeral Mass. So when Protestants visit your parish and attend Mass, something is happening or has happened. Be kind just in case it was something awful. In our case, we were kicked out of our Protestant church, and attending Mass was our way of obeying Hebrews 10:25.
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You were doing great until the end, but we all can learn much from you. One can play church for many many years and still not understand the fullness of the gospel. Intellectual knowledge is no substitute for heart knowledge.

Why were you “kicked out of the church”? How do you reconcile salvation by works or legalism? Immaculate conception? Peterine Primacy/succession, papal office, magisterium, a levitial style priesthood et al? None is contained in Gods word.

You are definitely very interesting for sure. God bless you,

JB
 
JohnnyBeth said:
You were doing great until the end, but we all can learn much from you. One can play church for many many years and still not understand the fullness of the gospel. Intellectual knowledge is no substitute for heart knowledge.

Why were you “kicked out of the church”? How do you reconcile salvation by works or legalism? Immaculate conception? Peterine Primacy/succession, papal office, magisterium, a levitial style priesthood et al? None is contained in Gods word.

You are definitely very interesting for sure. God bless you,

JB
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The Church does not teach salvation by works. The Church teaches that true faith results in works. Also, Jesus commands obedience and the works of mercy. Immaculate conception does not fly in the face of Scriptures when taken in context. The Papacy, priesthood, and magesterium are all provided for in Scriptures, if you know where to look.
 
CWBetts said:
Jesus never released us form following the Moral Law. Quite to the contrary, he said “If you love me, keep my commandments” He never said “Yous sins are forgiven, continue on as you were” He said “Go and sin no more”
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At least you implicitly admitted you live under a law or form of legalism. I wouldn’t want that burden or the end result of such practice.

You really should read the Bible; in it contains the Truth.
Romans 10 - Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for {their} salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? ***“THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ***9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
 
2nd_Adam said:
The Church is not Christ. Jesus Christ is the 2nd person of the Godhead. We the church are not God. Now you guys are really starting to worry me.
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Jesus said that he would never leave us… St. Mt 28:20… His real Presence is in the Church 24/7 perpetually.

His Real Presence… This is largely what keeps the Cahtolic Church from teaching error. the pope is lucky… he gets to be in Jesus’ Presence most of his day… if not all of his day…

i wish i could say that… 😦

In any case the Church is Christ because Christ never really left us when he ascended into Heaven… He did but he didn’t… The Body of Christ is here on EArth… the Eucharist… (also all those who receive Him that way are part of the Church… and others who try to follow him [albeit imperfectly for that last group]).

Jesus is the 2nd person of the Godhead… and he chose to give us his very real, tangible Presence…

i have often, throuhgout my life, questioned God’s love for me… but i do not ever question it when i think of the Real Presence… And when i am in that Presence, i FEEL the love of God… Used to be people would tell me God loved me but i wouldn’t believe it… wouldn’t FEEL it…

now i feel it… That is a miracle to me… 🙂

i wish all the emotionally damaged would come to know what i know… to have what i have…
 
CWBetts said:
Jesus never released us form following the Moral Law. Quite to the contrary, he said “If you love me, keep my commandments” He never said “Yous sins are forgiven, continue on as you were” He said “Go and sin no more”
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excellent!! ***
 
distracted said:
so what can we learn from Protestants?
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–Not a thing about Religion. Catholics can learn that from other Catholics; or from Priests, from CCD, from the Bishop or from retreats and other organized Catholic groups.

Jesus founded the Catholic Church 2,009 years ago.

Protestants came along about 500 years ago.
 
2nd_Adam said:
Going to Mass or church services, or reading the Bible, or doing good works etc does not get you to Heaven. On what basis will you be in Heaven. If God asked why I should let you into my eternal Heaven, what would be your answer?
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Going to Mass or church services, or reading the Bible, or doing good works etc does not get you to Heaven PER SE…

yes, if you add Per Se, you would be mostly right…

i know of people who go to Mass but seem to get nothing out of it… i say this because of their behavior AFTER mass… how they treat others, etc… :eek: absolutely deplorable…

so i never meant to imply that you could just go to Mass every day and get a free ticket to heaven…

what i meant was that all those things you mention help us to focus on God and his precious Son and His SON Is what gets us to Heaven…
 
StLawrenceFan said:
–Not a thing about Religion. Catholics can learn that from other Catholics; or from Priests, from CCD, from the Bishop or from retreats and other organized Catholic groups.

Jesus founded the Catholic Church 2009 years ago.

Protestants came along about 500 years ago.
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what i have learned from them is that i don’t want to ever be too far from a Catholic Church…

i was outside the Church for years… and i committed one sin after another (not all mortal, of course) and was miserable… didn’t know all the good stuff i know now about the Church VERY sad… my life was very sad… I began to think things that weren’t true about God… that he didn’t love me, i was too unworthy… (which is kinda true in a way but i was in a state of virtual despair)… It was only the Cahtolic Church that gave me… uh… words are failing me… but you know waht i mean… the RCC gave me … well, Jesus. I knew OF Jesus when not in the Church but i was NOT intimate with Him… Wow… I am so glad to be writing this right now… because i am, while writing, seeing things even more clearly as i htink about them…

Yes, that is what is different from then… I am now intimate with Him…(at least sometimes)
😦 and if i get separated from him during my daily worldly activites… and lose some of that intimacy with Him, which i ALWAYS do… since i am SO human…

i know exactly where to go to find Him again…

i wish everyone knew…
 
distracted said:
what i have learned from them is that i don’t want to ever be too far from a Catholic Church…

i was outside the Church for years… and i committed one sin after another (not all mortal, of course) and was miserable… didn’t know all the good stuff i know now about the Church VERY sad… my life was very sad… I began to think things that weren’t true about God… that he didn’t love me, i was too unworthy… (which is kinda true in a way but i was in a state of virtual despair)… It was only the Cahtolic Church that gave me… uh… words are failing me… but you know waht i mean… the RCC gave me … well, Jesus. I knew OF Jesus when not in the Church but i was NOT intimate with Him… Wow… I am so glad to be writing this right now… because i am, while writing, seeing things even more clearly as i htink about them…

Yes, that is what is different from then… I am now intimate with Him…(at least sometimes)
😦 and if i get separated from him during my daily worldly activites… and lose some of that intimacy with Him, which i ALWAYS do… since i am SO human…

i know exactly where to go to find Him again…

i wish everyone knew…
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Well said!
Happy trails to you! 👍
 
distracted said:
what i have learned from them is that i don’t want to ever be too far from a Catholic Church…

i know exactly where to go to find Him again…

i wish everyone knew…
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Did you know that if you could not get to a Church God would still be with you?

Did you know that when you sin and you feel guilty God does not abandon you?
 
2nd_Adam said:
Why is this no different than the dark ages where Bibles were prohibited for the laity in the church? This is what Catholics can learn from Protestants, to search the Scriptures to see if what the Catholic Church teach is true. Has anything really changed from the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago?
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i have searched the sciptures and found Catholicism right and left…

doesn’t seem to make an impact on many protestants… so uh…

why do you claim to value that so much???
 
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