Yeah some of my Concerned Protestant brothers and sisters are praying that I will see the Light and come into the truth and return home as the prodicgal son did.
I think this is why baptists formulated their whole trail of blood theory… Though there is no historical evidence for it perse, they peiced together a faux history based generally upon some things we know happened to real Christians (persecutions, maryterdom, the existance of certain heretical group) and formulated into something which, on the surface, seems beleivable enough if you are striving to believe evangelical doctrine.
She is probably the Non-Denominational/Evangelical type Protestant, they’re the ones who usually like to simply be known as “Christian”.
Perhaps one could ask such a person:
I understand what you said and it is much respected,especially about each one learning about the other. However, as I stated,I do not spend countless hours writing bogus material against Protestants and their beliefs and teachings.Likewise, Protestanism does not attract me at all nor do I feel threatened by it. because However, I do respect my Protestant brothers and sisters and wish them well on their spiritual journey.
And btw, only a small percentage of Baptists believe in the “trail of blood” theory. There are certain Baptist churches that officially preach that, but it’s a relatively small number. Most Baptist pastors will say it’s bogus.
Well said!Who is one Christian to tell another that they are not a Christian?
Jesus himself said “My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me…” John 10:14
Anyone denying someone else’s claim to be a Christian is trying to “play God.” :tsktsk:
This is common and necessitates time to instruct or argue. I like to instruct.Isn’t anyone else annoyed by the question “Are you Catholic or Christian?”
I’ve been asked this several times by both Protestants and shockingly Catholics.It’s been especially annoying when I tell them “Catholic is Christian” and they say “No! Christians sing and have bands and pastors” :doh2:
:dts: Anyone else encountered this problem or was asked this question?
Bible based Christians and “churches” are a artifact of the Reformation. When the Reformers jettisoned the authority appointed by Christ, they were left with only Scripture as an authoritative source for their faith. Rather than receiving the faith through the Apostolic Succession, they turned instead to basing their faith on their understanding of the Holy Scriptures. Since those scriptures are inerrant and inspired, much of the Aposotlic faith has been retained (belief in the Trinity, for example - a word not found in Scripture). The problem lies in Sola Scriptura. The practice of each person interpreting what he reads to his own satisfaction has resulted in literally thousands of ecclesial communities, some diametrically opposed to one another. These communities are “bible based” in that they extract what they believe from the pages of Scripture.
I do not notice any protestant bashing. Not of the likes that they do to us Catholics. By people like Jack Chick. Or the many anti-catholic websites out there. I ventured into an anti-catholic website by accident the other day that had videos. I got interested in what they had to say. Turnes out I couldn’t even get past the introduction because they played an anti-catholic song that offended me like crazy. With lyrics like “Stop praying to dead saints you don’t even know”. I guess protestants do not believe in life after death. lol.Maybe Protestants can ask the same question of some of you? Not that there is any “Protestant bashing” on this board by Catholics…
Perhaps instead of “bashing” anyone…we should seek to understand one another.
These questions demand catechesis. I posted my usual dialogue for this. If you then can declare that there are Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant Christians you can then explain how they are different, the history, and in fact I would bet most of these “christians” do not know that they are Protestant.
I like to answer this with a posit like this. I repeat what they say and then say, you know what I can’t stand is the Catholics that worship Mary…Yeah…you know that practice, called collyridianism is condemned by the Church…the Church does not condone Mary worship…they believe you do and you automatically tell them something they believe that is not true.
My brother, I will differ with you. These Bible based Christians are getting their theology not on their own by reading, but through Bible study where the theology is taught. The Geneva Bible had notes to teach Calvinism. The Scofield Bible had notes to teach dispensationalism. The preaching, the music and everything else they do reinforces the theology. They don’t learn this all by reading the bible. I have been to enough Protestant functions to hear a sermon where I hear " and that means your Faith" or “and that means the bible”. Listent to some Protestant chritstian music and you will hear loud and clear the inculcation of faith alone and the bible alone. Watch any Protestant television station and you will get the same. They do not get their beliefs from the Bible alone. When I have in the past occasioned to discuss beliefs with someone wanting me to go to their Protestant Church, I always ask if I can see their statement of Faith. This is what they are learning at their churches.
Amen
Taking their teachings and showing them that this is what you belive is not bogus. If you are telling the truth then you are just showing them what you see. If you are wrong let them correct you. If you are correct then what have you done that is a problem.