Catholicism vs Protestant-does it even matter?

[dronald]

You read way too much into my statement. Pope Francis would agree with the supreme importance to evangelize the Gospel–that is what I was referring to. I was agreeing with DRONALD"s post that the most important thing is spreading the faith in Christ. We Christians, all members of the mystical body of Christ as that is referred to in Lumen Gentium, are called to feed Christ’s sheep. We like to argue with our Christian brothers about which food is best and in the meantime the sheep are starving and wondering the wilderness lost to the wolves.

Indeed. I think what’s ironic is how much Catholics and Protestants tend to look down on each other with pity, while looking at those with no Christian Religion with piety.

Catholics and Protestants should only work together towards the common goal of spreading the Gospel to the entire world.

thanks for the replies everyone. i understand that the Catholic Church follows a lot of the things more properly etc, but what i was trying to say was that Protestants also have the same strong faith and do many good works (though they don’t believe works benefit) so won’t we all end up in the same place? like one person who’s a devout Catholic and another who’s a devout Baptist, will one be more favored by God?

No one can say with certainty from either side my friend. I believe this is the position of both sides, only God can judge.

 

[M1Garand]

Indeed. I think what’s ironic is how much Catholics and Protestants tend to look down on each other with pity, while looking at those with no Christian Religion with piety.

Catholics and Protestants should only work together towards the common goal of spreading the Gospel to the entire world.

Yes! While we fight satan laughs and Christ mourns for his lost sheep that we have abandoned. We will all account for it one day I am afraid.

 

[SteveVH]

thanks for the replies everyone. i understand that the Catholic Church follows a lot of the things more properly etc, but what i was trying to say was that Protestants also have the same strong faith and do many good works (though they don’t believe works benefit) so won’t we all end up in the same place? like one person who’s a devout Catholic and another who’s a devout Baptist, will one be more favored by God?

No one will argue that many non-Catholic Christians have a strong faith and do many good works and God surely blesses them and pours out his grace on them in many ways. It is not so much what they have that is the issue. The problem lies in what they are missing; namely, authority and the sacraments.

So while intentions and strong faith and good works are wonderful, they don’t give us the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, without which we do not have life, according to Jesus. Does that matter? Nor do they give us the sacrament of Reconciliation by which our souls are filled with sanctifying grace. Are these things important? Did Jesus found a Church and give us the sacraments just for something to do? No. He did it for the salvation of the world and the fact that some reject the saving grace found in the sacraments does not change the fact that they are necessary for our salvation. They are how we have a relationship with Jesus; where he forgives us and where we fall into his arms in the one-flesh union of the Eucharist. This relationship is only available in his Church. So it matters very much.

I just watched a special on the Reverend Billy Graham last night. I have always admired him and I would hold him up as a great Christian who has brought probably millions to Christ. He is an amazing man with a wonderful gift and I applaud everything that he has done in building up the kingdom of God. Who can deny his contributions? So I understand what you are saying. But the importance of the Church Christ founded cannot be minimized because there are others who are doing good in the world.

God bless.

 

[dronald]

Someone posted this on my facebook just now, and I thought I would share it with you.

How many of you are thinking, “I hope he became Catholic!” How many of you can deny that this was God’s work?

I don’t know if it was Catholic or not with this man, and frankly I don’t care.

 

[M1Garand]

Someone posted this on my facebook just now, and I thought I would share it with you.

How many of you are thinking, “I hope he became Catholic!” How many of you can deny that this was God’s work?

I don’t know if it was Catholic or not with this man, and frankly I don’t care.

Thank you for posting this.

 

[Reuben_J]

Someone posted this on my facebook just now, and I thought I would share it with you.

How many of you are thinking, “I hope he became Catholic!” How many of you can deny that this was God’s work?

I don’t know if it was Catholic or not with this man, and frankly I don’t care.

We don’t know though it can always be. God works in many different ways but yet only one leper came back to tell.

 

[SteveVH]

You read way too much into my statement. Pope Francis would agree with the supreme importance to evangelize the Gospel–that is what I was referring to.

Well I certainly meant no offense to you and would agree completely that Pope Francis would applaud any and all efforts to evangelize the world, but to evangelize the world with the Truth. Insofar as that is being accomplished through evangelization efforts, wonderful.

I was agreeing with DRONALD"s post that the most important thing is spreading the faith in Christ. We Christians, all members of the mystical body of Christ as that is referred to in Lumen Gentium, are called to feed Christ’s sheep. We like to argue with our Christian brothers about which food is best and in the meantime the sheep are starving and wondering the wilderness lost to the wolves.

The most important thing is spreading the Truth about Christ. However that can be accomplished I would support. There is much error out there. That is not what Christ intended for his sheep to eat.

 

[ffg]

I really don’t like the ‘vs’ thought because at the core, Christians have 1 centerpiece. We can all help each other build on what we know, learn what we don’t know, and grow in the right direction.

However, of course it is important because this is the time we have to prepare for eternity.

If there are differences, it is a guarantee that God didn’t give two contra instructions, so understanding the source of revealed truth and what God put in place to hold it, protect it, is very important.

We don’t want to be preparing for the test and not realize the tester is in front of us because he doesn’t look like what we were taught, so we reject God.

Remember, the party was thrown for the guy that found his way back home, not back to his homes.

 

[mlz]

I grew up non-Catholic, and to a degree anti-Catholic. I am now Catholic, having gone through RCIA like you are doing now.

I am Catholic because it is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

The Catholic Church has all of the Sacraments. It is practiced today as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. It has a continuous, and unbroken lineage with the Church that Jesus Christ founded.

More than anything else, it has the Body and Blood or our Lord present at every Mass.

Agree! This is me also…the fullness of my faith in Christ is the Catholic Church to which I am so grateful to have become a part of. I love His Church!
mlz

P.S. I was profoundly moved by His presence going to Adoration at the local Catholic parish and encourage all Christians (Catholic or non Catholic Christians to go and pray and adore our Lord there for an hour asking for a view of Him and His will for us)

 

[spina1953]

It seems to me to me that this “VS” is not a good one, as its not us over them. That being said, when the first Ecum. Council took place there were many different ways of undertsanding and beliefs as to what we were to believe. Over time after many Ecum. Councils what we as Christains were to believe were spelled out so to speak, and what we are to adhere to. Just as then as now Christains are faced with what are we to believe when many Christain denomonations are preaching so many different things, it becomes very hard to know which Church has the right teachings. People are searching for the truth in seeking God and in the end, hopefully they will come to the Catholic Church.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

No one will argue that many non-Catholic Christians have a strong faith and do many good works and God surely blesses them and pours out his grace on them in many ways. It is not so much what they have that is the issue. The problem lies in what they are missing; namely, authority and the sacraments.

So while intentions and strong faith and good works are wonderful, they don’t give us the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, without which we do not have life, according to Jesus. Does that matter? Nor do they give us the sacrament of Reconciliation by which our souls are filled with sanctifying grace. Are these things important? Did Jesus found a Church and give us the sacraments just for something to do? No. He did it for the salvation of the world and the fact that some reject the saving grace found in the sacraments does not change the fact that they are necessary for our salvation. They are how we have a relationship with Jesus; where he forgives us and where we fall into his arms in the one-flesh union of the Eucharist. This relationship is only available in his Church. So it matters very much.

I just watched a special on the Reverend Billy Graham last night. I have always admired him and I would hold him up as a great Christian who has brought probably millions to Christ. He is an amazing man with a wonderful gift and I applaud everything that he has done in building up the kingdom of God. Who can deny his contributions? So I understand what you are saying. But the importance of the Church Christ founded cannot be minimized because there are others who are doing good in the world.

God bless.

Wonderful words of inspiration

That is how we start dialogue and characterizes the Catholic-Lutheran Commission on Unity.

By praying together we teach one another; The joyous spirit of singing spirituals to the awesome mystery of the mass. To be honest, I haven’t converted many Baptists/ Evangelicals to the Lutheran church and they know I am a proud catholic; so we don’t even care because we are all Christians.

 

[SteveVH]

Wonderful words of inspiration

That is how we start dialogue and characterizes the Catholic-Lutheran Commission on Unity.

By praying together we teach one another; The joyous spirit of singing spirituals to the awesome mystery of the mass. To be honest, I haven’t converted many Baptists/ Evangelicals to the Lutheran church and they know I am a proud catholic; so we don’t even care because we are all Christians.

Thanks for your kind words, but I want to be very clear. I brought up the issue of the sacraments and authority for a reason. While we can honestly say that there are Christians of many faith traditions that do much good in the world, have great faith and certainly help build the kingdom of God, the temptation to then minimize our differences for the sake of unity becomes great. In many instances the sacraments are simply thrown to the side as if they are something divisive, rather than life-giving; as if they are secondary to or unnecessary for our salvation. As if what is all important is simply a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus founded a Church and gave that Church his own authority and instituted seven sacraments. These sacraments were given to us as channels of God’s grace; where we are brought into God’s family; where we are forgiven and reconciled to God; where we are fed by the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself; where we enter into a one-flesh union with God. This is where we truly enter into a personal relationship with Jesus as a part of his mystical Body.

There are many different levels of relationships. That is what the Catholic faith is all about; a relationship with the Son of God. In human terms, when we first meet someone to whom we are attracted, it might begin with a conversation. We might ask them about their life; where they grew up, where they went to school. We might learn of their various interests in life. As we spend more time with one another we begin to get a sense of what this person is all about. It then gets to the point where we do not want to spend a moment apart from each other. We are in love. Now what?

Here is the difference. We cannot fully know that person or fully express our love for them until we consummate the marriage in a one-flesh union with the other; a complete, mutual self-giving of one’s entire being to the other. This is what happens at each and every Catholic Mass. We enter into a one-flesh union with our beloved; the most profound and intimate relationship possible. So while Protestants may fall in love with Christ, they are left standing outside the wedding chamber unable to consummate this one-flesh union.

So while I will praise people like Billy Graham for his sincere desire to bring people to Christ and his genuine love of God, this does not then mean that it doesn’t matter what brand of Christianity one chooses. If you want to partake in the wedding feast; if you want to bring your love for Christ to fulfillment, then you had better become Catholic.

 

[dronald]

Thanks for your kind words, but I want to be very clear. I brought up the issue of the sacraments and authority for a reason. While we can honestly say that there are Christians of many faith traditions that do much good in the world, have great faith and certainly help build the kingdom of God, the temptation to then minimize our differences for the sake of unity becomes great. In many instances the sacraments are simply thrown to the side as if they are something divisive, rather than life-giving; as if they are secondary to or unnecessary for our salvation. As if what is all important is simply a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus founded a Church and gave that Church his own authority and instituted seven sacraments. These sacraments were given to us as channels of God’s grace; where we are brought into God’s family; where we are forgiven and reconciled to God; where we are fed by the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself; where we enter into a one-flesh union with God. This is where we truly enter into a personal relationship with Jesus as a part of his mystical Body.

There are many different levels of relationships. That is what the Catholic faith is all about; a relationship with the Son of God. In human terms, when we first meet someone to whom we are attracted, it might begin with a conversation. We might ask them about their life; where they grew up, where they went to school. We might learn of their various interests in life. As we spend more time with one another we begin to get a sense of what this person is all about. It then gets to the point where we do not want to spend a moment apart from each other. We are in love. Now what?

Here is the difference. We cannot fully know that person or fully express our love for them until we consummate the marriage in a one-flesh union with the other; a complete, mutual self-giving of one’s entire being to the other. This is what happens at each and every Catholic Mass. We enter into a one-flesh union with our beloved; the most profound and intimate relationship possible. So while Protestants may fall in love with Christ, they are left standing outside the wedding chamber unable to consummate this one-flesh union.

So while I will praise people like Billy Graham for his sincere desire to bring people to Christ and his genuine love of God, this does not then mean that it doesn’t matter what brand of Christianity one chooses. If you want to partake in the wedding feast; if you want to bring your love for Christ to fulfillment, then you had better become Catholic.

Billy Graham is one example.

I would also look into Nick Vujicic; no arms, no legs, isn’t Catholic and I don’t think he cares. God works through this man the way Jesus spoke of the blind man. “He is this way so God’s glory can be seen through him.” He’s an inspiration to those who are hopeless.

Nabeel qureshi is a convert from Islam who does a great job teaching Muslims about Jesus.

Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, C.S. Lewis. The list goes on of theologians who never thought to ever argue about Catholicism.

 

[spina1953]

Thanks for your kind words, but I want to be very clear. I brought up the issue of the sacraments and authority for a reason. While we can honestly say that there are Christians of many faith traditions that do much good in the world, have great faith and certainly help build the kingdom of God, the temptation to then minimize our differences for the sake of unity becomes great. In many instances the sacraments are simply thrown to the side as if they are something divisive, rather than life-giving; as if they are secondary to or unnecessary for our salvation. As if what is all important is simply a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus founded a Church and gave that Church his own authority and instituted seven sacraments. These sacraments were given to us as channels of God’s grace; where we are brought into God’s family; where we are forgiven and reconciled to God; where we are fed by the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself; where we enter into a one-flesh union with God. This is where we truly enter into a personal relationship with Jesus as a part of his mystical Body.

There are many different levels of relationships. That is what the Catholic faith is all about; a relationship with the Son of God. In human terms, when we first meet someone to whom we are attracted, it might begin with a conversation. We might ask them about their life; where they grew up, where they went to school. We might learn of their various interests in life. As we spend more time with one another we begin to get a sense of what this person is all about. It then gets to the point where we do not want to spend a moment apart from each other. We are in love. Now what?

Here is the difference. We cannot fully know that person or fully express our love for them until we consummate the marriage in a one-flesh union with the other; a complete, mutual self-giving of one’s entire being to the other. This is what happens at each and every Catholic Mass. We enter into a one-flesh union with our beloved; the most profound and intimate relationship possible. So while Protestants may fall in love with Christ, they are left standing outside the wedding chamber unable to consummate this one-flesh union.

So while I will praise people like Billy Graham for his sincere desire to bring people to Christ and his genuine love of God, this does not then mean that it doesn’t matter what brand of Christianity one chooses. If you want to partake in the wedding feast; if you want to bring your love for Christ to fulfillment, then you had better become Catholic.

I doubt that anyone could have said it better!!! Its as what we Descalced Carmelite Seculars are taught in our formation classes as per our Catholic teaching.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Thanks for your kind words, but I want to be very clear. I brought up the issue of the sacraments and authority for a reason. While we can honestly say that there are Christians of many faith traditions that do much good in the world, have great faith and certainly help build the kingdom of God, the temptation to then minimize our differences for the sake of unity becomes great. In many instances the sacraments are simply thrown to the side as if they are something divisive, rather than life-giving; as if they are secondary to or unnecessary for our salvation. As if what is all important is simply a profession of belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus founded a Church and gave that Church his own authority and instituted seven sacraments. These sacraments were given to us as channels of God’s grace; where we are brought into God’s family; where we are forgiven and reconciled to God; where we are fed by the true body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself; where we enter into a one-flesh union with God. This is where we truly enter into a personal relationship with Jesus as a part of his mystical Body.

There are many different levels of relationships. That is what the Catholic faith is all about; a relationship with the Son of God. In human terms, when we first meet someone to whom we are attracted, it might begin with a conversation. We might ask them about their life; where they grew up, where they went to school. We might learn of their various interests in life. As we spend more time with one another we begin to get a sense of what this person is all about. It then gets to the point where we do not want to spend a moment apart from each other. We are in love. Now what?

Here is the difference. We cannot fully know that person or fully express our love for them until we consummate the marriage in a one-flesh union with the other; a complete, mutual self-giving of one’s entire being to the other. This is what happens at each and every Catholic Mass. We enter into a one-flesh union with our beloved; the most profound and intimate relationship possible. So while Protestants may fall in love with Christ, they are left standing outside the wedding chamber unable to consummate this one-flesh union.

So while I will praise people like Billy Graham for his sincere desire to bring people to Christ and his genuine love of God, this does not then mean that it doesn’t matter what brand of Christianity one chooses. If you want to partake in the wedding feast; if you want to bring your love for Christ to fulfillment, then you had better become Catholic.

Pastoral bro

As a Lutheran, there is nothing in your statement to disagree with! The exact # of sacraments is adiaphora say Lutherans.

We want to invite all Christians to worship together and enter into the Mystical Body of Christ.

 

[Hypnotoad]

I cannot reconcile a spirit of indifference with Christianity. In the NT Christ says those who are not with Him are against Him, He tells those who will not listen to the Church in matters of doctrine are to be viewed as heathens and publicans, He gives His apostles authority and says those who reject them also reject Him, and He affirms this when he rebukes Saul for persecuting Him, even though Saul never touched the person of Jesus but rather was going after His apostles.

The conclusion? In Christianity there is a visible Church. One which Christ founded and a says is Himself! Because the Church is Christ it has, like Him, been vested with all of His authority which the Father gave Him and continues the same mission which the Father gave Him. It therefore has the power to settle disputes and be the final authority on matters of faith and morals, so much so, that to reject the Church’s decision is to be a heathen and to reject those who hold these offices of authority within the Church is to reject Christ Himself.

Its One, Visible, Authoritative, and Universal.

Let’s face it, it’s Thee Catholic Church.

You can also find which Church is Christ’s by finding out which Church the world hates the most and constantly talks about. A Church which is so under the microscope, if its visible head were to fart at the wrong time the world would make it big news. A Church where even non-believers and public sinners indirectly proclaim its authority when they try to justify their ungodly life choices by saying “but the Pope said I could” after they twisted his words around.

Only The Catholic Church has this claim! Why? Because the world doesn’t care what southern Baptists do, think, or teach. Nor does the spirit of the world truly care about what Lutherans and Anglicans do, think, or teach. No when the world wants to vent on Christianity it goes to the The Church who’s HQ is in Rome.

You can also find Christ’s Church by looking for Peter. Whether literally or figuratively the outcome is the same, The Church is located on that rock.

 

[dronald]

I cannot reconcile a spirit of indifference with Christianity. In the NT Christ says those who are not with Him are against Him, He tells those who will not listen to the Church in matters of doctrine are to be viewed as heathens and publicans, He gives His apostles authority and says those who reject them also reject Him, and He affirms this when he rebukes Saul for persecuting Him, even though Saul never touched the person of Jesus but rather was going after His apostles.

The conclusion? In Christianity there is a visible Church. One which Christ founded and a says is Himself! Because the Church is Christ it has, like Him, been vested with all of His authority which the Father gave Him and continues the same mission which the Father gave Him. It therefore has the power to settle disputes and be the final authority on matters of faith and morals, so much so, that to reject the Church’s decision is to be a heathen and to reject those who hold these offices of authority within the Church is to reject Christ Himself.

Its One, Visible, Authoritative, and Universal.

Let’s face it, it’s Thee Catholic Church.

You can also find which Church is Christ’s by finding out which Church the world hates the most and constantly talks about. A Church which is so under the microscope, if its visible head were to fart at the wrong time the world would make it big news. A Church where even non-believers and public sinners indirectly proclaim its authority when they try to justify their ungodly life choices by saying “but the Pope said I could” after they twisted his words around.

Only The Catholic Church has this claim! Why? Because the world doesn’t care what southern Baptists do, think, or teach. Nor does the spirit of the world truly care about what Lutheran and Anglican do, think, or teach. No when the world wants to vent on Christianity it goes to the The Church who’s HQ is in Rome.

You can also find Christ Church by looking for Peter. Whether literally or figuratively the outcome is the same, The Church is located on that rock.

That’s Luke 9:49-50 right?

 

[Hypnotoad]

That’s Luke 9:49-50 right?

Your point? Notice Christ says who is not against you. Last time I checked Protestants aren’t really for the Catholic Church. Nice try though. I knew you were going to throw Luke out there.

 

[dronald]

Your point? Notice Christ says who is not against you. Last time I checked Protestants aren’t really for the Catholic Church. Nice try though. I knew you were going to throw Luke out there.

We’re not against Christ and His Church.

 

[spina1953]

I cannot reconcile a spirit of indifference with Christianity. In the NT Christ says those who are not with Him are against Him, He tells those who will not listen to the Church in matters of doctrine are to be viewed as heathens and publicans, He gives His apostles authority and says those who reject them also reject Him, and He affirms this when he rebukes Saul for persecuting Him, even though Saul never touched the person of Jesus but rather was going after His apostles.

The conclusion? In Christianity there is a visible Church. One which Christ founded and a says is Himself! Because the Church is Christ it has, like Him, been vested with all of His authority which the Father gave Him and continues the same mission which the Father gave Him. It therefore has the power to settle disputes and be the final authority on matters of faith and morals, so much so, that to reject the Church’s decision is to be a heathen and to reject those who hold these offices of authority within the Church is to reject Christ Himself.

Its One, Visible, Authoritative, and Universal.

Let’s face it, it’s Thee Catholic Church.

You can also find which Church is Christ’s by finding out which Church the world hates the most and constantly talks about. A Church which is so under the microscope, if its visible head were to fart at the wrong time the world would make it big news. A Church where even non-believers and public sinners indirectly proclaim its authority when they try to justify their ungodly life choices by saying “but the Pope said I could” after they twisted his words around.

Only The Catholic Church has this claim! Why? Because the world doesn’t care what southern Baptists do, think, or teach. Nor does the spirit of the world truly care about what Lutherans and Anglicans do, think, or teach. No when the world wants to vent on Christianity it goes to the The Church who’s HQ is in Rome.

You can also find Christ’s Church by looking for Peter. Whether literally or figuratively the outcome is the same, The Church is located on that rock.

Great point!!! like what you said! the fart thought is a good one but true!