Catholics: What do you admire about our Separated Brethren?

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I LOVE the way they work with the young people!

As for JW’s I admire that they spend all day sharing their version of the gospel and getting turned down but they still smile and are happy that they are doing something for their fatih. 👍
 
TriuneUnity said:
And us Lutherans bring beer! 👍 Nothing else is more conducive to ecumenical relations.
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That sounds like fun. A good beer and some theology talk. It reminds me of my father and I having “Bible Study Lunches”, as we call them, where we go to a restaurant and talk theology. Sometimes we have a beer and sometimes not. We have some good talks.
 
lizaanne said:
Um - nothing? :cool:

I can’t envy something that pulls someone further away from the Truth Christ left us. I pray for their conversion.

~Liza
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Perhaps you’re missing the point. I have heard many Catholics say that the most zealous Catholics were converts from Protestantism. That’s largely because they brought their zeal and gifts from their former faith traditions.

Anyone who proclaims Christ as Lord and Savior is far from our enemy. I agree that I would like to see them come into the Church. They have wonderful things to offer.

Have you ever heard the expression, when you throw dirt, you lose ground? Have you ever heard the expression, if you want to give someone a beautiful flower to smell, you should not cut off their nose? I hope you’re not doing either of these things.

If you want to become negative, that’s fine; it’s just off topic for this thread. This thread is about what you admire. However, I would be willing to contribute to a thread that seems to go in the direction you are trying to take it.

May the Lord grant you peace and joy this day. You are loved by me. And you are even loved by those you have decided not to say anything nice about.
 
I have come to admire their tenacity to serve the Lord; many of them make better Catholics, because they have a deep love for scripture. It has been my experience, that when these seperated brethern take their knowledge of sacred scripture, and see the word of God come alive in the Catholic church as living, especially in the Mass. By their admiration for the Word of God as seperated brethern, coming to the Catholic church they find the fullfillment of Jesus Christ they have been searching for all their lives. I can understand the reluctance of converting over to Catholicism, because of all the negative, and misinformation they have been taught as seperated brethern, and the consiquences they are met with family and friends. Once they overcome this small hurdle of giving up everything for Jesus, makes them truly living saints in Jesus, to become better practicing Catholics.

Peace be with you.
 
christcnection1 said:
Perhaps you’re missing the point. I have heard many Catholics say that the most zealous Catholics were converts from Protestantism. That’s largely because they brought their zeal and gifts from their former faith traditions.
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I’m quite sure I didn’t “miss the point”. There are also many Catholics who love and are zealous about their Faith who have been so their entire lives. Somehow these folks are not given celebrity status because they didn’t have some major conversion experience.
Anyone who proclaims Christ as Lord and Savior is far from our enemy. I agree that I would like to see them come into the Church. They have wonderful things to offer.
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I don’t believe I called anyone enemy. Those who preach contrary to the Truth are only the enemy of God, not me.
Have you ever heard the expression, when you throw dirt, you lose ground? Have you ever heard the expression, if you want to give someone a beautiful flower to smell, you should not cut off their nose? I hope you’re not doing either of these things.
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And have you heard the expression: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? This is the “expression”* I* live by. If somone is offended by that, well, I’m sorry about that.
If you want to become negative, that’s fine; it’s just off topic for this thread. This thread is about what you admire. However, I would be willing to contribute to a thread that seems to go in the direction you are trying to take it.
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I don’t think that my answer was negative in the least! Nor was it off topic. I was asked a question and I answered it. I don’t believe I saw anything in the OP stating that only warm fuzzy ecumenically sweet responses are welcome. Why would you deliberately want to start a negative thread?
May the Lord grant you peace and joy this day. You are loved by me. And you are even loved by those you have decided not to say anything nice about.
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Why thank you for that. Though my post said absolutely nothing that wasn’t nice - it was simply the truth. I’m sorry you do not agree with it.

~Liza
 
christcnection1 said:
Perhaps you’re missing the point. I have heard many Catholics say that the most zealous Catholics were converts from Protestantism. That’s largely because they brought their zeal and gifts from their former faith traditions.
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I certainly was raised by my Protestant parents with a great deal of love for God. If I were to describe my own situation, at least, I would account for my great zeal for the Catholic faith in three ways:
  1. My love of God is what led me to the Catholic Church.
  2. After having been a Christian up until around the age of 20 without the sacraments and the Church’s guidance, I found in Catholicism what my soul needed. Finding the Catholic Church was like coming to a rich oasis after journeying long in the desert with a meager ration of water.
  3. For those who embrace the Church and seek out God, whether cradle Catholic or convert, they will find a great love indeed.
So, interestingly, I find that Protestantism allowed me to appreciate Catholicism more readily both because of what it provided and what it lacked.
 
lizaanne said:
I don’t believe I called anyone enemy. Those who preach contrary to the Truth are only the enemy of God, not me.
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I do not think that God would consider Protestants his enemy. The shepherd does not think of his lost sheep as an enemy to him. His interest is to bring them back.

Even in the tale of the Prodigal Son, the father did not see his wayward son as an enemy.

As well, not everything which Protestants believe is contrary to the Truth. Much of what a faithful Protestant believes is the same as what the Church teaches. The Nicene Creed which we profess so often expresses tenets which our separated brethren share with us.

Is it the fault of someone born in 1981 that Martin Luther broke with the Church centuries before? Is it their fault that erroneous beliefs were passed down by their ancestors to them? Or is it the fault of someone who converts from a non-Christian belief to Protestant Christianity that they were given a flawed version of the faith?

Do any of those circumstances above mean that these people love Christ any less? Of course not.

We do have things to admire in Protestants because they do share much with us. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that they will find their way home to the Catholic Church.
 
lizaanne said:
I’m quite sure I didn’t “miss the point”. There are also many Catholics who love and are zealous about their Faith who have been so their entire lives. Somehow these folks are not given celebrity status because they didn’t have some major conversion experience.
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I don’t think anyone is given celebrity status. The Pope himself hardly gets the coverage as many celebrities.

I praise God for people who have faithfully followed God in the Catholic Church all their lives. I believe their reward in heaven will be great.
I don’t believe I called anyone enemy. Those who preach contrary to the Truth are only the enemy of God, not me.
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And we can thank God that Non-Catholic Christians are the friends of God, because they are mostly walking in God’s friendship. 🙂 I’m glad you don’t think of them as enemies, but rather brother and sisters in Christ, which is what our Church teaches.
And have you heard the expression: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? This is the “expression”* I* live by. If somone is offended by that, well, I’m sorry about that.
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No Catholic should be offended by this. It should serve to bring us great inspiration and confidence.

I don’t think our Separated Brethren are offended by this; they merely disagree with our belief. We can only hope and pray that we will be united as one people as our Lord prayed for.
I don’t think that my answer was negative in the least! Nor was it off topic. I was asked a question and I answered it. I don’t believe I saw anything in the OP stating that only warm fuzzy ecumenically sweet responses are welcome. Why would you deliberately want to start a negative thread?
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I’m glad you’re trying to be positive. You misunderstood - I have no intention of starting a negative thread.

Whether you believe you were off topic or not is subjective. I disagree with you, but it’s not fruitful to press my opinion at this time.

Do you disagree with many of the Catholic posters here that had positive things to say about our Separated Brethren? I thought there were many heart-felt and truthful answers.
Why thank you for that. Though my post said absolutely nothing that wasn’t nice - it was simply the truth. I’m sorry you do not agree with it.
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I think we disagree that we are not in agreement. I believe everything the Church teaches. I presume you do as well.

However, I do line up with the vast majority of people here who have participated in this thread.

In His Love,

JB
 
Speaking as a cradle Catholic, converted to Protestantism then back to Catholicism, I would say, their commitment to loving others, trying to be friendly with just about anyone, their dedication to Scripture, those who really do try to walk and live in Christ as well as they can, considering, which I have realised half a year ago prior to reconversion, they really are not playing with a full deck of cards, to me that’s admirable.

I have made some dear friends among them. I’ve said some hotheaded stuff that I shouldn’t have said considering how sincere some of them really are and it’s not of their fault that they are separated. I only hope I haven’t driven them away from the fullness of truth. I wish the best for them.
 
I also like the way they bring up their children with a love for Christ.
 
multitude said:
I have made some dear friends among them. I’ve said some hotheaded stuff that I shouldn’t have said considering how sincere some of them really are and it’s not of their fault that they are separated. I only hope I haven’t driven them away from the fullness of truth. I wish the best for them.
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I confess that I have done the same. Next time I hope to act with greater charity and patience. I love them so much and also desire the best for them.
 
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