do you have to be Catholic to get into Heaven??

[nlm]

Certainly, those baptized in the correct format, that is: I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with the pouring of water on the head or submersion, meet the basic requirements of being eligible for Heaven. Actually, those of other faiths who are baptized in this manner actually become Catholic!!! even though they don’t realize it. Then, leading a good spiritual life, confessing one’s sins to Jesus with true sorrow (even if it is not to a priest) can save their souls. Those who are not baptized in any faith cannot enter Heaven, Where they go I am not certain (maybe “Limbo” which is not talked about much anymore).
However, it is my personal 71 year old returned Catholic belief that most Catholics won’t make it to Heaven based on the lives they live in the modern age. Most Catholics today are not following Catholic doctrine and unfortunately won’t be anywhere near Heaven, probably dying in mortal sin. The Blessed Virgin told the children at Fatima that souls are dropping into Hell like snowflakes, mostly due to sins of the flesh. AND NO ONE PRAYS TO SAVE THEIR SOULS. Also, no one speaks of the place of atonement Purgatory where the vast majority of the souls that are save will go for an unknown length of time. It is not a pleasant place, although we will eventually reach Heaven, we should all strive not to go there.
Sorry to be so grim, but people must know the truth.

We do baptise in the name of the trinity and totally submerge the individual in our church.We are expected to confess to Jesus with genuine repentance and sorrow and with every intention to not repeat the sin . We are called upon to walk a christian walk and while being sinners do all we can to remain on the straight and narrow. By the Grace of God, not because we deserve it but because of the greatness and love of God we will indeed be saved. Thank you for recognising this truth. So many on CAF have said the exact opposit.God Bless.NLM

 

[nlm]

The only reason to become a Catholic is because it’s TRUE. Not because there’s nice people who greet you on a forum or who smile at you at church.

Interesting comment. I agree one should search for the truth however the "smile in the church"never hurt anyone. Saint Benedict, in his rule, written to his monks ,directed them to welcome guests to their monateries as if these guests were , 'Christ Himself. Pretty powerful message.I would suggest the same can and should be applied to newcomers in one’s place of worship regardless of denomination.NLM

 

[MelanieAnne]

Interesting comment. I agree one should search for the truth however the "smile in the church"never hurt anyone. Saint Benedict, in his rule, written to his monks ,directed them to welcome guests to their monateries as if these guests were , 'Christ Himself. Pretty powerful message.I would suggest the same can and should be applied to newcomers in one’s place of worship regardless of denomination.NLM

NLM, actually, if we all treated everyone as if they were Jesus, imagine what a different world we would have!

When my son gets impatient with people, and I know he’s tamping down the urge to snap at them because of his impatience (he’s impatient A LOT ) I have urged him to pretend that the person is Jesus, or that He is standing right next to the person. It often helps.

 

[Libertarian_FL]

Since I’m a Prophet of God I will say this in His name. That there is many graces of God and even the greatest and most sinful mortal soul can leave Hell by the ministering of the Holy Spirit and angels. One just has to be an anointed member of the true Apostelic Tradition granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As am I.

 

[nlm]

NLM, actually, if we all treated everyone as if they were Jesus, imagine what a different world we would have!

When my son gets impatient with people, and I know he’s tamping down the urge to snap at them because of his impatience (he’s impatient A LOT ) I have urged him to pretend that the person is Jesus, or that He is standing right next to the person. It often helps.

It would be a VERY different world indeed. Interesting you mention your son’s impatience. I tend to be impatient at times ( just ask my wife !!! ). I have however been working on curving this impatience. I go back to a saying which was popular a few years ago. WWJD…What Would Jesus Do… in this situation. I find myself asking myself that quite often It really does defuse the situation, in my case anyway. I guess we all must learn to live as He did with all that means. It is indeed a journey to be walked one day at a time. Good for you to us Jesus as an example for your son.I am certain he will remember that longggggggggg after you are gone. God Bless NLM

 

[PRmerger]

Interesting comment. I agree one should search for the truth however the "smile in the church"never hurt anyone.

Exactly!

However, as someone else already said, if someone joins the Catholic church because some people gave him a virtual group hug on this forum, he’s going to also leave the CC when this touchy-feely nice feeling goes away.

 

[nlm]

Exactly!

However, as someone else already said, if someone joins the Catholic church because some people gave him a virtual group hug on this forum, he’s going to also leave the CC when this touchy-feely nice feeling goes away.

Is the purpose of this forum to entice people to become RC’s? I understood it was to provide information about the RCC. I for one am not looking to become RC but to try and get answers to questions I have never had answered. If I stumble upon kind christian individuals of any denomination and am able to converse, share ideas or compare notes then I see that as a bonus.I mean this with no disrespect to anyone. If more people were sensitive to the needs of others, I believe this would indeed be a better world.If more people took the time to smile or say hello it would go a long way to helping others who may be having a bad day.When the rules are all that matters then the people suffer.There is not enough" touchy-feely "going on in the world.That is my opinion.NLM

 

[PRmerger]

Is the purpose of this forum to entice people to become RC’s?

As I stated earlier, this is an apologetics forum. The purpose of Catholic apologetics is to lead people to the Truth. It’s to provide rational arguments which counter un-truths and un-beliefs. It’s to lead others to sanctity by leading them to Truth.

 

[MelanieAnne]

As I stated earlier, this is an apologetics forum. The purpose of Catholic apologetics is to lead people to the Truth. It’s to provide rational arguments which counter un-truths and un-beliefs. It’s to lead others to sanctity by leading them to Truth.

Actually this area of the forum is Non-Catholic religions.

 

[dburke]

Unfortunately, once you have left the true church, that is, the Catholic church founded by Christ himself 2000 years ago, and you enter another religion, albeit a good christian one, you will have a difficult time entering Heaven. All protestant churches were founded by man, not Christ.
To follow a religion that only has partial truth does one no good.
I am speaking only of a Catholic who has abandoned the true faith.
Come back to the church my friend, come back to your Catholic roots, no matter what the reason you left.

 

[nlm]

Unfortunately, once you have left the true church, that is, the Catholic church founded by Christ himself 2000 years ago, and you enter another religion, albeit a good christian one, you will have a difficult time entering Heaven. All protestant churches were founded by man, not Christ.
To follow a religion that only has partial truth does one no good.
I am speaking only of a Catholic who has abandoned the true faith.
Come back to the church my friend, come back to your Catholic roots, no matter what the reason you left.

Doing that would be asking me to live a lie and I will not do that nor is God asking me to do that. Your statement that I will have a difficult time to enter heaven would suggest you know the relationship which exists between Christ and I.
Just"belonging" to a denomination or sitting in pews inside a building with a particular sign on the door does not make one a christian nor does it guarantee salvation.
I can tell you this, if all those sitting in RC pews tomorrow were unable to lie for 24 hours, and they were questionned about some of the fundamental teachings of the church,you would find that many are also living the same lie I was, only difference, they are still there.
Are all protestants perfect, no, far from it however, not believing in one’s denominational teaching is not unique to the RCC it exists across the denominations. I am accountable to God no one else. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, if I died tonight I would go to heaven.
I could not have made that statement for most if not all of the first 50 years of my life.One must truely believe not because one is expected to believe by one’s parents or one’s spous or a clergymen friend but because it is right.
We may be able to fool others around us but the inner voice inside our souls cannot be fooled.I know these types of honest stements are not at all popular on this forum but it is my honest reply to your statement. Anything else would have been a lie. NLM

 

[PRmerger]

Actually this area of the forum is Non-Catholic religions.

I’m talking about the CAF. Catholic Answers Forums. The purpose of the Catholic Answers apostolate is apologetics.

 

[PRmerger]

We may be able to fool others around us but the inner voice inside our souls cannot be fooled NLM

What is your belief regarding people who claim they’re saved, come down for the “altar call” (which, BTW, is not in Scripture) and then cheat on their wife? Are they still saved? Does the inner voice inside them tell them the truth?

 

[mpjw2]

What is your belief regarding people who claim they’re saved, come down for the “altar call” (which, BTW, is not in Scripture)

Hi PRMerger

In all due respect…you are absolutely right… an "altar call’ is not in scripture

but

the reason for an altar call is.

The reason for an altar call is to assist an unbeliever into becoming a believer in Jesus Christ

I do not want to get morbid, but the need arizes to illustrate a point.

We all know what happened 9-11-01

my friend, who is a believer lost his friend, who was not a believer, in the twin towers that day. He had rejected the Gospel when my friend shared it with Him. He was destined for hell if He died in that state.

Thank God he did not

How do I know??

My friend received a phone call from his friend as he was stuck in the towers.

His friend told him a christian was among the people stuck in the office they were in and shared with everyone the Gospel of Jesus Christ

After sharing the Gospel the christian asked if anyone wanted to receive Jesus

PRMerger, the last words my friend received from his friend, former unbeliever, in the tower was…“I will be waiting for you in heaven”

Praise God. a christian gave an "altar call’ in the towers.

and then cheat on their wife?

wow that’s a challenging question.

but I will answer. I am married and I commit adultery just about every month.

Did your jaw just drop??

I am not talking about the physical act…my standards are not God’s standards

what am I talking about?

When you look at the following verse …

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

Am I the only christian who does not commit adultery by God’s standards just by having a lusty thought??

I believe not.

Are they still saved?

right after committing the sin??..absolutely not

in all due respect are you saved right after you sin???

Does the inner voice inside them tell them the truth?

Absolutely. it is not just an inner voice…it is the voice of the holy spirit who tells me…

it is by the blood of Jesus that will, forgive my sin, set me free again and restore my soul to a state of grace, so that if I should die right then and there I can face God in heaven sinfree in a state of grace.

in order for my soul to be restored to a state of grace

the holy spirit tells me immediately pray to God and make a sincere confession before the Lord with a remorseful repented heart, (by the way I believe this is what my friend’s friend did in the tower before it collapsed.)

by doing so I can trust God in his word as Paul states in Romans 6:23

Having sinned, my wages were death(hell), however having prayed a sincere confession before the Lord, my soul is restored to a state of grace and should I die right there,
I would receive God’s gift of eternal life in heaven

Praise be to God

By the way, time for bed. If by chance I die in my sleep tonight…

I will be waiting for you in heaven. I am 100% sure of it.

How’s that? you may ask.

I just prayed and made a sincere confession before the Lord and I trust and believe in His promise …especially

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

God bless you and I hope that answered your questions and concerns.

mpjw

 

[PRmerger]

an "altar call’ is not in scripture

but

the reason for an altar call is.

I can accept that.

I would hope, then, that you could accept that the Catholic Church’s “reasons” for the Eucharist, papacy, Assumption, Immaculate Conception, 7 sacraments. etc etc etc are also in Scripture.

I am married and I commit adultery just about every month.

Did your jaw just drop??

I am not talking about the physical act…my standards are not God’s standards

what am I talking about?

When you look at the following verse …

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

Am I the only christian who does not commit adultery by God’s standards just by having a lusty thought??

I believe not.

Are they still saved?

right after committing the sin??..absolutely not

That’s very Catholic of you to say that, mpjw! Now, some of our Christian brethren would have a different interpretation on that–they would say that there’s NOTHING anyone can do, after accepting Jesus into his heart, to make him lose his salvation.

You have a different interpretation–one that is consistent with the CC’s!

Also, I don’t know if you know that to quote someone, you put this:

then the text you want to quote, then put this:

(except that the ending 'quote" should also have a backslash: / I just didn’t do it because it would then follow the quote command and quote that.)

If you simply type inside what’s quoted, when someone wants to respond to your quote, they get nothing.

I’m guessing my explanation is a bit muddy, but I’m not that well versed in computer lingo to be able to explain it any better. Sorry!

 

[nlm]

What is your belief regarding people who claim they’re saved, come down for the “altar call” (which, BTW, is not in Scripture) and then cheat on their wife? Are they still saved? Does the inner voice inside them tell them the truth?

Let me start by saying that the words," altar call" seem to be problamatic for some. As has already been explained in this thread, an altar call is a means to reach an end. In our denomination, the focus has shifted away from going up to the altar to accept Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour. The place is totally irrelevant ,it is what happens in one’s heart and between Jesus and myself that makes the difference nothing else.
No, that person would not be saved at that moment.He must confess as is the case in the RCC. He at that moment is in a state of sin.
Yes my friend, the inner voice as I refer to it, is, as we all know , the Holy Spirit. We can run from the Holy Spirit but we can’t hide from the Holy Spirit. Why? Because He dwells within…there’s no running away from what we have done.
The denomination I belong to do not believe in once saved always saved.
Going back to the altar call. Having experienced both the RCC and my current church I see it as no different from the days as RC’s we were asked to kneel at the communion rail to accept communion. The rail was not the focus, the Eucharist was. Same thing with the altar calls. The communion rail I am guessing was not scriptural either.NLM

 

[nlm]

I can accept that.

I would hope, then, that you could accept that the Catholic Church’s “reasons” for the Eucharist, papacy, Assumption, Immaculate Conception, 7 sacraments. etc etc etc are also in Scripture.

That’s very Catholic of you to say that, mpjw! Now, some of our Christian brethren would have a different interpretation on that–they would say that there’s NOTHING anyone can do, after accepting Jesus into his heart, to make him lose his salvation.

You have a different interpretation–one that is consistent with the CC’s!

Also, I don’t know if you know that to quote someone, you put this:

then the text you want to quote, then put this:

 

[MelanieAnne]

Doing that would be asking me to live a lie and I will not do that nor is God asking me to do that. Your statement that I will have a difficult time to enter heaven would suggest you know the relationship which exists between Christ and I.
Just"belonging" to a denomination or sitting in pews inside a building with a particular sign on the door does not make one a christian nor does it guarantee salvation.
I can tell you this, if all those sitting in RC pews tomorrow were unable to lie for 24 hours, and they were questionned about some of the fundamental teachings of the church,you would find that many are also living the same lie I was, only difference, they are still there.
Are all protestants perfect, no, far from it however, not believing in one’s denominational teaching is not unique to the RCC it exists across the denominations. I am accountable to God no one else. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, if I died tonight I would go to heaven.
I could not have made that statement for most if not all of the first 50 years of my life.One must truely believe not because one is expected to believe by one’s parents or one’s spous or a clergymen friend but because it is right.
We may be able to fool others around us but the inner voice inside our souls cannot be fooled.I know these types of honest stements are not at all popular on this forum but it is my honest reply to your statement. Anything else would have been a lie. NLM

Hi NLM,

I’ve been thinking about this post since the first time I saw it and I have to ask ~ what is this “lie” that you are talking about? Maybe I’m just supposed to “get it”, but I don’t. So what is it that you don’t believe and that you suspect many faithful Catholics also don’t believe? I’d like to know.

 

[nlm]

This is a message to mpjw2. Could you please empty your inbox for private messages as you are unable to recive any new ones. Thank you NLM

 

[PRmerger]

The place is totally irrelevant ,it is what happens in one’s heart and between Jesus and myself that makes the difference nothing else.

Do you believe that marriage is unnecessary between a man and woman–as long as the man and wife love each other,and “believe it in their heart”, it’s between them alone? As long as they confess their love to each other it doesn’t really matter if they “make a formal declaration” before a minister? Is it just a legal thing to get married?