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

[AChris]

I disagree. Of course I’ve met converts from the church of Christ who converted solely because they didn’t like that group’s teaching that they are the only ones going to heaven. But that doesn’t make it right or wrong. What we feel about it doesn’t matter, and even what we think about it doesn’t matter. That’s why we have dogma, so we can all believe the truth and it’s up to us to either accept it or deny it, to accept or deny truth, to accept or deny God.

The Church has defined over and over that, like the ark of Noah, you have to be onboard to be saved.

We can try to rationalize as much as we want, and let our feelings interfere, or even use Vatican II (which didn’t define anything new, and said right in the introduction that everything in it must be understood in the light and understanding of previously defined dogmas) to say the opposite of what had clearly been defined previously…that every human being must be subject to the Holy Father, be baptized, be Catholic, in order to go to heaven.

Oh, but God is just! Yes, so true, and that’s why nobody deserves to go to heaven as if it’s a right…something God owes us. Remember original sin…and remember we’re not already “saved”. We’re redeemed…we’re justified…but not “saved” until we die and are judged by God.

 

[MelanieAnne]

I disagree. Of course I’ve met converts from the church of Christ who converted solely because they didn’t like that group’s teaching that they are the only ones going to heaven. But that doesn’t make it right or wrong. What we feel about it doesn’t matter, and even what we think about it doesn’t matter. That’s why we have dogma, so we can all believe the truth and it’s up to us to either accept it or deny it, to accept or deny truth, to accept or deny God.

The Church has defined over and over that, like the ark of Noah, you have to be onboard to be saved.

We can try to rationalize as much as we want, and let our feelings interfere, or even use Vatican II (which didn’t define anything new, and said right in the introduction that everything in it must be understood in the light and understanding of previously defined dogmas) to say the opposite of what had clearly been defined previously…that every human being must be subject to the Holy Father, be baptized, be Catholic, in order to go to heaven.

Oh, but God is just! Yes, so true, and that’s why nobody deserves to go to heaven as if it’s a right…something God owes us. Remember original sin…and remember we’re not already “saved”. We’re redeemed…we’re justified…but not “saved” until we die and are judged by God.

Since you didn’t quote those you disagreed with, with all due respect, could you please just copy and paste them? so we know?

thanks!

 

[mpjw2]

Achris…I do not know if you overlooked my reply to you…here it is again

thank you Achris
I know the the catholic belief tying in to the Real Presence…

When I take communion, my desire is to participate with a clean graceful sinless soul.

for that reason I make a sincere confession before the Lord before I attend communion service.

It is at communion service that we recall the sacrafice He made for us on the cross at calvary so that our sins are forgiven by His blood.

And if my belief will not get me to heaven, I will suffer the consequences. But at this time deep within my heart I believe I am doing the right thing.

i believe God has me right where he wants me

God bless

mpjw

Do you believe I can enter heaven if I should die as a non catholic???

thank you and God bless

 

[mpjw2]

Just curious …did anyone notice the “gem” tweetymom posted in 380?

 

[PRmerger]

My concern was that I realized the things I said to you and melanie recently have been on the side of judgement and I knew there was a chance I may have hurt your feelings,…

You did not hurt my feelings, mpjw, but I appreciate your concern. I just find it puzzling when people call me judgemental–for *that *is a judgemental statement in itself.

Again, we are all called to judge–just to judge rightly. (Jn 7:24)

All I’m doing here is trying to explain Christ’s teachings to us, as given to us by the CC–and some people get offended at what He said. As Peter Kreeft, Catholic philosphy prof at Boston College, has said, “The Catholic Church is simply the mail carrier of God’s Word–we do not reserve the right to edit it” (I’m paraphrasing him). That is, we cannot change Jesus’ message to us simply because we find it a hard saying.

 

[PRmerger]

do you have the same hope towards christians who did not grow up in the RCC like I did, have been exposed to the RCC church and the teachings of the church, and will go to their grave, never being a catholic at any time in their life??

Thank you all and God bless

I’ll one-up you on this one, mpjw. I believe that there are probably quite a few ATHEISTS in heaven and Catholics in hell. Perhaps even a priest or two!. How about that!

 

[distracted]

distracted, stay strong in your faith. unfortunately attacks will come…it can be war…the enemy will try as hard as he can to have his way.

distracted, i encourage you when you get a chance read Ephesians 6:10-17

I will pray for you that God places His protection over you as you equip yourself in the armor of God

God bless you

mpjw

you need not pray that last thing… He did that when he brought me back into t he Roman Catholic Church … after years and years of being lost and confused and… thinking wrong things and etc…

before that, it was amazing the stuff i was going through… you probably wouldn’t even believe some of it… (i have a hard time beliving it myself sometimes… even though it happened a LONG time ago…) Suffice it to say i had massive evil to contend with… and wasn’t able to do anything about it… to speak of…

I would not be a Christian if it weren’t for the RCC…

 

[mpjw2]

I’ll one-up you on this one, mpjw. I believe that there are probably quite a few ATHEISTS in heaven and Catholics in hell. Perhaps even a priest or two!. How about that!

dang!!!

 

[mpjw2]

you need not pray that last thing… He did that when he brought me back into t he Roman Catholic Church … after years and years of being lost and confused and… thinking wrong things and etc…

before that, it was amazing the stuff i was going through… you probably wouldn’t even believe some of it… (i have a hard time beliving it myself sometimes… even though it happened a LONG time ago…) Suffice it to say i had massive evil to contend with… and wasn’t able to do anything about it… to speak of…

I would not be a Christian if it weren’t for the RCC…

thank God you found home

 

[Hoxbar]

If you will read John chapter 3 you will find Jesus say you must be born again. Doesn’t say anything about being catholic.

 

[PRmerger]

If you will read John chapter 3 you will find Jesus say you must be born again. Doesn’t say anything about being catholic.

The CC uses ALL of Scripture to tell us how we’re saved. Is it

By believing in Christ (Jn 3:16; Acts 16:31)?

By repentance (Acts 2:38; 2 Pet 3:9)?

By baptism (Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21; Titus 3:5)?

By the work of the Spirit (Jn 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6)?

By declaring with our mouths (Lk 12:8; Rom 10:9)?

By coming to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4; Heb 10:26)?

By works (Rom 2:6-7; James 2:24)?

By grace (Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8)?

By his blood (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:22)?

By his righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Pet 1:1)?

By his Cross (Eph 2:16; Col 2:14)?

(taken from Steve Ray’s Crossing the Tiber.)

 

[sdtouchton]

We have to first understand the problem that is keeping us from Heaven. The problem is this - our sinful nature keeps us from having a relationship with God. We are sinners by nature and by choice. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We cannot save ourselves. “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves – it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We deserve death and hell. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

God is holy and just and must punish sin, yet He loves us and has provided forgiveness for our sin. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus died for us on the cross: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus was resurrected from the dead: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

How can I know for sure that I will go to Heaven when I die?” The answer is this – believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). You can receive eternal life as a FREE gift. “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). You can live a full and meaningful life right now. Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). You can spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven, for He promised: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am” (John 14:3).

 

[distracted]

I’ll one-up you on this one, mpjw. I believe that there are probably quite a few ATHEISTS in heaven and Catholics in hell. Perhaps even a priest or two!. How about that!

and no protestants, of course…

 

[distracted]

thank God you found home

by the way, the word Catholic is the same as waht you call yourself… . meaning that being Catholic means being a Bible-believing Christian.

 

[distracted]

The CC uses ALL of Scripture to tell us how we’re saved. Is it

By believing in Christ (Jn 3:16; Acts 16:31)?

By repentance (Acts 2:38; 2 Pet 3:9)?

By baptism (Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21; Titus 3:5)?

By the work of the Spirit (Jn 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6)?

By declaring with our mouths (Lk 12:8; Rom 10:9)?

By coming to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4; Heb 10:26)?

By works (Rom 2:6-7; James 2:24)?

By grace (Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8)?

By his blood (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:22)?

By his righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Pet 1:1)?

By his Cross (Eph 2:16; Col 2:14)?

.)

and waht about 1 Tim 3:15… The Church is the pillar and foiundation of truth… not the Bible (alone)…

 

[distracted]

How can I know for sure that I will go to Heaven when I die?” The answer is this – believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). “QUOTE]

but what does it mean to believe?

it means doing everything Jesus said…

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what i say? (can’t recall where that is in Bible)

got some bad news for peeople: Jesus said to give up everythign and follow Him…

and that if you deny him before men, he will deny you before the father…

 

[distracted]

Sorry nlm, but the official position of the church is that one MUST be catholic to get to heaven. Otherwise, one has not been to mass, a mortal sin, and has original sin, and is guilty of heresy.

Is that catholic first, or protestant?

the Church teaches that you dont necessarily have to be officially Catholic to get into HEaven but it will be much harder without the benefits of the Church… and besides, anyone who loves Christ w/ all his heart and mind and soul and his brother as himself IS Catholic whether he knows it or not… but still, it is harder (takes longer) for a protestant to get into Heaven than a Catholic (true Catholic)…

I see evidence of this truth everywhere… Protestants i know are very lax when it comes to doing many things Jesus requires… They are less charitable when angry than Catholics are… they don’t value human life as true Catholics do… meaning they think abortion is ok in cases of incest/rape… etc… i could go on and on…

this is why they spend more time in Purgatory than Catholics… and the avg stay there is supposed to be 40 yrs… and its excrutiating… so that is important…

 

[tweetymom]

Sorry distracted to disagree with you. But I have seen my share of angry Catholic and uncharitale ones too.Being a Catholic doesnt exempt a person from being any of these things then it does a Protestant does. I have seen a lot from in some threads I have visited and will admit I have been angry and uncharitaly at times too.

 

[mpjw2]

by the way, the word Catholic is the same as waht you call yourself… . meaning that being Catholic means being a Bible-believing Christian.

well if that is the case then all christians are catholic

name me a christian family that does not believe the bible

 

[MelanieAnne]

Sorry distracted to disagree with you. But I have seen my share of angry Catholic and uncharitale ones too.Being a Catholic doesnt exempt a person from being any of these things then it does a Protestant does. I have seen a lot from in some threads I have visited and will admit I have been angry and uncharitaly at times too.

Hi TweetyMom,

I’ve been thinking about this since I first saw it and I disagree, kinda. I agree with the fact that no one has a “corner on the market” of “uncharitable” ~ there are plenty of uncharitable Christians, regardless of their “brand”.

But one thing I have seen from some Protestants, that I haven’t seen from Catholics, is the charge of being “non-Christian” or even “pagan” leveled against Catholics. This is extremely offensive and uncharitable and I don’t remember ever seeing this sort of thing leveled against a Protestant by a Catholic (not saying it doesn’t ever happen, how could I know that? just saying I’ve never seen it.) The accusation by some Protestants towards Catholics that Catholics are non-Christian/Pagan originates, as I understand it, with some particular faith’s need to justify its existence. A paltry excuse for defaming people if I have ever heard one.

Since there are extremely vitriolic examples of such persons that post to this forum, and do so very offensively, and since I have never seen any Catholic behave in a similar way, I have to agree with Distracted on this one. At least some Protestants will have a lot to make up for at some point of existence.

Which is why I go back to the idea I posted previously (not sure if it was this thread or another). Imagine a world where everyone treated everyone else as Jesus would, or as if Jesus were standing beside them. (Sorry, but the very-Protestant WWJD ~ What Would Jesus Do ~ comes to mind here, but it’s pertinent.) In that sort of world we would, I suppose, have heaven on earth. But we don’t have that. To the extent that we, individually, do not “do as Jesus” would, we create problems, and when these problems are magnified by the numbers of people in the world, we end up with huge problems, disagreements, etc…