Fullness of Truth vs. Partial Truth....help!

[Shana]

I have a Protestant (Baptist) friend and was talking to her about Catholicism and she doesn’t seem to care much about doctrinal differences as long as we are saved. How can I make her understand that it does matter whether one has the fullness of truth as opposed to partial truth? She doesn’t want to get into an argument and neither do I but I don’t understand why she doesn’t care more about the truth…

 

[Hisalone]

I have a Protestant (Baptist) friend and was talking to her about Catholicism and she doesn’t seem to care much about doctrinal differences as long as we are saved. I can I make her understand that is does matter whether one has the fullness of truth as opposed to partial truth? She doesn’t want to get into an argument and neither do I but I don’t understand why she doesn’t care more about the truth…

Why are you so easily persuaded by presupositions?

 

[Shana]

I’m sorry, I’m not sure of what you’re asking.

 

[Hisalone]

I’m sorry, I’m not sure of what you’re asking.

Presuposition --Catholic Church is the fullness of truth.

Why are you so easily persuaded that it is true?
Why would God not reveal the fullness of truth to Orthodox? To Coptics? To Calvinists?

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

Shana

You should have asked this in the Apologetics forum instead on the non-Catholic forum. All it took was one poster to throw your thread off topic and turn it back on you are your faith.

To the question you asked: since this friend of yours stated that all she cares about is whether or not someone is saved I would jump in with how exactly someone is saved. She opened a door to conversation with this statement. Discussing this could lead to other topics and discussions.

God bless

 

[MDK]

Presuposition --Catholic Church is the fullness of truth.

Why are you so easily persuaded that it is true?
Why would God not reveal the fullness of truth to Orthodox? To Coptics? To Calvinists?

A better question is, why are you reluctant to go with the clear truth? Christ only started one Church… what makes you sure you’re in it, or do you care about this? Christ gave authority to one Church, and so others can’t claim to know what is or is not truth. No other church stands up to the claims of the Catholic Church. No other church could.

 

[SIA]

A better question is, why are you reluctant to go with the clear truth? Christ only started one Church… what makes you sure you’re in it, or do you care about this? Christ gave authority to one Church, and so others can’t claim to know what is or is not truth. No other church stands up to the claims of the Catholic Church. No other church could.

Because you haven’t proven your case, that’s why he isn’t swayed by it. It’s only Catholics that say that they alone have the fullness of the faith. I surely don’t see any Scriptural evidence of that nor has anyone on here proven it.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

I have a Protestant (Baptist) friend and was talking to her about Catholicism and she doesn’t seem to care much about doctrinal differences as long as we are saved. How can I make her understand that it does matter whether one has the fullness of truth as opposed to partial truth? She doesn’t want to get into an argument and neither do I but I don’t understand why she doesn’t care more about the truth…

That’s a tough one.

Michael Cumbie, a former Baptist, has a great series that includes his conversion.

He makes the point that Christianity today includes everything from Snake Dancers to High Church Latin Mass.

This is very confusing for non Christians.

He asked us to imagine how much more powerful our witness would be if we were united in faith and morals.

Try to find his series called the Micah Project.

It’s three DVD’s and he’s hilarious. It might make some headway with her.

I think you can see a few minutes of it on You tube.

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

Because you haven’t proven your case, that’s why he isn’t swayed by it. It’s only Catholics that say that they alone have the fullness of the faith. I surely don’t see any Scriptural evidence of that nor has anyone on here proven it.

There is evidence.

Jesus told his apostles that the spirit would lead them into ALL truth.

This means that if two Christian groups disagree, then one of them is wrong.

Protestantism as a whole cannot be led in all truth.

You can try to claim that one particular denomination is being led into all truth, but I don’t hear anyone claiming that.

Catholics, because they are founded on the rock of Peter’s faith and they are led by the holder of the keys, have a legitimate biblical claim to this title.

 

[SIA]

There is evidence.

Jesus told his apostles that the spirit would lead them into ALL truth.

This means that if two Christian groups disagree, then one of them is wrong.

Protestantism as a whole cannot be led in all truth.

You can try to claim that one particular denomination is being led into all truth, but I don’t hear anyone claiming that.

Catholics, because they are founded on the rock of Peter’s faith and they are led by the holder of the keys, have a legitimate biblical claim to this title.

Problem with that is the Catholic church of today is NOT the Early Church that Christ began. You have no way to lay claim on being the fullness of the faith. That’s like saying that Mary is the purest realization of the faith.

 

[Callin]

I have a Protestant (Baptist) friend and was talking to her about Catholicism and she doesn’t seem to care much about doctrinal differences as long as we are saved. How can I make her understand that it does matter whether one has the fullness of truth as opposed to partial truth? She doesn’t want to get into an argument and neither do I but I don’t understand why she doesn’t care more about the truth…

Tell her that whether or not her view of “saved” is correct depends on doctrine. Therefore, doctrine is important, and she should make sure the doctrine she gets that from is sound.

If you’ve already run that by her, I’m not sure what to say next…

 

[CHESTERTONRULES]

Problem with that is the Catholic church of today is NOT the Early Church that Christ began. You have no way to lay claim on being the fullness of the faith. That’s like saying that Mary is the purest realization of the faith.

When did the Holy Spirit abandon the Church?

Who is being led into all truth?

What did Jesus mean here?

John 13:6
I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always.

 

[SIA]

When did the Holy Spirit abandon the Church?

Who is being led into all truth?

What did Jesus mean here?

John 13:6
I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always.

A dilemma I assure you. I believe that Jesus’ true followers are being led into all truth. We both know in our heart of hearts that Jesus’ true followers are not exclusive to one denomination.

 

[MDK]

Because you haven’t proven your case, that’s why he isn’t swayed by it. It’s only Catholics that say that they alone have the fullness of the faith. I surely don’t see any Scriptural evidence of that nor has anyone on here proven it.

In your case, you’ve been here on CAF long enough, and you’ve seen it, over and over. Besides, one doesn’t need CAF to have the truth. Either you seek it, or you don’t. You choose to cut yourself off from it… which really doesn’t bode well for you. One has to be open to the truth first of all… and you’ll find it. I pray for all to come closer to the the truth, and learn it more fully. There is fallacy in requiring that everything be written down, and then misinterpreting whatever way you want the things that are written. One will never find the truth with this formula.

 

[MDK]

A dilemma I assure you. I believe that Jesus’ true followers are being led into all truth. We both know in our heart of hearts that Jesus’ true followers are not exclusive to one denomination.

Well, there it is. If you’re a true follower, you’ll be led to the truth. Whether you believe or not, there is only one authoritative Church who speaks for Christ. This is how we’ll ever know whether you’re a true follower of Christ… whether you come to realize the pillar and bulwark of truth… the one Church built by Christ, built on the rock who is Kepha. The people in the early Church knew this. Those who are “too smart” for this, deny this truth. One must be humble enough to accept the truth. Otherwise, arrogance will keep one from the truth.

 

[dzheremi]

Because you haven’t proven your case, that’s why he isn’t swayed by it. It’s only Catholics that say that they alone have the fullness of the faith. I surely don’t see any Scriptural evidence of that nor has anyone on here proven it.

The bolded portion is absolutely not true. The Eastern Orthodox also see themselves as having the fullness of truth to the exclusion of every other community (see here), and there are definitely some Protestants who believe that everyone outside of their own denomination, no matter how small and unique, is doomed (Fred Phelps types, most of whom don’t make the news in the USA as often as he does).

 

[SIA]

The bolded portion is absolutely not true. The Eastern Orthodox also see themselves as having the fullness of truth to the exclusion of every other community (see here), and there are definitely some Protestants who believe that everyone outside of their own denomination, no matter how small and unique, is doomed (Fred Phelps types, most of whom don’t make the news in the USA as often as he does).

That’s not what I was getting at. I was saying that only Catholics believe that Catholics have the fullness of the faith. Nobody else in Orthodoxy or the claimed 30,000 Protestant denominations claims that the Roman Catholic church is exclusively the fullness of faith.

 

[MDK]

The bolded portion is absolutely not true. The Eastern Orthodox also see themselves as having the fullness of truth to the exclusion of every other community (see here), and there are definitely some Protestants who believe that everyone outside of their own denomination, no matter how small and unique, is doomed (Fred Phelps types, most of whom don’t make the news in the USA as often as he does).

The problem is that when one interprets things their own way, the “truth” they present is nothing more than what they prefer it to be. Catholic Church carries God’s word faithfully. Others who interpret as they see fit, choose to edit His word to their own liking, ignoring the truth they don’t like.

 

[dzheremi]

That’s not what I was getting at. I was saying that only Catholics believe that Catholics have the fullness of the faith. Nobody else in Orthodoxy or the claimed 30,000 Protestant denominations claims that the Roman Catholic church is exclusively the fullness of faith.

Um…why would they?

If they believed the Catholic Church’s claim, why would they be something other than Catholic?

I don’t understand how this is supposed to advance the discussion we’re having. It seems too obvious.

 

[SIA]

Um…why would they?

If they believed the Catholic Church’s claim, why would they be something other than Catholic?

I don’t understand how this is supposed to advance the discussion we’re having. It seems too obvious.

That’s the whole point.