How can Protestants Answer this? (In Defense of Catholicism)

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studychristian

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When did Jesus promise us the bible? He told us that his word shall never go away, and I wasn’t till 400 AD that the Bible was put together.

If you think all Catholics are damned to Hell, then you think for 1500 years that most people who believed in Jesus were damned because they were Catholic? Seems unreasonable to me…

Why is it that Catholic Beliefs are biblical?

Why is faith alone saves, when the idea Faith Alone didn’t really come together till the Bible Came Out? Anyone during the apostles times who wanted to be saved with Christ had to join one of the churches that Jesus had told each to start, so they would know what to believe.
 
I just want to comment on a couple of your points.
=studychristian;9495439]
If you think all Catholics are damned to Hell, then you think for 1500 years that most people who believed in Jesus were damned because they were Catholic? Seems unreasonable to me…
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Why is it that Catholic Beliefs are biblical?
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The number of protestants that believe that all Catholics are damned to hell is fractional. It is a ridiculous assertion that warrants no time wasted on dialoguing the idea. It presumes to know God’s will. It presumes to know the hearts of others.

Catholic beliefs are biblical because by and large they conform to scripture.
Why is faith alone saves, when the idea Faith Alone didn’t really come together till the Bible Came Out? Anyone during the apostles times who wanted to be saved with Christ had to join one of the churches that Jesus had told each to start, so they would know what to believe.
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I’m not sure how any of this relates to faith alone. Faith alone is the teaching that, not by works or our own activities, but by grace through faith in Christ do we come to justification.

Jon
 
How can they answer them? They cannot.

An example of one of my discussions with a protestant went like this.

I told him what you said, almost to the key exact words…and then he said:

"Well there was a little bit of people who believed in what we believe, HEY, Catholics believe in purgatory, that is not mentioned in the Bible. "

This guy made up an unsupported excuse and changed the subject because he is not able to answer it.
There were not other Christians outside Catholicism back then except for very small community of heresies, that were not alike to Protestantism at all.
 
JonNC said:
I just want to comment on a couple of your points.

The number of protestants that believe that all Catholics are damned to hell is fractional. It is a ridiculous assertion that warrants no time wasted on dialoguing the idea.
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Not in my opinion friend. Arent the baptists and Pentecostals two of the biggest Protestant denominations? Almost all the baptists I’ve met have told me I’m going to hell when I asked them. And from a few conversations with a handful of Pentecostals, I’d say they believe the same thing due to infant baptism.
 
PeterJohn said:
Not in my opinion friend. Arent the baptists and Pentecostals two of the biggest Protestant denominations? Almost all the baptists I’ve met have told me I’m going to hell when I asked them. And from a few conversations with a handful of Pentecostals, I’d say they believe the same thing due to infant baptism.
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Another reason, among many, for me not to be Baptist or Pentecostal. 🤷
I don’t know how they compare in size. I also don’t know if what you say is there offical stance. I certainly hope not.

Jon
 
studychristian said:
#1
When did Jesus promise us the bible? He told us that his word shall never go away, and I wasn’t till 400 AD that the Bible was put together.

#2
If you think all Catholics are damned to Hell, then you think for 1500 years that most people who believed in Jesus were damned because they were Catholic? Seems unreasonable to me…

#3
Why is it that Catholic Beliefs are biblical?

#3
Why is faith alone saves, when the idea Faith Alone didn’t really come together till the Bible Came Out? Anyone during the apostles times who wanted to be saved with Christ had to join one of the churches that Jesus had told each to start, so they would know what to believe.
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I’ll give this a shot…
#1
This is an answer a Pentecostal minister gave me when I questioned him on that subject
"The bibe is the word of God, and the holy spirit preserved it for us all. How else would we know the word of God.(his answer didn’t make much sense to me or realy answer my question)

#2
My grand father inlaw gave me an answer to that question
“there were probably a few true Christians among them”

#3
I’d have to guess at this one because I’ve never gotten a good straight answer. So…
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
 
JonNC said:
I just want to comment on a couple of your points.

The number of protestants that believe that all Catholics are damned to hell is fractional. It is a ridiculous assertion that warrants no time wasted on dialoguing the idea. It presumes to know God’s will. It presumes to know the hearts of others.

Catholic beliefs are biblical because by and large they conform to scripture.

I’m not sure how any of this relates to faith alone. Faith alone is the teaching that, not by works or our own activities, but by grace through faith in Christ do we come to justification.

Jon
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Jon,

There is an association of Christian ministers in a city nearby. There are about 125 denominations in the area. They voted on whether to invite the parish priest to join them. The question was whether Catholics are Christians and a priest should be invited. The vote was overwhelmingly negative. The city is far from the Bible belt.

My wife volunteered at a Christian school (Nazarene). The Catholic grandfather of two of the fourth graders, a brother and sister, died. The classmates told them he went to hell.

I could go on.
 
I am widowed from a devout Catholic Marriage, married to a Baptized Catholic who prefers the Protestant side, and now back home with a Convalated Marriage. Sad to say that most Protestants who I have talked to think that we Catholics are going to Hell.

While on the Protestant side I became “Born Again” in Protestant terms through faith, so I’m covered both ways, regardless of who is right.
 
=grandfather;9496324]Jon,
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There is an association of Christian ministers in a city nearby. There are about 125 denominations in the area. They voted on whether to invite the parish priest to join them. The question was whether Catholics are Christians and a priest should be invited. The vote was overwhelmingly negative. The city is far from the Bible belt.
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This is quite sad. I can tell you that as an elder in my parish, I would strongly encourage my pastor not to participate with this association, and be sure they know why.
My wife volunteered at a Christian school (Nazarene). The Catholic grandfather of two of the fourth graders, a brother and sister, died. The classmates told them he went to hell.
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I sincerely hope this is anecdotal. What a vicious, untrue thing to say to children.

Jon
 
grandfather said:
Jon,

There is an association of Christian ministers in a city nearby. There are about 125 denominations in the area. They voted on whether to invite the parish priest to join them. The question was whether Catholics are Christians and a priest should be invited. The vote was overwhelmingly negative. The city is far from the Bible belt.
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As a Lutheran pastor, I would not be a member of such an association. I respect the Catholic Church and its clergy and value their faithfulness to our Lord and Savior.
 
WHY exactly do they think we are going to hell? I’d love to pin them down on that, because I bet the logic would be absurd.
 
Gorgias said:
Usually the answer comes back that we believe in salvation by works.
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I think you’re right, but it still makes no sense. Why does misunderstanding the mechanics of salvation damn one to hell? What part of the various early creeds to they claim that we reject?
 
gcnuss said:
As a Lutheran pastor, I would not be a member of such an association. I respect the Catholic Church and its clergy and value their faithfulness to our Lord and Savior.
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Thanks, Pastor. I would expect this stand from any Lutheran pastor - ELCA, LCMS, WELS - you name it.
Jon
 
gcnuss said:
As a Lutheran pastor, I would not be a member of such an association. I respect the Catholic Church and its clergy and value their faithfulness to our Lord and Savior.
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Praise God for your answer. I value anybody who the Holy Spirit has given faith to. Faith is not something that is unimportant in the scheme of things and should be respected as part of what makes an individual a friend of God.

BTW, I have bought books from Lutheran bookstores.

mdcpensive1
 
snarflemike said:
I think you’re right, but it still makes no sense. Why does misunderstanding the mechanics of salvation damn one to hell?
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Hmm…

Because, if what is required is faith in Jesus, and we have faith that our own works save us, then we’re not really believing in Jesus but in ourselves?
What part of the various early creeds to they claim that we reject?
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Depending on the denomination, the creeds may be seen as having been developed once we were already on the wrong path…
 
Gorgias said:
Hmm…

Because, if what is required is faith in Jesus, and we have faith that our own works save us, then we’re not really believing in Jesus but in ourselves?
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But what does it mean to have “faith in Jesus”? Can somebody point me to scripture that says “do this and you will go to hell” that Catholics allegedly do?

Actually, don’t answer that here, I feel like I’m deflecting this thread. I’ll start a new thread.
 
Gorgias said:
Hmm…

Because, if what is required is faith in Jesus, and we have faith that our own works save us, then we’re not really believing in Jesus but in ourselves?
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I actually think this is the message of the Gospel. Paul says that we can’t boast in our own works. I don’t count on my good works for salvation, but I do them because the one I do count on for my salvation commands that I do. Lutherans call it the “new obedience”, that we do good works not out of fear of the law, but out of joyful thanksgiving.

Jon
 
studychristian said:
When did Jesus promise us the bible? He told us that his word shall never go away, and I wasn’t till 400 AD that the Bible was put together.

If you think all Catholics are damned to Hell, then you think for 1500 years that most people who believed in Jesus were damned because they were Catholic? Seems unreasonable to me…

Why is it that Catholic Beliefs are biblical?

Why is faith alone saves, when the idea Faith Alone didn’t really come together till the Bible Came Out? Anyone during the apostles times who wanted to be saved with Christ had to join one of the churches that Jesus had told each to start, so they would know what to believe.
Click to expand...
I was a Protestant for most of my life. I never was taught that all Catholics were going to Hell.

It seems unreasonable because it is unreasonable.
 
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