How do southern baptist feel about catholics?

[EmergencyOps]

It doesn’t matter how Southern Baptists feel about Catholics because they’re wrong.

Yikes! You weren’t even looking at me, but I’m gonna be walking funny for a week, lol.

Call me crazy, but i thought the crucifix was a good thing… apparently we worship a dead jesus on a cross

Baptists focus a lot of attention on the fact that Jesus is risen. As a Baptist, I can see where they come from when they say that it appears that you worship a dead Jesus on a cross. They see him hanging there (not risen) and they think that each time you do communion, you are re-crucifying our Lord, or that you can’t get past the fact that he arose. I, however, am studying Catholicism and I understand why you have crucifixes and the true meaning behind communion

Has she been to Mass?

I got my parents to go to Mass one time, and while they are still very wary of Catholicism, at least they know now how much Catholics quote scripture and how their services are scripture-centered (that’s the great thing about missals…they show where the readings, prayers, and responsorials come from…the Bible).

To answer this question you first need to separate catholics into 2 classes : the lay catholics and the leadership in Rome. Southern Baptist despise Rome and feel it is “pure evil” and their false teaching deceive to poor lay catholic. Southern Baptist feel sorry for lay catholics and feel you could be christians if not for Rome.

Very true. That is how many Baptists feel. To some, Catholicism appears to be “big business”, “big brother”…kinda like a dictatorship.

 

[ralphinal]

I live in Alabama, which is the center of the Southern Baptist universe. I would say that for the most part, they don;t think about us at all. Many of them have false ideas in their head. This is common but inexcusable today. Anyone can easily find out what someone really teaches.

I think it depends on the people. Insensative people are insensative about religion. Rude people are always rude. Hateful people are always hateful.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I have a friend who is a fairly new Baptist pastor.The leaders in his church claim to be southern Baptist but he just calls himself Christian or Baptist. We have discussed Catholicism since my journey began and he has openly and very firmly stated that “Catholics are not Christians”. He says they think “God is too Holy so they must go through Mary and the Saints to get to him”. He states that “a Christian should believe that no one goes to the Father unless through Jesus, and since Catholics go through Mary then they deny the importance of Jesus and give Mary undo worship”. Of course he is just one example and all Baptists can’t be thrown in with him, but he is an assoc. pastor and teaches others. If others were to ask him questions they most likely would get the same responses I did.

Jamie

This is a typical Protestant argument. Catholics don’t believe that one must go through the saints to talk to God. In fact I don’t think that any Catholic thinks those beliefs nor are they official doctrine. If that being said what he said, then Baptists are just as guilty as that same thing. They often ask other people to pray for them. Whats wrong with asking someone who is particularly Holy to pray for themselves (even if they are dead)? Nothing, in fact no matter how much the saints pray for someone God will never do something unless He wants to.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have a friend who is a fairly new Baptist pastor.The leaders in his church claim to be southern Baptist but he just calls himself Christian or Baptist. We have discussed Catholicism since my journey began and he has openly and very firmly stated that “Catholics are not Christians”. He says they think “God is too Holy so they must go through Mary and the Saints to get to him”. He states that “a Christian should believe that no one goes to the Father unless through Jesus, and since Catholics go through Mary then they deny the importance of Jesus and give Mary undo worship”. Of course he is just one example and all Baptists can’t be thrown in with him, but he is an assoc. pastor and teaches others. If others were to ask him questions they most likely would get the same responses I did.

Jamie

Jamie, I think your St. Louis Southern Baptists are wound a bit too tight. Here in the Ozarks, they’re a bit more laid back. But then too, if you’ve lived with them all your life, you get to know them and they get to know you, and if you explain Catholicism to them, they “get it”. Otherwise, the only thing they know is what some Bible College guy tells them, and he’s on a mission to grow his congregation or at least preserve the one he has. and to build things and get that money in the door to build them with. And to do that, he has to preach exclusivity, against the constant peril of defection because of “Well-MY-Bible-tells-ME”. It’s a tough business they’re in, and don’t think for a minute that it’s not. So, they take a tough line a good part of the time. But if you’re sitting on the back of a pickup drinking beer with some of them, (And yes, indeed, they do drink beer if they can trust who they’re with. And, of course, they always trust Catholics when it comes to drinking.) and the topic comes up, it’s totally different.

But you have to realize that “accepting-Jesus-Christ-as-my- personal-Lord-and-Savior” and such, is not terribly different from what you, yourself, are doing in your own faith life. A lot of that is a matter of the language you use.

 

[EmergencyOps]

But you have to realize that “accepting-Jesus-Christ-as-my- personal-Lord-and-Savior” and such, is not terribly different from what you, yourself, are doing in your own faith life. A lot of that is a matter of the language you use.

Amen. As Bart Simpson once put it, “It’s all Christianity, people. The little, stupid differences are nothing next to the big, stupid similarities.”

-Mark

 

[JPatton]

I’m curious. This friend- where did he study to “know” this? Where is this coming from? And what is required in order for one to become a Baptist pastor?

I don’t know the exact requirements for becoming a Baptist pastor. He is currently attending Mo. Baptist University [night classes] studying theology. He was mentored by a pastor some years ago and has been deeply studying / reading the bible and various commentaries for the last few years. He is now being mentored by the head pastor at his church. He was just made the minister of evangelism and preaches 1-2 times a month. I’m unsure where his anti-Catholic attitude is coming from. He has mentioned to me his beliefs on Catholicism when I told him I was looking into the Church but usually we just focus on Christ and our mutual interests so we don’t discuss it too much.

Jamie

 

[Atlanta_Jen]

I don’t know the exact requirements for becoming a Baptist pastor. He is currently attending Mo. Baptist University [night classes] studying theology. He was mentored by a pastor some years ago and has been deeply studying / reading the bible and various commentaries for the last few years. He is now being mentored by the head pastor at his church. He was just made the minister of evangelism and preaches 1-2 times a month. I’m unsure where his anti-Catholic attitude is coming from. He has mentioned to me his beliefs on Catholicism when I told him I was looking into the Church but usually we just focus on Christ and our mutual interests so we don’t discuss it too much.

Jamie

Probably best not to discuss it with him until you’ve made your decision. Like Ridgerunner said, he’s in a ‘business’ and is essentially out to recruit, for lack of a better word. It’s sad that he’s developed these anti-Catholic views. I sincerely hope it isn’t coming from the college he attends, but sadly, he’s been misinformed somewhere along the line. All you can do is pray for him. Bless you. :getholy:

OASN, this is one of the things I love about our Church-its structure. Not just anyone can decide to become a priest and then get up at the front of the church and start talking about whatever comes to mind in their own interpretations. There’s a process, and the beliefs, rituals and traditions are set in stone-not up to anyone’s interpretation.

 

[Maxply]

You know what I don’t understand about all this?

In this day and age, it’s surprising how untutored many Protestant ministers are about the Catholic Church as well as other faiths than their own. It’s almost in some situations a kind of purposive institutional ignorance.

Regarding Baptists, from talks I’ve had with serious Baptist, it does sound like it’s pretty much every congregation decides for itself on the tough issues. I credit Baptists with taking Christianity seriously!—it would be good to see this kind of seriousness from all denominations.

The antiCatholic stuff is part economic (Catholics are a competitor), part cultural (a lot of Baptists originated in the South and were from old English stock), and part political (in a democracy, people may rightly be frightened by a very large organization such as the Catholic Church, and fearful of “Rome” “dictating” votes. . . the old antiCatholic stuff dating to the 1830s in America.

 

[holdencaulfield]

Amen. As Bart Simpson once put it, “It’s all Christianity, people. The little, stupid differences are nothing next to the big, stupid similarities.”

-Mark

Yes and no.

 

[Righteousone]

Baptists absolutely despise Catholics as well as the pope in which they call the Anti-Christ. Just go on their forums and find out for yourself.

 

[holdencaulfield]

Baptists absolutely despise Catholics as well as the pope in which they call the Anti-Christ. Just go on their forums and find out for yourself.

That’s what Martin Luther said. That’s plagiarism

 

[Maxply]

Southern Baptist animus has a bit of history to it. . . it needs to be mentioned that in the 1890s-1920s, there was a great fear of new American immigrants who were economic competition for the old English stock in America. The immigrants were considerably Catholic. . . so here comes the specter of people coming in, undercutting your wages and pledging allegiance to some guy in funny robes and hats, speaking Latin and using inexplicable terminology. . . kind of like a space alien invasion, it may have seemed!

 

[EmergencyOps]

Southern Baptist animus has a bit of history to it. . . it needs to be mentioned that in the 1890s-1920s, there was a great fear of new American immigrants who were economic competition for the old English stock in America. The immigrants were considerably Catholic. . . so here comes the specter of people coming in, undercutting your wages and pledging allegiance to some guy in funny robes and hats, speaking Latin and using inexplicable terminology. . . kind of like a space alien invasion, it may have seemed!

And the modern-day influx of Mexican immigrants (both legal and illegal) mirrors that migration. They are often seen as refusing to assimilate, and they carry with them Mexican Catholic traditions. Many can be seen “crossing themselves” as they cross the border illegally. While doing disaster recovery work in a Texas bordertown, I saw a yard shrine of the Virgin Mary…something I had never seen before.

-Mark

 

[Maxply]

Interesting that it’s a surprise, but that may be Texas. Here in Illinois there are plenty of Marys in the backyard. . .heck, I was considering one myself. Either Mary or St. Francis. The thing for me would have been the brickwork around the statue: I figure if you do it, it needs to be done nicely, look grotto-esque, no bathtub here!

 

[cradlecathlic26]

Texas here and my Maw Maw has always had a statue of Mary in her front yard. I am trying to find one myself, will prolly get one this summer when i clean up my flower beds.

 

[cradlecathlic26]

I asked my MIL if her church(FBC) taught that the catholic church was the whore of babylon or if the pope was the antichrist, and she said no. Not sure if i believe that or not, i have emailed the pastor a few times and for some reason i do not get a reply:shrug:

 

[homewardbound]

I was raised Baptist, mainly southern baptist.

The pastor at the church my family goes to often stands behind his pulpit and makes fun of Christ’s Church. He very obviously knows nothing about what the Church actually teaches and he makes me sick. Of course, I could never say that to my mother since this guy is a great man of God

My mother does not believe Catholics are Christians, doesn’t matter what I say and even if we are not praying to saints as worship talking to them and Mary in any way means we are “accidentally worshiping them anyway” So, all Christians don’t bother asking anyone to pray for you…cause by doing so you are worshipping them.

Anyway, um in my experience Southern Baptists have a lot of ignorance and hatred towards Catholics. I can’t share my excitement and growth in faith with my family because they are offended I have found truth and happiness in the Catholic Church. (and most of them do believe I am on my way to joining the whore of Babylon)

I hope your husband is more intelligent and understanding.

 

[kim3260]

There is one thing that I can not understand about Southern Baptist’s is they say on one side of their mouths that we “summit” to the Pope yet I have seen them fall all over their pastors and look to him in a God-like way.
And another thing they don’t understand is Catholic’s DO read the Bible, but honestly I really never thought of it was neccesary to carry it in my arms while shopping in the Piggly Wiggly so everyone can see I own one
Then that same person holding the Bible would turn to me turn to me and make a remark about wearing “Mary” (Miraculous Medal) around my neck (it’s small and simple, they really have to stare).
Also some look at “famous” Catholics who commit public sins and think we are all like them, and love to point out their sins to us and forget about the recent scandal of a FEW Priests, some think every Priest is after children.
Ok rant over had to get that off my chest Born and raised here and need to let it go. OK, back to calm

 

[cradlecathlic26]

My husband is very understanding, he is going to RCIA classes with me. I am only going to educate myself further in catholism. But i can see the hatred come from his mother, yet she wont really say it to my face. Just lil comments here and there.

 

[pismopal]

Good question and as the world’s foremost expert on the subject of one former Baptist (that would be me) I can tell you that there were a few snide remarks made by the last preacher I listened to while in that denom but I entered the Church in 1998 so I don’t hear that stuff anymore. Sometimes attempts to smear someone or something can have an opposite effect.