How should we feel about Protestants?

[mdstanzel]

I don’t understand that!..lol

signed, puzzed protestant

Silly. Martin Luther was a Catholic that defected. He protested. Therefore the first Protestants were Catholic.

I would like to add a quote from Scott Hahn’s book,

The Lamb’s Supper, 1999, by Scott Hahn, [Worship is Warfare], Pg. 142.

Coming to know God, we will come to know what infinite strength and resources we can call upon in battle. So we should prepare for Mass, throughout our lives, by ongoing doctrinal and spiritual formation. No soldier would rush untrained into battle. Neither should we think that we can conquer demons if we’re flabby in our faith. We need to put ourselves through the rigors of basic training, living a sustained and disciplined life of prayer, and studying the faith daily, reading the Bible, using Catholic tapes, TV, and books (especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church). All this is a lifelong task.

I can assure you that if you do not know BCV (Book, Chapter, Verse) with most fundamentalist Christians you will not survive a heated discussion that may leave you confused. Now it depends on which Protestant denomination you’re dealing with. A Catholic might think he/she is speaking with another Catholic when you here the term “the Church” or the “Church of Christ” or “Christ’s Church”. They believe that they are the true Church and everyone else is hell bound. They believe the Catholic Church pushed them under after the day of Pentacost. It’s an ongoing joke in my family now that my wife and oldest son are converting this Easter.

Now there are some “Liberal” members of the Church of Christ that might not put it in your face, but somewhere in their family or education is that doctrine. They will not even discuss religion with you unless you can give them BCV. They believe that the “when that which is perfect comes” is the Bible, not the Church. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit works miracles today. They have similar doctrine to Catholicism in that they believe in doing works for salvation. They are not a “once saved always saved”. They also believe in Baptism as Catholics, but not infant baptism or confirmation - since the Holy Spirit doesn’t work in our lives like that anymore. Miracles died with the first apostles.

I also particiapted in Southern Baptist growing up in the Country with my step family.

The BIG IDEA is learn FORGIVENESS. You may not find it from many members of all those groups. Even Scott Hahn was an anti-Catholic before his conversion. Seek out books from the former Protestant evangalists and pray for wisdom before screwing up any positive communication with Protestants. Stop making be look stupid in front of my family. They think most Catholics do not know anything about God. How could they they say. They don’t even know scripture. Well, I agree that the Bible is just not enough with out Tradition and Majesterium. But it is the evidence of what the early Christians died for. It’s just shameful not to read scripture. It’s fundamentally erronious to think we can’t or shouldn’t. The Church want’s you to study your Bibles - if you have one. My goodness, one of our priests informed us that many Catholics do not even own a Bible. How shameful. We waste so much time on primetime TV, video games, sports, etc, But we won’t spend time getting to know God.

 

[Abira]

Silly. Martin Luther was a Catholic that defected. He protested. Therefore the first Protestants were Catholic.

lol lol, ok…it’s late and I’m tired!

 

[Other_Eric]

“Don’t stick your nose down the end of a loaded revolver”??

The likely reason why I didn’t include that is simply because it is so unproductive to exhibit exterior alarm about someone’s faith. Everyone just assumes that such an ‘alarmist’ is loony. I guess a certain kind of personality could pull it off successfully, but I think most people don’t think of it as a productive avenue.

So tell me: Have you had any success with this method? How many people have you brought into RCIA with this method? How many people have tracked you down after your exterior alarm and said, “You know, it was you who showed me that I was in need of taking better stock of Christianity”?

I myself have had success twice with this method. I also note that certain denominations, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, form their entire evangelical approach around this method and it seems to work wonders despite their loony theology. Imagine the power that such an approach could have if it was backed up by the Truth?

As for your translation of my signature line, it suffers from your inability to correctly translate the verb decroter. I will merely hint here that you are likely to hear people in the more rural areas of France use this verb to refer to cleaning the mud from their boots.

 

[ctos]

I myself have had success twice with this method. I also note that certain denominations, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, form their entire evangelical approach around this method and it seems to work wonders despite their loony theology. Imagine the power that such an approach could have if it was backed up by the Truth?

Well that’s two votes for your method then. How quickly would you suggest a person inform someone of their errors?

As for your translation of my signature line, it suffers from your inability to correctly translate the verb decroter. I will merely hint here that you are likely to hear people in the more rural areas of France use this verb to refer to cleaning the mud from their boots.

Okay well I think I get the saying now.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

I am a Catholic and a couple of years ago I went door knocking in the style of the JW’s it was a profound experience because my partner was from an Anglican Church.
I introduced myself as a Catholic at the door and my companion whom I had met for the first time an hour previously introduced himself as an Anglican.

The people we spoke to seemed intrigued as to how we should be working together, and the majority engaged us in meaningful conversations. I believe we sowed some seeds.

I had no real idea of John’s faith and he knew nothing of mine, we had no real preconceived agenda and who was going to say what. In many ways we had to support each other despite our apparent differences, and I believe that was our great strength. We met in prayer together before we went canvassing, we prayed for each other, and as we walked between houses we prayed for the people we were about to meet.

Love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples. I believe that this commandment was visible to the people we called on.

In the spirit of growing together in Christ

Another other Eric

 

[JoeyWarren]

Prove that you’re not Catholic just because that’s how you were brought up. Tell them that you’re Catholic for a reason, rather than by default.

Let’s try some role reversal. When the claim is made that one is Catholic by default and upbringing, use the argument in their direction:

Have ever considered that you may be Protestant by Default and upbringing ? And you still are Protestant because you have not been esposed to anything else?

 

[JoeyWarren]

Originally Posted by mdstanzel
Silly. Martin Luther was a Catholic that defected. He protested. Therefore the first Protestants were Catholic.

I was more thinking along different lines.

Jews were the first Protestants, when they expelled christians from the Synagogues.

or

Catholic were the first Protestants because we protested against the Judaic Pharisees and Sadducess.

 

[Singinbeauty]

I am a Catholic and a couple of years ago I went door knocking in the style of the JW’s it was a profound experience because my partner was from an Anglican Church.
I introduced myself as a Catholic at the door and my companion whom I had met for the first time an hour previously introduced himself as an Anglican.

The people we spoke to seemed intrigued as to how we should be working together, and the majority engaged us in meaningful conversations. I believe we sowed some seeds.

I had no real idea of John’s faith and he knew nothing of mine, we had no real preconceived agenda and who was going to say what. In many ways we had to support each other despite our apparent differences, and I believe that was our great strength. We met in prayer together before we went canvassing, we prayed for each other, and as we walked between houses we prayed for the people we were about to meet.

Love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples. I believe that this commandment was visible to the people we called on.

In the spirit of growing together in Christ

Another other Eric

What a wonderful example of what can happen when we put down our ‘weapons’ and work together for GOD and not ourselves! This pettiness between catholics and protestants has gone on long enough. Just imagine what an impact we can make if we put aside our differences and teach this world about God’s Love! Awesome!

 

[mikew262]

Accept them as fellow Christians (and they should do the same with us) and try not to be judgemental; that goes for both sides. Constant accusations going back and forth that each other are heretics and other things is totally counter-productive, and doesn’t accomplish anything except widen the rift.

Be willing to share and discuss things about your faith, if the opportunity presents itself. If they are so inclined they may decide to be Catholic, if not, then so be it. If they stay within their own faith, it’s not automatic “Hell” sentence.

 

[hermitcrab]

Amen.

QUOTE=mikew262;1967258]Accept them as fellow Christians (and they should do the same with us) and try not to be judgemental; that goes for both sides. Constant accusations going back and forth that each other are heretics and other things is totally counter-productive, and doesn’t accomplish anything except widen the rift.

Be willing to share and discuss things about your faith, if the opportunity presents itself. If they are so inclined they may decide to be Catholic, if not, then so be it. If they stay within their own faith, it’s not automatic “Hell” sentence.

 

[mdstanzel]

If you want to be effective with faithful Protestants you will need to have a strong grip on BCV (book chapter verse). They will give you no respect for knowing anything without a good grasp on this. Secondly, using terms like “the fullness of truth” sound new age to a Protestant. It sounds like you’re making up stuff. It’s best to stick to Protestant terms like “the truth”. Hermeneutics and Exegesis will be the basis of most interpretations of the Bible. We have issues as Catholics with that because they approach it from a solo scriptura position. That means they are interpreting scripture and we know that the Church is the only that has the final authority on that. That will not go over well with Protestants. I know, I played that game for 17 years. Thank God I came to my senses. I saw the infinite twisting of scripture into meanings that were preposterous. This issue will always be an issue with those that reject anything but solo scriptura. I firmly believe that we Catholics need to learn what we need to know, leave the apologetics with people who’ve crossed the line unless we have a good grasp of where someone is coming from. We will do more damage than help. Don’t act lame, just say that’s not something I do. I like to say when in an awkward position, just practice your belief as best you can, but start reading the documents written by other famous Church leaders during the early church in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd century. Then read the didache and think about what you see. Read about the way the Jews worship at the Synagog. Cathoicism is a Liturgical service that reflects Christ’s claim that he came to fullfill the Law, not destroy it. It is a historical fact that the early Christians met together at the Synagogs and then went to the homes for the Eucharistic worship. The history of the Liturgy is what should help open eyes.

Solo Scriptura is plagued with an illogical approach to knowing God. But until we know how to express that truth, we may want to spend out time learnig it ourselves.

 

[Sixtus]

We should see Protestants for exactly what they are:

Co-heirs with Christ 1 Peter3:8