If you are a Christian, what is the real reason for you not being a Catholic?

[mgrfin]

I live in the Bible belt. I’m sure you know this (and are not referring to everyone in the Bible belt), but just because people happen to live there and be white non-Catholics does NOT mean we agree with anything to do with lynching or prejudice. Please, be careful with comments like these. The potential for misunderstanding is definitely there.

I understand your feelings. I am referring to a hateful individual on this site, and I did not intend to paint everyone with a wide brush.

You apparently don’t hate us.

peace

 

[fbl9]

hi WhatistheTruth Mrgfin is incorrect. now there are two that agree. hi HannahLisa what do you accept as true of the teachings catholic church?

 

[mgrfin]

whatisthetruth:
You make an interesting point whether you know it or not.

We are here to learn, all of us. I don’t know about Manny, but I am not a professional theologian. We all study, read, think, listen. Neither one of us, Manny or myself are heretics, and we will work out our problems, our ‘misunderstandings’.

Look there are some 12,000 protestant denominations. They all question one another and keep splitting like amoebas. We, on the other hand, are one true church.

But let me ask you this. As a non-Catholic, have you ever thought about the Hypostatic Union? Do you even know what it is.

Do you know how many natures there are in Jesus? How many persons? How many Gods?

How are there three Persons in God, but not three Gods, but One?

Jesus was human, but he had the Beatific Vision while on earth.
How can that be if Jesus was human.

How could Jesus be human; he was God?

Your Protestantism doesn’t even come close to knowing these question, questioning them, understanding them.

Don’t be critical of us. This is a free site, and we all are free to question one another, and that goes for Catholic/Catholic. It is good, and it is healthy. And I welcome Catholics questioning me.

Do you understand Arius, Pelagius, Nestorius? Do you know that Mary is the Mother of God, and this was defined at one of the General Councils of the Church? Do you know anything about the Council of Chalcedon?

Manny and I resolved our question in about two posts.

You think because we have the CCC, we know everything in it?

Or, are you here to criticize, make fun, and declare us stupid.

peace

 

[mgrfin]

hi WhatistheTruth Mrgfin is incorrect. now there are two that agree. hi HannahLisa what do you accept as true of the teachings catholic church?

Jesus Christ was not in existence with the Father ‘in the beginning’. The Word, however, was.

There are two natures in Christ, the human and the divine. The human did not exist before being born of Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit.

You are going to have to read some of the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon.

Jesus was born in time of the Virgin Mary. He also died, but was raised by God the Father from the dead. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Word, and is God, and became man in time, and dwelt among us, not in eternity.

peace

 

[fbl9]

sorry mrgfin should have been paying better attention.

 

[fbl9]

Jesus Christ in the flesh rose to heaven. hence eternity.in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. i guess i got some reading up to do thanks. by the way HanahLisa does not seem like a certain other poster you have known of since yesterday like the signature says.

 

[whatisthetruth]

Hi all

may I ask someone to review #257 this thread, I am waiting for a response to what I believe is a serious issue at hand between christians.

thank you

truth

 

[mgrfin]

bump

Hi fbl9 and to whom this message may concern,

I am what you might call a bible believing evangelical Christian.

On behalf of all non catholics who have presented God’s wonderful gift of salvation in a way that would cause you or anyone to say the following…

may I offer my apology. You posted a smiley face and to tell you the truth I am because there was someone who probably gave you the impression of that is what salvation is about.

fbl9, I have to believe you do not mean a word of what I quoted you as saying. But I believe I can understand the reason for you stating what you did.

**Is it because a certain number of non catholics present salvation as once saved, one can sin at will?

Am I on target?**

Like they have a free ticket to heaven?

If that is the case and I am finding this out more and more throughout this community, there is a total misunderstanding of what salvation is.

I believe there is a big problem today, as Paul Washer said,

I addressed this very topic in post 106
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=206817&page=3

truth

This is a question for protestants, not catholics.

Catholics don’t believe in OSAS. Blame it on Luther, blame it on Calvin, blame it on any of them.

Go to a Protestant forum and ask the question. You probably would get booted off in 2 seconds.

We as Catholics work out our salvation in prayer and fasting,. We have no guarantees that we will perserve to the end, or that maybe there may be that one special temptation that we will run to and toss aside all the rest.

God save us!
peace

 

[whatisthetruth]

mgrfin

Or, are you here to criticize, make fun, and declare us stupid.

I do not believe anyone is here to make you feel stupid.

I am just asking,
of the two answers, you and manny gave, which is correct?

My friend the atheist would like to know and my word is not good enough

thank you

truth

 

[mgrfin]

mgrfin

I do not believe anyone is here to make you feel stupid.

I am just asking,
of the two answers, you and manny gave, which is correct?

My friend the atheist would like to know and my word is not good enough

thank you

truth

The answer is: Jesus Christ was not in existence with the Father ‘in the beginning’. The Word, however, was.
Jesus was born in time, died in time, and rose from the dead in time. He is now with His Father in heaven.

go to post #322

 

[onmyknees]

Hi mgrfin

so we meet again, the pleasure is mine

In honor of you request,

I am sorry for being blunt, but I do not want to leave you guessing where I am coming from.

I believe God’s will for Jesus’ one united church is, not the way of the Roman Catholic church teaching

I believe the following was not part of God’s plan for Jesus’s church.
In ( ), I stated a short word or phrase in what I do believe

I do not believe…

in the presence of Jesus (Holy Eucharist) at communion (spiritual)
in confessing my sins to a priest, bishop etc (directly to God)
that a priest can forgive sins any more than I can (just a man a sinner like me in the eyes of God)
in purgatory (does not exist)
the need to bless myself with “holy water” before and/or after mass (we pray for blessings, do not need water too)
reciting prayers in repetition (bible discourages it)
I have to observe all the holy days of obligation
(Lord said honor the Sabbath)
I have to fast on the days doctrine says I have to (prayer/fast is important should be done throughout the year and not when told to do so)
I have to abstain from meat on fridays during Lent (where in bible is this supported?)
Mary lived a sinless life (she was a sinner like anyone else)
in infant baptism (one has to repent first, then be baptized)

in summary I believe,

communion is a symbolic remembrance and appreciation of what Jesus did for all of us,
making a sincere confession and repentance of my sins directly to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to be forgiven of my sin/s
believe only in heaven or hell, purgatory does not exist
God blesses us in his timing not ours, we can pray for blessing without the need of “holy water”
in talking/praying to God without reciting written prayers which have been said over the centuries
in God’s commandment…“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” throughout the whole year.
I have free will on when to fast and pray
I do not have to abstain from meat on the days a doctrine says I have to
Mary was a sinner just like the rest of us
baptism by immersion only, one has to repent and then be baptized (which of course a baby can not do)

I am sorry to be blunt, you asked me not to hold back

I do not believe in order to honor God according to His word and pleasing to him, I, or any member of the church Jesus built needs to believe in or participate in any of the things I do not believe or participate in (stated above in first group) to stay on the road to paradise (heaven) and experience more and more of the fullness of His truth along their spiritual journey.

For my beliefs on salvation which are also different from the Roman Catholic Church please refer to post 106 in this thread
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthrea…=206817&page=3

God bless,

Truth

 

[whatisthetruth]

Thank you mgrfin,

We as Catholics work out our salvation in prayer and fasting,. We have no guarantees that we will perserve to the end, or that maybe there may be that one special temptation that we will run to and toss aside all the rest.

God save us!
peace

you just cited another reason I am not catholic.

I believe I am saved right now and, based on your response, you apparently do not believe that about yourself should you die right now, am I right or wrong?

mgrfin, if you die right now, not tomorrow or next year, but right now will you for sure spend eternity in heaven?

If I die right now this second,(not tomorrow, not next week, or next year) but die right now I know I will spend eternity in heaven based on the promise God gave me, His gift of eternal life to which I received by faith according to His will.

tomorrow is a different story because I might turn atheist and then I will burn in hell. But right now if I die I am going to paradise, see you there I hope and pray

Thank you

truth

 

[Jimmy_B]

Hi mannyfit and mgrfin

Mannyfit75 you said

then mgrfin answered,

Ok now, if I was an atheist searching for the truth, why would I become a believer when even two believers within the one true Catholic church they claim that Jesus built can not agree on who the church’s builder (Jesus) is.

I am a bible believing Christian and I agree with Mannyfit so much so that if Jesus was standing before me I would look at Him eye to eye and say to Him,

“Lord Jesus, I believe in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and that flesh is you Lord Jesus. You were born of the virgin Mary and dwelt among us”

I believe that because of what the bible says about you Jesus in John 1.

mannyfit and mgrfin how confident are you that you are correct?

**Would you look eye to eye with Jesus and state to Him what I just did? **

By the way, I have an atheist friend I would love to refer to the truth about who Jesus is.

A)Was Jesus the word right from the start and became flesh in the New testament as stated in John 1?

or

B)Was it just God in the beginning and Jesus was not the word as mentioned in John 1?

Only one can be correct, agree?

And the answer is_________

thank you

truth

**

**The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us:

461………Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross.**

468……our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Trinity, Thus everything in Christ’s human nature is to be attributed to his divine person as its proper subject, not only his miracles but also his sufferings and even his death: “He who was crucified in the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, is true God, Lord of glory, and one of the Holy Trinity”

469 The Church thus confesses that Jesus is inseparably true God and true man. He is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother:

**

 

[c659smith]

whatisthetruth,

You said we Catholics do not believe we are saved right now?

Or am under that impression by what someone posted.

#1. Jesus did pay our debt to God through his Passion leading up to and culminating with the crusification and ressurection.

Question–Do you agree?

#2 We still must work at keeping our faith

Question-Do you agree?

#3 We as being human fall in and out of faith if we do not work at keeping in Grace and communion with Christ.

Question-Do you agree?

Then if you agree with the above statements what is being saved mean?

To be Saved
Does it mean that if I believe Jesus as God, Jesus died for our sins, have at one point agreed and taken Jesus as my savior
yesterday but have not changed from my sinful ways I am saved?

That if I do not turn away from sinful ways I am saved?

Awaiting your response to see what we can agree with

 

[mgrfin]

Thank you mgrfin,

you just cited another reason I am not catholic.

I believe I am saved right now and, based on your response, you apparently do not believe that about yourself should you die right now, am I right or wrong?

mgrfin, if you die right now, not tomorrow or next year, but right now will you for sure spend eternity in heaven?

If I die right now this second,(not tomorrow, not next week, or next year) but die right now I know I will spend eternity in heaven based on the promise God gave me, His gift of eternal life to which I received by faith according to His will.

tomorrow is a different story because I might turn atheist and then I will burn in hell. But right now if I die I am going to paradise, see you there I hope and pray

Thank you

truth

Im not going to split hairs with you. This second, next second, ten seconds later. I can presume, I guess.

But tomorrow, next week, next month, next year - yeah, you understand and accept the Catholic position.

Sounds like you are looking for a reason for not becoming Catholic if you run into these second by second decisions. Hopefully, that’s not how you are.

Be honest. Is that the only reason for you not becoming a Catholic?

peace

 

[paarsurrey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jblake
There is a third type. The group that thinks that the Catholic Church is in heresy, because it has adopted theological positions that have been declared to be heretical by either a previous Pope, or General Council.
xan
jonathon

Post # 131 from paarsurrey

Hi

Would you please list for us the theological positions
that have been declared to be heretical by either a previous Popeor General Council?

Thanks and regards

Hi

I was anxiously waiting for a response of my above post. Did anybody comment on it, perhaps I missed, please.

Thanks

 

[Jimmy_B]

whatisthetruth, hello and thank you for your posts here.

All Catholics agree we are one faith, one Church and one group of believers.

Catholics, especially us lay Catholics (amateurs) mess this up from time to time when trying to explain our faith, but it does not affect the Catholic Faith.

I hope that we are all growing in our faith and continuing to learn new things all the time.

Good Catholics, when they come to learn a Catholic truth, accept it, surrendering to God and His Church.

Catholics themselves do not have an opinion on faith and morals in the Roman Catholic Church. We are all at different point in our journey and knowledge of our faith. Catholics occasionally have a hard time articulating what they believe.

Many like me; I am a terrible writer, I probably drive those with an English major here nuts, oh well… but I do the best I can and I do this because I love my Roman Catholic Faith.

Please do not take everything you hear from a Catholic as the “official doctrine” of the Church, go to the official doctrine and read it for yourself, hopefully a lay Catholic will lead you their. Also, give a Catholic poster the opportunity to clarify what they previously wrote. There is no disagreement, there is only the need for a follow-up response.

We try to do the best we can to defend our faith because we are madly in love with Jesus and His Church, but we are not perfect and make mistakes from time to time, please forgive us Catholics for not being perfect…

May God Bless You,

Jimmy

 

[mgrfin]

whatisthetruth, hello and thank you for your posts here.

All Catholics agree we are one faith, one Church and one group of believers.

Catholics, especially us lay Catholics (amateurs) mess this up from time to time when trying to explain our faith, but it does not affect the Catholic Faith.

I hope that we are all growing in our faith and continuing to learn new things all the time.

Good Catholics, when they come to learn a Catholic truth, accept it, surrendering to God and His Church.

Catholics themselves do not have an opinion on faith and morals in the Roman Catholic Church. We are all at different point in our journey and knowledge of our faith. Catholics occasionally have a hard time articulating what they believe.

Many like me; I am a terrible writer, I probably drive those with an English major here nuts, oh well… but I do the best I can and I do this because I love my Roman Catholic Faith.

Please do not take everything you hear from a Catholic as the “official doctrine” of the Church, go to the official doctrine and read it for yourself, hopefully a lay Catholic will lead you their. Also, give a Catholic poster the opportunity to clarify what they previously wrote. There is no disagreement, there is only the need for a follow-up response.

We try to do the best we can to defend our faith because we are madly in love with Jesus and His Church, but we are not perfect and make mistakes from time to time, please forgive us Catholics for not being perfect…

May God Bless You,

Jimmy

Nice post, JB

 

[mgrfin]

There is a third type. The group that thinks that the Catholic Church is in heresy, because it has adopted theological positions that have been declared to be heretical by either a previous Pope, or General Council.

xan

jonathon

Everyone was anxiously expecting you to supply some names of popes and councils seen as heretical?

It is quite a claim, and we would all like to know which councils are heretical. and who says it?

thanks

peace

 

[onmyknees]

whatisthetruth,
Truth/QUOTE{ Please read these scripture verses. Real Presence in the Eucharist John 6:48-56
Confession of Sins to a priest John 20:21-23
Purgatory examples 1 Cor. 3:15,Rev. 21-:27and 2 Maccabees 12:44-praying for the dead.
Yes, we do pray for God’s blessings and we do receive them in His timing not ours. We bless ourselves with holy water with the sign of the cross to remind ourselves of who we are and what we believe when we enter God’s house.
Prayers of repetition. When we pray the rosary we are not just reciting words. We can mediate on Jesus’ whole earthly life through the mysteries of His life while reciting a beautiful Marian prayer. Mary always intercedes for us if we ask her too. She is the greatest saint, God’s Mother. And right there next to Jesus in heaven. Don’t you ask people to pray for you? Mary was conceived without sin. Luke 1:28. The Angel Gabriel said to Mary “Hail Mary full of grace”. When we are full of grace we are without sin. She was the tabernacle for Jesus who is God. She conceived of the Holy Spirit and the Word was made Flesh. The Holy Spirit is God. Do you think God would dwell in anyone who was not clean?
Yes, we also pray in our own words to Jesus and we have been born into the life of faith through baptism. We also have a relationship with Jesus Christ. No, babies cannot repent but Baptism gives us the grace of the Holy Spirit and we become a child of God. What happens if you don’t baptize your babies until they can repent and then they don’t want embrace Christianity. I was a lapsed Catholic and this is what has happened to my two grown boys.Baptism John 5:6.
As far as the authority of the Catholic Church teaching on small “t” cultural traditions, like fasting and abstinence of penitential days, some Jewish laws, circumcision, and women covering their heads in church. These have always been able to be changed since the early church fathers (the apostles). The dogmas and doctrines have not changed for 2000+ years. 2 Peter 1:20-21 and Matt.16:18-19 Peter’s authority, our first pope. What happens in any situation if there isn’t any authority? I know of many protestants and several Episcopal priests who have converted to the Catholic church due to a lack of authority in their denominations.
In the mass, which is the most powerful prayer we can pray, we enter into the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. We are truly present there with Him in His Death and Resurrection and we can share in His suffering by offering up all of our trials and joys that day to Him who has made the ultimate sacrifice for us. We then become a part of Him when we receive Him, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. We have this most Holy intimate time with Him to talk to Him, whom we love so much! What a great gift He has given us while we wait, serve and do His will until we can be united fully with Him at the Eternal banquet in Heaven.
We do keep Holy the Sabbath\Sunday and as far as the Holy days of obligation I don’t know about you but you can’t keep me from running to the church to celebrate the Holy Days with the Holy Sacrifice of the mass!