Is it easier to be Protestant or Catholic?

[Bible_is_truth]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

Hi
as a Non Conformist Christian ( ie I will not labelled ,Baptist, CofE etc and on)
I go by the teachings of Jesus ,he I believe has given us the New Covenant with him,his word is truth,so yes you can say it is easier,but that doe’s not mean we do the wilful Sins,yes I ask forgiveness of my sins everyday,and I do not ask lightly, I am taught through scripture that Jesus is the way the truth and the light ,no man comes to the Father but by me, I accept why he came to die for me and also I am taught through scripture that it is not by works or deeds that I am saved,but by the Grace of God through his son who died for me.I am taught that No works or deeds lest any man should boast,nothing I can do will save me other than the Grace of God. I read the scriptures and understand much of the Old to help me understand the New,once one understands what happened at Christ’s Death,you will have to read the Bible to find out, then the truth will set you free,I know I am saved ,I know I have a place for me in Heaven ,I do my best to do the will of our Father in Heaven,not as in human, I can explain much more if required, please remember this is how many Christians see ,know and Believe ,so please do not be offended it is not meant to offend.
Blessings to you.

 

[Miriam1947]

Hi
as a Non Conformist Christian ( ie I will not labelled ,Baptist, CofE etc and on)
I go by the teachings of Jesus ,he I believe has given us the New Covenant with him,his word is truth,so yes you can say it is easier,but that doe’s not mean we do the wilful Sins,yes I ask forgiveness of my sins everyday,and I do not ask lightly, I am taught through scripture that Jesus is the way the truth and the light ,no man comes to the Father but by me,** I accept why he came to die for me and also I am taught through scripture that it is not by works or deeds that I am saved,but by the Grace of God through his son who died for me.I am taught that No works or deeds lest any man should boast,nothing I can do will save me other than the Grace of God. **I read the scriptures and understand much of the Old to help me understand the New,once one understands what happened at Christ’s Death,you will have to read the Bible to find out, then the truth will set you free,I know I am saved ,I know I have a place for me in Heaven ,I do my best to do the will of our Father in Heaven,not as in human, I can explain much more if required, please remember this is how many Christians see ,know and Believe ,so please do not be offended it is not meant to offend.
Blessings to you.

Okay that part’s Catholic. We are saved by grace not by good works. But you don’t want at your last judgment for Jesus to say I do not know you. Because if you do not feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, then Christ himself will not know you.

For what you do for the least you do for him.

And that is where good works come in.

 

[englishredrose]

I’ve been both. For the first 47 years of my life, I was an active and faithful member of various evangelical Protestant churches. In 2004, my husband and I converted to Catholicism, and we’ve been active and faithful Catholics.

So which is easier?

I don’t want to post my opinion yet (mainly because I have to go to work now!). Also, I am interested in reading what others have to say.

On the surface, it seems that Protestantism is the “easier” path. No obligations, no sacraments. For many Protestants, no fear of ever losing heaven. Great music, friendly people, lots of activities for children and teenagers. Lots of activities for all ages, actually.

Catholics have obligations, including the Sunday Mass obligation. Catholics have sacraments. Catholics must avoid “mortal sin” or they will not go to heaven. Catholic music is often bearable, but seldom great. Many Catholic parishes are hard to make friends in. Often there are very limited activities for Catholics–maybe a Bible study, and maybe not. Probably not a weekly kids’ club–instead, the kids get “religious education”–no campfires or craft projects or sing-alongs in CCD! And youth groups–often they are pretty small, because all the Catholic teens are over at the Assemblies of God weekly youth meeting along with hundreds of other teens! Or the Catholic teens have stopped attending Church entirely, to the dismay of their parents.

But is Protestantism really easier? Hmmm…

I encourage anyone to think about and answer this question. Obviously converts to Catholicism have personal experience with both forms of Christianity, but I know a lot of Catholics who have knowledge of Protestant life and practices, too.

Before reading any replies though you had loads… I think it might be that the other man’s grass is greener?

I have been an Anglican for 25+ years though had a two year gap out but didn’t go anywhere else. I am in the same church that was confirmed in. Sit with similar people in the choir though the servers have changed from when I first tried serving. Priests have come and gone each one helping us along our journey as we go. Each one, I am learning to trust that little bit more so they can respond to help ‘me’ along the path.

It may seem like the other is easier which ever one you are in but no demonination is perfect. No religion is perfect but hopefully as christians we can all work together to support each other in being with God and make the Earth, Gods’ Creation a better home.

 

[Bible_is_truth]

Okay that part’s Catholic. We are saved by grace not by good works. But you don’t want at your last judgment for Jesus to say I do not know you. Because if you do not feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner, then Christ himself will not know you.

For what you do for the least you do for him.

And that is where good works come in.

Highly agree in what you have put ,
my last part of my post was,I can explain much more if required, Yes there is so much more than what I have written. I work not to be saved ,I work because I am saved. To spread the good news firstly .the rest we all should know . If you understand ,we are saved by grace then hopefully you will understand the rest,of why Christ died for us all, the curtain being torn in the temple ,and Jesus the way to our Father in Heaven , I do not understand Purgatory and praying for the dead ,I do not want to offend ,just make it clearer as to how as Christians we see that Salvation is for all. I am not judging ,criticising
I am trying to understand where Catholics are coming from in their beliefs, after all when we die are we ready,do we know and believe in Jesus what he said. I respect your Faith,please help me understand it more,
Blessings to you.
Rod.

 

[Good_Fella]

Hi
as a Non Conformist Christian ( ie I will not labelled ,Baptist, CofE etc and on)
I go by the teachings of Jesus ,he I believe has given us the New Covenant with him,his word is truth,so yes you can say it is easier,but that doe’s not mean we do the wilful Sins,yes I ask forgiveness of my sins everyday,and I do not ask lightly, I am taught through scripture that Jesus is the way the truth and the light ,no man comes to the Father but by me, I accept why he came to die for me and also I am taught through scripture that it is not by works or deeds that I am saved,but by the Grace of God through his son who died for me.I am taught that No works or deeds lest any man should boast,nothing I can do will save me other than the Grace of God. I read the scriptures and understand much of the Old to help me understand the New,once one understands what happened at Christ’s Death,you will have to read the Bible to find out, then the truth will set you free,I know I am saved ,I know I have a place for me in Heaven ,I do my best to do the will of our Father in Heaven,not as in human, I can explain much more if required, please remember this is how many Christians see ,know and Believe ,so please do not be offended it is not meant to offend.
Blessings to you.

Only works of charity prompted by grace save, for outside the system of grace man cannot perform acts of love that please God and satisfy his justice. We have nothing to boast about, because without the grace of God we can do nothing that pleases Him in relative proportion to God’s holiness and righteousness.

So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been … work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.
Philippians 2, 12-13

Not even Paul believed his own eternal salvation was guaranteed. He often included himself with those he exhorted. Predestination to grace mustn’t be confused with predestination to glory. Any one of us can eventually fall from grace and lose his salvation.

*Therefore we must attend all the more to what we have heard, so that we may not be carried away… how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who have heard. *
Hebrews 2, 1-3

Take care brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today”, so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.
Hebrews 4, 12-14

PAX
:heaven: