Jesus of Catholics vs Protestants?

[levi86]

I hope I made some sense in all my rambling and if not, thanks for the many responses because they helped a great deal.I know in my head that these “emotional highs” from Protestant worship are transient in nature, psychological to a large degree, and not always indicative of a “oneness with God”, but it’s sometimes hard to train yourself out of “bad habits” so to speak.

I was raised in a strict military family. As a result I’ve become the typical Aussie male (void of emotion). I don’t get upset about anything and can’t recall crying since I was about 8 years of age. Yet during my baptism last year I cried through the whole thing. The feeling of acceptance was emotionally overwhelming.

For me the fact that this occurred during The Mass, which for many non Catholics is excruciatingly boring and void of emotion speaks volumes for the power of The Mass and The Holy Eucharist. I believe that The Holy Spirit was truly present and is present at every Mass, better yet we don’t need the assistance of emotional soundtracks or “charismatic” ministers pumping up the crowd to make His presence felt.

 

[Mommyof02green]

BrownR-

All I have to say is that it at times can be a dangerous road to go by “feeling” alone.

A lot of things can feel right, but they are wrong. :bigyikes:

It’s by having a clear and informed conscience that you can determine what is right and what is wrong.

The question: How does someone get an informed conscience?? Or
Where do they turn to get the answers when their conscience is not enough??? In other words where do they go when their conscience is not informed???

I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to my Mom saying "Mom I don’t know what to do???”

Why do I go to my Mom?? I go to her, because I trust her and she has been an “authoritative voice” for me all my years.

I think that many Christians ask where is that authoritative voice I can turn to??? Where is that voice of reason that can help guide me??? Are my feelings right on this one??? I read this passage but I don’t know what it means, what do I do???

Some are blessed with the “word of God” and a “Church” to help them interpret what the “Word of God” means.

Others are blessed to have the “Word of God” but they have NO “church” or “teacher” to guide them.

 

[Jeanette_L]

As a new Catholic and ex-Evangelical, I understand what you are trying to pin down. I have been thinking about this a lot myself lately, because as a new Catholic, I find myself reverting to my old way of being “emotional” about my faith. And I never realized before how “emotional” my faith had always been until now. And I’m not saying that we can’t experience emotions about Christ, we just can’t base our relationship with Him on those emotions or feelings.

I believe that the Spirit is leading me through a period right now of discovery, i.e., discovering what I always based my faith on and discovering what I should be basing my faith on.

I always needed to be stirred, needed to feel my faith, and when I went through a dry spell, my faith collapsed. I thought that maybe I had done something wrong or displeasing to the Spirit and that I had been abandoned or something. It was a roller coaster ride. Now that I have gone through this profound conversion, I’m finding that the next dry spell came a lot faster than I expected, but what’s interesting is I am learning that my faithfulness is what counts, not my feelings about my faith.

This might seem like a no-brainer to you cradle Catholics, who have been trained from diapers to be faithful no matter what, but to an Evangelical like me, I always thought there was something wrong with me when I wasn’t feeling my faith, and rather than be a hypocrite, I would crash, just give up for awhile until the feelings came back. Now, I’m in no way implying that all Evangelicals were like this. I know many who have been faithful followers of Christ for many, many years and didn’t fluctuate in that faithfulness. But I do know that many would never have admitted to the dryness that occurred, they just put on their happy faces and went forward. I couldn’t do that. If I wasn’t feeling it, I couldn’t fake it.

So, this is a growing experience for me, and I’m having to rewire my soul to understand that being faithful means everything, even if I’m not feeling it at any given moment. And this in turn, is giving me a better idea of what is a true personal relationship with Christ. It is truly like a marriage. You keep on going. In it for the long haul.

 

[Doggy]

A Catholic’s relationship with Jesus is much closer than a Protestant’s could ever be. We receive his body and blood in the Eucharist. How much closer can you get than that?

LOL! Cannibalism… I don’t see how a piece of cracker can get us closer to God

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

As a born again christian(aka protestant) I have many catholic friends and many born again friends who were raised catholic. The former catholics are the ones who tell us they were not taught in the CC to have a personal relationship with God. So we are hearing it from former catholics. Some are even angry that they were not taught this. When I talk about stuff like this to my catholic friends they have no clue what Im talking about. I would NEVER say that catholics dont have a relationship with God, because who am I to say that, I dont know anyone here or around the world.

I know you guys say how much closer could you be to Jesus then receiving the Eucharist and I think that is great for you. I have Jesus in me through the Holy Spirit 24/7. That is where I get my joy and peace.

If I dont respond to anyone it is because I am leaving now to go away for weekend. Have a Great weekend all. I know I will:thumbsup:

 

[Mommyof02green]

I know you guys say how much closer could you be to Jesus then receiving the Eucharist and I think that is great for you. I have Jesus in me through the Holy Spirit 24/7. That is where I get my joy and peace.

**And so do we… **I think that that there is a misunderstanding when we say that we receive Christ in the Eucharist. It’s not that He is there only when we receive the Eucharist and is gone once the host has passed through us.

He is always there, however we get to encounter HIM face to face every Sunday, or daily if we go to Daily Mass.

I think about it like talking to a relative or friend. You talk to them over the phone; you write letters; send email…However you always feel more connected and closer when you get to see the person Face to Face.

I pray to God, I talk with God daily and He talks to me daily…However, I always feel better and closer every time I get to see HIM Face to Face. I get to see him Face to Face every time I receive the Eucharist or sit in an adoration Chapel with HIM (The Eucharist) and pray.

I think of it like a spouse… Your spouse goes away, and is gone, you talk to them awhile they are at a business trip… However you are overjoyed and happy just to hold them, touch them when they come home. I’m overjoyed and happy just to touch My Lord every time I receive the Eucharist.

God is with me 24/7. I just get see HIM face to face every week. I just get to touch HIM every week.

Hope this Helps

 

[McKevin]

Are there any converts from protestantism to catholicism who can tell me whether they feel their relationship or view of Christ changed in any way following their conversion?

The biggest change for me was that I went from a church where I watched a choir and I watched special singers and I was entertained by the preacher (my dad) and I listened to a prayer, to a Mass where everyone sings together, everyone participates together, and everyone prays together. I went from watching church to being in church. I went from a personal, but emotionally-based relationship with Jesus to a more than personal relationship, it is intimate!

 

[Verita]

Are there any converts from protestantism to catholicism who can tell me whether they feel their relationship or view of Christ changed in any way following their conversion?

As a convert from a non-denominational church, I can say that I have never felt stronger in my faith or closer to God than I do now. The emotionality of the protestant faith simply didn’t work for me. For some people it seems to. My mother has been trough many trials and tribulations and yet still remains on fire for God. The same kind of response was often expected of me. But in protestantism, I felt like God was completely unknown. The “relationships” that people around me had with Jesus seemed to me to be more about what he gave to them than anything else. Nothing could really be known about God. You just had to accept everything on pure, blind faith.

I guess pure, blind faith works for some people, but not for me. I could never feel like I knew God, let alone have a relationship with him.

In converting, I’ve learned so much about God that I didn’t know before. I have a decent understanding of the Trinity, I learned for the first time about the Hypostatic Union, I’ve come to recognize and appreciate what Jesus created in the Church and the Sacraments. I’m dying to be able to participate in the Eucharist. (I’m still in the RCIA stage of conversion.) When I first began to comprehend the meaning of the Mass I started crying right in the middle of Church. (And went straight home to watch the Passion of the Christ with newly opened eyes. Quite an experience.)Catholicism to me isn’t less emotional, it’s more so. I can actually feel close to God now, where I never really did before.

Sometimes I feel like Catholicism was tailor made to fit me. Maybe it was.

 

[dch1983]

Catholicism to me isn’t less emotional, it’s more so. I can actually feel close to God now, where I never really did before.

I am not even in the formal stages of conversion yet, although I plan to be soon. Still, the only time I actually feel like I’ve been to church is when I go to mass. Oddly enough, my father (a Lutheran minister) says the same thing…

 

[Jeanette_L]

Catholicism to me isn’t less emotional, it’s more so. I can actually feel close to God now, where I never really did before.

This hit me in an interesting way, and you are so right! The Catholic Mass and the faith that flows from it is emotional in a very different way than what we were used to in Evangelicalism. Because it’s not a manufactured emotional experience, in that I mean it’s not one that is brought on by singing emotional songs or hearing emotion packed sermons, but one that hits you because as a convert, for the first time it all comes together and makes sense, everything finally makes sense, and that is overwhelming and emotional at the gut level. And when we as converts from other Christian denominations finally see all the pieces of the puzzle come together and present themselves as an entire, beautiful picture in the calm and reverent worship of the Mass, we are changed at a level that can never be erased.

That is powerful and emotional without the hype to get us there.

 

[Zooey]

How do you know what my “personal” relationship is like?? How do you know when and how I talk to Christ??? How do you know when and how Christ speaks to me??? Did Christ tell you theses things???

I don’t know why they do… sometimes I don’t understand Catholics clam they have more personal relationship. Truly a “Personal” relationship is personal. The only way to judge is if you truly know what kind of a relationship the other person has. It is wrong to assume that if they call themselves “Christian” they have a real personal relationship. Just like it wrong to assume that every person that calls himself or herself a “Catholic-Christian” has a real personal relationship. After all Christ said “Not everyone that calls me Lord will enter Heaven (Mathew 7:21-23)

Truthfully, I don’t know what is more personal then actually sitting in a chapel in the presence of Christ. I don’t know what is more personal then truly and honestly receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist. I don’t know what is more personal then meditation on the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. To meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary is to meditate on the Gospel. To meditate on the Gospel is to meditate on Christ. I don’t know what is more personal then to read and study scripture. To know Holy Scripture is to Know Christ. To be ignorant of Holy Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 133)

Salvation is a free gift. Yes, Jesus forgives all. However He does ask us a lot more of us then just faith. Read: Mathew 7:21-23 we are told to keep His Father’s Commandments. Read: Mathew 25:31-45 we are told to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, etc. There are more scripture passages however, these 2 are a good start and show that there is more then just having faith.

maybe you should read this Scriptural Reference Guide or SALVATION or Meeting Christ in the Liturgy

As a Catholic-Christian I have no problems saying Christ is my Best Friend!!! I will sing it from the rooftops!

I will say at times I believe that SOME Catholics have a deeper relationship with Christ because of the Eucharist. However, I do know that SOME Non-Catholics have a deep relationship with Christ. I don’t like labels that say this sect is better then that sect. This is because there are people within both sects Non-Catholic-Christians and Catholic-Christians that don’t have any kind of Personal Relationship with Christ. Personal Relationship is Personal… Each INDIVIDUAL person can only judge by his or her TRUE Relationship with Christ. He or She CANNOT be judged by the label (i.e. Christian, Catholic-Christian) they use.

I just want to say, that I read this post, & I love what you say here… This says so beautifully what I, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Methodist” feels & believes.
Thank you for saying this; it is great to hear once again, what I too, believe, that we need to stop looking at labels, forgetting that “God looks at the heart”.
God bless!

 

[SORROWS]

Theres something so undescribably spiritual about entering a Catholic Church. I FEEL the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ before me.

It’s so easy to pray especially before the tabernacle where the “hidden” Jesus is. It’s everything …the silence, the statues so real looking, the candles, everything that makes up the Catholic Church. Very very emotional. Very Holy and full of reverence. Flowers all around.

It’s a powerful experience like no other and I can pray from the very depths of my heart.:angel1:

 

[Mommyof02green]

I just want to say, that I read this post, & I love what you say here… This says so beautifully what I, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Methodist” feels & believes.
Thank you for saying this; it is great to hear once again, what I too, believe, that we need to stop looking at labels, forgetting that “God looks at the heart”.
God bless!

Yes, God does look at our hearts, after all Scripture is very clear that we will be judged by what we do or fail to do…

However, I also believe that it is equally important to “LISTEN” to God…and obey that call that He has put in our hearts.

To listen and be where God wants us to be…

To listen and do what God wants us to do…

I can honestly say, that it’s not always easy doing what God is calling me to do…However, I already knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Doing what is Right, isn’t always easy.

 

[Zooey]

Yes, God does look at our hearts, after all Scripture is very clear that we will be judged by what we do or fail to do…

However, I also believe that it is equally important to “LISTEN” to God…and obey that call that He has put in our hearts.

To listen and be where God wants us to be…

To listen and do what God wants us to do…

I can honestly say, that it’s not always easy doing what God is calling me to do…However, I already knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Doing what is Right, isn’t always easy.

Ah, yes…That is true for us all…I remember hearing or reading somewhere, many years ago, something like, “Nobody ever said being a Christian is easy; just that it’s worth the effort”!!

 

[grandmaM]

You are right, one does not need to have a devotion to Virgin Mary, but if one does not believe all who she is, then he is not that close to Jesus. I am sure Jesus wants us to have a close relationship with Virgin Mary.

Mark 3:31-35
Then His mother and His brothers arrived,and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.
A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold Your mother and Your brothers are looking for you.”
"Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?
Looking at those who where sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!”
For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

 

[Church_Militant]

Mark 3:31-35
Then His mother and His brothers arrived,and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him.
A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold Your mother and Your brothers are looking for you.”
"Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?
Looking at those who where sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!”
For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Hey GrandamaM,
You might wanna look at the dates of the threads that you are posting to in future. This one is about a year and a half old.
(Oct 28, '06,)

So, what are you trying to infer from your scriptures quote?

I personally would say that the real message of the Blessed Virgin, even today and in all the Church approved apparitions is the same one she has always offered in her relationship with her son. John 2:5 His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

 

[markomalley]

How do Catholics respond to a Protestants claim that they have a much more “personal” relationship with Jesus than Catholics? Before easily dismissing such a seemingly facile claim, give it a minute of thought and tell me why you think a Protestant would claim something like this, and why?

It’s been my observation that Protestant churches are very focused on an emotional, internalized, extremely personal relationship with Jesus. I’ve had limited experience in the Catholic Church so far, but I’m curious if most Catholics would say they feel themselves to have this same relationship to Jesus that Protestants claim, or would you say the Catholic faith stresses different perspectives of the relationship with Christ? I can’t decide if I’m just imagining some sort of dichotomy, or if it’s part of something deeper. The protestant Jesus is a Jesus that forgives all, asking nothing in return except their faith which leads into the basic theological ideas of sola fide, etc… I sometimes wonder if this belief in justification through faith alone somehow facilitates a more personalized and “buddy” view of Christ and his part in their life? I somehow think more evangelical Christians would feel more comfortable calling Jesus their best friend, whereas a Catholic would not. Any thoughts?

I guess I’m just curious as to whether you think a catholic’s relationship with Christ is different than a protestant’s and why you might think this to be. Thanks in advance.

(All of the following is IMHO…so take it for what it’s worth)

Good question!

I think that there are fundamental differences between the Protestant’s relationship with Christ and the Catholic’s.

First of all, let me state that I think that there are a far higher percentage of Protestants who have an intense religious fervor than there are Catholics. But note that I do not think that this fervor equates to spirituality…rather, it is fervor. This is particularly present in the evangelical, fundamentalist, restorationist, and pentacostal varieties of Protestantism, vice the so-called mainstream varieties.

Because of the typical Protestant rejection of the sacraments in their understanding of the economy of salvation, their experience of Christ is more mentally and emotionally focused than that of Catholics. My understanding of the Protestant experience is that it is intensely emotional and subjective. It seems that the majority of Protestants with whom I’ve had experience are highly intolerant and judgemental of those who do not agree with their particular interpretation of the Christian experience. Pharisitical. (That is not intended to be derogatory, just something that is based on my past dealings with them over the decades)

There is a lot of positive that we Catholics could learn from them. There is a far greater desire to understand the scriptures among Protestants than among Catholics, as a group. Catholics would be well-served, again, as a large group, if we were to take the time to study the Scriptures, Patristic Writings, and Magesterium so as to be “ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear” (1 Pe 3:15).

But, in my opinion, the potential for spiritual growth for a Protestant is dramatically smaller than the potential for a Catholic. This is the fundamental difference between the two. They cannot experience authentic adoration of God, as they do not have the Eucharist. They are extremely challenged in receiving true reconcilliation with God if they sin following their baptism, as they do not have the Sacrament of Reconcilliation/Confession/Penance. They cannot truly experience unity with Christ through suffering, as they do not comprehend the mystical Body of Christ. A true understanding of Scripture is closed to them, as they do not understand Christ’s sacrifice. Understanding of prophecy is severely limited, particularly the Apocalypse, as they have rejected the sacred liturgy and have rejected the understanding of spiritual matters outside of their three-dimensional senses.

Don’t get me wrong. Within the limitations that exist with the flawed, heretical Protestant theologies (there are multiple theologies within Protestantism), I have seen some true giants, spiritually. In fact, a far higher percentage of giants than I see with Catholics. But their potential is severely limited as a result of the heresy passed on by their forefathers.

 

[fellowChristian]

Jesus is not my “buddy” my “homeboy” or even my “pal”

He is our Lord and our God.

He is our Creator our King.

Every knee should bend.

Feelings come and go.

I did not just open the Bible and say “I love Him”!

By an act of my will I chose to love Him by

taking the time to get to know Him,talking to Him,listening to Him,trying to understand Him,reading His letters and by trying to obey His commands.

I can not run on my emotions.

I am sometimes happy.

Sometimes mad.

Other times scared.

How would my relationship be with our Lord if I ran on my emotions?

Where in Scripture does it say to just make Jesus my personal Lord and Savior? It doesn’t.

Why “personal”? Didn’t He die for us all? Yes He did.

What about the Father and the Holy Spirit?

 

[grandmaM]

Hey GrandamaM,
You might wanna look at the dates of the threads that you are posting to in future. This one is about a year and a half old.
(Oct 28, '06,)

So, what are you trying to infer from your scriptures quote?

I personally would say that the real message of the Blessed Virgin, even today and in all the Church approved apparitions is the same one she has always offered in her relationship with her son. John 2:5 His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

In the future I will certainly look at the dates, however you did reply.So I would ask you what does Jesus say to do with his Mother. I believe she was blessed to be the mother of Jesus
but I also believe she needed a Savior the same as you and I.

 

[puzzleannie]

How do Catholics respond to a Protestants claim that they have a much more “personal” relationship with Jesus than Catholics? Before easily dismissing such a seemingly facile claim, give it a minute of thought and tell me why you think a Protestant would claim something like this, and why?

It’s.

the first question is why a Catholic would presume to question or challenge the spirituality of another person, Protestant or not. answer is
possibly because the Catholic in question has not developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for whatever reason–often due to a misunderstanding of the nature of Eucharist and the sacraments as participation in His life, passion, death and resurrection–and has not been fortunate enough to develop such a relationship, and envies the Protestant who claims such a relationship.

I think the Protestant would make such a claim because he has responded to the call of Christ to every heart, has come to know Jesus as the Word of God and while not yet fully in communion with the Church founded by Jesus Christ, is indeed growing in his personal relationship with Jesus.

Once again OP begins with a global claim about “all Protestants” as if he is knowledgeable not only about the teaching of every denomination on this topic, but about the spirituality of each and every Protestant. why would one dare to make such global assumptions without solid evidence?