Well than I am in luck. I do have a copy of said book which I am currently rereading for my own benefit. I also have a book titled: Why Do Catholics Do That? By Kevin Orlin Johnson, that I have considered lending to her.
Give her the “said” book first! My opinion. Why do Catholics do that is a great book as well.
Even better, take her with you to Eucharistic adoration. Let her sit and ponder Christ in His true presence for the very first time. She can read the book there. Sooner or later, she will desire to step from the wading pool into the ocean.
Tell your friend that there is " ONLY ONE TRUTH, NOT TWO". And that all the churches cannot have the truth as they understand the Bible differently. According to her there will be at least 30,000 truths. One for each one of them, this is quite impossible as the Holy Spirit cannot contradict Himself.
Ask her if truth is relative or absolute and whether mutually contradicting creeds (Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, etc.) can all be true in such a case. You’ll either steer her to be an anti-Christian skeptic or to reconsider her entire worldview.
So Joseph, taking your two possibilities, what if the first is the outcome? Why do you think your advice is good advice?
But Kal2012, based on the thread title, the OP’s best friend is already a Christian. Hence, my question to Joseph.
I didn’t say it was good advice or bad advice. As a former follower of the Reformation to be honest I’m kinda hostile to the whole Protestant denominational relativism. I never realized it when I was taught it, but now that I see the un-reason it really does help the cause of atheism and skepticism. Emotionally I’m becoming an apostate anyway.
Joseph, I saw your thread today. Hang in there. I often meditate on the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd, coming to find us.
/endthread
Even the denominations do not dispute that the Catholic Church was first and is not a denomination, so your friend is way out on the fringe. What would Luther have protested in the first place, if it weren’t for the Church already in place for 1600 years? They’d have no Bible from which to proclaim Sola Scriptura, if our Church hadn’t existed. The various denominations might say that we are wrong on whatever doctrine, but they don’t deny that we were first and founded by Jesus.
This is not possible. She is not open to hearing that her choice in religion is wrong at least not in such a frank way. I have to approach this in a delicate manner and feed her these things in small doses lest I turn her away from the Churches view forever.
She does understand and agrees that the Catholic Church was THE first church but she still views it as just another denomination. I don’t understand how she can come to such a contradictory conclusion myself.
Not very smart?She does understand and agrees that the Catholic Church was THE first church but she still views it as just another denomination. I don’t understand how she can come to such a contradictory conclusion myself.
Print out a page with bible versus that show one visible church and quotes from early church fathers backing it up. Use quotes before the edict of Milan many baptist belive that is where comstantine started the catholic church. But before you do this ask them to give you a report on an invisible church along with ecf quotes to back it up they won’t be able to.