Need an answer!

Protestant_Me · Oct 11, 2011

I’m not sure where to put this question but maybe you can help. On several posts on CAF I see the Catholic’s saying that Protestant’s are their brother’s and sister’s in Christ. Which I completely agree. But, why do they want Protestant’s to convert to Catholicism if were all the same?
HELP please

Code:

                    Thanks everyone! God Bless you're evening!:thumbsup:
                               Protestant Me

Irish_Polock · Oct 11, 2011

Because we have the fullness of truth. And, we desire you to have this same fullness of truth; you have been short changed and we wish you to be compensated fully. For your hopeful salvation we pray.
for
As a side note: Your confusion is why ecumenicism is not a traditional subject for conversation in Catholicism. I am sorry that you have misled somehow.

Irish_Polock · Oct 11, 2011

Because we have the fullness of truth. And, we desire you to have this same fullness of truth; you have been short changed and we wish you to be compensated fully. For your hopeful salvation we pray.

As a side note: Your confusion is why ecumenicism is not a traditional subject for conversation in Catholicism. I am sorry that you have misled somehow.

adrift · Oct 11, 2011

We are brothers and sisters in Christ but that does not equate to us all being the same. As Irish has said we wish the very best and that would be the fullness of faith that Jesus intended.

suissemissed · Oct 11, 2011

Indeed… I used to be a Protestant, and had no idea what I was missing out on! I would recommend that you read the early Church Fathers, i.e., those Christians who were very close in time to the Apostles. They are WAY more Catholic than you think! You may especially be interested in reading St. Justin Martyr, who wrote in about AD 150, only 50 years after the apostle John died. Here’s a snippet from his First Apology, where he describes Baptism and the typical Christian service on Sunday. It follows the outline of the Catholic Mass perfectly

I will also relate the manner in which we dedicated ourselves to God when we had been made new through Christ; lest, if we omit this, we seem to be unfair in the explanation we are making. As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, “Unless you be born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” John 3:5 Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been born to enter into their mothers’ wombs, is manifest to all. And how those who have sinned and repent shall escape their sins, is declared by Esaias the prophet, as I wrote above; he thus speaks: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from your souls; learn to do well; judge the fatherless, and plead for the widow: and come and let us reason together, says the Lord. And though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white like wool; and though they be as crimson, I will make them white as snow. But if you refuse and rebel, the sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.” Isaiah 1:16-20

And for this [rite] we have learned from the apostles this reason. Since at our birth we were born without our own knowledge or choice, by our parents coming together, and were brought up in bad habits and wicked training; in order that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance, but may become the children of choice and knowledge, and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe; he who leads to the laver the person that is to be washed calling him by this name alone. For no one can utter the name of the ineffable God; and if any one dare to say that there is a name, he raves with a hopeless madness. And this washing is called illumination, because they who learn these things are illuminated in their understandings. And in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Ghost, who through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus, he who is illuminated is washed.

…Continued…

suissemissed · Oct 11, 2011

…Continued…

But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to γένοιτο [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.

And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

akasseb · Oct 11, 2011

Non-Catholic Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ in so far as they participate in the fullness of faith. But this in no way means that any given faith tradition is on a level of equality with Catholicism. Non-Catholic Christian communities participate in the fullness of the truth in varying and imperfect ways and always with an admixture of error. So while we are brothers in sisters in the things that we share, we can be strangers in some ways, and even adversaries in others.

Kathryn_Ann · Oct 11, 2011

**Welcome to the forum and may God Bless you!
:harp::heaven:
Although we can all be brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not yet in the full Communion we hope for. I hope for it! Our Holy Father the Pope is graciously working, for example, with the Anglican Communion in Great Britain, and a few U.S. Episcopal parishes have joined us in full Communion as Catholics.

The Church is the Bride of Christ, founded by no mere mortal man, but by Jesus Christ Himself. Trusting in Peter, He handed him the Keys to the Kingdom, and there is a Divine Continuity to celebrate in Church history. :highprayer:

We don’t claim these things on our own, as if we are “better” than others or that we invented it. The Church is Divinely ordained because in His love for us, He left us the Way to follow Him.

God understands our hearts, yet The Holy Church yearns for full Communion in understanding Her History and loving intent, traditions and beliefs. Beliefs such as the Real Presence in Holy Eucharist, the Communion of the Saints, our veneration of The Blessed Mother, the Magisterium of teaching since Christ’s time, His traditions carried on are miraculous to ponder. Surely, throughout the ages, “The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Founded by Christ, the Church works through love, and in that love, I hope you will feel free to begin to explore the Divine Mercy which may, through study and connecting here, draw you joyously to the Faith. As an adult convert, I can say that my journey to The Faith has been one of wonder and joy.

Blessings on your day and on your journey!:angel1:
Kathryn Ann**

JRKH · Oct 11, 2011

You might gain some additional insight by reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church section on Unity - HERE.

The biggest reason that we seek full communion is because that is what Christ prayed for. That is what Christ, and the Apostles in their letters, exhort us to and it is what would make our Lord the most happy.

Peace
James

ufamtobie · Oct 12, 2011

Protestant Me,

If the Protestant reformation never occurred, where would your Christian Home be, at what Church? The Catholic Church. Amen

Ufam Tobie

PbloPicasso · Oct 12, 2011

Catholics, that think right, would like to see all people covert to true Christianty, i.e., the faith handed down since Christ. I firmly believe that if Protestants let down their defenses and actually dug deep in scripture and history, they’d convert to Catholicism, which is just a name, but with specific meaning.

vera_dicere · Oct 12, 2011

Think of Christianity like a meal.

Protestantism is like your fast food places, McDonalds, Burger King, and sometimes something a little better for you like Sub-Way.

Catholicism is like the fancy resturant at the top of the hill, with a full course meal, salad, mains, desert, even those neat little mints with your coffee.

End of the day you’ve still eaten, but would you rather have a satisfying, full meal that leaves you feeling good, and is healthy for you, or would you rather be one step closer to diabetes and heart disease, feeling greasy, unsatisfied. The places like McD’s, BK, they try to win you into their establishements with “happy meals” and play grounds for the kids.

I can’t convert anyone, all I’m trying to do is invite people to the fancy resturant, so they can have one awesome meal.

FabiusMaximus · Oct 12, 2011

For the same reason you’d probably want a Roman Catholic to convert to Protestantism - bringing them closer to the truth.

The Roman Catholic Church considers itself the fullness of Christianity. So they consider it their mission to go and to draw people to their Church. If you believe your Church has the fullness and is the ONE Church, wouldn’t you do everything you can to bring others to it, even other Christians who, though they share a belief in Jesus Christ, might not have the entire truth?

CopticChristian · Oct 13, 2011

Imagine if you will your own Protestant Paradigm…

We have a relationship with Christ
We are not always in fellowship with Christ

A Protestant is not in fellowship with Christ when they sin…

You may consider that you have a relationship with Christ through your Baptism from the Catholic perspective and are truly a brother and sister however we do not percieve you to be in fellowship with Christ lacking the fullness of the deposit of Faith by whatever means you can imagine, ignorance, stubborness, sin, pride, and the list goes on…

and we are not all the same.

someguy14 · Oct 13, 2011

No if, and’s or but’s. Christian mean’s follower of Christ. God is the only way.

bly · Oct 13, 2011

CopticChristian · Oct 13, 2011

No if and or but’s Mormons say they follow Christ and believe in God as do many other’s so now what?

someguy14 · Oct 13, 2011

Thank Gods beautiful and glorious way, God judge’s all. May God bless bro/sis.

God judge’s every heart and only God matter’s. We are instructed to Love one another. That is our command from God. And above all, Love God with all our heart, mind, body and soul.

We give ourselves to God from the essence of our being.

PbloPicasso · Oct 13, 2011

We are also commanded to be baptized for the remission of sins.
We are also commanded to confess our sins.
We are also commanded to receive the body and blood of Christ.
We are also commanded to obey the elders and teachers of the law.
The elders are also commanded to be careful who they lay hands on [for ordination].
We are also commanded to oppose those that teach false doctrine.
I could go on, but won’t. All of these are rooted in scripture.
Taking away and adding to God’s word includes changing the meaning.

If one does not conform to these they are not in full communion with Christ’s Church and therefore are not in full communion with God’s people, found in the Catholic Church, a 2000 year old institution that also goes by the name of Church of Christ.

JRKH · Oct 13, 2011

This is very true and something that we all need to keep in mind.
But we must also remember that our Loving Father, through Our Brother and our Lord Jesus Christ, has given us two very important helps for our journey.

The first is His Holy Spirit poured out on the faithful at Pentecost. The Spirit that convicts us in our sin and our need of God.

The second is the Church herself. The Church which provides structure and Spirit led guidance and the authority to bind and loose. The Church which provides a place to hash out differences and to seek deeper understanding of the great mysteries. The Church who, by God’s grace, protects and administers the sacraments. The Church which, over two millennium has assembled, copied, translated, distributed, protected, defended and taught from the Holy Bible.
The natural outgrowth of the desire for unity among the believers in Christ.

Love is indeed Key, but we should never forget the great gift we have in the Church that our Loving God has given us.

Nicely said…

Peace
James

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adrift

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bly

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