non-Catholics: defend your faith--please

[ElisabethM]

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

For those who have any sort of open mind, I try to offer them some real perspective on what we’re about. I expect disagreement and welcome it, when it is based on rational theological grounds and not the Jack Chick type hysteria people sometimes like to stir up. I also have a decent grounding in Catholicism, with 12 years of Catholic school under my belt, and so I can usually tell when someone is arguing from real theology vs pulling something out of their…well, you know what I mean. Finally, I learned from a career in journalism that you should never assume something about people based on a label, social cast, etc. They’ll always surprise you. There are interesting people in all quarters…

I’d be interested in reading why you have chosen and remain in the faith you profess–NOT why you’re “not Catholic” buy why you ARE pagan, LDS, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. Oh, and please avoid simplistic statements like “I am {blank} because it’s the true religion.”

Please leave out the “anti-anything” rhetoric . . . restrict yourself to a positive defense of your chosen faith. Please, PLEASE, re-read your proposed post before posting it to see if it contains anything negative, then edit it to keep it positive. Thanks!

Again, this is what I’m looking for:

For those who have any sort of open mind, I try to offer them some real perspective on what we’re about.

And if I can add one more request, if Catholics or others not of the faith being presented have any questions about a post, could you please just ask questions for clarification so that we can all learn more about one another? Maybe then others will feel free to post without fear of getting hammered. Again, I thank you in advance.

em

 

[Richard_Kastner]

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

I’d be interested in reading why you have chosen and remain in the faith you profess–NOT why you’re “not Catholic” buy why you ARE pagan, LDS, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. Oh, and please avoid simplistic statements like “I am {blank} because it’s the true religion.”

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

A link to my testimony is in my signature, its in three parts on that thread, its kind of long but people have told me they were blessed having read it, people who have loved ones who are really lost and seem impossible to reach with the gospel tend to like it the most. In a nut shell my wife and I had committed adultery, and I was an IV meth addict. God brought me to my knees and I sought God with all my heart. I read the Bible from cover to cover and began looking at what different churches taught. I went first to one church then after a year we moved to another and have been there since. (8years) We have experienced a radical transformation. In our lives. We have a peace and joy that We NEVER dreamed possible. THANK YOU JESUS!

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I am a Seventh Day Adventist. I didn’t choose this faith. I was led into it by the Holy Spirit. I remain in this faith because it adhears to the criteria for God’s church found in the bible. Rev.12:17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It’s the only church that I have found that keeps all ten of the ten commandments and has the spirit of prophecy which is the testamony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 19:10b

What commandments are other Churches not keeping?

 

[ElisabethM]

ElisabethM;6368850:

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

This quote that you put in your post is a little disturbing. Are you trying to get non-Catholics to post so that you can tear them apart and show them the true light of the CC as you see it or are you saying that this is an attitude that we should take. Please clarify.

You have no cause to question my sincerity. No need to search for hidden motives–I don’t have any.

em

 

[Edwardjohn]

I’m 58 and have struggled with God my whole life, at best, our relationship is adversarial, at least on my side. I seem to question everything. Everything.
Scripture says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Well, either that is true, or it isn’t PERIOD And, in order to do what the scripture said, He (the Lord) has to be GOD.
Therefore, those that call upon Jesus Christ are saved, because Jesus Christ is Lord, GOD. Then, I believe the Holy Spirit enters into the life of the one who called upon Jesus Christ and leads that person into truth.
I once was looking out the front door and asking the Lord why all the churches, why all the denominations, and my focus was brought to the tree in our front yard. The trunk split into two huge branches which in turn divided into many branches, then the fruit appeared.
The fruit appeared where the weather was, where the sun, rain etc. hit the tree. There was no fruit on the trunk, yet the trunk was necessary to provide nutrients for the production of fruit and to provide support. And it didn’t struggle to bear fruit, it just did. Right where it was planted and growing. Slowly but surely.
I think the Holy Spirit is fully capable of leading those who call on the name of the Lord where they need to be planted, and if they are already planted, to cause them to bear fruit. God gives the increase.
The only criteria necessary to be known as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of love for one another. By that all will know we are His. The first will be last, the last first. To be the greatest is to be the least. Serve.

 

[may_they_be_one]

I’m 58 and have struggled with God my whole life, at best, our relationship is adversarial, at least on my side. I seem to question everything. Everything.
Scripture says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Well, either that is true, or it isn’t PERIOD And, in order to do what the scripture said, He (the Lord) has to be GOD.
Therefore, those that call upon Jesus Christ are saved, because Jesus Christ is Lord, GOD. Then, I believe the Holy Spirit enters into the life of the one who called upon Jesus Christ and leads that person into truth.
I once was looking out the front door and asking the Lord why all the churches, why all the denominations, and my focus was brought to the tree in our front yard. The trunk split into two huge branches which in turn divided into many branches, then the fruit appeared.
The fruit appeared where the weather was, where the sun, rain etc. hit the tree. There was no fruit on the trunk, yet the trunk was necessary to provide nutrients for the production of fruit and to provide support. And it didn’t struggle to bear fruit, it just did. Right where it was planted and growing. Slowly but surely.
I think the Holy Spirit is fully capable of leading those who call on the name of the Lord where they need to be planted, and if they are already planted, to cause them to bear fruit. God gives the increase.
The only criteria necessary to be known as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of love for one another. By that all will know we are His. The first will be last, the last first. To be the greatest is to be the least. Serve.

Yes and AMEN!!! Beautiful and true metaphor! Ask and you shall receive!!!

I pray for the unity of HIS WHOLE BODY on earth. John 17:20-23 says, “May they be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…in us so that the WORLD may believe that you have sent me…may they be brought to complete unity to let the WORLD know you sent me.” Jesus isn’t praying for Christians to convert fellow Christians, he is praying for Christians to UNITE in the simplicity of the Gospel (God in Jesus = Jesus in us = God in us) so the rest of the WORLD may believe.

As far as I understand through the gifting of the Holy Spirit, no one can judge another person’s understanding of his faith unless they’ve walked in the other’s shoes. Jesus himself is a great enough stumbling block for the unrepentant. Adding rule upon rule to distinguish one set of believers in Christ from another set is not the answer to drawing all nations to the LORD. Any rules or laws that we MUST know will already be written on our hearts, and no man will need to teach them to us. Of course this sounds way to simple, but didn’t Jesus tell us to have faith as a child?

If what was most important was knowing all the intricacies of what Jesus “really” meant, then wouldn’t the Holy Spirit in his mercy have made sure more of what Jesus said and did was recorded? (John 21:25 “…I suppose the whole world wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.”)

Please correct me if I’m wrong… From Jeremiah 31:31- (my emphasis underlined):

31 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them, "
declares the LORD.

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

AS ALWAYS,
Love, Joy, and Peace in Christ!

 

[Richard_Kastner]

What commandments are other Churches not keeping?

Exodus 20: 8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Exodus 20: 8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Oh yea, I’ve heard that before. Do you follow ALL the commandments of the Old Testament or Old Covenant?

 

[JonNC]

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

I’d be interested in reading why you have chosen and remain in the faith you profess–NOT why you’re “not Catholic” buy why you ARE pagan, LDS, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. Oh, and please avoid simplistic statements like “I am {blank} because it’s the true religion.”

Please leave out the “anti-anything” rhetoric . . . restrict yourself to a positive defense of your chosen faith. Please, PLEASE, re-read your proposed post before posting it to see if it contains anything negative, then edit it to keep it positive. Thanks!

Again, this is what I’m looking for:

And if I can add one more request, if Catholics or others not of the faith being presented have any questions about a post, could you please just ask questions for clarification so that we can all learn more about one another? Maybe then others will feel free to post without fear of getting hammered. Again, I thank you in advance.

em

First, Elizabeth, I wish to make a positive statement. The faith to which I belong and profess is the sam e as yours - I am a Christian. It is the faith I profess, and I am a member of it because I believe in Christ, son of the living God, true God and True man, suffered, died , and rose again for my salvation.

As to the faith communion that I belong: I continue to be an Evangelical Catholic (Lutheran) Christian because I believe that the Augsburg Confession rightly reflects the word of God, and maintains the proper, historic teachings of the Church Catholic.

Jon

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Oh yea, I’ve heard that before. Do you follow ALL the commandments of the Old Testament or Old Covenant?

What’s your point. Don’t you think we are bound to keep the ten commandments?

 

[Roblox84]

ElisabethM;6368850:

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

I am a Seventh Day Adventist. I didn’t choose this faith. I was led into it by the Holy Spirit. I remain in this faith because it adhears to the criteria for God’s church found in the bible. Rev.12:17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It’s the only church that I have found that keeps all ten of the ten commandments and has the spirit of prophecy which is the testamony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 19:10b

This quote that you put in your post is a little disturbing. Are you trying to get non-Catholics to post so that you can tear them apart and show them the true light of the CC as you see it or are you saying that this is an attitude that we should take. Please clarify.

I think Elisabeth was merely stating that a lot of people choose their faith or are led into their faith by the holy spirit not because they will worship better in that particular church but because they want to disagree with another church or haven’t been informed or studied other faiths.

 

[cheese_sdc]

Oh yea, I’ve heard that before. Do you follow ALL the commandments of the Old Testament or Old Covenant?

’

Please to be remembering the intent of the original poster. Please don’t turn this into an attack thread.

If you have an issue with a post, take it to another thread.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Richard Kastner;6368950:

I think Elisabeth was merely stating that a lot of people choose their faith or are led into their faith by the holy spirit not because they will worship better in that particular church but because they want to disagree with another church or haven’t been informed or studied other faiths.

Again, this is what I’m looking for:

:
For those who have any sort of open mind, I try to offer them some real perspective on what we’re about.

This is the quote I was talking about. I am not quite sure if she is stating here that she is willing to give “some real perspective on what we’re about.” meaning that she is willing to enlighten “seperated bretheren” on the CC’s doctrine or if she wants the non-Catholics that come on this thread to share what they are about to those of an open mind.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

What’s your point. Don’t you think we are bound to keep the ten commandments?

Of course, but in your response, there seem to be a slight condemnation of other Churches for celebrating the Sabbath on the day the Lord rose from the grave, while stating the SDA is the only Church to obey the 10 commandments.

I’ve never communicated with an SDA member about this and in seeing your response, I wondered if the SDA obey all the commandments of the Old Testament?

Does your preacher/pastor wear fine linen vestments as commanded by the Lord?

Exo 39:1 And he made, of violet and purple, scarlet and fine linen, the vestments for Aaron to wear when he ministered in the holy places, as the Lord commanded Moses.

**Exo 40:13 Thou shalt put on them the holy vestments, that they may minister to me, and that the unction of them may prosper to an everlasting priesthood. **

Does your Church use candles and incense as commanded by the Lord?

**Exo 40:24 (40:22) He set the candlestick also in the tabernacle of the testimony, over against the table on the south side,
Exo 40:25 (40:23) Placing the lamps in order, according to the precept of the Lord.
Exo 40:26 (40:24) He set also the altar of gold under the roof of the testimony, over against the veil,
Exo 40:27 (40:25) And burnt upon it the incense of spices, as the Lord had commanded Moses. **

How about the bread as commanded by the Lord?

Exo 40:23 (40:21) Setting there in order the loaves of proposition, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Does your Church have the tabernacle of the covenant and the altar?

**Exo 40:32 (40:30) When they went into the tabernacle of the covenant, and went to the altar, as the Lord had commanded Moses. **

Is there a place to wash with water in your Church?

**Exo 40:12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and having washed them with water, **

These, also, are commandments of the Lord.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

’

Please to be remembering the intent of the original poster. Please don’t turn this into an attack thread.

If you have an issue with a post, take it to another thread.

It wasn’t an ‘attack’ and I apologize if it was perceived as such. I have never communicated with an SDA and merely asked questions. The title of the thread is ‘non-Catholics: defend your faith–please’. I thought it was acceptable to ask questions.

If you have ‘issues’ with my questions, please feel free not to read them.

 

[Bill_Pick]

ElisabethM;6368850:

From the thread on “non-Catholics; Why are you here?”

I am a Seventh Day Adventist. I didn’t choose this faith. I was led into it by the Holy Spirit. I remain in this faith because it adhears to the criteria for God’s church found in the bible. Rev.12:17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It’s the only church that I have found that keeps all ten of the ten commandments and has the spirit of prophecy which is the testamony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 19:10b

This quote that you put in your post is a little disturbing. Are you trying to get non-Catholics to post so that you can tear them apart and show them the true light of the CC as you see it or are you saying that this is an attitude that we should take. Please clarify.

I think this person is just ;look for answer and is very nice in her asking.
.

 

[BrianH]

It wasn’t an ‘attack’ and I apologize if it was perceived as such. I have never communicated with an SDA and merely asked questions. The title of the thread is ‘non-Catholics: defend your faith–please’. I thought it was acceptable to ask questions.

If you have ‘issues’ with my questions, please feel free not to read them.

It WAS not what the OP asked for. Seriously, the whole bit about vestments…
You just do not care what the OP asked for. Its a respect issue. You are perfectly capable of opening a thread on SDA beliefs…right?

 

[BrianH]

UMC
Its not fundamentalist. Kids are not likely to throw it all out the window when it comes to college and higher learning.
It has the nice blend of tradition, Bible, and social action.
My agnostic wife will actually attend this with me and the kids.
Mission trips, homeless shelters, care packages to disaster areas, Religious Nurture center for disabled adults, tutoring ministries to Hispanic children.
Great organ music…seriously
I serve on children’s council and other things were I can make a difference.
Above all, not convinced of anything else enough to change:shrug:
Very very happy with everything about my local church.

 

[ElisabethM]

Roblox84;6370516:

Again, this is what I’m looking for:

This is the quote I was talking about. I am not quite sure if she is stating here that she is willing to give “some real perspective on what we’re about.” meaning that she is willing to enlighten “seperated bretheren” on the CC’s doctrine or if she wants the non-Catholics that come on this thread to share what they are about to those of an open mind.

I’m sorry . . . I think my quoting an unnamed source led to some confusion. Please re-read the original post . . . I quoted someone from another thread (I believe he said he is pagan). I liked what he said about about each offering an honest perspective on what they believe, and that those of us with open minds can listen to each other. It seems to me that might be helpful in understanding one another–something I would like. By my post, I was offering the floor to non-Catholics to offer a defense for their chosen faith. And, no, I am not looking for Catholic rebuttal and do hope my Catholic brothers and sisters will refrain from argument here. I really want to know why others believe as they do.

I was hoping for some non-threatening expressions of “This is why I claim the faith I do.” Thank you to those who have so far offered sincere responses. I’ve already learned a lot.