Okay I'm a Protestant... but...

[MaryT777]

Joining the
Welcome Wagon…

Enjoy the forums!
Mary.

 

[JonNC]

I like to dissect words, and ‘protestant’ is one who favors testing or trying something. So a Protestant in a Christian context is someone who favors testing the Faith, which I think is a good idea. I posed the question, hoping to spark a thought process.

The term has its origin in the Second Diet of Speyer, in 1529. The Evangelicals (mainly Lutherans) “protested” government limitation of religious exercise by the Evangelicals.
It was not a direct protest of the Catholic Church, or its doctrines. So, the term today doesn’t really imply a protest, but is simply a catch-all name for all non-Catholic western Christian communions and groups.

Jon

 

[rcwitness]

Welcome Bro,
Thanks for your 20 yrs of ministry! I’m sure you have great gifts from God and much to learn from! I love your spirit already:yup:

Peace,
Michael

 

[Jozefo]

Hi, SingPeace,

My husband and I were Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of our lives. That meant that we were members of several churches, depending on where we lived. Over those 47 years, we were involved in the Assemblies of God, Conference Baptist, Christian church, Southern Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and finally, the Evangelical Free Church in America. For two years, we were also members of the Reformed Church in America and our daughter graduated from Calvin College.

Which type of Protestant are you?

My husband and I (and also our daughter, the Calvin grad) converted to Catholicism because over the course of several years of study, we became convinced that it is the Church that Jesus Christ Himself established here on this earth.

I agree with you in your assessment of the unity between Protestants and Catholics. We felt the same way you do, that Catholics and Protestants (and the Orthodox) are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We still believe that. In fact, that’s what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches.

But here’s the way I look at it. Catholics “live” in the “castle” that Jesus established for us and continues to build today. We have all the fullness of the Gospel available to us, and Jesus Christ is our Head and He has given us visible leaders here on this earth through whom He leads us.

Protestants live in little houses on the palace grounds, and have only portions of the Gospel available to them. They have leaders, but these leaders have no Christ-given authority, and the only authority they have is that which their individual denomination grants them. Protestant Christians are not beholden to their pastors, but are free to walk away without fear of loss of salvation. In Protestantism, Christians are their own “pope” and have to make their own decisions about issues of theology and mission.

We just didn’t see the point of continuing to live in “poverty” in a house on the estate when we could live in the castle itself! We wanted all that Jesus intended for us to have here on this earth!

I really, really like this analogy! I see myself as a Catholic out wandering in the woods.

 

[MaryT777]

What I have noticed is Protestants always say “I believe or I think or my personal opinion”. The difference is Catholics do because Jesus said to its not our personal feelings or interpitation.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Okay. I’m new here, and I am Protestant. I’ve been reading/skimming through a lot of threads/posts, and it’s obvious to me I’m in a whole new ball park.

However, I wanted to put this out there - what I believe with all my heart. I hope not to offend anyone here.

I believe that Catholics and Protestants worship and serve the same God and believe in the same Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe we simply have different traditions; though I know I am over-simplifying things a bit. Catholicism is something I have never studied so a lot of things I read are a bit confusing to me. That said, I just wanted to make it clear that in my own personal private view; all who believe Jesus is the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, gave his life on a cross for the sins of the world, and rose on the third day; having defeated death and the grave are brothers and sisters in Christ.

I hope that in this forum I might glean some profitable knowledge about the Catholic faith as well as share what I know of my own.

I hope you all will be patient with me as I crawl then hopefully walk at ease through the threads and posts here.

BTW, I have been a minister for 20 years. I hope I am able to be somewhat of an asset as I humbly seek your guidance in my learning more about the Catholic faith.

God bless you all and thank you again for allowing me to post here.

Also want to welcome you to CAF.

The term “Protestant” is quite broad but as a Lutheran, I am sure we have many things in common with you. My Synod [ELCA] has full communion with Reformed & Anglican Christians. Sometimes a good way for a Protestant to understand the Roman Catholic church is to study both Lutheranism and/or Anglicanism as sort of the ‘via media’ between both classic Protestantism and Catholicism.

 

[cmodrmac]

SingPeace

welcome aboard -I agree with you 100% - we indeed worship the same God-I suggest you get a football helmet as you will find that lots of differences exist between Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants particularly in social issues - issues of human sexuality

You will see frequent debates that often wind up "with an appeal to authorityby Roman catholics- which really can not be countered by non catholics -such as teachings of the Magisterium and the Pope-RC believe these statements - most Protestants do not -this often ends reasonable debate-

As a member of the Episcopal Church I view myself as a member of the “via media” but certainly have taken some personal attacks

Be of good cheer we have much to learn from our RC Brothers and Sisters and every now and again we can give them an insight that they may find valuable

 

[cheezey]

Also want to welcome you to CAF.

The term “Protestant” is quite broad but as a Lutheran, I am sure we have many things in common with you. My Synod [ELCA] has full communion with Reformed & Anglican Christians. Sometimes a good way for a Protestant to understand the Roman Catholic church is to study both Lutheranism and/or Anglicanism as sort of the ‘via media’ between both classic Protestantism and Catholicism.

Bingo! I have learned more about the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church, each about the other, by having attended both.
Still wish I had someone directing me at the latter, however…

 

[Jozefo]

SingPeace

welcome aboard -I agree with you 100% - we indeed worship the same God-I suggest you get a football helmet as you will find that lots of differences exist between Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants particularly in social issues - issues of human sexuality

You will see frequent debates that often wind up "with an appeal to authorityby Roman catholics- which really can not be countered by non catholics -such as teachings of the Magisterium and the Pope-RC believe these statements - most Protestants do not -this often ends reasonable debate-

As a member of the Episcopal Church I view myself as a member of the “via media” but certainly have taken some personal attacks

Be of good cheer we have much to learn from our RC Brothers and Sisters and every now and again we can give them an insight that they may find valuable

I said in a different thread that I thought the Reformation was ultimately a good thing, and I think it ruffled a few feathers. I’ve called myself Catholic for 13 years now, after being confirmed in 2000. From my time in the Church I’ve learned a bit, and in my opinion the doctrinal differences are not the major stumbling blocks to ecuminism. Rather I think it’s the Church culture that causes more of the difficulty.

No disrespect intended toward my fellow Catholics! But as a former Protestant, that’s how I see it.

 

[Brandall]

Hi, SingPeace,

My husband and I were Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of our lives. That meant that we were members of several churches, depending on where we lived. Over those 47 years, we were involved in the Assemblies of God, Conference Baptist, Christian church, Southern Baptist, Christian and Missionary Alliance, and finally, the Evangelical Free Church in America. For two years, we were also members of the Reformed Church in America and our daughter graduated from Calvin College.

Which type of Protestant are you?

My husband and I (and also our daughter, the Calvin grad) converted to Catholicism because over the course of several years of study, we became convinced that it is the Church that Jesus Christ Himself established here on this earth.

I agree with you in your assessment of the unity between Protestants and Catholics. We felt the same way you do, that Catholics and Protestants (and the Orthodox) are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We still believe that. In fact, that’s what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches.

But here’s the way I look at it. Catholics “live” in the “castle” that Jesus established for us and continues to build today. We have all the fullness of the Gospel available to us, and Jesus Christ is our Head and He has given us visible leaders here on this earth through whom He leads us.

Protestants live in little houses on the palace grounds, and have only portions of the Gospel available to them. They have leaders, but these leaders have no Christ-given authority, and the only authority they have is that which their individual denomination grants them. Protestant Christians are not beholden to their pastors, but are free to walk away without fear of loss of salvation. In Protestantism, Christians are their own “pope” and have to make their own decisions about issues of theology and mission.

We just didn’t see the point of continuing to live in “poverty” in a house on the estate when we could live in the castle itself! We wanted all that Jesus intended for us to have here on this earth!

I’m stealing that line regarding the house on the estate and the castle. Think I’ll be calling it a shack though.

 

[PJM]

=SingPeace;11100028]Okay. I’m new here, and I am Protestant. I’ve been reading/skimming through a lot of threads/posts, and it’s obvious to me I’m in a whole new ball park.

However, I wanted to put this out there - what I believe with all my heart. I hope not to offend anyone here.

I believe that Catholics and Protestants worship and serve the same God and believe in the same Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe we simply have different traditions; though I know I am over-simplifying things a bit. Catholicism is something I have never studied so a lot of things I read are a bit confusing to me. That said, I just wanted to make it clear that in my own personal private view; all who believe Jesus is the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, gave his life on a cross for the sins of the world, and rose on the third day; having defeated death and the grave are brothers and sisters in Christ.

I hope that in this forum I might glean some profitable knowledge about the Catholic faith as well as share what I know of my own.

I hope you all will be patient with me as I crawl then hopefully walk at ease through the threads and posts here.

BTW, I have been a minister for 20 years. I hope I am able to be somewhat of an asset as I humbly seek your guidance in my learning more about the Catholic faith.

God bless you all and thank you again for allowing me to post here.

WELCOME TO CAF dear friend!

Your position is a common one for non-Catholic Chriitians. That said, it is however not a biblically suppported one.

Because there IS but One true God

That One True God can [and DOES] have only His One Set of Faith beliefs that he entrusted directly and exclusively to His hand chosen apostles.

Please use this site to look up these passages in the Order presented
biblestudytools.com/parallel-bible/

Mt. 10:1-8
Mt. 16: 15-19
Mt. 18:18
John 14: 16-17 & John 20:21-22
John 17:14-20
Mk. 16: 14-15
Mt. 28:16-20

Then PLEASE take note of the following
Each is Christ and the Apostles directly and exclusively

God does NOT change so what Jesus did follows what Yahweh did [improves and perfects it] in the OT.

God has always had ONLY one Chosen people:
OT=Jews
NT =todays Catholic Church

John.10: 16 “And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd”

Eph. 4: 1-7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Eph. 2:19-20 “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Eph. 3: 9-10 “And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church [singular] the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

SPACE LIMITS prohibit more proof.

God Bless you!

 

[Brandall]

Where in Atlanta? I was born and have lived in the area for several decades. We are in Roswell. You?

 

[adawgj]

If you want to learn more about Catholicism I’d look up Michael Cumbie who is a former Baptist minister converted to Catholicism he is funny and very informative.

Oh yeah Welcome

 

[andrewstx]

The Archdiocese of Sydney may be like a miniture Bible Belt, although I wasn’t aware of it. I can’t speak from personal experience, as I’ve never lived in Sydney, but much further north around Brisbane, although I went west for a few years to Perth.

We do have our funny little ways however. I think I remember reading that years ago when the Catholic / Protestant divide was more pronounced (it’s still there though, rest assured), there was a Queensland Police station in a Brisbane inner city suburb called Woollongabba (where the famous cricket oval “The Gabba” is located - that’s if you follow cricket - not likely if you’re American. I think you use a round bat or something, and run around a diamond. At least in cricket you can completely miss the ball all day and still be in for hours as a batsman, if the bowler’s bad enough).

Amongst the cops it had the nickname “Vatican CIty”, because only the Catholic cops got posted there. I suppose it was an effort by the authorities to keep religious bickering to a minimum.

You are right, I never understood Cricket. But I’m not a total loss I do prefer soccer/football and rugby to American football.

 

[andrewstx]

Where in Atlanta? I was born and have lived in the area for several decades. We are in Roswell. You?

Roswell in GA? I was born in New Mexico not far from their Roswell. I have the alien snow globe to prove it

 

[justin69]

Okay. I’m new here, and I am Protestant. I’ve been reading/skimming through a lot of threads/posts, and it’s obvious to me I’m in a whole new ball park.

However, I wanted to put this out there - what I believe with all my heart. I hope not to offend anyone here.

I believe that Catholics and Protestants worship and serve the same God and believe in the same Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe we simply have different traditions; though I know I am over-simplifying things a bit. Catholicism is something I have never studied so a lot of things I read are a bit confusing to me. That said, I just wanted to make it clear that in my own personal private view; all who believe Jesus is the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, gave his life on a cross for the sins of the world, and rose on the third day; having defeated death and the grave are brothers and sisters in Christ.

I hope that in this forum I might glean some profitable knowledge about the Catholic faith as well as share what I know of my own.

I hope you all will be patient with me as I crawl then hopefully walk at ease through the threads and posts here.

BTW, I have been a minister for 20 years. I hope I am able to be somewhat of an asset as I humbly seek your guidance in my learning more about the Catholic faith.

God bless you all and thank you again for allowing me to post here.

im protestant too and for what its worth , im not trying to offend no one, but please don’t be so vain to think there only needs to be one religion, everybody needs to make their own decisions, about how they pray, worship god,and share the love and live in harmony together.

 

[SteveVH]

im protestant too and for what its worth , im not trying to offend no one, but please don’t be so vain to think there only needs to be one religion, everybody needs to make their own decisions, about how they pray, worship god,and share the love and live in harmony together.

I believe the Apostles certainly thought that there needs to be one religion. Christ started one Church, not many churches. Why do you think that Christ started a Church at all if we are capable of finding and discerning truth on our own? We see the ugly evidence of what happens when men rely on their own judgment; the Protestant world has shattered into thousands upon thousands of divisions in direct contradiction to Christ’s prayer of unity. And unity does not mean that we tolerate all contradicting beliefs. Unity means that we conform our lives to the Truth revealed in Jesus Christ as taught by HIS Church, the “pillar and foundation of truth”.

 

[SteveVH]

Does anyone know what happened to the OP?

 

[Brandall]

Roswell in GA? I was born in New Mexico not far from their Roswell. I have the alien snow globe to prove it

Yes, Roswell Georgia. I assume it to be older than Roswell NM since Roswell GA was incorporated as a city nearly 50 years before New Mexico was a state. Most people in the Atlanta area seem to be from somewhere else, so I’m betting there are more “aliens” here.

 

[Jozefo]

WELCOME TO CAF dear friend!

God has always had ONLY one Chosen people:
OT=Jews
NT =todays Catholic Church

Do you see a difference or a distinction between the Catholic Church and the catholic Church?