Protestant bible study question

[William1964]

Hi all,

I have a friend who is protestant. He attends Marylyn Hickey’s church here in Denver. I think they’re Pentecostals. How do you all feel about attending protestant bible studies?

There doesn’t seem to be too many for Catholics. Do you think I would be setting myself up for trouble by going to his?

 

[Church_Militant]

Yes you would. In general, Pentecostals are some of the most anti-Catholic folk around and the better you get to know them the more that will become the thrust of their interaction with you, with very few exceptions.

Moreover, their fundamental doctrine is Sola Scriptura which is itself, an unscriptural error upon which most all of their other doctrines are founded.

They preach a different way of salvation (a different gospel, see Galatians 1:8) than the Catholic Church has for 2,000 years and in fact they are a “word of faith ministry”, sometimes referred to as a health and wealth/prosperity gospel.

If you hunger for good Bible studies (as we all should), then I suggest you watch Father Corapi on EWTN as he teaches the Catechism and that you perhaps get a copy (if you don’t have one) and begin to use it for study, paying attention to the footnotes and scripture references at the end of each section.

If your parish does not have any Bible studies, then I suggest that you volunteer to begin one in cooperation with your parish DRE or RCIA director or your pastor.

There are quite a few EXCELLENT Catholic sources for Bible study available. The free MP3 Bible studies from John Martignoni’s Bible Christian Society are a good beginning that I can recommend since I have them all.

The Catholic Home Study Service offers free Catholic studies that would also serve you well and again I speak from experience having completed them all.

I woud also recommend that you look around this Sacred Scripture forum and notice that there are several Bible study threads underway already that are also good.

Don’t go feeding on milk from other sources when you can get meat right here among the faithful in our most holy faith.

Oh, and if you get desperate, let me point you toward my own Catholic blog where almost every article is essentially a Bible study. Apocalypsis
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[RosaryGirl_777]

Hi all,

I have a friend who is protestant. He attends Marylyn Hickey’s church here in Denver. I think they’re Pentecostals. How do you all feel about attending protestant bible studies?

There doesn’t seem to be too many for Catholics. Do you think I would be setting myself up for trouble by going to his?

I don’t know:shrug: I always felt out of place at protestant bible studies but that might be just me. The bible studies I went to were non-denominational, every one was friendly to wards me just I felt really out of place & didn’t fit in. I went with the catholic home study course instead. I’ve really enjoyed the home study courses.

 

[requiemaeturnum]

My God, for the sake of your soul, avoid this like the plague. Not only will their Protestantism poison your brain, they are most likely using a KJV which is a mockery of the Holy Bible.

 

[Robbinson]

I participate in a monthly evangelical protestant bible study (many/most are messianic jews albeit with a protestant mindset). Continuing this was natural for me as I was (until I finish RCIA this Easter, still am) Protestant. If you are going to do this, you should make sure you are very secure in Catholic teaching regarding key doctrines of faith and interpretation of scripture. I have found the study to be a great way for me to correct common misconceptions about Catholic theology and to share the Catholic specific on many doctrines.

That being said, I agree with the earlier posts that depending upon the make up of the group, this can be a frustrating (or worse, confrontational) expierence.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[bbarrick8383]

I was a Protestant from the time I was born till I was almost 20.

I’d say it depends on how strong you are within your own faith. If you know the Bible, believe in the Church and were going for your own amusement, then have at it.

I was raised on Bible Studies like these, the only thing they know is the Bible. That is all they have in their life and their Religion to base their Faith upon.

It was one of the main reasons I could not bring myself to be a part of what they do. They have no history, most of them, beyond a couple of hundred years.

If you find Bible study is not one of your strongest points, you do not know much about Protestant religions and you have questioned yourself in the past, then by all means stay away from it.

 

[ziapueblo]

Unless you are well-read with Catholic teaching I would not do it. However, it may be a great opportunity to witness to them about the Catholic Church.

If you go make sure you take bring the Catechism of the Catholic Church along with some of the writings of the early Church Fathers if available.

Good luck and God bless,
ZP

 

[COPLAND_3]

Hi all,

I have a friend who is protestant. He attends Marylyn Hickey’s church here in Denver. I think they’re Pentecostals. How do you all feel about attending protestant bible studies?

There doesn’t seem to be too many for Catholics. Do you think I would be setting myself up for trouble by going to his?

I would recommend not attending that study.

 

[Ruthie]

William, the Denver Archdiocese has many studies available for us.

There are courses available through the St. John Vianney Seminary, yes, for laymen. I’ve attended courses for the Catechetical School, and the first two years of the Biblical School. There are also various one-day workshops. Depending on my health and finances, you might see me at one. I’ll be the obese lady with the long gray hair in a braid.

Also, search the Archdiocese website for bible study.

God bless you,

Ruthie

 

[Xenos8]

They preach a different way of salvation (a different gospel, see Galatians 1:8) than the Catholic Church has for 2,000 years and in fact they are a “word of faith ministry”, sometimes referred to as a health and wealth/prosperity gospel.

What is this?

1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.51 “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature52 by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.

There’s more Roman sacraments than there are in the bible and it says they’re necessary for salvation. Who preaches a “different gospel”? Here’s what Paul preached. 1Cor 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
If someone just read the bible they’d have to stretch to get the catechism, et al.