Protestant churches sending missionaries to Catholic areas..

[benjohnson]

I would love to see Catholics so well informed in their faith that any sheep-stealing missionary project to prosthelytize Catholics could potentially result in the missionaries becoming Catholic.

I know Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses usually come away from my doorstep happy and cheerful, but with a better understanding of Lutheran Christianity that they would normally like to admit.

 

[Wiseowl]

My mother was Lutheran and converted to Catholicism upon being married to my dear old Dad.

Her number one issue w/ Catholicism was the lack of emphasis with the bible as compared to being a Lutheran., But then if you read the bible than you are accused of being Protestant. So its kinda the chicken and the egg type debate

 

[ConstantineTG]

that has been going on for years. This also includes areas with Orthodox populations such as Russia and Greece.

Yup. There was a Protestant lady who visited our church thinking we were Russians (great way to insult Ukrainians ). She wanted to learn a bit about Russian as well (our priest speaks Russian, well, he grew up in the Soviet Union). Anyway, I got her to chat with me a bit and one of the things that came out from her is that she wanted to go to Russia to study, and also do mission work. There is still this perception that Russia is a land full of atheists. Nevermind that there is a rebirth of Churches in the former Soviet Union after its dismantling. But that hasn’t stopped anyone. JWs I heard are very active in Ukraine.

 

[ConstantineTG]

My mother was Lutheran and converted to Catholicism upon being married to my dear old Dad.

Her number one issue w/ Catholicism was the lack of emphasis with the bible as compared to being a Lutheran., But then if you read the bible than you are accused of being Protestant. So its kinda the chicken and the egg type debate

This is what I decry about Catholicism today. When the Protestants pick up something, we seem to distance ourselves from it because “it is Protestant.” Nevermind if it is a valid and good thing, if it is Protestant we distance ourselves from it. Similar to what the Orthodox did after the Great Schism, they distanced themselves to anything remotely pointing to the Papacy. Some even embraced the idea that Peter never had any leadership role at all with the Apostles. Because to say as such is too “Roman Catholic”. But they are slowly coming to their senses about the matter, and we should too.

 

[MSSheBear]

Good! That’s correct. It isn’t okay to worship saints. We only worship God.

Yes, I know. We venerate saints. But the Protestants I run into refer to it as worshipping saints.

 

[revert_jen]

But then if you read the bible than you are accused of being Protestant. So its kinda the chicken and the egg type debate

I have to be honest–I have heard this other times in this thread, but I have never experienced it in my own life. My father (who was not a young man when I was born, and spent much of his life in the pre-Vatican II Church), has read the Bible through many times. He has always been very Catholic. I have had Protestants accuse Catholics of not ever reading the Bible, but I have never heard Catholics saying anything bad about reading the Bible. OK, for sure, they may not do it themselves, but I’ve never personally heard Catholics say anything bad about doing so.

I mean, some Protestants may say it’s Protestant to read the Bible, but some Protestants say Catholics worship Mary. Sayin’ it don’t make it so.

What I have heard, and sometimes agree with, is that Catholics shouldn’t attend (or use) Protestant Bible studies. These can be a tool for encouraging people to leave the Church. I attended some myself before I left the Church, and the theology of Protestantism is taken so much for granted in them that if you are not well grounded in your faith, it is easy to fall away.

I don’t know, maybe it is a geographic thing or something, but like I said, I have never heard a Catholic say anything bad to or about another Catholic for reading the Bible.

–Jen

 

[revert_jen]

This is certainly true but Dubay’s comment was somewhat different. His comment that, “Plenty of Catholics no little or nothing about the bible”, is rather different than your statement above.

My point is that there are NO regular-Mass-attending Catholics who know nothing about the Bible. If Dubay was talking about Catholics that have never been regular Mass attenders, well quite possibly he is right. But Protestants who never go to Church frequently know nothing about the Bible either. People who never go to church don’t know much about church things. Big surprise.

I can attest that for most of my life - as a child ant then asa non-practicing adult -I was not aware that so much of the mass was lifted, more or less verbatim, from Scripture. Of course I know that the Epistle and the Gospel were but beyond that I did not give it much thought.

Well even that isn’t saying that you knew nothing about the Bible so much as saying you didn’t know you knew anything about the Bible. It does make a difference–when you do finally read the Bible for yourself it is like meeting an old friend rather than meeting a stranger.

–Jen

 

[JRKH]

My point is that there are NO regular-Mass-attending Catholics who know nothing about the Bible. If Dubay was talking about Catholics that have never been regular Mass attenders, well quite possibly he is right. But Protestants who never go to Church frequently know nothing about the Bible either. People who never go to church don’t know much about church things. Big surprise.

Very good point…I don’t know what the church attendance levels are in some of the countries generally considered as “Catholic”… This could factor into the matter.

Well even that isn’t saying that you knew nothing about the Bible so much as saying you didn’t know you knew anything about the Bible. It does make a difference–when you do finally read the Bible for yourself it is like meeting an old friend rather than meeting a stranger.

Point taken…I like your last comment. Very true indeed.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

I would love to see Catholics so well informed in their faith that any sheep-stealing missionary project to prosthelytize Catholics could potentially result in the missionaries becoming Catholic.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful…

quote]I know Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses usually come away from my doorstep happy and cheerful, but with a better understanding of Lutheran Christianity that they would normally like to admit.


Peace
James

 

[nickybr38]

If you are Catholic, you know Scripture. There’s no way you can grow up attending Mass and NOT know Scripture.

The first time I sat down at Mass I was shocked at how much Scripture was being quoted here and there.

The thing is, a lot of Catholics attend Mass but don’t KNOW they’re being submerged in Scripture. So they think they don’t know anything but really they know the basic essentials.

The Lord’s Prayer.
Act of Contrition.
“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…”

Many, many hymns have lines taken straight from Scripture. Word for word.

You cannot attend Mass and not know Scripture. Not unless you’re asleep from start to finish.

HOWEVER.

That doesn’t mean attending Mass will turn you into an excellent apologist or theologian. Simply knowing Scripture and being able to parrot it means nothing. Truly KNOWING Scripture is getting to the heart of what we’re being told in the passages. And that’s a bit more difficult to decipher.

Recently I came to the realization that Scripture without Tradition is empty and Tradition with Scripture is equally empty. But even if you have Scripture and Tradition but you don’t have Grace, you have nothing. Just like the Trinity all three must be together for a Christian to truly grow - Scripture + Tradition + Grace = Holiness.

 

[Kristin234]

I have a great friend who is a Protestant Missionary. He considers Catholics “Christians” and would never try to spread the Gospel to Catholics.

But in talking with him it’s clear Protestants see that even though a country is majority Christian, it isn’t ALL Christian so they believe there’s a mission there.

Exactly. I see Catholics as being Christian. My fiance’s entire family is Catholic. Although a country is Catholic does not mean that all the people living there are. I know a few people that are a part of a missionary group that is planning on going to the Philippines. My future in laws (Catholic) were upset about this because they couldn’t believe non Catholic Christians were trying to convert their people until they found out that these missionaries actually want to try to get to the area where the majority is Muslim.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Yes, I know.

Well, then, you have confused me. If you know we don’t worship saints I can’t understand why you’d find issue with someone who said we shouldn’t worship saints.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, there are Protestants who evangelize Catholic communities. Yes, there are Catholics that evangelize Protestants. This is not new. What is perhaps is the mutual respect that has been increasing lately after the changes in attitude of Billy Graham, Chuck Colsen and other others.

What we all need to do is to be witnesses to non-Christians and lapsed Christians (those who do not attend Church more than a couple of times a year). Europe and Canada are fertile missionary fields. In the US, the 2nd largest religious group in the country is lapsed Catholics. Many Protestants thinks that these folks should be evangelized. Those in the Catholic Church think that these folks should be evangelized as part of the New Evangelization.

 

[rfournier103]

Don’t have time to find all the links now but you can google this…

bob Tebow’s mission is to evangelize the Phillipines. This country is +/- 80% Catholic yet he says that something like 65% have “never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Grrrrrr

Check out his website then check out Phillipines stats.

Sorry can’t provide now, but wanted to mention it.

And his son seems so likable, too. I am so glad I know what Bobby is all about. Thanks for the head’s-up.

 

[Eilrahc]

Yup. There was a Protestant lady who visited our church thinking we were Russians (great way to insult Ukrainians ). She wanted to learn a bit about Russian as well (our priest speaks Russian, well, he grew up in the Soviet Union). Anyway, I got her to chat with me a bit and one of the things that came out from her is that she wanted to go to Russia to study, and also do mission work. There is still this perception that Russia is a land full of atheists. Nevermind that there is a rebirth of Churches in the former Soviet Union after its dismantling. But that hasn’t stopped anyone. JWs I heard are very active in Ukraine.

In Soviet Russia, you visit Jehovah’s Witness.

 

[JRKH]

If you are Catholic, you know Scripture. There’s no way you can grow up attending Mass and NOT know Scripture.

The first time I sat down at Mass I was shocked at how much Scripture was being quoted here and there.

The thing is, a lot of Catholics attend Mass but don’t KNOW they’re being submerged in Scripture. So they think they don’t know anything but really they know the basic essentials.

The Lord’s Prayer.
Act of Contrition.
“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…”

Many, many hymns have lines taken straight from Scripture. Word for word.

You cannot attend Mass and not know Scripture. Not unless you’re asleep from start to finish.

HOWEVER.

That doesn’t mean attending Mass will turn you into an excellent apologist or theologian. Simply knowing Scripture and being able to parrot it means nothing. Truly KNOWING Scripture is getting to the heart of what we’re being told in the passages. And that’s a bit more difficult to decipher.

Amen…

Recently I came to the realization that Scripture without Tradition is empty and Tradition with Scripture is equally empty.

I assume you mean Tradition withOUT Scripture is equally empty…

But even if you have Scripture and Tradition but you don’t have Grace, you have nothing. Just like the Trinity all three must be together for a Christian to truly grow - Scripture + Tradition + Grace = Holiness.

And don’t forget Love…As Paul says - the Greatest is Love and without Love we are nothing.

Peace
James

 

[MSSheBear]

Well, then, you have confused me. If you know we don’t worship saints I can’t understand why you’d find issue with someone who said we shouldn’t worship saints.

To a Protestant, praying to a saint and having statues of saint is worship. The Ex-Catholic said we (the Protestants) don’t pray to saints and explained why. (This is second-hand information.) I have been informed saying the Rosary is a form of idolatry. I’ve heard from some Filipino Baptists that Catholics consider the Virgin Mary a goddess.

I know Catholics go overboard on saint veneration but is praying to the saints really worship? I guess I needed to clearer on who said what about what.

 

[JRKH]

To a Protestant, praying to a saint and having statues of saint is worship.

Yes - this comes from a misunderstanding of what is actually going on as opposed to what it “looks like”.

The Ex-Catholic said we (the Protestants) don’t pray to saints and explained why. (This is second-hand information.)

And did you know that as Catholics there is nothing that says we must pray to saints? It is acceptable, but nor required.

I have been informed saying the Rosary is a form of idolatry.

This must have come from someone who has never prayed a rosary.

I’ve heard from some Filipino Baptists that Catholics consider the Virgin Mary a goddess.

This is the kind of thing that really bugs me…Catholics don’t consider Mary a goddess…some protestants THINK that Catholics consider Mary a goddess.

I know Catholics go overboard on saint veneration but is praying to the saints really worship?

Proper prayer to saints equates to speaking with a friend. It is not worship. If you are asking for a favor from a saint, it is with the understanding that the granted favor comes from God…not from the saint.
Saints are also seen as people of great and holy lives and worthy of emulation.

I guess I needed to clearer on who said what about what.

Yes it can get confusing…
One thing that is necessary many conversations is to separate actual teaching from anecdotes. People will say “Catholics believe this” or “Catholics do that”, based on what their cousin Louie said. that is a far cry from saying that Catholics believe this or do that based on what the Catechism says.

In addressing Catholic belief always stand on what is documented.

Peace
James

 

[nickybr38]

Amen…

I assume you mean Tradition withOUT Scripture is equally empty…

And don’t forget Love…As Paul says - the Greatest is Love and without Love we are nothing.

Peace
James

Oh yes. Thank you for the correction!

 

[TrueLight]

The sad part is not so much that they send the missionaries. After all they have missionaries on street corners right here in the U.S. Here we call them “Street Evangelists”.
The sad part is that they find so many converts in “Catholic” countries.

Peace
James

True. I don’t fault them for sending missionaries. They believe that Catholics are not “saved” and are sacrificing their time and comfort to evangelize them so that they don’t go to hell (according to their beliefs).

I wish Catholics were this zealous when it comes to evangelizing.