Protestant churches sending missionaries to Catholic areas..

[SaintPatrick333]

What do you think of this?

…I personally find it a little insulting…but I guess I’m sensitive maybe…I dunno.

The other day I was in the store, and these guys were talking about a missionary in Rome…one of them even said “Yeah no question if they’re Catholic over there.” and how Catholicism isn’t Christian at all if you really just look at at.

It’s a wasted effort. You can’t take people who are wrapped up in Truth and offer them the tiniest iota of truth surrounded by immense falsehood. Besides look at John Henry Newman (pretty sure that was his name). Set out to destroy Catholicism and got converted. When you face the Truth there are only two options. Accept it or reject it.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

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

Yes, many Protestants see this as worship. It’s because they are either uninformed or bigoted and wouldn’t care to be informed.

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

Therein, I think, lies the confusion. I thought you said the ex-Catholic said Catholics don’t worship saints.

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.

Again they’re misinformed about many aspects of the Catholic Faith.

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

I don’t see that personally. I see less statues of saints in churches and less people praying to them. Praying to saints is not worship if it’s done properly. If someone knelt in front of a statue of a saint and heaped loads of praise on the saint and said how wonderful the saint was that’s getting close to idolatry and it’s wrong! We pray to the saints asking them to intercede for us to God.

 

[AnastasiaRomano]

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

Agree!

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

It’s a wasted effort. You can’t take people who are wrapped up in Truth and offer them the tiniest iota of truth surrounded by immense falsehood. Besides look at John Henry Newman (pretty sure that was his name). Set out to destroy Catholicism and got converted. When you face the Truth there are only two options. Accept it or reject it.

Whether Catholicism or Protestantism is the truth, I don’t know if you can say that it’s a wasted effort. Just as there are plenty who convert to Catholicism, there are also plenty who convert from Catholicism. You take the recent Pew Forum survey (which has been referenced in several different Catholic Forum threads recently) and the numbers are right there.

Again I’m not arguing what is and what is not the truth spiritually as that’s not the point. If efforts by these groups to convert some Catholics to their various faiths work (and it would appear that they have) then their efforts are not wasted – regardless of truth.

 

[Lochias]

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.

There are plenty of Catholic mission trips out there, but I would also say that Catholics around the world do plenty to evangelize and lead others to the Church. Many, many Catholics pray often and hard, and offer their Masses for people who have left the Church, or who need to join the Church, ect. These prayers and sacrifices are potent, and have, I believe, just as much impact as shouting on a street corner or going door-to-door handing out flyers.

Not everyone is cut out to go to other countries, or even other doors, but we can evangelize just as well by how we live and pray. Just my two cents.

 

[gus]

Non Catholic religions are spending millions of dolars yearly to convevert Catholic countries. This includes Mormans and JW’s
This runs the spectrum. Please read Kris Franklins story
a former evangeical missionary
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=6124&T1=franklin

Her story was in Patrick Madrid’s Surprised by the truith II

As Catholics we have to re-evangelize ourselves.
A re-evagaglized Church will have no shortage of members

 

[Dorothy]

Non Catholic religions are spending millions of dolars yearly to convevert Catholic countries. This includes Mormans and JW’s
This runs the spectrum. Please read Kris Franklins story
a former evangeical missionary
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=6124&T1=franklin

Her story was in Patrick Madrid’s Surprised by the truith II

As Catholics we have to re-evangelize ourselves.
A re-evagaglized Church will have no shortage of members

I have that book on my shelf. I’ll re-read her story. Thanks!

 

[Adamski]

My personal expericence with 7 years in the non denominational world is its about money$

Tim tebow’s dad had made millions off of poor Catholics telling them divorce, birth control and sin is ok as long as you give him money

 

[4Squarebaby]

My personal expericence with 7 years in the non denominational world is its about money$

Tim tebow’s dad had made millions off of poor Catholics telling them divorce, birth control and sin is ok as long as you give him money

Doesn’t matter what he told Filipinos about divorce, unless they married under Sharia or a tribal law there is no divorce in the Philippines.

 

[bobbyhillisabro]

And as for missionaries - I’ve had people try to convince me of the truth of Calvinism on Facebook, so nothing would surprise me.

I never understood why calvinists try to evangilize others. according to their beliefs Grace is irresistable to those God has elected. So it doesnt matter what you say or do, if they are elected they will come. And if you are not one of God’s pre-chosen people, then no matter what any one says, you cannot be saved.

 

[scriptfan]

Honestly? It’s just as well. I can’t get my son confirmed in 2013! (I’m sure another church would have us but I’d like to hold on too my roots)
If the Catholic Church refuses to give children sacraments because they aren’t in a catholic school, where are the missionaries going to come from?

 

[joe370]

What do you think of this?

…I personally find it a little insulting…but I guess I’m sensitive maybe…I dunno.

The other day I was in the store, and these guys were talking about a missionary in Rome…one of them even said “Yeah no question if they’re Catholic over there.” and how Catholicism isn’t Christian at all if you really just look at at.

If the Catholic Church had never existed, (Pentecost to today) then there would have been no Protestant reformation i.e. no Protestant Churches today and therefore no protestant Christians saying: “Catholicism isn’t Christian at all if you really just look at at.”

All non-Catholics, with the exception of Eastern Orthodox Christians, owe a debt of gratitude to the Catholic Church for their very existence as well as their Bible, in terms of missionary work, even if they do not recognize us as Christians.

Saint Paul said: “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” Regarding the CC, Jesus founded His Catholic Church (if not the CC then please, anyone, prove me wrong) and He sent His apostles out into the world to preach, and they in turn sent their successors out to preach, and this sending via apostolic succession in the CC, has been going on since the time all of of the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, preaching and teaching to everyone…

Regarding all Protestant churches, regardless of denomination, a mere man in every situation, as opposed to Jesus (e.g. Martin Luther) founded it, and preached the word of God based on the practice of sola scriptura.

Were these men of the 16th, 18th, 20th and 21st centuries sent out (by Jesus the Christ) into the world to preach, just as the apostles were sent, by Jesus? Of course I am not talking about some man claiming to be moved by the Holy Spirit to start his own church. There is no scriptural basis for such a thing, and I am told by sola scriptura advocates: if it’s not in the bible it is not to be believed or done.

 

[Adamski]

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

It bothers me way more when Ana baptist evangelize in post communist counties like Russia since te apostolic church has been under so much persecution there

 

[Tomyris]

Let me ask you: is it better for someone to go to heaven as a Protestant or to hell as a Catholic? There are many non-practicing Catholics who reject Church teaching. You would rather they stay nominally Catholic, even if they never set foot inside any church? There is more opportunity for evangelism among them than either the Catholics or the Protestants have resources to meet.

edit: and no, I am NOT saying a Catholic cannot go to heaven.

 

[joe370]

Let me ask you: is it better for someone to go to heaven as a Protestant or to hell as a Catholic? There are many non-practicing Catholics who reject Church teaching. You would rather they stay nominally Catholic, even if they never set foot inside any church? There is more opportunity for evangelism among them than either the Catholics or the Protestants have resources to meet.

edit: and no, I am NOT saying a Catholic cannot go to heaven.

It would be better for all Christians, regardless of denomination, to go to heaven!

If a nonpracticing Christian claiming to belong to the Catholic Church, rejects catholic doctrine, even after he/she has been presented with all of the pertinent facts, no doubt he/she will remain a non-nonpracticing catholic with no intention of going to Mass. I would rather they stay catholic but would hope that they follow their heart, and if that leads them to another church, so be it.

Perhaps it is because I am tired; could you rephrase the following:

There is more opportunity for evangelism among them than either the Catholics or the Protestants have resources to meet.

 

[Tomyris]

Perhaps it is because I am tired; could you rephrase the following:

There is more opportunity for evangelism among them than either the Catholics or the Protestants have resources to meet.

The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send more laborers into the harvest.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

I blame the Catholic Church in these countries almost as much as the Protestant missionaries. If they were evangelizing their own people (as we’re all called to "continuing conversion) instead of resting on their laurels there’d be no one for the missionaries to evangelize. When they showed up and tried, the people would turn around and evangelize them!

In Christ,
Ellen

 

[joe370]

The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send more laborers into the harvest.

I suppose if one feels more comfortable laboring, in terms of salvation for souls, outside the catholic church, then there is nothing wrong with that. Hypothetical: what if the CC is right about the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass, and the associating graces stemming from the source of the Mass, namely, Jesus the Christ i.e. if one is on the outside denying and diminishing the divine value of the Mass e.g. my sister, then does he/she labor in a less-than desirable way?

My point, and question as a former non-Catholic: should doctrinal truth play a primary role for those laboring for the salvation of souls?

 

[J_the_Centrist]

Protestants have been doing this for decades. There are millions of Evangelicals in Latin America now because of their efforts. Yes, it is somewhat strange that they would do this, but I wouldn’t smear all Protestants because of this. This is a small minority of ignorant people who actually believe Catholics are not Christian. If they knew a little about basic early modern history they would know that everyone of their churches sprang from ours. I am not saying this to be mean and I hope our Protestant siblings in Christ will not take it that way. In any case it’s quite comical that they are in Italy now, I wonder if they will try to convert our next Pontiff, whoever he may be.

 

[ufamtobie]

Catholics and Protestants have been trying to convert each other for centuries. I personally am not impressed with their activity, but then I am not impressed with the brands of Protestantism that find the Catholic Church particularly objectionable.

The Protestants who do this sometimes do not consider Catholics to even be Christians.

There is really a difference, Protestants want to convert Catholics, but Catholic just want protestants to come Home.

Ufam Tobie