T
tweetymom
Guest
I think that, very often, people, Protestants and Catholics, forget that if you intend to evangelize the first thing you should do is tell someone what they have right. Then, and only then, is it appropriate to move on and correct the errors.
For example, before a Catholic launches into a discussion about Mary with a Protestant it would serve both people well to understand what they agree on. Jesus was born of a virgin. Mary was chosen by God to be the earthly mother of His Son. etc. Once these commonalities are understood, we can move to discussing the differences.
I think this is what the Catholic Church has done with the language they use in referring to Protestants. The Catholic Church still teaches that the Protestants are wrong. However, the Catholic Church now affirms that one should know exactly why and where the Protestant is wrong, affirm where they are correct, and then begin correcting where they are wrong.
This doesn’t water down the teachings to make them more palatable. (For crying out loud you still incur latae sententiae excommunication for reading anything the reformers wrote.) It makes the teachings more palatable by affirming where the other person is correct, by showing the other person respect and dignity through taking the time to understand them and their beliefs.
Okay, let the beatings begin/QUOTE
You will never get a beating from me, cause I 100% agree with you. Maybe if we all tried a little harder to get along and try to understand where we are coming from it would be more God like and pleasing to Him. respect tells the whole story:thumbsup: