Protestants and Catholics: In your opinion are we Brothers in Christ?

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cascherman

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This is an off-shoot from the thread - What I love about Protestants/Catholics

This post…
water said:
what I love about them?
  • We argue/debate but then majority still see each other as “Brothers in Christ”.
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inspired me to make a thread asking this question:

Do you when it comes down to the YES or NO, consider our 500-year-long separated brethren truly to be your brothers (and sisters) in Christ? Or do our differences prevent you from seeing us as brothers in Christ?

What comes to mind is a debate with Matt Slick and Mark Bonocore, where as a preface to the debate Matt Slick tells Mark that he just wanted him to know he believes he (Mark) is on his way to hell. Obviously not every Protestant thinks that about Catholics and vise-versa but it is obvious Matt Slick does not consider Catholics his ‘brothers’.

My answer is heck yes, Protestants are no question our brothers and sisters in Christ. To ignore what God has done through some Protestants would be like ignoring God. We debate and argue but when it comes down to it, we are still brothers. I argue with my family all the time but they are still my family.

So let it be known for me.
 
I absolutely feel that YES we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. It would take a lot to convince me otherwise. So I will follow this thread closely.
 
cascherman said:
My answer is heck yes, Protestants are no question our brothers and sisters in Christ. To ignore what God has done through some Protestants would be like ignoring God. We debate and argue but when it comes down to it, we are still brothers. I argue with my family all the time but they are still my family.
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👍 I agree with you. Your words express my belief regarding Protestants.
 
I was glad to see some positive responses to this question. Apart from official views on the subject, one’s opinion says volumes about one’s degree of spiritual maturity.
As far as the Gospel is concerned, there is every reason to believe that one must love even one’s enemies, pass judgement on no-one, and treat all as having that spark of life the book of John refers to as coming from Christ.
If that be true, then we have many more brothers and sisters than Protestants. Where the circle ends, I leave to God. Martin Luther King day is a national holiday, for good reason.
The mystical Christ may come in a disguise you do not recognize, which will be revealed at the Last Judgement.
Christianity in action is love in action.
My being Catholic is an accident of grace. I would prefer not to use it as an occasion to feel superior (smug, a term Flannery O’Connor used for a form of spiritual sin).
Actually, having such as she and other writers (Merton) (Dorothy Day) and others is a grace the church needs to curb her pride. I thank God not all is about Papal pronouncements and infallible propositions. I have long felt that these are a substitute for a living faith. Ask any Saint what moved them to love and serve the Lord, and you will find that it was something more vital than a theological proposition, however closely it may approximate the truth.
 
Namesake said:
This isn’t hard. Just ask a priest. Priests are authorities, no? So ask an authority already!🙂
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The Magisterium of the Church refers to those Christians not in communion with the Pope as “separated brothers and sisters of Christ.”

LUMEN GENTIUM, one of the Sixteen Documents of the Second Vatican Council states the following:
  1. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.(16*) They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.
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This is the highest authority concerning Protestants not in common with Rome and other Christians.
 
Mannyfit75 said:
The Magisterium of the Church refers to those Christians not in communion with the Pope as “separated brothers and sisters of Christ.”
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So we are not brothers in Christ, right? We are separated brothers in Christ, right? Do you see a difference Manny?😉
 
Namesake said:
So we are not brothers in Christ, right? We are separated brothers in Christ, right? Do you see a difference Manny?😉
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No more of a difference than what I described in the original post.
Do you when it comes down to the YES or NO, consider our 500-year-long separated brethren truly to be your brothers (and sisters) in Christ?
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lol, try not to take every opportunity to goad us.
 
Well let’s see. If you have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, you are Christian. And with that if you are trying to the best of your abilities, knowledge, and with all your heart following Jesus…Then you are a brother or sister in Christ to me. 👍 👋
 
Stephen_C said:
Well let’s see. If you have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, you are Christian. And with that if you are trying to the best of your abilities, knowledge, and with all your heart following Jesus…Then you are a brother or sister in Christ to me. 👍 👋
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Well, that’s what I believe. Does the “Church”?😉
 
Namesake said:
Well, that’s what I believe. Does the “Church”?😉
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…

Does a winking face at the end of every sentence give you the idea that any sarcastic comment you say won’t be regarded that way?

Come on man, let’s not take any opportunity to jab us Catholics.
 
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