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

  • Thread starter Thread starter cascherman
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Namesake said:
So we are not brothers in Christ, right? We are separated brothers in Christ, right? Do you see a difference Manny?😉
Click to expand...
We are separated brothers and sister. For one, we are both Christians since we are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and Of the Holy Spirit. If you read the LG 15, which I posted, you would see.

We are separated because Protestants are not fully united with us since they are not in full communion with the Pope. The union between Protestants and Catholics are imperfect; but they can rightly be called as our brothers in Christ.
 
Even if we are “estranged” we are still related, because we are all part of Christ’s Body. (I wonder how long it will take for someone to argue that…)

I consider Catholics siblings in Christ. Regardless of differences, we still have Christ’s death and resurrection in common. That is what matters most.
 
Namesake said:
Well, that’s what I believe. Does the “Church”?😉
Click to expand...
If you want to know what the “Church” (as you write) believes regarding this matter, or most other issues, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Church has positions that we as members believe and support. We are not free as individuals to negate these positions with our “belief”. There is no need for winking icons or suppositions…you will find the answer you want if you really are after truth.
Regarding my brothers and sisters in Christ…yes they are but there is a gap that constitutes a lack of fullness in protestants that varies between big and not so big that varies depending on the denomination. I think G-d in His wisdom will work out whether the gap is a problem for Him. My job is to love them and try to do what I’m told.
 
We are brothers and sisters in Christ, but protestants have cut themselves off from all the sacraments (minus baptism and marriage) and so are much more likely to go to hell than Catholics/Orthodox.
Case in point confession: Catholics can be sure that when they go to confession that thier sins are forgiven, Protestants when they confess their sins in prayer have no such garuntee. to try and get around this they “invented” Calvanism and Arminism.
 
Why not go to an ecumenical service and decide for yourself?

In my old parish, we used to have a Good Friday Service among 2 Catholic, 2 Methodist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Lutheran and 1 Presbyterian congregations. All clergy read scripture and all prayed.

We have a lot more in common than most folks think.
 
cascherman said:
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?
Click to expand...
Your poll is too cut 'n dry. It’s not that simple to just answer “yes we are brothers” or “no we are not.”

We are only brothers and sisters in Christ if one is baptized with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And those who are baptized in that manner but not part of the Catholic Church are only our “separated” brothers & sisters.

If a protestant couple has children and those children, whether they be infants, toddlers, teenagers or even adults, are not baptized, then they are not my brothers and sisters in Christ. If the parents are validly baptized with the Trinitarian formula then they are my brother and sister in Christ but not their children.

If a person is not baptized but is living a good “christian” life and is very loving, generous & merciful, that does not make him/her my brother or sister in Christ.

The only thing that makes someone my brother or sister in Christ is water baptism. Even if that person lives in mortal sin but has already been baptized, they are still my brother in Christ and I need to pray and hope for their restoration within the body of Christ. Those people who are baptized within the Catholic Church or any Protestant church but who are living in mortal sin are considered “dead members” of the church, but they are still my brothers or sisters in Christ. We are all one body and if one member is “injured” we need to pray for their recovery within the Body of Christ.
 
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.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t matter if you think we are brothers because of how people act. Or it doesn’t matter if you think that blood family are your brothers in Christ if some of that family are not water baptized. The answer would be that if someone is not water baptized, they are not your brother or sister in Christ, no matter how “christian” you think they act, or no matter how “close” you are to them. Bottom line is, if they are not water baptized they are not your brother or sister in Christ.

We have to remember the “in Christ” part. If someone is not water baptized that means that they have not been “born again” as Jesus told Nicodemus that we are to be born again from above. If we are not water baptized then we are not children of God in the sense that God has not “adopted” us as His Children through the death & resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Yes we all belong to God because He created us. But if we are not water baptized then we are children of God through Adam and not through Jesus Christ.
 
pete_29 said:
Aren’t we all brothers in Christ.
Click to expand...
No we are not all brothers in Christ. Sorry to say that but it’s true. 😦

Do you know of anyone who is not water baptized in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit? If you do then they are not your brother or sister in Christ. And you being Catholic, if you know someone who is baptized but is not Catholic then they are only your “separated” brother in Christ. They are not in full communion with the Catholic Church making them only your “separated” brother in Christ. That’s not to say that “separated” means something bad. It is not something bad. It just means that they don’t believe everything the Catholic Church teaches and that they are not in full communion with the Catholic Church.
 
HannahLisa said:
Even if we are “estranged” we are still related, because we are all part of Christ’s Body. (I wonder how long it will take for someone to argue that…)
Click to expand...
I agree with you. 🙂 But only if the person has been water baptized. We are only part of Christ’s body if we have been water baptized.
40.png
HannahLisa:
I consider Catholics siblings in Christ. Regardless of differences, we still have Christ’s death and resurrection in common. That is what matters most.
Click to expand...
Yes we do have that in common. Have you been water baptized? If you have then you are my sister in Christ.
 
I would love to see how one of the anti-Catholic types would answer this. If they spoke their mind, it would be “MY GOD NO!” I think that the scariest concept for them is if Catholics are actually Christians!

BTW, I know that 85% of Protestants are not anti-Catholic. We are brothers in Christ
 
Thanks, Seeker12. I seem to recall that, In the parable, the pharisee’s pride sets him apart from other men. The publican’s humility reconciles him with God.

Perhaps it is the same with Churches. If our starting point is humility, there may be no need to bring the barriers down at all, assuming pride didn’t erect any in the first place. No doubt we all look very different to each other, but I daresay we all look pretty much alike to God.

That post of yours also brought to mind the occasion when Jesus was asked whether it was lawful for a man to put his wife away. His concern seemed to be that scripture and tradition were giving cover to the sort of hardness of heart that sets people at each other’s throats.
 
I’d say many Protestants are our seperated erring brothers in Christ. However others like say John Hagee, Jack Chick, Dave Hunt, and Hal Lindsey are not but are teachers of doctrines of devils
 
OK, say they are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
 
I’m Catholic and consider anyone who loves Jesus as my brother in Christ. If they love Jesus and are baptized, they are blood brothers. If they are Catholic, they are living at home. If they are Protestant, they are living in other houses in the yard. If they aren’t baptized, they are camping in the yard. If they are baptized but don’t love Jesus, they are brothers who are wandering around in the yard. Let’s all meet for BBQ and praise songs in the yard next Saturday!
 
Jews live in the old family home in the next block. Muslims live way down the street. But heck, y’all are invited to the BBQ too but you’ll probably want to leave before the singing. We’ll have BBQ chicken, potato salad, iced or hot decaffinated tea, and assorted side dishes (no pork or dairy). Paper plates and plastic forks will be used. Make that Thursday evening. We have a brand new grill…
 
Being “in Christ” has nothing to do with being either “Catholic” or “Protestant.” :tiphat:
 
I’d like to hear (name removed by moderator)ut from the people that voted No and why anyone who proclaims Christ as their Messiah and has been baptized can’t be your brother?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top