Protestants: Tackle This

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What does this have to with do living in NC,This guy is in Illinois and he is a luthern preacher,do not understand very confused
Jean_1958 said she never met a protestant who believed differently than the beliefs set forth in her opening post. I am familiar with Pastor Senn’s theology, so I offered him as an example of a kind of Protestant that Jean_1958 has apparently never encountered before, and since North Chicago, Illinois, is right up the road from Evanston, Illinois, I suggested a visit.
 
Well the only Catholic I know, Knocked up my daughter out of wedlock, never attends mass, drinks , smokes, and curses (though usualy the curse word is half muted, so you know what he said, but he didnt really say it;) ) I have never seen him touch a Bible in the year and a half Hes lived in our home and he has not been able to hold a job for more than a few months that isnt part time for $10 per hour(hes had 5 in the time hes lived here). It was because of Him that I joined this forum He fercely defends the RCC as THE church and gets defensive about RCC dogma yet can do little to deffend his beliefs with scripture. So can you imagine what I think of Catholics??? Like protestants Catholics go from one extreme to the other some are like my son inlaw and some are devoted God loving Bible believing Christians. I knew that was true before joining this forum but it has been reinforced here. you have posted here longer than I have, If you havent seen protestants who revere Gods word you havent been looking. Take off your they must all be idiots glasses. Protestants put much less emphisis on tradition so we do try and support our doctrines on Gods word. you can not read Gods word without coming across scriptures that seem to contradict each other and one must take one verse literally and the other in some other way or “interpretation”. Naturally we come to differing conclusions thinking the other is wrong. this does not mean that we dismiss some scripture and say they dont matter. The scripture that you reference is VERY important, If it is by grace through faith that we are saved(and it is) then how important is it that we have a true and living faith? one sign we are given in this verse is that if our faith does not produce works ,it is a dead faith.
Unfortunately, your son-in-law is a cultural Catholic, not a practicing one, and not one to judge Catholicism by. I am assuming that your daughter is unchurched as well…
 
Okay Protestants, here’s something for you to tackle:

Several years ago I showed a Baptist co-worker of mine James 2:20 (“faith without works is dead”) and Revelation 20:12 (“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds”). She looked at me and said, “You’re right Jean. They DO say that!” She was so disturbed by the Bible verses and that she wasn’t doing any good deeds/works that she just had to go to her Pastor about it. And she did.

In fact, she came back to work that Monday and told me that after she showed her Pastor those 2 verses, he looked directly at her and told her, “Yeah, they’re there, but they don’t mean anything.” He also added not to worry about them so she didn’t. She was actually quite relieved to know those Biblical verses did not mean anything.

As a Catholic and like most, if not all, I take the whole Bible into consideration.

It seems that if something in the Bible does not jive with Protestant beliefs it is either there and does not mean anything OR it is there and we Catholics just are not interpreting it right.

As a Catholic, it bothers me and offends me even that it always comes down to is either there and does not mean anything OR it is there and we Catholics just are not interpreting it right. In some ways, it is even insulting to me.

Why is it Catholics are always wrong and Protestants are always right? Why can’t Catholics ever be right? Or, would that be too threatening to most Protestants? I mean… if Catholics are right it somehow shatters all of what they believe in, righht?

I am sorry, but either the entire Bible means something or it means nothing. You cannot say 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 means something and is important YET disregard James 2:20 or Revelation 20:12 like it does not exist.
LOL!! Hey you guys are correct alot of the time!! Seriously **we all need to read **

Romans 14
biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2014&version=NIV

From this non-catholic Christian’s prespective-no matter how many deeds I have done I will never have done enough to pay the debts of my sins.

Only through Jesus am I saved.

BUT all this does not mean that I should rest on that knowledge of salvation. My faith is dead if we don’t do good deeds.

I crave to do good deeds but not because of me but because of who Jesus is.
 
See, many Protestants that I meet give me that same Bible verse you just gave me, Romans 6:23. But James 2:20 makes it QUITE CLEAR that faith WITHOUT works is dead.

Look at it like this:

Faith — Works (Deeds) = Dead Faith

It dos not get anymore clearer than that.

I do not buy the argument that if you have faith and NO works God will somehow overlook your lack of works.

It is one thing to say you are a Christian and another to actually live it.
Protestant
Faith = Salvation + Works

Catholic
Faith + Works = Salvation

The difference is “works” are not necessary to achieve salvation, but are the result of your salvation. That’s why we are born unto good works when we are born again in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: * 9** Not of works**, lest any man should boast. * 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If works are a part of salvation, how do you know you’ve ever achieved salvation? You wouldn’t. You would not know until the judgement when your works are tested by fire.

Do I believe works are important and necessary? Absolutely! And I’m sure every other Protestant does too.
 
Protestant
Faith = Salvation + Works

Catholic
Faith + Works = Salvation

The difference is “works” are not necessary to achieve salvation, but are the result of your salvation. That’s why we are born unto good works when we are born again in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: * 9** Not of works**, lest any man should boast. * 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If works are a part of salvation, how do you know you’ve ever achieved salvation? You wouldn’t. You would not know until the judgement when your works are tested by fire.

Do I believe works are important and necessary? Absolutely! And I’m sure every other Protestant does too.
Semantics! Plain and simple. No matter how you present the equation, it’s the same.

We have the gift of faith and works is our response to God’s love. With faith we have salvation, but faith without works is dead. Works is reading scriptures, prayer, worship, loving God, loving our fellow man, keeping God’s commandments…

**Act 9:36 And in Joppe there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Jas 2:24 Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?

Jas 2:26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by Charity.

1Co 13:2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Joh 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

Mat 19:16 And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?
Mat 19:17 Who said to him: Why askest thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.**
 
I heard what I thought was a very good explanation from the Scriptures about faith, grace, and works. It went something like this:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NAB online) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;it is not from works, so no one may boast.

So, salvation is by grace. But, that grace does more than just save us:

Titus 2:11-13 (NAB online) For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance 3 of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ,…

So, the grace of God saves us, and it also trains us that we should live in a godly way. If what we think of us grace does not teach us that, it is not the grace of God that saves us.

It is in that sense that faith without works is dead. It would not be real faith, and it would not be bringing us grace.

Has anyone else ever heard it explained like this?
YUP!👍
 
Okay Protestants, here’s something for you to tackle:

Several years ago I showed a Baptist co-worker of mine James 2:20 (“faith without works is dead”) and Revelation 20:12 (“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds”). She looked at me and said, “You’re right Jean. They DO say that!” She was so disturbed by the Bible verses and that she wasn’t doing any good deeds/works that she just had to go to her Pastor about it. And she did.

In fact, she came back to work that Monday and told me that after she showed her Pastor those 2 verses, he looked directly at her and told her, “Yeah, they’re there, but they don’t mean anything.” He also added not to worry about them so she didn’t. She was actually quite relieved to know those Biblical verses did not mean anything.

As a Catholic and like most, if not all, I take the whole Bible into consideration.

It seems that if something in the Bible does not jive with Protestant beliefs it is either there and does not mean anything OR it is there and we Catholics just are not interpreting it right.

As a Catholic, it bothers me and offends me even that it always comes down to is either there and does not mean anything OR it is there and we Catholics just are not interpreting it right. In some ways, it is even insulting to me.

Why is it Catholics are always wrong and Protestants are always right? Why can’t Catholics ever be right? Or, would that be too threatening to most Protestants? I mean… if Catholics are right it somehow shatters all of what they believe in, righht?

I am sorry, but either the entire Bible means something or it means nothing. You cannot say 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 means something and is important YET disregard James 2:20 or Revelation 20:12 like it does not exist.
Catholics and Protestants will never agree on many things. It’s what makes you follow your Catholic ways and me follow Protestant ways. I used to be Catholic, but I saw too much similarities to pagan worship and decided I wouldn’t go to ANY church. A friend at work told me about her church and what I saw done there made sense to me. I decided to follow the Protestant way. Do I think Catholic’s are bad people? No. Do I disagree with some of the things I see Catholics do - yes. Do I agree with some of the things I see Catholics do? Yes. Does God love me more than you? No, thankfully, or we’d all be sunk.

I went to a Catholic College and sat in a class called Christian Spirituality taught by a Catholic Priest. This priest held up the bible and to a class full of mixed religion students said the Bible was a fairy tale. All the stories were made up. He got mad one day and told us to ask him any question we ever wanted to ask a priest…and he answered ALL of them. Including the reason why he became a priest…he said “I’m no dummy, I take no vow of poverty, I get a great salary, three meals, and all the free stuff I ever want.” Folks - this was a Catholic Priest in a Catholic College. Do I think this guy is representative of all Catholic Priests - absolutely not.

Do I think the Pastor as described in your question above is representative of all Pastors. Absolutely not and I hope you don’t think he’s representative of all Pastors. None of the Pastors I know would agree with him.

For three years I worked for a Pastor who treated me like garbage - you’d be appalled if I ever told you what he did! I left that church and attend another church now in the same denomination and this Pastor is just wonderful.

Are Catholics always right - absolutely not.
Are Protestants always right - absolutely not.

The only person who has it right is God.
 
Catholics and Protestants will never agree on many things. It’s what makes you follow your Catholic ways and me follow Protestant ways. I used to be Catholic, but I saw too much similarities to pagan worship and decided I wouldn’t go to ANY church.

You really need to read the book *The Crucified Rabbi *by Taylor Marshall. You are WAY OFF BASE with this comment.

A friend at work told me about her church and what I saw done there made sense to me. I decided to follow the Protestant way.

Why would you reject the Eucharist, Who is the true Life of the Church?

I went to a Catholic College and sat in a class called Christian Spirituality taught by a Catholic Priest. This priest held up the bible and to a class full of mixed religion students said the Bible was a fairy tale. All the stories were made up. He got mad one day and told us to ask him any question we ever wanted to ask a priest…and he answered ALL of them. Including the reason why he became a priest…he said “I’m no dummy, I take no vow of poverty, I get a great salary, three meals, and all the free stuff I ever want.” Folks - this was a Catholic Priest in a Catholic College. Do I think this guy is representative of all Catholic Priests - absolutely not.

**What a pompous *. I am surprised he is still a priest. But, for him, it’s an easy life - all he has to do is pervert the minds of his students…and get paid for it. But how much affect did he have on YOU?

For three years I worked for a Pastor who treated me like garbage - you’d be appalled if I ever told you what he did! I left that church and attend another church now in the same denomination and this Pastor is just wonderful.

Are Catholics always right - absolutely not.
Are Protestants always right - absolutely not.

You ask the wrong questions. Is the Catholic Church always right in matters of Faith and morals? ABSOLUTELY.
Are Protestant churches always right in matters of Faith and morals? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
 
Semantics! Plain and simple. No matter how you present the equation, it’s the same.
It’s not a matter of semantics, but motives. If works, other than belief itself, are an obligation to achieve salvation, you’re placing a yoke upon yourself just as the Jews had under the law.

Gal 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature a; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We’re called to be free, not in servitude.

Phil 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
 
It’s not a matter of semantics, but motives. If works, other than belief itself, are an obligation to achieve salvation, you’re placing a yoke upon yourself just as the Jews had under the law.

Gal 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature a; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We’re called to be free, not in servitude.

Phil 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Works, beliefs and salvation go together. It’s still semantics in my opinion.

Isn’t loving your neighbor as yourself a work?

Isn’t working out your salvation with fear and trembling a work?

Why does the inspired word of God tell us, faith without works is dead?

Why does the inspired word of God tell us, works by man is justified, and not by faith only?
 
ou ask the wrong questions. Is the Catholic Church always right in matters of Faith and morals? ABSOLUTELY.

Are Protestant churches always right in matters of Faith and morals? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I’ll certainly grant you the latter.

But the former? Ha. No. Not even on a Catholic forum. I don’t really want to discuss the Church’s handling of the sexual abuse charges over the years, but we could–if you don’t qualify this claim.
 
I’ll certainly grant you the latter.

But the former? Ha. No. Not even on a Catholic forum. I don’t really want to discuss the Church’s handling of the sexual abuse charges over the years, but we could–if you don’t qualify this claim.
If you are going to talk about the sexual abuse of Priest,PLEASE talk about the sexual abuse of Protestants as well, you van start with Jimmy Bakker Jimmy Swagger
 
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peary1:
Hey Peary1 - My answer addresses the original question posted here. I’ve learned not to get into bickering matches with folks on this forum - a waste of time!

I agree that priest was a pompous a**. But your question about the eucharist and Catholics being right all the time…really…I’m not taking the bait.

What I then find amusing is the taunts that follow a response like mine -OH YEAH - when then you must be admitting YOUR WRONG. Like I said - not taking the bait. I’m quite comfortable with the beliefs of my faith and have nothing to prove here.

As for your question to me about how that priest’s response affected me - I left the Catholic church and didn’t go anywhere for a long time. I certainly wasn’t going to follow a religion that viewed the bible as a fairy tale. I saw and heard enough to last a lifetime. Would you like me to go into my childhood in the Catholic church or would you like to fill in the blanks yourself? Yeah, I think not too.

All the best to you all. Enjoy your conversation. To the original poster - thanks for taking the time to read my origianl post.
 
Works, beliefs and salvation go together. It’s still semantics in my opinion.

Why does the inspired word of God tell us, works by man is justified, and not by faith only?
Romans 4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 6:23 …but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If works were a condition for salvation it would not be a gift, but a debt owed to us by God, If works were a condition for salvation it would not be free, but for services rendered.

Our works, or fruit, should be out of love, not obligation.

2 Cor 9:7 …or God loves a cheerful giver.
 
If you are going to talk about the sexual abuse of Priest,PLEASE talk about the sexual abuse of Protestants as well, you van start with Jimmy Bakker Jimmy Swagger
Sexual abuse may not be prevalent, but Protestant churches are not immune either.

And we should leave it at that or start a new thread.
 
See, you misunderstand the Catholic view. It’s not one person’s interpretation. It’s a Church’s interpretation, held for 2000+ years.

Please enlighten me with other interpretations, from groups you’re willing to affiliate yourself with. I know my religious history fairly well.
It was not until 1854 that Pope Pius IX, with the support of the overwhelming majority of Roman Catholic bishops, whom he had consulted between 1851–1853, promulgated the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Latin for “Ineffable God”), which defined ex cathedra the dogma of the Immaculate Conception:

In 1439 the dispute was brought before the Council of Basle where the University of Paris, formerly opposed to the doctrine, proved to be its most ardent advocate, asking for a dogmatical definition. After it had been discussed for two years, the bishops declared the Immaculate Conception to be a doctrine which was pious, consonant with Catholic worship, Catholic faith, right reason, and Holy Scripture; nor, said they, was it henceforth allowable to preach or declare to the contrary.

Sixtus IV eventually issued bull Grave Nimis, threatening excommunication to those of either opinion.
So dissention does exist even within the Catholic Church. It’s how the dissention is handled that’s different.

This is just one example. You mentioned the Reformation earlier.

It’s the church body that determines the dogma and doctrine.
 
If you are going to talk about the sexual abuse of Priest,PLEASE talk about the sexual abuse of Protestants as well, you van start with Jimmy Bakker Jimmy Swagger
I don’t claim moral perfection of ANY religious organization. I certainly DO NOT exempt Protestant immoralities, some of which I saw first hand.

But the only claim made her for the moral PERFECTION of a religious entity was made for the Catholic church, and that is a spurious claim. I have very few complaints about the Catholic church and was married in one. But spurious claims for its moral perfection need not simply be left to hang in silence. Sometimes, silence is read as assent, and I for one don’t wish to participate in that misconception.
 
It was not until 1854 that Pope Pius IX, with the support of the overwhelming majority of Roman Catholic bishops, whom he had consulted between 1851–1853, promulgated the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Latin for “Ineffable God”), which defined ex cathedra the dogma of the Immaculate Conception:

In 1439 the dispute was brought before the Council of Basle where the University of Paris, formerly opposed to the doctrine, proved to be its most ardent advocate, asking for a dogmatical definition. After it had been discussed for two years, the bishops declared the Immaculate Conception to be a doctrine which was pious, consonant with Catholic worship, Catholic faith, right reason, and Holy Scripture; nor, said they, was it henceforth allowable to preach or declare to the contrary.

Sixtus IV eventually issued bull Grave Nimis, threatening excommunication to those of either opinion.
So dissention does exist even within the Catholic Church. It’s how the dissention is handled that’s different.

This is just one example. You mentioned the Reformation earlier.

It’s the church body that determines the dogma and doctrine.
I don’t know many of the details, but it is fairly common knowledge that the Catholic Church has struggled internally with several religious concepts. This seems perfectly fine and natural to me. I just see no reason to deny that it has ever happened, or that it has ever changed its mind (cf “usury”).
 
Our works, or fruit, should be out of love, not obligation.

2 Cor 9:7 …or God loves a cheerful giver.
Still the same brother. Works are done out of our love of God. His love obligates us to do no less.
 
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