Protestants: What do you think of Modern Catholic church?

[Harpazo]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I’ve been thinking about this lately, having been both Protestant and Catholic, I never really looked at the modern Catholic church through the eyes of modern “mainline” Protestants.

What do you think about the modernization of the Catholic church over the years? For example, many Catholics taking certain things from Protestants, such as the clergy-collar, charismaticism, praise and worship music, etc.

Do you see them as having an identity crisis or does it flatter you that they are taking things from you because some will often accuse you of stealing from them? I have my own opinions on the matter, but I want to hear the opinions from Protestants. This should go without saying, but let’s keep it civil.

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Lancer]

Just glanced at your Blog…you have a beautiful blog site…stunningly beaustiful…Bravo!

Pax Christi

 

[rev_kevin]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I’ve been thinking about this lately, having been both Protestant and Catholic, I never really looked at the modern Catholic church through the eyes of modern “mainline” Protestants.

What do you think about the modernization of the Catholic church over the years? For example, many Catholics taking certain things from Protestants, such as the clergy-collar, charismaticism, praise and worship music, etc.

Do you see them as having an identity crisis or does it flatter you that they are taking things from you because some will often accuse you of stealing from them? I have my own opinions on the matter, but I want to hear the opinions from Protestants. This should go without saying, but let’s keep it civil.

In Christ,
Andrew

I personally don’t care if they take things from us. We are all one in Christ and we need to share what we have. If they want to accuse us of stealing then let them. If they want to use our worship music and praise but continue to say we are wrong it only goes to show how hypocritical some can be.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I’ve been thinking about this lately, having been both Protestant and Catholic, I never really looked at the modern Catholic church through the eyes of modern “mainline” Protestants.

Interesting thread, I would like to learn here; more about protestants clergy collar’s, being taken by Catholics?

I know of no more higher charismatic praise and worship than celebrating the “True Presence of Jesus Christ” in our midst from our Eucharistic liturgy. If anyone knows of a better or higher charismatic, praise and worship other than the “True presence of Jesus Christ body, blood soul and divinity” Please let us know, I would sure like to learn it first here?

Peace be with you

 

[wardrandolph]

I personally don’t care if they take things from us. We are all one in Christ and we need to share what we have. If they want to accuse us of stealing then let them. If they want to use our worship music and praise but continue to say we are wrong it only goes to show how hypocritical some can be.

:shrug:What kind of responce is this?

 

[Moscati]

I don’t think the clerical collar was “borrowed” from protestants–wasn’t it originally worn under a cassock to prevent chafing? An Anglican invented the detachable collar most commonly worn now, but that seems more like a technological development, not a truly new invention . . .

In general, I’d say that when I was a Protestant (not that long ago), I was completely unaware of what the Catholic Church was up to, aside from pro-life stuff. I couldn’t have commented on how I felt about any borrowing, because I was under the impression that Catholics were very strange and foreign. Mass still feels incredibly different to me than anything I ever saw as a Protestant, even if I do happen to recognize a praise+worship song or something.

 

[blazerdave]

Being a High Church-type Anglican gives me a slightly different perspective. I guess I’d say the more modern Catholic “flavor” can be a little confusing. We need the Catholic Church to always be a step or two ahead of us in High Churchiness. How else can we look forward to many years of wanting to be just like you? We don’t know how to handle a Catholic Church that features guitars and hand-raising!

 

[Bold_Sexton]

What’s good is incredible. What’s bad is a total train wreck. What’s in the middle tends to, at times, be bogged down in minutia that defines the term: Ad nauseum.

 

[Jon_Hus]

…For example, many Catholics taking certain things from Protestants, such as the clergy-collar, charismaticism, praise and worship music, etc. …

Actually Andrew,

The modern charismatic movement (signs and wonders and so forth) is descended from, believe it or not, Roman Catholicism. It is an outgrowth of Mary sightings, stigmatas (sp) and the like. Same can be said of the shakers movement.

As for the other items on your list, I have no real idea.

 

[Newbie2]

I personally don’t care if they take things from us. We are all one in Christ and we need to share what we have. If they want to accuse us of stealing then let them. If they want to use our worship music and praise but continue to say we are wrong it only goes to show how hypocritical some can be.

What are you saying?

“We are all one in Christ…” but there’s “we/us” and “them”.

 

[AmericanJosiah]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I’ve been thinking about this lately, having been both Protestant and Catholic, I never really looked at the modern Catholic church through the eyes of modern “mainline” Protestants.

What do you think about the modernization of the Catholic church over the years? For example, many Catholics taking certain things from Protestants, such as the clergy-collar, charismaticism, praise and worship music, etc.

Do you see them as having an identity crisis or does it flatter you that they are taking things from you because some will often accuse you of stealing from them? I have my own opinions on the matter, but I want to hear the opinions from Protestants. This should go without saying, but let’s keep it civil.

In Christ,
Andrew

From a (now) Lutheran…

Concerning The Catholic Church in general:

I hold The Catholic Church in extremely high regard. I consider it to be valid, as I hold its ministers, ministeries and Sacraments as valid. I regard all in her to be my full, UNseparated and equal brothers and sisters in Christ and, in every sense, equally a part of the Body of Christ. I regard nothing it officially teaches as heretical in the sense of being contrary to Scripture or Tradition, and I affirm probably 95% of it as correct (side note: my priest said that’s “a whole lot better” than most Catholics - a point that is undeniable, but also “… and probably than a lot of priests” - that I cannot comment on). I pray daily for God’s richest blessings to her ministers, ministries and Holy Father, and I am proundly grateful for all the spiritual blessings I received during my Catholic journey.

Concering the “modernications”

I have mixed feelings on this. Some of the changes of the past centuries have been good: embracing the language of the people, longer and better sermons, Bible studies, families ministries, Sunday School - all this I embrace. I have nothing against “contermporary praise songs” per se, although SOME are profoundly weak - muscially and lyrically.

Actually, Lutherans and Catholics at this point are very similar in terms of our customs. It made my transition to Lutheranism rather seemless. I love the liturgy, the Sacraments, the embrace of the Church Year and so many customs. I DID learn to do the Sign of the Cross variently (Lutherans do it right to left) and a few other minor things. In general, I feel “distant” from American “Evangelicalism.” I find myself theologically often closer to Catholics and just in a different spirituality than the Evangelicals. When I worship with my Catholic brothers and sisters (as when I worship with my sister), I feel at one. When I worship with my Evangelical brothers and sisters (as when I worship with my brother) I definately feel “out of place” although I fully embrace it as valid.

Thank you.

Pax

• Josiah

.

 

[firstmode]

I think we would all feel out of place if we were standing next to David while he danced in his under clothes out in public in front of the Ark of the Covenant while praising God.

To each his own. I embrace all of the praise, worship, and adoration styles taught in the Psalter, the other books of the Old testament and new testament such as, Dancing, Shouting, Sining, prostrating on ones knees, flat on my face on the floor, hands raised, jumping, etc.

I also support all of the different musical instruments used in the Bible and follow it’s command to sing a new song to God: The Lyre, Cymbals, the Mizmor, bones, shakers, drums, crotales, the cymbal clapper, the ugav, the shofar, the trumpets, bells, clappers, and the harp.

“you who pluck the strings of the lute and invent musical instruments like David…” Amos 6:5)

musicofthebible.com/instruments.htm

bibarch.com/Music/Music%20and%20the%20Bible.htm

I also believe that Jesus thinks it is ok if we decide to use other instruments than the list above, I think he likes the new songs we sing

If the Catholic Church would like to embrace this, then I feel they are just being Biblical and that they are not stealing it from protestants, but from Psalms and other places.

 

[firstmode]

BTW Catholics!

Good job on this commercial!!!

Please everyone, take a look, it is touching!

youtube.com/watch?v=ha8_QIoB4Ow

 

[mmmcounts]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I’ve been thinking about this lately, having been both Protestant and Catholic, I never really looked at the modern Catholic church through the eyes of modern “mainline” Protestants.

I’m not exactly mainline, but I might be close enough to it.

What do you think about the modernization of the Catholic church over the years?

I like it. I think a lot of good things have happened.

For example, many Catholics taking certain things from Protestants, such as the clergy-collar,

Don’t know anything about that one.

charismaticism,

I like it, to a point. I think there needs to be more of a focus on it in a wide variety of churches, but it can go too far- ie., modern forms of Montanism. I don’t see that happening so much in Catholic churches, though.

Side note- from what I can gather, it seems like sanctifying grace is roughly equivalent to the activity of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Except the activity of the Holy Spirit is more of a direct God-within-you kind of thing while sanctifying grace has more to do with your priest imparting it to you in one way or another. I support the more direct route. Plus, it allows for less confusion with the terminology.

praise and worship music, etc.

I don’t throw all my support to one specific way of praising God, but in general, I support freedom in choosing how to do it. In the end, I’m not against hymns or Gregorian chants or anything like that. What I am against is people who are overly restrictive. So when Catholic churches stop being overly restrictive, I appreciate that.

Do you see them as having an identity crisis

I don’t think so.

or does it flatter you that they are taking things from you because some will often accuse you of stealing from them?

Um…let’s see. I do not typically think of Catholic people or Catholic churches as sources of flattery, and I guess I’m aware of people who see that stuff and say it’s stealing, but I don’t care very much. It really hasn’t come up lately. I’m trying to think of the last time it did, and I can’t. It’s not something I really talk about.

 

[loneviking]

From a (now) Lutheran…

Concerning The Catholic Church in general:

I hold The Catholic Church in extremely high regard. I consider it to be valid, as I hold its ministers, ministeries and Sacraments as valid. I regard all in her to be my full, UNseparated and equal brothers and sisters in Christ and, in every sense, equally a part of the Body of Christ. I regard nothing it officially teaches as heretical in the sense of being contrary to Scripture or Tradition, and I affirm probably 95% of it as correct (side note: my priest said that’s “a whole lot better” than most Catholics - a point that is undeniable, but also “… and probably than a lot of priests” - that I cannot comment on). I pray daily for God’s richest blessings to her ministers, ministries and Holy Father, and I am proundly grateful for all the spiritual blessings I received during my Catholic journey.

Concering the “modernications”

I have mixed feelings on this. Some of the changes of the past centuries have been good: embracing the language of the people, longer and better sermons, Bible studies, families ministries, Sunday School - all this I embrace. I have nothing against “contermporary praise songs” per se, although SOME are profoundly weak - muscially and lyrically.

Actually, Lutherans and Catholics at this point are very similar in terms of our customs. It made my transition to Lutheranism rather seemless. I love the liturgy, the Sacraments, the embrace of the Church Year and so many customs. I DID learn to do the Sign of the Cross variently (Lutherans do it right to left) and a few other minor things. In general, I feel “distant” from American “Evangelicalism.” I find myself theologically often closer to Catholics and just in a different spirituality than the Evangelicals. When I worship with my Catholic brothers and sisters (as when I worship with my sister), I feel at one. When I worship with my Evangelical brothers and sisters (as when I worship with my brother) I definately feel “out of place” although I fully embrace it as valid.

Thank you.

Pax

• Josiah

.

That’s pretty much where I’m at, although I might be in agreement with 90% of the RCC teachings. That last paragraph is very, very true. As a Lutheran, I really don’t fit in very well with Evangelical worship, thought or theology.

 

[kalt]

I personally don’t care if they take things from us. We are all one in Christ and we need to share what we have. If they want to accuse us of stealing then let them. If they want to use our worship music and praise but continue to say we are wrong it only goes to show how hypocritical some can be.

The Church doesn’t say the non-Catholic churches are wrong in everything. There is no hypocrisy in accepting what is true wherever it’s found or in rejecting what is false wherever it’s found.