Protestants, why are you here?

[GodIsGracious]

Lutherans have been accused by some Protestants of being too Catholic, but this is the first time I’ve seen us mentioned in this company.
LDS’s, JW’s. and Muslims may demand an explanation of you!

Jon

Some of us would not consider that an accusation, but a compliment.

 

[JonNC]

Personally I would give him the benefit of doubt. The original question which lead to this branch of the thread mentioned many different “mainline” protestant denominations and I steered it towards the LDS, INC and JWs in my awnser. I also mentioned the SDA for their particular doctrine number 1.

No worries. I wasn’t upset, but just amused by the irony. It probably wasn’t spooksam’s intent to group folks together.

Posted by gcnuss:
Some of us are accused of being too Catholic by fellow Lutherans.

lol, this is most certainly true.

Posted by GodIsGracious:
Some of us would not consider that an accusation, but a compliment.

And some of us would agree with you.

Jon

 

[Peter_J]

No worries. I wasn’t upset, but just amused by the irony. It probably wasn’t spooksam’s intent to group folks together.

Yeah, the “Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, Lutherans, etc.” line is rather funny if you read it a certain way.

 

[Spooksam]

To clarify, I was not trying to identify Lutherans with Mormons, but simply giving a list of various people who have views (some slight and some major) different than my own.

Also, if I meet a professing Christian from any camp who sleeps around, uses God’s name in blasphemy, etc. - are those just my interpretations of the Bible or lifestyle choices contrary to the Word of God?

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

To clarify, I was not trying to identify Lutherans with Mormons, but simply giving a list of various people who have views (some slight and some major) different than my own.

It’s alright we got a good laugh out of it.

Also, if I meet a professing Christian from any camp who sleeps around, uses God’s name in blasphemy, etc. - are those just my interpretations of the Bible or lifestyle choices contrary to the Word of God?

I will assume that this was directed at me since it was I that talked about interpretations with you. This is what your original statement was:

When I meet someone who claims to be Protestant or Catholic who lives a life contrary to the Word of God, I am a little skeptical.

If what you were referring to was really what you brought up in your second comment than you needed to be more clear in your first comment since someone, "who sleeps around, uses God’s name in blasphemy, etc. " is not someone who I associate being a Catholic or a Protestant as. Not only are their lifestyles contrary to God’s written Word but they are contrary to the Catholic Church and every Protestant Church that I know of.

God bless you

 

[PFugate]

Thank you Peter!!

And if I have a bone head question on some aspect, or need advice on how to encourage our young mother…I hope you will be there to help! Need all of that I can get!

Pfugate

 

[Mudcat]

If you’ll excuse me for asking a question that’s been asked before (in various forms) why are you (Protestants) here?

Hi Peter J,

I am a Protestant and I joined the forum because I had questions about the Catholic Church. I live in the rural Southern USA and in my area there are only a small number of Catholics, and I have no Catholic friends. Most of the population in my area is Protestant or Pentecostal.

The Catholic Church has come up in conversations in the worship services of my church (Southern Baptist) and it hasn’t always been brought up, in the best light. Instead of taking someone else’s word for what Catholics teach and believe, I thought I would get a better answer by asking Catholics. There are a number of misconceptions in the general evangelical community about Catholic beliefs.

I don’t participate much, but I have been appreciative of the dialogue and answers from Catholic posters. I also see it as an opportunity to represent my own beliefs.

I don’t consider myself an apologist or some sort of missionary, in regards to the RCC. I don’t feel any compelled need to convert Catholics to my beliefs. As I see it Catholics love Christ and I count them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

But I think it is possible to learn from each other and am hopeful that I am from time to time able to add some value back during my exploration of Catholicism.

Respectfully,

Mudcat

 

[Bengoshi]

I believe they are here for many reasons but 2 or 3 may be the biggest reasons. Such as:

• They want to learn more about the catholic Faith.
• They want to know what other people think about their own faith. I.e protestant wants to know what catholics think about protestantism.
• They genuinely enjoy discussing/debating the faith and the differeces that separate the denominations.
• The obvious one is they don’t agree with the catholic faith and wish to debate it and it’s teachings.

I think I fall under all of these categories! Hehehe!

 

[Justy90]

If you’ll excuse me for asking a question that’s been asked before (in various forms) why are you (Protestants) here?

I often hear Protestants posters say that they’re here because they like conversing with Catholics – which I definitely respect, but it seems to me like an incomplete answer. Put it this way: I have many times chatted with Methodists [resp. Prebyterians, etc] both on and off the internet, but I’ve never felt like in order to do so I needed to sign-up for an account on a Methodist [resp. Prebyterian, etc] website.

So I guess the specific question I’d like to ask Protestant posters is this: Do you feel like there’s a dearth of Catholics in your life (online and/or offline) which you try to compensate for by coming here?

I’m quite certain that its for the same reasons that there are so many Catholics on Protestant boards. You want to share Christ as you know him whether you are Catholic or Protestant. Sometimes that means being in a meaningful dialogue with someone and sometimes it means disagreeing on something (hopefully in a charitable way).

 

[James1982]

To clarify, I was not trying to identify Lutherans with Mormons, but simply giving a list of various people who have views (some slight and some major) different than my own.

Also, if I meet a professing Christian from any camp who sleeps around, uses God’s name in blasphemy, etc. - are those just my interpretations of the Bible or lifestyle choices contrary to the Word of God?

It’s been my experience that Lutherans are like the chameleon of christianity - we get lumped in with others out of convenience. From one end, we are called pseudo-catholics, holding to meaningless traditions; from the other, we’re the rabblerousers that started all the mess of protestantism and should thus bear responsibility for what the others do. It’s what comes with the territory of occupying the middle ground between Catholicism and evangelical christianity.

I ended up coming to this forum because I was getting back into my faith a couple years back and realized some things about Lutheranism that I was uncomfortable with. I wanted to see what other flavors of christianity had to say about various issues, to see what was right. In fact, for a time, I thought for sure I was swimming the Tiber, and just was trying to figure out how to break it to my wife, who is a committed Lutheran.

I’ve obviously since backed off the ledge, and remain a Lutheran. But that is why I came here initially. Ironically, this place had as much to do with keeping me a Lutheran as anything. I’m not sure the Catholics on this board always fully realize the excellent contingent of Lutherans that frequent these boards. Many Lutherans are not what they/we are, are not sympathetic in the least to learning about our common history and celebrating the traditions where we can agree. It took coming to a Catholic message board to get a sense of purpose in my faith; I now have more of an identity as a Lutheran than I ever had before signing up for CAF.

 

[Peter_J]

Cool … after being dormant for a month, this thread has gotten 3 replies (well, 4 counting this one) in the last hour.

It’s been my experience that Lutherans are like the chameleon of christianity - we get lumped in with others out of convenience. From one end, we are called pseudo-catholics, holding to meaningless traditions; from the other, we’re the rabblerousers that started all the mess of protestantism and should thus bear responsibility for what the others do. It’s what comes with the territory of occupying the middle ground between Catholicism and evangelical christianity.

I ended up coming to this forum because I was getting back into my faith a couple years back and realized some things about Lutheranism that I was uncomfortable with. I wanted to see what other flavors of christianity had to say about various issues, to see what was right. In fact, for a time, I thought for sure I was swimming the Tiber, and just was trying to figure out how to break it to my wife, who is a committed Lutheran.

I’ve obviously since backed off the ledge, and remain a Lutheran. But that is why I came here initially. Ironically, this place had as much to do with keeping me a Lutheran as anything. I’m not sure the Catholics on this board always fully realize the excellent contingent of Lutherans that frequent these boards. Many Lutherans are not what they/we are, are not sympathetic in the least to learning about our common history and celebrating the traditions where we can agree. It took coming to a Catholic message board to get a sense of purpose in my faith; I now have more of an identity as a Lutheran than I ever had before signing up for CAF.

Thanks for sharing about your experience James1982. I’d like to chime in that I think quite a lot of Protestant posters had no real experience of “Traditionalist Catholics” before joining CAF. Perhaps that is the case with you as well.

 

[guanophore]

I think I fall under all of these categories! Hehehe!

Well, good for you!

I have met a fair percentage who are really here to preach fire and brimstone to Catholics, and try to save our souls from it.

 

[4Squarebaby]

Thanks for sharing about your experience James1982. I’d like to chime in that I think quite a lot of Protestant posters had no real experience of “Traditionalist Catholics” before joining CAF. Perhaps that is the case with you as well.

Its my case. For 8 years I’ve been hewaring about American “fundies” and on message boards. Many, especially Europeans reacted to Catholics in the same way. I didn’t understand it then, I do now.

 

[guanophore]

Its my case. For 8 years I’ve been hewaring about American “fundies” and on message boards. Many, especially Europeans reacted to Catholics in the same way. I didn’t understand it then, I do now.

What are you saying? CAF Catholics are “American fundies”?

Do Europeans think American Catholics are “fundies”?

 

[4Squarebaby]

What are you saying? CAF Catholics are “American fundies”?

Do Europeans think American Catholics are “fundies”?

Nope, only the ones who hammer the “I am right” or only “I have full faith” type lines. The “you only go to church to have grape juice and crackers” types.

The Europeans specifically tend to look at the Catholic Church as being just as bad as Americans do at their fundamentalist Protestants. The new Pope with a stern look didn’t help things. I never knew why Europeans were so hard on Catholics.

I figured it was just gay issues and history until confronted with the “grape juice and cracker” in bold and cap locked typeface kind of Catholic poster here.

 

[guanophore]

Nope, only the ones who hammer the “I am right” or only “I have full faith” type lines. The “you only go to church to have grape juice and crackers” types.

The Europeans specifically tend to look at the Catholic Church as being just as bad as Americans do at their fundamentalist Protestants. The new Pope with a stern look didn’t help things. I never knew why Europeans were so hard on Catholics.

I figured it was just gay issues and history until confronted with the “grape juice and cracker” in bold and cap locked typeface kind of Catholic poster here.

OIC. thanks for clarifying! Yes, the insults do nothing but add to the separations in the Body. It is quite possible to support and defend one’s beliefs without denigrating others.

I really like our German Shepherd.

 

[Peter_J]

Nope, only the ones who hammer the “I am right” or only “I have full faith” type lines. The “you only go to church to have grape juice and crackers” types.

The Europeans specifically tend to look at the Catholic Church as being just as bad as Americans do at their fundamentalist Protestants. The new Pope with a stern look didn’t help things. I never knew why Europeans were so hard on Catholics.

I figured it was just gay issues and history until confronted with the “grape juice and cracker” in bold and cap locked typeface kind of Catholic poster here.

Hi 4Squarebaby. Yeah, we’ve got an interesting diversity of Catholics on this forum – perhaps a little too much diversity of Catholics for some people’s tastes. (Of course we’ve also got a wide diversity of non-Catholics, but I won’t even get into that right now.)

BTW, you might be surprized (or maybe you wouldn’t) at how many non-Catholic Christians (e.g. among the Eastern Orthodox and Lutherans) like Pope Benedict.

 

[NotTooSmart]

If you’ll excuse me for asking a question that’s been asked before (in various forms) why are you (Protestants) here?

Since you asked…

To clarify my thinking concerning Catholicism. I have heard everything from they are the great harlot of Revelations type to the Billy Graham like…they are like another denomination…wrong in some things…but hey aren’t we all. Now I think the Billy Graham / Charles Colson position is the better one, but I must admit that some of you must be trying to convince me the Jack Chick, John MacArthur position is the way to go.

So to learn and evaluate. And maybe when I hear misconceptions about my faith to explain better.

Also because I don’t have a life. And because I might be an internet addict.

I often hear Protestants posters say that they’re here because they like conversing with Catholics – which I definitely respect, but it seems to me like an incomplete answer. Put it this way: I have many times chatted with Methodists [resp. Prebyterians, etc] both on and off the internet, but I’ve never felt like in order to do so I needed to sign-up for an account on a Methodist [resp. Prebyterian, etc] website.

Well I have thought that maybe a neutral site might be better for me. The only other site I tried though was a sort-of hard-core antiCatholic site that sort of embarrassed me sometime (and plus sometimes I found myself getting into attack mode and I always hated myself afterwards for it). I’d would always rather be amongst the attacked than an attacker.

So I guess the specific question I’d like to ask Protestant posters is this: Do you feel like there’s a dearth of Catholics in your life (online and/or offline) which you try to compensate for by coming here?

Actually there is. I am a hermit and don’t have a life, or so I have been told.

 

[2nd_Adam]

If you’ll excuse me for asking a question that’s been asked before (in various forms) why are you (Protestants) here?

I often hear Protestants posters say that they’re here because they like conversing with Catholics – which I definitely respect, but it seems to me like an incomplete answer. Put it this way: I have many times chatted with Methodists [resp. Prebyterians, etc] both on and off the internet, but I’ve never felt like in order to do so I needed to sign-up for an account on a Methodist [resp. Prebyterian, etc] website.

So I guess the specific question I’d like to ask Protestant posters is this: Do you feel like there’s a dearth of Catholics in your life (online and/or offline) which you try to compensate for by coming here?

I believe the Vatican encourages Catholics to have dialogue with their separated Protestant brethren. I too agree with this since we all know in part, and I strongly believe in the universal church which is determined by God alone. Those united to Christ can worship in Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, and other Christian communities. I believe the idea that Jesus founded the church according to Catholics fall short of Scripture revelation. I believe our Triune God created the church, sustains the church, and guides the church to His preordained end. God adds to the number of His Church daily through the proclamation of the gospel to dead sinners. The Spirit gives live and not religious institutions. I also find an “iron sharpening iron” effect when I speak to Christians from other Christian communities. I believe the church is catholic (universal) as in the Apostle’s Creed. I do believe Protestants need a higher view of the church and embrace the historical creeds and confessions of the church. There is a redemptive history that all true Chrisitans are part of.

 

[tweetymom]

I believe the Vatican encourages Catholics to have dialogue with their separated Protestant brethren. I too agree with this since we all know in part, and I strongly believe in the universal church which is determined by God alone. Those united to Christ can worship in Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, and other Christian communities. I believe the idea that Jesus founded the church according to Catholics fall short of Scripture revelation. I believe our Triune God created the church, sustains the church, and guides the church to His preordained end. God adds to the number of His Church daily through the proclamation of the gospel to dead sinners. The Spirit gives live and not religious institutions. I also find an “iron sharpening iron” effect when I speak to Christians from other Christian communities. I believe the church is catholic (universal) as in the Apostle’s Creed. I do believe Protestants need a higher view of the church and embrace the historical creeds and confessions of the church. There is a redemptive history that all true Chrisitans are part of.

adam I am a Catholic not always have been but I do agree with you and it is a shame that we can’t all worship together:shrug: