Question on the Elect

[GiannaMarie]

I am a Catholic and my boyfriend is a Presbyterian, and he believes in the Elect. Can someone please explain to me exactly what that means? Wouldn’t that be taking away from Our Lord dying on the cross and God being so merciful?

Thank you,

GiannaMarie

 

[FCEGM]

I am a Catholic and my boyfriend is a Presbyterian, and he believes in the Elect. Can someone please explain to me exactly what that means? Wouldn’t that be taking away from Our Lord dying on the cross and God being so merciful?

Thank you,

GiannaMarie

Welcome to CAF, GiannaMarie.

This article explains the Calvinist theology to which Presbyterians hold:

catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9309fea1.asp

 

[MarcoPolo]

There are many different views on what election means, so we’d have to know what view your boyfriend held.

Catholics believe in election and predestination too. It’s just a matter of understanding them properly.

Here is Dr. Ludwig Ott on predestination and election (his book Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma is used to train priests in seminary).
Here are Catechism references to “elect”, election, “predestination”, predestined.

In really short summary, there are two prevailing schools of thought on predestination among Catholics (because the issue has not been defined dogmatically at this point). The first is called Thomism which teaches God gives sufficient grace to be saved to all, and the grace of final perseverance to some. Molina taught God gives particular grace to those he foresaw cooperating with that grace when given it. Read here for the words of Molina himself about 2/3 way down the page. The Ott article talks about both these concepts too.

Commonly in some Protestant beliefs, they have more of a Thomistic idea of election, except they believe God does NOT give sufficient grace to some, and those people eventually go to hell (those people are referred to as “reprobate” persons. This idea comes largely from a poor interpretation of Romans 9) This is not compatible with Catholic teaching.

 

[GiannaMarie]

Thank you so much for your reply. I plan to study these right away. My boyfriend and I have just begun our ‘religious comparison talks’. I will be finding out more on exactly his beliefs and I am so glad to have joined a forum where I can get all the help I need.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Oops, here was that link to Molina’s Catholic predestination view 2/3 way down the page.

 

[jericho777]

I am a Catholic and my boyfriend is a Presbyterian, and he believes in the Elect. Can someone please explain to me exactly what that means? Wouldn’t that be taking away from Our Lord dying on the cross and God being so merciful?

Thank you,

GiannaMarie

You could read Romans chapter 9 It tells of Gods sovereign choice of who will be saved (the elect)

It means God first chose us we did not choose Him. Rom 9:16 16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

It is not of us being “good people.” Rom 9:10-11 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand

It is because Jesus died on the cross for our sins that we can be reconciled back to God.

 

[Ignatius]

I am a Catholic and my boyfriend is a Presbyterian, and he believes in the Elect. Can someone please explain to me exactly what that means? Wouldn’t that be taking away from Our Lord dying on the cross and God being so merciful?

If you are a Confirmed Catholic, you are a member of the elect. Part of the preparation for confirmation (you may not remember it) is part of the confirmation.

The third stage in preparation for Confirmation is the period of purification and enlightenment and coincides with Lent. During this time the elect (formerly the catechumens) and the candidates enter into a period of intense preparation and prayer which includes the three public celebrations of the scrutinies and is marked by the presentations of the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion are celebrated at the beginning of this stage. This period ends with the celebration of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. (Note: only the elect are baptized. All the groups are confirmed and welcomed to the table.)