Reasons to be both Catholic and Protestant

[Brassring]

I’m a recent convert to the Church, and for me, it’s a question of what the purpose of my faith is.

The purpose of my faith is not to change churches, doctrines, and liturgies until I find one that pleases me. The purpose of my faith is to change myself to please God. I took the best of Protestantism and the best of Catholicism and came up with Catholicism. I was a lifelong protestant, and I came to the conclusion that Protestantism is nothing but diet faith. It has a little of the flavor, but is missing most of the substance.

I can’t trade seven valid sacraments for two. I can’t trade the true presence of the Lord in the Eucharist for crackers and grape juice. I can’t trade a life of practiced dedication and faith for “say the magic prayer and get your get-out-of-hell-free card”.

I tried a lot of protestant communities. I’ve been Methodist, Presbyterian, two kinds of Baptist, three kinds of Pentecostal, and more flavors of evangelical and non-denominational than I can count. They all have one thing in common: a false impression of the Holy Spirit. I NEVER experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit until my confirmation. I experienced religious ecstasy, hyper-emotionalism, and babbling in “tongues”, but those are not the same thing. I came to the Church because I was desperately seeking God. I stayed because I found Him.

Our Lord established ONE Church, and there is no substitute.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I’m a recent convert to the Church, and for me, it’s a question of what the purpose of my faith is.

The purpose of my faith is not to change churches, doctrines, and liturgies until I find one that pleases me. The purpose of my faith is to change myself to please God. I took the best of Protestantism and the best of Catholicism and came up with Catholicism. I was a lifelong protestant, and I came to the conclusion that Protestantism is nothing but diet faith. It has a little of the flavor, but is missing most of the substance.

I can’t trade seven valid sacraments for two. I can’t trade the true presence of the Lord in the Eucharist for crackers and grape juice. I can’t trade a life of practiced dedication and faith for “say the magic prayer and get your get-out-of-hell-free card”.

I tried a lot of protestant communities. I’ve been Methodist, Presbyterian, two kinds of Baptist, three kinds of Pentecostal, and more flavors of evangelical and non-denominational than I can count. They all have one thing in common: a false impression of the Holy Spirit. I NEVER experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit until my confirmation. I experienced religious ecstasy, hyper-emotionalism, and babbling in “tongues”, but those are not the same thing. I came to the Church because I was desperately seeking God. I stayed because I found Him.

Our Lord established ONE Church, and there is no substitute.

very well said!

 

[Michael68]

I’m a recent convert to the Church, and for me, it’s a question of what the purpose of my faith is.

The purpose of my faith is not to change churches, doctrines, and liturgies until I find one that pleases me. The purpose of my faith is to change myself to please God. I took the best of Protestantism and the best of Catholicism and came up with Catholicism. I was a lifelong protestant, and I came to the conclusion that Protestantism is nothing but diet faith. It has a little of the flavor, but is missing most of the substance.

I can’t trade seven valid sacraments for two. I can’t trade the true presence of the Lord in the Eucharist for crackers and grape juice. I can’t trade a life of practiced dedication and faith for “say the magic prayer and get your get-out-of-hell-free card”.

I tried a lot of protestant communities. I’ve been Methodist, Presbyterian, two kinds of Baptist, three kinds of Pentecostal, and more flavors of evangelical and non-denominational than I can count. They all have one thing in common: a false impression of the Holy Spirit. I NEVER experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit until my confirmation. I experienced religious ecstasy, hyper-emotionalism, and babbling in “tongues”, but those are not the same thing. I came to the Church because I was desperately seeking God. I stayed because I found Him.

Our Lord established ONE Church, and there is no substitute.

Well done!!!Welcome Home!!

 

[USMC_Convert]

Well, I have always considered myself Catholic, too. Lutherans who know their teaching do.
I’m still learning Anglicanism, but my sense is the same is true here.

Jon

Well in a broad sense all who believe and proclaim Christ are Catholic, but that’s not what I was asking. Go past what we call eachother and think, what makes one lukewarm?

Certainly a Catholic can be as lukewarm as any other member of any other religion, but what defines being “lukewarm”?

Who would Jesus consider to be lukewarm?

 

[Wannano]

Well in a broad sense all who believe and proclaim Christ are Catholic, but that’s not what I was asking. Go past what we call eachother and think, what makes one lukewarm?

Certainly a Catholic can be as lukewarm as any other member of any other religion, but what defines being “lukewarm”?

Who would Jesus consider to be lukewarm?

Rev. 3:16 neither hot or cold…

 

[JonNC]

Well in a broad sense all who believe and proclaim Christ are Catholic, but that’s not what I was asking. Go past what we call eachother and think, what makes one lukewarm?

Certainly a Catholic can be as lukewarm as any other member of any other religion, but what defines being “lukewarm”?

Who would Jesus consider to be lukewarm?

Those who do not mean it. Those who do not bear the fruits of saving faith.

** Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. **

There is no mention from Christ of a particular communion.

Jon

 

[adf417]

If you don’t know the specific branch, perhaps use the term ‘non-Roman Catholic’. Sometimes I will refer to a Christian as a Reformed Christian or evangelical or a liturgical Christian. Mormons are pretty easy to identify.

I don’t think this works either as there are many other rites in the “Catholic Church” in communion with Rome that are not “Roman” or “Latin”.

Peace!!!

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I don’t think this works either as there are many other rites in the “Catholic Church” in communion with Rome that are not “Roman” or “Latin”.

Peace!!!

Yes, of course there are. I’m not quite sure what you are saying here. My point was that if someone is other than Roman Catholic, there should be ways of identifying what other branch they belong to. That would include non-Latin rites, wouldn’t it?

 

[USMC_Convert]

Those who do not mean it. Those who do not bear the fruits of saving faith.

** Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. **

There is no mention from Christ of a particular communion.

Jon

Hmmm, I can see that, however I was thinking along the lines of those that flip flop, that cannot stick to their convictions, or in that sense have no convictions. To me it would be more like “hey at least the guy that is fighting me, or hates me has the courage and conviction to do what he believes in; on the opposite end the guy that is totally for me that’s the guy I want in the foxhole fighting next to me, that’s the guy that will see the job done to the end.”

Maybe we are both right, you have a pretty good handle on it as well…

 

[Sy_Noe]

Well in a broad sense all who believe and proclaim Christ are Catholic, but that’s not what I was asking. Go past what we call eachother and think, what makes one lukewarm?

Certainly a Catholic can be as lukewarm as any other member of any other religion, but what defines being “lukewarm”?

Who would Jesus consider to be lukewarm?

Well he would know since only God knows the heart and how on fire or not it may or may not be. Probably best than humans not try to judge the warmth of another’s inner heart and soul.

 

[Sy_Noe]

This was my first thought also but thinking it through a bit more I believe it comes down to practicing. A practicing Protestant who was baptized Catholic is still a Catholic, just not a practicing one or a well formed one.

Or I suppose they may be well formed of the faith but do not have the faith.

 

[adf417]

Yes, of course there are. I’m not quite sure what you are saying here. My point was that if someone is other than Roman Catholic, there should be ways of identifying what other branch they belong to. That would include non-Latin rites, wouldn’t it?

Greetings to you ComplineSanFran,

I don’t know the answer but your suggestion failed.

BTW I was looking over your privious post on this thread and I just wanted to inform you that I know a few Anglicans and EO’s who would never call themseves “Catholic”, that is in terms of labeling. Which brings me to the question parroted many times here on CAF - if someone you meet on the street asks you where the Catholic church is? - Which of these churches you have listed as “Catholic” do you send them?

Peace!!!

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Greetings to you ComplineSanFran,

I don’t know the answer but your suggestion failed.

BTW I was looking over your privious post on this thread and I just wanted to inform you that I know a few Anglicans and EO’s who would never call themseves “Catholic”, that is in terms of labeling. Which brings me to the question parroted many times here on CAF - if someone you meet on the street asks you where the Catholic church is? - Which of these churches you have listed as “Catholic” do you send them?

Peace!!!

Perhaps you are thinking of JonNC’s comment:

‘Well, I have always considered myself Catholic, too. Lutherans who know their teaching do.
I’m still learning Anglicanism, but my sense is the same is true here.’

 

[Vic_Taltrees_UK]

JonMC’s and Brassring’s posts are very interesting!

If one is a Catholic, one doesn’t have to “be Protestant” in a formal sense. In particular, one shouldn’t mix up the sacraments.

I am inspired by everyone who wants to use Scriptures to help me practice my ministries and to get me to help them practice theirs. The only crown we shall obtain is a share in each others’, by trading the talents with the other adopted widows and orphans in Father’s family firm! I think this is what is at the basis of Brassring’s comment about the Holy Spirit.