Responding to Got Questions article

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Rebecca

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Nothing says you have to argue. Some Protestants are quite well-prepared with their anti-Catholic arguments, and you might expend a lot of your time and energy without changing their minds. I would suggest you don’t play that game. Resist the urge to prove your point, to disprove them, or to otherwise score points for debate.

Here is a novel idea… well, actually not so novel, but somewhat overlooked: Talk with them about what you and they have in common. You believe in God, Jesus, grace, faith, conversion, the Bible, … and what else? This could be really good!

God bless you and them on your faith journeys.
 
I like your response, @RandomAlias. 🙂

I think that it’s a good way to go, too.

I grew up in a household with extended family members that were Protestant. My parents had converted to Catholicism when they married, so that is how I ended up being a Catholic.

My other family members who were Protestant always focused on the things that we had in common when discussing religion, and not the differences.

When growing up, I never really thought about the differences. I just knew them as really devout and loving Christians. 🙂
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I really I appreciate the time you took to respond.
My problem is that I tried to talk about what we had in common which worked for a while, but lately, I feel that all they want to do is debate me. I never tried to start a discussion about differences and when I tell them I am uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is going they just tell me that they will be civil. So I am at a lost of what to do and part of me wants to know how to respond only for myself to know.
 
Both historically and biblically it is today’s RCC

NOTE the singular tense words used by the God Inspired authors:

Mt 10: 1-4 "[A**nd he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. [GOD SHARES IN POWERS & AUTHORITY WITH THE APOSTLES] The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zeb’edee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mt 16:15-19 " He said to them, “But who do YOU say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are YOU, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to YOU, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell YOU, you are Peter, and on[YOU PETER] this rock I will build MY CHURCH [SINGULAR], and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
I will give YOU [OF THEM IMPLIED] the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever YOU bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever YOU loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

John 17:17-20 [Jesus in His Human Nature praying to “THEE Father”[ as Jesus is an equal member of the Trinity; He CANNOT deny his own request] … Sanctify THEM in the truth; thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. [THIS IS LITERAL:WITH "MY POWERS & AUTHORITY] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word,

Mt 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and said to tthem, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
[jesus then passes his authority to “THEM THROUGH PETER] [YOU] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded YOU; and lo, I am with YOU always, to the close of the age.”

Eph. 4:4-7 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Eph.2: 20 "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

READ John 21:14-17 [limited space]

There is VERY much more, but if this doesn’t convince nothing will, except prayer for God’s grace for their right understanding

God Bless you, keep asking questions
Patrick
 
That website is an unreliable source for information on authentic Christianity. I’ve encountered attempts to sway Catholics away from the Church many times, and pray for the grace to always answer and correct charitably, when necessary.
 
I happened upon that website one time: “got questions dot org.”
Didn’t take long to figure out: Nope. Don’t got those questions.

I’m sure you have better things to do with your time at college than dissect a lengthy article at another’s pleasure, for zero credits.

Maybe your friends would be open to dissecting Scott Hahn’s “Rome Sweet Home.”
 
I always tell Jehovah’s Witnesses (for instance) that I am a very happy Catholic. They’re usually polite, so there’s no problem.
When I encounter others who are rude this is more difficult. I guess it’s what they’re taught to do, but I don’t really know.
 
As others have said, don’t waste your time in college debating obscure articles for others’ benefit. But for yourself, i would say, Jesus told st Peter that he was the rock on which He was founding his church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
The Catholic church is the one which has lasted for two thousand years, and the others have all broken off from it and continue to break apart from each other. They are clearly not the Church, although surely there are many good Christians in them. I’m sure Billy Graham will be in heaven.
For definitive answers I would recommend studying the Catechism of the Catholic church.
God bless.
 
Rebecca said:
but lately, I feel that all they want to do is debate me. I never tried to start a discussion about differences and when I tell them I am uncomfortable with the direction the conversation is going they just tell me that they will be civil.
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It’s tempting, but I wonder what their purpose is.

An optimistic and charitable view is that they are really excited about their faith and just want to share it with others. Their faith is beautiful, and people like that do a lot of good at college campuses, bringing the faith and teaching the Gospel to people who didn’t have much faith. College is a time when many young adults begin to recognize spiritual needs that were neglected when they were younger. It’s good that evangelical Christians are there to fill that need. (By the way, Catholics should do more to spread the Gospel in college communities!)

A less cheerful view, which I think is more likely, is that they think you are wrong, and they want to convert you to their way of thinking. They say they will be civil, but so far they are showing themselves to be pushy, which is a mild form of incivility. They may be prepared to push and challenge you, by different approaches, until they break through your armor. Don’t let them test you that way!
 
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Rebecca said:
While I find the entire argument hogwash it is a very lengthy article and I do not know how to break it down and properly respond to the errors that it makes.
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Oh dear! I see that no one has responded to the article itself.

The key to understanding that article is its underlying assumption that all truth is to be found in the Bible in written form. This is a common theme in the Protestant faith and is sometimes referred to as Fundamentalism. Throughout the article it mentions Scripture, God’s Word, the Word, the Word of God, and bible quotations like “the word of His grace” and “a more sure word.” You and I might understand the Word of God to be Jesus himself, the message he brought, or perhaps more generally the truth which God has revealed to us by any means. In this article, it means only Scripture.

The Protestant reliance on the Bible is a weakness, but they see it as a strength. It will be hard to convince your Protestant acquaintances of anything that is not written explicitly in the Bible. Take, for example, the Mass, the sacraments, the Hail Mary, and the Pope. Catholics find the origin of all these in the Bible, but for Protestants it’s not explicit enough, and they find other Scripture passages to argue against all these things.

Are you familiar with the Catechism of the Catholic Church? For many, it is difficult reading, but it may be a great resource for you – not a resource for arguing or persuading others, but for your own understanding. The Catechism explains that God’s word is transmitted not only through Scripture but also through Tradition (specifically the Apostolic Tradition which Jesus gave to the Apostles and which has been passed down through the ages to this day) and in the Church’s teaching authority (which is called the Magisterium).

I recommend you read it yourself in the Catechism:
The Transmission of Divine Revelation
That’s a tremendously rich, meaningful, beautiful passage.

God bless you, and I pray that the Holy Spirit may assist and guide you always toward faith, hope, and love.
 
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Rebecca said:
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 I recently started College and made some new acquaintances many of which are Protestant.  As expected they do not believe in my Catholic view and pointed me to the Got Questions website mainly being this article.
What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church? | GotQuestions.org
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 While I find the entire argument hogwash it is a very lengthy article and I do not know how to break it down and properly respond to the errors that it makes.
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Here you go.
Question: “What was the first / original church? Is the original / first church the true church?”
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Answer: The ability to trace one’s church back to the “first church” through apostolic succession is an argument used by…The Roman Catholic Church… The biblical answer is – it does not matter!
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The Bible doesn’t say that. Or if it does, you’ll have to provide the quote. What the Bible does say is this:

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Note that Jesus only established one Church.

Further along, Jesus says this:

Matthew 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

It is obvious then, that the Church which Jesus established is a visible Church which can easily be identified. And the Apostles knew this. That is why St. Paul said:

Ephesians 4:5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

and again:

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

The word “church” is not used in those last two verses, but obviously, the competing traditions held by the various Protestant “churches” is not envisioned in Scripture.
The first church, its growth, doctrine, and practices, were recorded for us in the New Testament……
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Yeah, and that Church is the Catholic Church:

The Church with a Pope (Matt 16:18; John 21:17)
The Church which is infallible (1 Tim 3:15; Eph 3:10).
The Church which is united (Eph 4:5).
The doctrines of the Catholic Church which are distinctive from other churches:
Purgatory (1 Cor 3:15).
Eucharist (1 Cor 11:23-27).
Communion of Saints (Rom 12:12-20).
The Mass and the necessity to attend (Heb 10:25-31).
The Sacrament of Confession (Heb 13:17).
The Sacrament of Holy Orders (1 Tim 4:14).
The Sacrament of Baptism (Titus 3:5).
Justification and salvation by faith and works (Rom 2:1-13).

And we find that the Protestant doctrinal pillars all contradict Scripture. For instance:

Sola Scriptura contradicts 2 Thess 2:15

Sola Fide contradicts James 2:24

OSAS contradicts Heb 6:4-6

Need we say more?
 
Ken Johnson wrote 26 books

what the ancient church fathers taught the deciples
What the deciples of the apostles taught

Utube has teachings on this by this author

He has a high degree of credibility
 
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