Should we evangelize Protestants?

[SPOKENWORD]

Ignatius:

Just because someone cries “Lord, Lord” does not mean they will be saved!

Can you see their heart? If not, how is it that you judge if someone is saved?

Hi Ignatius, You judge them by shining the light of Christ on them which is the Law. The Law will expose their sins. It will show you whether one is saved or not. God Bless

 

[Pug]

The Law will expose their sins. It will show you whether one is saved or not.

I agree that the Law helps a man see his own sinfulness (the law exposes my own sins to myself so I can see them, a la St. Paul in Romans).

“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

from 1cor4:5

Typically I see verses like this as a warning not to make a judgement that a brother of mine is a huge sinner or is rejecting God.

I may judge it prudent to admonish someone, but I hopefully do not simultaneously determine in my head the state of their soul for real. I just try to say what is prudent, based on what they say and do. For example, if they seem to be tossing Jesus out and chasing women, one could go with the verse about plucking out an eye and the worm dieth not, etc. But that is not the same as knowing they aren’t saved.

What law do you mean, Spoken? Do you mean loving one another kind of law or the no partiality law or the Torah?

 

[InChristAlone]

Listen to all this slander. As Christians- those who are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, ultimately paying the penalty for our sins - listen to us bicker and push other people down. We are united under the banner of Christ. If someone believes that Jesus Christ died and rose again, paying for their penalty of sin, what more is there to argue? This person has a relationship with God, by Christ Jesus. What more is there to argue? Shame…

 

[jasonfin]

interesting question…What is protestantism anyway? I think it means to replace sacraments and Tradition with idolatry. So yes, I would love every protetsant to at least accept Tardition and a sacramental theology.

 

[InChristAlone]

It is not the worship of idols? where did you get that idea from? what is a sacrament?

 

[jasonfin]

InChristAlone:

It is not the worship of idols? where did you get that idea from? what is a sacrament?

Sorry, I kinda said something I am not going to deeply elaborate on. Protestants have rejected sacramentalism and Tradition, and exchanged it for their own traditions and practices that were developed by nominalism, modernity, and the enlightenment. Some theologians see the rejection of sacraments and Tradition and its replacement with enlightenment protestant rationalism as idolatry, because it replaces something sacred and holy with something secular. I am simply saying, that yes it is a good idea to share the Catholic faith with protestants, because i believe they have lost the essence of Christianity with the sacraments and Tradition.

Sacraments are a physical representation of God’s grace. See St Thomas Aquinas on this one, um The Sacraments of Christ in Summa Theologiae.

 

[InChristAlone]

do you believe it essential to have these sacraments and traditions in order to have salvation?

 

[psychemusic]

InChristAlone:

do you believe it essential to have these sacraments and traditions in order to have salvation?

InChrist,

I would encourage you, even admonish you, to study our faith a little more before jumping onto the message boards in the middle of conversations and pouring “shame” upon us.

sigh How many times do we have to go over this? YES, we true Catholics (members of the faith) do believe that the sacraments and Tradition (notice that’s not “traditions” but “Tradition”) are a part of salvation. NO, we do not believe “once saved always saved.” YES, we believe you can lose your salvation, and NO, we don’t believe confessing and believing in Christ, by itself, is enough to get a person into heaven.

Hope that clears it up for you. If you have more questions, I suggest delving into the Catholic Answers site, beginning with our apologetics. Then, come back to the forums and chat. You’ll skip a lot of unnecessary dialogue that way.

 

[psychemusic]

SPOKENWORD:

Hi Ignatius, You judge them by shining the light of Christ on them which is the Law. The Law will expose their sins. It will show you whether one is saved or not. God Bless

Spoken,

Are you familiar with the scripture “Judge not, lest you be judged?” Know what it was talking about? Not judging the actions of people, but judging their hearts. That includes determining for yourself whether or not they’re “saved.” If this is what you do, you’re in danger of Divine retribution.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

psychemusic:

Spoken,

Are you familiar with the scripture “Judge not, lest you be judged?” Know what it was talking about? Not judging the actions of people, but judging their hearts. That includes determining for yourself whether or not they’re “saved.” If this is what you do, you’re in danger of Divine retribution.

The Law is what exposes their sins and convicts them,not me. Can you live in sin and be saved? God Bless

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Pug:

I may judge it prudent to admonish someone, but I hopefully do
What law do you mean, Spoken? Do you mean loving one another kind of law or the no partiality law or the Torah?

Hi Pug. The Law is the 10 commandments written by Gods own hand. God Bless

 

[surfinpure]

SPOKENWORD:

The Law is what exposes their sins and convicts them,not me. Can you live in sin and be saved? God Bless

And I quote: “You judge them by shining the light of Christ on them which is the Law. The Law will expose their sins. It will show you whether one is saved or not”

YOU judge them? It will show YOU?

Those are your words, spoken.

 

[Curious]

sigh How many times do we have to go over this? YES, we true Catholics (members of the faith) do believe that the sacraments and Tradition (notice that’s not “traditions” but “Tradition”) are a part of salvation. NO, we do not believe “once saved always saved.” YES, we believe you can lose your salvation, and NO, we don’t believe confessing and believing in Christ, by itself, is enough to get a person into heaven.

My point exactly. How many times are we going to have to go over this? But I mean the reverse. You Catholics are always crying about how you have to keep answering the same questions over and over again, but you pose the same questions to Protestants over and over and over again on these boards as well.

Here, let me help.

1. No, nobody here can trace their Protestants roots back past the Reformation.
2. No, we can’t prove sola scriptura.
3. No we can’t prove sola fide.
4. No we can’t prove sola anything.
5. Yes, we know there’s conflicting denominations. No we can’t reconcile that.
6. Yes, Prots are close minded. Yes, Prots are open minded.
   and finally
7. We don’t know.

Good grief.

 

[surfinpure]

Curious:

My point exactly. How many times are we going to have to go over this? But I mean the reverse. You Catholics are always crying about how you have to keep answering the same questions over and over again, but you pose the same questions to Protestants over and over and over again on these boards as well.

Here, let me help.

1. No, nobody here can trace their Protestants roots back past the Reformation.
2. No, we can’t prove sola scriptura.
3. No we can’t prove sola fide.
4. No we can’t prove sola anything.
5. Yes, we know there’s conflicting denominations. No we can’t reconcile that.
6. Yes, Prots are close minded. Yes, Prots are open minded.
   and finally
7. We don’t know.

Good grief.

May I remind you that it is you, a Protestant, who came to our Catholic forum? Not the other way around. Incidentally, I, for one, have never asked a Protestant what he believed. I used to be one. I know plenty well the structure, or lack thereof, of the Protestant network of faiths.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

surf(name removed by moderator)ure:

And I quote: “You judge them by shining the light of Christ on them which is the Law. The Law will expose their sins. It will show you whether one is saved or not”

YOU judge them? It will show YOU?

Those are your words, spoken.

Hi Surf. Can you tell the difference from a believer and a non believer by talking to them? Think about it? Honestly I,m not here to judge anyone . I,m only trying to show them Gods Law. God Bless

 

[surfinpure]

SPOKENWORD:

Hi Surf. Can you tell the difference from a believer and a non believer by talking to them? Think about it? Honestly I,m not here to judge anyone . I,m only trying to show them Gods Law. God Bless

By talking to them? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. More often than not, no. Because many profess to be believers, but there are a whole lot of them who do that aren’t. That isn’t for you or me to decide, now is it?

Whom here are you trying to show God’s law?

And please, PLEASE, quit with the smiley faces.

 

[Timothy888]

1Cor 12:12- as far as you’d like to read
It’s a bit like trying to turn your foot into an ear, try evangelizing the people who are not in the body of Christ, they truely need it, i was a Roman catholic and became a protestant, this was for me as i see now necessary, at first i was against my old church (which was rather childish and a sin), yet many people i know are members of it and great Christians too, i would only lift them up now.
Still it wasn’t the right part of Christs body for me, it became clearer to me as i read Gods words, yet if i could get anyone to go to any Christian church (not all protestant churches are christian) then i would, be it Roman catholic or Baptist, Anglican or pentecostal, just to mention a few, it would depend on what the person needed and how God led me.
Each Christian denomination has something to offer, yet not everyones spiritual needs are the same, there are different gifts and different callings, one person sees what another doesn’t, all of these things must never depart from the Word of God. I have seen terrible things done in Gods name by all religeons, so nobody is perfect, except Christ Jesus, who for me is the only intersessor between God and mankind.I enjoy talking and sometimes learning from good catholics, the world over, but there will never be a hate in me for anything Christian, only love and deep respect.
God bless you all!
As far as Judgement goes, you will know them by their fruits, though this is also to do with false prophets Matt 7 :16
and of course Matthew 7:1-2 , you’ve seen 1 further up the page so here’s 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” NAS

 

[Timothy888]

This is my body which is given for you; do this in rememberance of me Luke 22:19

psychemusic:

InChrist,

I would encourage you, even admonish you, to study our faith a little more before jumping onto the message boards in the middle of conversations and pouring “shame” upon us.

sigh How many times do we have to go over this? YES, we true Catholics (members of the faith) do believe that the sacraments and Tradition (notice that’s not “traditions” but “Tradition”) are a part of salvation. NO, we do not believe “once saved always saved.” YES, we believe you can lose your salvation, and NO, we don’t believe confessing and believing in Christ, by itself, is enough to get a person into heaven.

Hope that clears it up for you. If you have more questions, I suggest delving into the Catholic Answers site, beginning with our apologetics. Then, come back to the forums and chat. You’ll skip a lot of unnecessary dialogue that way.

 

[dennisknapp]

Curious:

My point exactly. How many times are we going to have to go over this? But I mean the reverse. You Catholics are always crying about how you have to keep answering the same questions over and over again, but you pose the same questions to Protestants over and over and over again on these boards as well.

Here, let me help.

1. No, nobody here can trace their Protestants roots back past the Reformation.
2. No, we can’t prove sola scriptura.
3. No we can’t prove sola fide.
4. No we can’t prove sola anything.
5. Yes, we know there’s conflicting denominations. No we can’t reconcile that.
6. Yes, Prots are close minded. Yes, Prots are open minded.
   and finally
7. We don’t know.

Good grief.

What then is the proper response to this? For me it was becoming a complete Christian by entering the Catholic Church.

I value truth and desire to align my life to it, therefore I could no longer remain a Protestant.

This is not to say that Protestant are 100% wrong, on the contrary, I would say most of them are 85% right. But when you have been made aware of the other 15% and come to believe it is true, then you must follow the truth where ever it leds.

Peace

 

[Timothy888]

dennisknapp:

What then is the proper response to this? For me it was becoming a complete Christian by entering the Catholic Church.

I value truth and desire to align my life to it, therefore I could no longer remain a Protestant.

This is not to say that Protestant are 100% wrong, on the contrary, I would say most of them are 85% right. But when you have been made aware of the other 15% and come to believe it is true, then you must follow the truth where ever it leds.

Peace

For me it was the opposite, still you are right up to a point, you seem to forget that we are all Catholics, we are indeed all universal (Catholic) Christians, Christ called us all out of darkness and into light. We are all a part of His Body and partake all of the same communion, the only problem is politics, Jesus was no politician, we should try to be more like Him, i think everyone who’s a Christian feels the same way, yet nothing is easy.
I was never in favour of ordaining women, it’s not up to me though, worse, Gods’ Word is against it, still it happens and it’s sad, women are the best supporters of any good man, yet everyone seems to convieniantly forget original sin these days, a pity, considering Jesus died to forgive us of it!
Why do it all over again!!
I’m happy for you and wish you the best, because i think you found the way and have followed it.
God bless you
Tim