Someone said to me today

[Fogwalker]

Whoa! Not true for many denominations and congregations. I’ve never attended a church that didn’t emphasize the importance of the church as the bride of Christ, and “personal relationship with God” was always meant to include relationship with other believers.

This cannot be emphasized enough, in my opinion. The overwhelming majority of Protestants that I know who actively dislike the Catholic Church have some serious misunderstanding about what Catholics actually believe. I can never take a Protestant seriously when they open up a conversation about why Catholicism is bad by asking me where in the Bible it says to worship Mary. Will a Protestant want to listen to my views on Catholicism if I display the same level (or worse) of ignorance about his or her Protestant beliefs? Probably not.

 

[adawgj]

We shouldn’t treat Jesus as if he was our BFF we should praise, pray and worship Jesus our god and Savior.

 

[heidi_storage]

This cannot be emphasized enough, in my opinion. The overwhelming majority of Protestants that I know who actively dislike the Catholic Church have some serious misunderstanding about what Catholics actually believe. I can never take a Protestant seriously when they open up a conversation about why Catholicism is bad by asking me where in the Bible it says to worship Mary. Will a Protestant want to listen to my views on Catholicism if I display the same level (or worse) of ignorance about his or her Protestant beliefs? Probably not.

Yes, more education all round! We oughtn’t make straw men of belief systems. Of course, I have known Catholics and Protestants badly informed about their OWN faith! I recall a group of Catholic students at my university who scornfully rejected the notion of transubstantiation…no, really, they did! I don’t know how they were catechized.

 

[JRKH]

Yes, more education all round! We oughtn’t make straw men of belief systems. Of course, I have known Catholics and Protestants badly informed about their OWN faith! I recall a group of Catholic students at my university who scornfully rejected the notion of transubstantiation…no, really, they did! I don’t know how they were catechized.

Yes - Sad to say there has been there has been some very poor catechesis ib the Church over the years,

Peace
James

 

[Joy2day]

And how would one respond to this statement that:

“Jesus didn’t die so that we could have religion, he died so that we could have a deep intimate personal relationship with God”.?

Thanks,
Elizabeth

i would say that’s correct. There are all sorts of ‘religion’, some of which have little to.do with God.

 

[rcwitness]

We shouldn’t treat Jesus as if he was our BFF we should praise, pray and worship Jesus our god and Savior.

John 15:15
“No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known unto you.”

Do you have a better friend than Jesus?

Michael

 

[JRKH]

John 15:15
“No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known unto you.”

Do you have a better friend than Jesus?

Michael

Amen Michael…
And yet this friend - and also I might add - our Brother by adoption - is also our Lord and our King and within a royal household, the King, even if he is a friend and a brother, is to be shown a certain deference and is held somewhat separate.
The brothers and the friends of a King remain at the service of that King.

Just a thought

Peace
James

 

[heidi_storage]

i would say that’s correct. There are all sorts of ‘religion’, some of which have little to.do with God.

Now, this is a good point, and the reason, I think, for the statement being popular. (Just as the rather goofy “WWJD” bracelets came from a good question–in such and such a situation, what would our Lord do, or have us do?)

And in fact, we have warnings against taking pride in our “religion”–James 1:
…26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

But, again, that doesn’t mean that we should eschew “religion,” as in the church! We humans are so prone to error in one way or another that practically anything can be perverted.

 

[PJM]

=ElizabethPH;11449530]And how would one respond to this statement that:

“Jesus didn’t die so that we could have religion, he died so that we could have a deep intimate personal relationship with God”.?

Thanks,
Elizabeth

“WHY CHRIST DIED” COULD [AND I SUSPECT HAS FILLED MANY BOOKS]

If Christ died ONLY that we could have had a GREAT “personal relationship” with HIM.

HE WOULD NOT HAVE DIED:thumbsup:

He’d still be alive*** because then it would be FAR more effective in having a “personal relationship with Him.”

Christ Death has MANY aspects:

Forgiveness of our sins; opening the locked gate of heaven; the Seven Sacraments He Himself Instituted, being among them.

Jesus Himself told us that He He did not ascend to the Father; He could NOT send to us the Holy Spirit; so essential to ones salvation effort.

It’s critically notable that “A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST” BY ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYONE INTO HEAVEN. And the bible itself does not teach that it will or does…

READ: John 3:5 and Mt. 19:17 as examples of WHY this is.

God Bless you!
Patrick

 

[rcwitness]

Amen Michael…
And yet this friend - and also I might add - our Brother by adoption - is also our Lord and our King and within a royal household, the King, even if he is a friend and a brother, is to be shown a certain deference and is held somewhat separate.
The brothers and the friends of a King remain at the service of that King.

Just a thought

Peace
James

Thanks, I hear ya
What we should do is apply both relations that God freely offers to us… Not neglecting God’s Lordship to us through Jesus, nor His friendship to us through Jesus. I could understand an accussation that we, as Catholics, tend to neglect His friendship. Generalizing like this isnt very productive when it comes from accussations from any brother/sister in the faith. But constructively speaking, we as Catholics should remember His friendship in our walk with Him.

As for the term ‘religion’ and those who like to use it accussationally, they are not being constructive by demonizing the term.

Thanks again James,
Michael

 

[JRKH]

Thanks, I hear ya
What we should do is apply both relations that God freely offers to us… Not neglecting God’s Lordship to us through Jesus, nor His friendship to us through Jesus. I could understand an accussation that we, as Catholics, tend to neglect His friendship. Generalizing like this isnt very productive when it comes from accussations from any brother/sister in the faith. But constructively speaking, we as Catholics should remember His friendship in our walk with Him.

Yep - There’s always that balance that we need to strike.

As for the term ‘religion’ and those who like to use it accusationally, they are not being constructive by demonizing the term.

Absolutely correct. There are those who do this and it is not constructive.

Yet - I have to admit - in the right setting tossing out such an idea as a “talking point” can be thought provoking.

Thanks again James,
Michael

You are welcome Michael.

Peace
James

 

[PJM]

=JRTJ;11450129]Protestants: it’s always about me, me, me. My personal relationship with God, my spiritual path etc etc.

We Catholics put great value on the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. When we go to Confession, we not only reconcile with God but also with the Church, Christ’s Spouse.

Jesus established the Church - never once does it say in the Gospels that he wanted a ‘personal relationship’ with someone. He founded a Church ie a community. That personal relationship is formed between any member of the Church and Christ, but only if that member’s ties with the Church are strong, something that can only be when one is in a State of Grace, acquired through Confession.

Hope this makes sense.

Thank you! Well done

 

[johnnyc176]

And how would one respond to this statement that:

“Jesus didn’t die so that we could have religion, he died so that we could have a deep intimate personal relationship with God”.?

Thanks,
Elizabeth

How much more of a personal relationship can we have with Jesus than in the Eucharist!

 

[rcwitness]

How much more of a personal relationship can we have with Jesus than in the Eucharist!

This is true! Yet simply having the Eucharist is not enough. We must honor Him and His blessings personally and corporally as a family. Just like having a personal relationship is not enough. It must be a good relationship. Remember, Judas had a personal relationship with Jesus.

I am not offended at all when our brothers and sisters stress a personal relationship with Jesus. They are right. But what is His will for us as a family and Church? To revere and participate in His body and blood is central! You know this. Is this merely eating the host each Sunday? No, neither is it doing good works and neglecting His supper. This supper is not magic, it is spiritual recognition and reception of Christ’s purpose and ministry.

Thanks
Michael

 

[johnnyc176]

I am not offended at all when our brothers and sisters stress a personal relationship with Jesus.

It doesn’t bother me either but that is what I tell protestants when they ask if I have a personal relationship with Jesus.

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Faith.

 

[rcwitness]

It doesn’t bother me either but that is what I tell protestants when they ask if I have a personal relationship with Jesus.

The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our Faith.