Statement of Faith?

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PrayingTwice

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A dilemma . . .

My wife has been looking into volunteering into a pregnancy center in our area; she just got back from an interview with an application that contains a statement of faith (clearly Protestant). Here it is:
  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and not as a result of good works.
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and to perform good works.
  6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am in full agreement with the above statement.
Signature

Clearly this is flawed from a Catholic perspective. Here’s a few questions/requests:
  1. I would love to see a running commentary on this statement by those apologists that are more articulate than me. Bible references encouraged:)
  2. This place does a lot of good in the area especially from a moral standpoint (ex. no abortion referrals, no birth control, abstinence-only education, post-pregnancy help and couseling) and it would be a shame for my wife not to volunteer because of this statement. If this was you, how would you approach this with the head of the volunteer program in a charitable way?
Thanks for all your help.

PrayingTwice
 
As to how I would approach it, I would speak to the director of the program. I would state something lke this:

“As a Catholic, my beliefs are not in line with the provided statement of Faith. However, I am completely committed to the pro-life movement, and I highly respect the ministry of this center. As far as pro-life issues go, I can say with certainty that that my viewas are the same as those of this center, and I would very much like to volunteer. Is it possible to do so without signing the Statement of Faith?”

If the director of the program said no, I would politely wish the program success, and then seek out a Catholic pro-life ministry in which to volunteer.

I hope everything works out for your wife. More than that, I hope this ministry can put saving babies and educating the public about the sanctity of life before theological differences. After all, it isn’t a church but an outreach.

Yours,
Jessica
 
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PrayingTwice:
A dilemma . . .

My wife has been looking into volunteering into a pregnancy center in our area; she just got back from an interview with an application that contains a statement of faith (clearly Protestant).

Clearly this is flawed from a Catholic perspective. Here’s a few questions/requests:
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  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and not as a result of good works.
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and to perform good works.
  6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
I could agree with this except the words in red. What do you find wrong with this?
 
Br. Rich–It would seem the last part of #4 is aimed at Catholics and is distancing that organization from the Catholic faith (or at least from the Catholic faith as perceived by non-Catholic Christians who think we believe in salvation by good works rather than by faith.
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PrayingTwice:
  1. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and not as a result of good works.****
Furthermore, it has always been my experience that the only organizations that require signing a Statement of Faith are always non-Catholic christian organizations–usually evangelical Protestant Christian organizations. I have never heard of a Catholic charity REQUIRING volunteers to sign a Catholic Statement of Faith.

Praying Twice should also consider the fact that, since this Statement of Faith is expected, your wife would be assumed to be in agreement. Her activity would suggest to others that signing the Statement of Faith for that organization is compatible with our Catholic faith, when it probably is not compatible. Thus, she could unintentionally lead others astray.
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  1. “We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential”
Yes, this is done through Baptism.

and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,

Yes, Baptism without faith except for those under the age of reason is no garentee of salvation.

and not as a result of good works.
Yes, that is also correct, one cannot earn their way to Heaven without faith and God’s grace.

I’m not saying that this whole statement is a statement of Catholic Faith, of course it is not. But nothing in it with the exception of the red words opposes the Catholic Faith.

Many “Christian” businesses require their employees to hold certain values and beliefs. Would anyone object if their employer was a religious organization and were to require them to sign “I believe in the Trinity, Father, Son , Holy Spirit”

But that itself alone is not a complete statement of Catholic Faith, but it is a true element of it, which no Catholic could disagree with.
 
I would say to them “clearly you have made it impossible for catholics to work for your organization - that is too bad as you will not find a more pro-life group of folks than faithful catholics.”

BTW - there are plenty of pro-life groups out there who don’t pull this garbage. She should throw her hat in with one of them.
 
I have a problem with any statement of faith that has no Scriptural background, so here it is, and this is what my priest has put before us as a church.
  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    2Sa 23:2; Mt 21:42; 22:31-32; 26:54,56; Mr 12:24,36; Joh 10:35; Ac 1:16; 28:25; Ro 3:2; 15:4; Ga 3:8; Heb 3:7; 4:12; 2Pe 1:19-2; Ps 19:7-11; 119:97-104,130; Mic 2:7; Ac 20:20,27; 1Co 12:7; Eph 4:11-16; 2Ti 3:10; 2Ti 4:2; Pr 6:23; 15:10,31; Joh 3:20; Eph 5:11-13; Heb 11:1;2Ti 2:25; De 4:36; Ne 9:20; Ps 119:9,11; Mt 13:52; Ac 18:25; Ro 2:20; Psalm 119 all
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jas 2:19; De 6:4; Isa 43:10; 44:6; 45:6,21; 46:9; Zec 14:9; Mr 12:29; Joh 17:3; Ro 3:30; 1Co 8:4,6; Ga 3:20; Eph 4:5-6; 1Ti 2:5; Jude 1:4; Jas 5:20; Jon 4:4,9; Mr 7:9; Mt 8:29; Mr 1:24; 5:7; Lu 4:34; Ac 16:17; 19:15; 24:25; Jude 1:6; Re 20:2-3,10;
  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (I am not sure if anyone knows this, but this is the only other incident after Acts where Mary is even indicated in the Bible) Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Ge 49:10; Da 9:24-26; Mal 3:1; Mr 1:15; Ac 1:7; Eph 1:10; Heb 9:10; Isa 48:16; Zec 2:8-11; Joh 3:16; 6:38; 8:42; 10:36; 1Jo 4:9-10,14; Isa 9:6-7; Mic 5:2; Zec 6:12; Lu 2:10-11; Joh 1:14; Ro 1:3; 9:5; Php 2:6-8; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:14; 10:5-7; 1Jo 4:2; Ge 3:15; Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22; Mic 5:3; Mt 1:23; Lu 1:31; 2:7; Mt 3:15; 5:17; Lu 2:21-27; Ro 15:8; Col 2:14
  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and not as a result of good works.Titus 3:5-6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; Whom he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; Job 9:20; 15:14; 25:4; Ps 143:2; Isa 57:12; Lu 10:27-29; Ro 3:20,28; 4:5; 9:11,16; 11:6; Ga 2:16; 3:16-21; Eph 2:4,8-9; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:15; Ps 62:12; 86:5; 130:7; Mic 7:18; Lu 1:50,54,72,78; Eph 1:6-7; Heb 4:16; 1Pe 1:3; 2:10; Joh 3:3-5; 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26; 1Pe 3:21; Ps 51:10; Ro 12:2; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10; Heb 6:6
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and to perform good works.John 7:38-39 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, whom they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Joh 14:16-17,26; Pr 1:23; Isa 12:3; 32:15; 44:3; Joe 2:28; Lu 3:16; 24:49; Ac 1:4-8; 2:4,17; 4:31; Ro 8:9; Eph 1:13; 4:30; Joh 16:7; Ps 68:18; Isa 32:15; Ac 2:17,33; 2Co 3:8; Joh 12:16; 13:31; 14:13; 17:5; Ac 3:13; Joh 12:1-50; 1:21; 6:14; De 18:15-18; Mt 16:14; 21:11; Lu 7:16; Ac 3:22-23
 
  1. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Joh 5:21; 6:39-40,44; Ro 5:17-19; 8:11; 1Co 15:20-26,43-57; 2Co 4:14; Php 3:10,20-21; 1Th 4:14; Re 20:5,10-15; 21:4; Joh 1:4; 5:26; 6:35; 14:6,19; Ps 36:9; Isa 38:16; Ac 3:15; Ro 8:2; Col 3:3-4; 1Jo 1:1; 5:11-12; Re 22:1,17; Joh 3:36; Job 19:25-27; Isa 26:19; Lu 23:43; Ro 4:17; 8:10-11,38-39; 1Co 15:18,29; 2Co 5:1-8; Php 1:23; 1Th 4:14; Heb 11:13-16
Condemnation: John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 1:4,9-11; 8:12; 9:39-41; 15:22-25; Mt 11:20-24; Lu 10:11-16; 12:47; Ro 1:32; 2Co 2:15-16; 2Th 2:12; Heb 3:12-13; Joh 5:44; 7:17; 8:44; 10:26; 12:43; Isa 30:9-12; Lu 16:14; Ac 24:21-26; Ro 2:8; 1Pe 2:8; 2Pe 3:3; Revelation 21:8
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:10-15 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:Eph 3:1-21,5; Jer 32:38-39; Eze 37:21-22; Zep 3:9; Zec 14:9; Joh 17:21; Ac 4:32; 1Co 1:10; Php 2:1-3;
Isa 53:11; Mt 11:27; Joh 16:3; 17:3,25-26; 2Co 4:6; Php 3:8; Col 2:2; 2Pe 1:1-3; 3:18; 1Jo 5:20; Revelation 21:22-27 And I saw no temple in it: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the** glory of God is its light**, and the Lamb is its lamp. And the nations of them who are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
 
What do you mean my priest? MY PRIEST? He is so faithful, and I do not doubt his word for one minute. He always tells us like it is. and is so compassionate; we have no problem communicating and all of us love him. What more can I say? Why would you even ask that?

If one is so open why would anyone have a problem sharing what the priest shares? I don’t see the problem.
 
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Ruth101:
What do you mean my priest? MY PRIEST? He is so faithful, and I do not doubt his word for one minute. He always tells us like it is. and is so compassionate; we have no problem communicating and all of us love him. What more can I say? Why would you even ask that?

If one is so open why would anyone have a problem sharing what the priest shares? I don’t see the problem.
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You skate by what Michael is trying to get you to say.

For the enlightenment of us all, would you please explain exactly who this “priest” is so that we can see where you are coming from? Does he have a name? To what church do you go to that you have this “priest”?

God bless,

PAX

Bill+†+

Pillar and Foundation of Truth, the Church. (1 Tim 3:15)
 
Well, as Catholics, we believe that the Church is also infallible, because Christ instituted it. I went to a Protestant school for 5 years, and I had to answer questions EXTREMELY SIMILAR to what your wife has to answer. I just answered them as I believed. I always got the funniest and stupidest statements from my principal when he saw my answer for the first question on your wife’s statement of faith.
 
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PrayingTwice:
  1. This place does a lot of good in the area especially from a moral standpoint (ex. no abortion referrals, no birth control, abstinence-only education, post-pregnancy help and couseling)
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“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” - Matthew 7:15-17
 
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential, and that this salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and not as a result of good works.
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I believe when Paul said this he meant we should believe in Jesus as the Son of God by faith and His Word. He meant Jesus as the Son of God should not have to be proven to us by the good works (miracles) of Jesus as told in the gospels, but by our faith in the Word of Jesus.

None of this lets us off the hook regarding our responsibility to do good works as commanded by Jesus. I believe the term “good works” is often confused as to whose “good works” are we referring to ours or His?
 
This is a complete no-brainer: she should work at a Catholic crisis pregnancy center.
 
I would print out the statement in red by Br. Rich. It is clear by statements 1 and 4 they do not wish to have Catholics volunteer. (#4 being what they think Catholics teach) By handing back in the statement with the only words in red that are contradictory to the Catholic teachings, with Bible verses cited along with why #1 is wrong, she would be witnessing for the truth.

Make no mistake, even if they allow her to volunteer here without signing or signing an amended statement, she will be under constant attack of her beliefs.

Is there no other organization that she can volunteer for that won’t present this problem? Seems to me that there should be somewhere that good can be done instead of going somewhere that is so clearly anti-Catholic.

God Bless,
Maria
 
posted by Ruth101

What do you mean my priest? MY PRIEST? He is so faithful, and I do not doubt his word for one minute. He always tells us like it is. and is so compassionate; we have no problem communicating and all of us love him. What more can I say? Why would you even ask that?
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If one is so open why would anyone have a problem sharing what the priest shares? I don’t see the problem.
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By asking what priest, we are asking how can your “priest” be a priest. Clearly you are not Catholic so why are you talking about “your priest”.

If by your priest you mean Jesus, then I would say to you that Jesus did not say the things you are implying. While you certainly have *interpreted *Scripture that way, to say that Jesus “said” those things is a lie.

God Bless,
Maria
 
Hi,

Not that is definitly too important, but what caught my attention is the affirmation of what scripture is before what the affirmation of the definition of God.
 
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EJM:
Hi,

Not that is definitly too important, but what caught my attention is the affirmation of what scripture is before what the affirmation of the definition of God.
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I’d say it’s important, because it clearly demonstrates an agenda.
 
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