Stumbling blocks

[tad]

With the recent passing of Rev. Billy Graham I’m reading many fine tributes to him. However, for me, like every other protestant preacher, he was nothing but a stumbling block. For the life of me, I still don’t understand protestants. For as much as Catholicism speaks to my soul, anything else is just a clanging gong.

I think I’m weird that way.

 

[Kei]

I know what you mean.

Some have died refusing to attend a protestant mass.

We don’t know how moral he was. I hope very. We don’t know his heart. I certainly hope and pray he will have heaven.

Once you have tasted a wonderful steak, you may not like the Taco Bell version nearly as much. I guess it’s like that

 

[tad]

I guess, but if I were to be left solely to the evangelizing power of Rev. Graham I would still be happily on my way to hell.

Catholicism is the only thing I get. Maybe it’s a fault, but that’s the way I am.

 

[Limoncello4021]

Well, consider yourself blessed. The Catholic Church is the Truth.
I came back to Catholicism through some evangelical/Protestant preachers and books. Eventually, I found the teachings hollow. I’m not alone in this finding. By contrast, Catholicism is much, much richer and deeper and beautiful–the fullness of faith indeed.
At least Billy Graham did not seem to despise Catholics as many evangelicals do. I do think it must be an enormous surprise for such folk to wake up in the Catholic afterlife
God will reward Graham for his lifelong witness to Jesus.

 

[rose321]

I guess, but if I were to be left solely to the evangelizing power of Rev. Graham I would still be happily on my way to hell.

I do think it must be an enormous surprise for such folk to wake up in the Catholic afterlife

What does God teach us within His Spoken Word about boasting? James 1:26 James 4:16. Ephesians 2:8-7, Gal 6:14. 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

Pope Francis >>>> Who am I to judge and to practice tolerance. Just do not rote the Ten Commandments, but live them.

Respectfully not to offend, but what does God have to say on those who judge others?

" Do not speak evil against one another, brothers, and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil againt th elaw and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are… you to juge your neighbor?" James 4:11-12

" therefore you have no excuse, O man everyone of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you the Judge, practice the very same thing. We know that judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.Do you suppose O man…you who judge those who practice such things adn yet do them yourself>>that you will escape the judgment of God " Romans 22:1-3

“Love your neighbor as you love yourself” Greatest Commandment of all, does Jesus not teach us, those who fail to do so, … one has broken them all?

My Condolences,Thoughts and Prayers to Rev Billy Graham>> To His >>Loving Family in their time of great sorrow and loss>>>who was a> Rev. Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, RIP Rev Billy Graham and may our >>>>Heavenly Father’s Light, His Sweet Mercy that awaits us all, >>Shine upon you. Peace

 

[tad]

Thanks for your reply, it’s always good to get into the Word.

Thing is, my problem with all of this is that protestants and Catholics alike are boasting about Rev. Graham’s evangelism. I’m not seeing it, but then again, I could never buy into the ‘are you saved’ approach.

The other thing I don’t understand is that of judging. That’s my whole problem with protestants, they seem to able to judge the status of people’s souls. My big attraction to Catholicism is that we don’t get into that endeavor. I don’t know the status of Rev. Graham’s soul and I’m not comfortable speculating.

So, who’s judging who?

What I do know is that, as a Catholic, I can still pray for Rev. Graham’s soul, something the bleakness of protestantism doesn’t allow us to do. You see, it was Christian death that brought me into Christian life. It was my MIL’s funeral mass that I realized that Catholics had something going on here. The separation between the living and our dearly departed is very small indeed.

 

[TheOldColonel]

Not everyone resonated to Rev. Graham’s message. I think that’s ok. The Good News spreads in many ways.

 

[Limoncello4021]

Perhaps consider taking your own advice about not judging others??

 

[TheLittleLady]

Rev Graham took his share of heat for giving deep respect to the Catholic Church.

When Rev Graham came to town, he would invite the pastors of all of the area congretagions, everyone from Baptist to Methodist to Assembly of God to Catholic, to participate.

At the revival when people would come forward to give their lives to Christ, they were asked what is their Faith tradition. If they were Baptist, they were brought to the Baptist ministers. If they were Catholic, they were brought to the Catholic priests.

Sadly, Rev Graham’s children have not had the same respect for the Catholic Church, but, Rev Graham was a unique man of faith.

 

[GLam1761]

I am a CONVERT to Catholicism, and I value
the theology and doctrine of the Catholic Church.
That said, the Bible disagrees w/ you!
“It was He who ‘gave gifts to Mankind’, HE APPOINTED
some to be Apostles, others to be Prophets, others to
be EVANGELISTS, others to be Pastors and Teachers.
He did this to prepare God’s ppl for the work of Christian
service, in order to build up the Body of Christ. And SO
WE SHALL BECOME mature ppl, reaching to the FULL-
NESS of Christ’s FULL STATURE.” Eph. 4:11-13

 

[rose321]

That’s my whole problem with protestants, they seem to able to judge the status of people’s souls. My big attraction to Catholicism is that we don’t get into that endeavor. I don’t know the status of Rev. Graham’s soul and I’m not comfortable speculating.

So, who’s judging who?

Respectfully opinion only in pondering all that one has stated about judging another soul which only Our Heavenly Father knows the all of all >>>about ones soul, heart and mind. pure intentions and all through His Spoken Word repeated so many times throughout the whole Bible, staing >> I Will>> yet as Human beings, do we not have to judge >>>who shall become a Saint and who are not?

We don’t get into judging? Not all Human Beings are canonized as being Saints on the world stage , nor are all who serve within the church, are canonized as being Saints are they, on the world stage?

Who can claim or are we not judging, who is a Saint or not a Saint?
As Human Beings do we not have to judge another, come into play to be able to determine such?
One ponders greatly upon this is all.
Respectfully only seeking out personal understanding and not out to offend either, but to examine such a practice is all.
There are no Saints in God eyes outside of us?
And only miracles take place within us also?
Does one not have to judge another to determine who is a Saint or not?
And how does one determine, measure knowing the all of all of anothers Heart, Soul, Mind?
And how do we, as Human Beings, being finite, determine what or what will not be accepted into His hands, by one who is Infinite?
Would we be claiming to know the all of all and God’s Mind?
In doing so are we offending others, His creation He loves dearly?

Example>>Abraham, Elijah, Enoch, King, David, Prophets, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Moses etc were called Righteous men/woman of God by God Himself, not because of any miracle they preformed>> but how they lived in obedience to the Laws of God, how they lived their lives, would this be true?

Example the woman caught in adultery Jesus stating? Those without sin throw the first stone?
Written, cannot find one worthy on earth? Being human we are all weak, fallen?
What about King David, committed murder, Repented with pure intentions, was accepted?>>> yet God tells us, King David was a man after my own heart, gives King David a great Blessing, always have a son to sit on His Throne?
Could go on but just a few.

Peace