THe proverbial Protestant "Silver Bullet"

  • Thread starter Thread starter dumspirospero
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
40.png
TNT:
For some reason I like you [Stingray] already.
Me too.🙂
40.png
TNT:
No idea why.
Me neither. 🙂
40.png
TNT:
If I find out you have no sense of humor, or ignore questions, yur fish food.
😉
 
40.png
Stingray:
Catholics don’t believe works save you either.Just so you will know and yes there are Protestants who believe and preach theat,I know some,it is sad.God Bless

I do know the official teaching of the Catholic Church is that one is saved by grace. It is all of God. Yet, they also teach that works enabled by grace play a role in salvation. It’s a very nuanced position and it must be studied carefully in order to fully understand what it is they are saying. ** I think there is confusion because of this and that is why there are in fact many Catholics who believe in salvation by works**. As to your comments regarding protestants who believe and preach salvation by works. If by "protestant’ you mean non-Catholic, then I would agree. However, if you are talking about someone who believes in the traditional teachings of the reformation, then I would give a qualified no. While traditional protestant teaching is that we are saved by grace through faith alone, it is possible for anyone regardless of their denomination or background to be deceived into thinking that his or her works somehow contribute to their salvation.

God bless,
Stingray:)
what you are confused about Stingray is that there are Catholics who cannot EXPLAIN that teaching as well as non-Catholics who spend boatloads of time out preaching and “witnessing” to others about what they believe. That may be changing thanks to sites like this and all the great apologetics stuff that is coming out for us.

Unless you have had some Catholics actually tell you that they are going to heaven because they do good works and that will win them entry to heaven then … (send them in here so we can help 'em get that right… 😃 )

To me it’s pretty simple if you read Matthew 25:31-46 and the epistle of St. James…no one can tell me that doesn’t put it all in a clearly NT perspective, and I think it ties in very beautifully with Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians when he tells them that he will show them a better way…
Pax vobiscum,
 
Answer my question, how do you know what books belong in the Bible?
Silly person! Don’t you know?? The Great Reformer Martin Luther did us all a favor by, under divine guidance, throwing out those nasty ol’ books he didn’t like. Then suddenly, the divine guidance went away and rested on someone else who convinced him not to continue in his trashing of the bible by throwing out Hebrews James Jude…and…oh I’m sure I’m forgetting some.

See? That was easy.

:whacky:
 
40.png
HilaryJ:
I am an ABA missionary baptist.
Thank you for being frank about your affiliation. I am Catholic.
40.png
HilaryJ:
I don’t think that it is “wrong” to ware a crucifix, but I believe the reason most don’t is because the Victory of Jesus wasn’t the crucifixion, but the RESURECTION.
Quite true about the victory. The suffering of Jesus, however, keeps us in mind of the suffering of humans by virtue of the world and by virtue of sin. It is for us that Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected. Keeping mindful of the suffering of our fellow humans with whom we share this planet is not only one way we respond to the love of Jesus and his free gift to us but also one way we see the face of Jesus, our Beloved. The Passion belongs to Jesus, but we are called to Compassion. That is our role.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/hlthwork/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris_en.html
40.png
HilaryJ:
Just for my info why do catholics use a crucifix?
I wear the crucifix to remind myself of the whole story of Jesus, not just part of it. I remind myself of my call to Compassion. I remind myself that I belong to Jesus and depend on Him. I remind myself that I belong to a community which Jesus established; the Church. When others see my crucifix, they respond in diverse ways. Without even speaking, I can then witness to Jesus by my life because it is a signal to others that I am Christian. Often by my not speaking, the Holy Spirit can speak more clearly through me.
 
40.png
HilaryJ:
Just for my info why do catholics use a crucifix?
Further to your question and to some responses concering ‘empty crosses’:

For Catholics salvation is personal, not ideological. Christ is a Person not an idea. We are people, not ideas. The Church is a community, not a concept. Who I am as a person (transformed, not just informed) is what salvation is about. Hence many of our crucifixes have a Person on them: that Person is the suffering Christ.

This is not to say in any way shape or form that we do not believe in and cherish the Resurrection. Some of us also wear the Paraklete, not a sign of the Resurrection, per se, but certainly Someone we recognize as being sent after the Resurrection.
 
40.png
Stingray:
His canon of scripture does not derive it’s inspiration from the church’s ability to recognize it as such.
Oops. Who said that? Even if somebody did say that, it’s not what we believe. So let’s put it to rest. You were doing well Stingray. Is your good faith slipping? I hope something disingenuous does not emerge from suddenly from your hitherto well-mannered posts.

Your statement above is disturbingly inaccurate and unfair.
 
Ani Ibi:
I call myself Catholic. I have already spoken to you about this. And you conceded. Now you have recanted. Am I surprised? No.

Those who wish to sow confusion by relanguaging (and then unilaterally dominating what gets said) are among those who add the prefix ‘Roman.’

I can understand why someone needing to challenge the ‘universality’ of the Catholic Church would want to qualify the term ‘Catholic’ with the term ‘Roman.’

I can understand why someone wanting to appropriate the term ‘catholic’ (ie, ‘universal’) for themselves would want to qualify the term ‘Catholic’ with the term ‘Roman.’

These rhetorical moves are indeed sly – but doomed, because they are transparent and do not demonstrate good faith.

Catholics are known by the name ‘Catholic.’ Protestants are known by the name(s)…what? Non-Catholic? Evangelical? Any number of things, it seems to me, which then change. Notwithstanding the apparent mutability of non-Catholic terminology, I am sure we would agree to anything you wish to call yourselves – in the interest of good faith. However, good faith is a two-way street, at least where discussion is concerned. Your recanting of your concession to the term ‘Catholic’ does not demonstrate good faith.

Bottom line: looks like pejorative terminology (according to your way of thinking) is OK when denoting Catholics, but not OK when denoting Protestants. Reality check: it’s never OK.

So ‘Roman Catholic’ you want, have it your way. It does not change the catholic nature of the Catholic Church. As for not wanting the term ‘Protestant’: your point is? Our point is this: since you have persisted with your unilateral relanguaging, why should we feel any motivation whatsoever to amend our terminology in favour of yours? ‘Protestant’ is most likely what you’ve stuck yourself with.
Doh!! She found me!
 
40.png
Genesis315:
No your answer is fine. But then it is not “sola scriptura.” God made it known through his Church, not through Scripture.
Sola Scriptura does not deny that God works through His church. Once God worked through His people to provide the His word, that word then becomes the sole infallible rule of faith.

God bless,
Stingray 🙂
 
40.png
Stingray:
Sola Scriptura does not deny that God works through His church. Once God worked through His people to provide the His word, that word then becomes the sole infallible rule of faith.

God bless,
Stingray 🙂
Great answer stingray. I find that most Catholics on this forum do not realize this and are therefore spending alot of time and energy battling a straw man understanding of sola Scriptura.

It is the difference between sola scriptura–the belief that the Scripture is the final and only infallible source for theology, and solo Scriptura–the belief that Scripture is the only source for theology. Most Roman Catholics are attacking solo Scriptura. Admitingly, many uninformed Protestants and fundementalists do unwittingly believe in solo scriptura, but the Evangelical definition is that of the early church and the Reformers–sola Scriptura.

Thanks for clarifying. I am keeping my eye on you.

Michael
 
40.png
Stingray:
It’s my hope that we could discuss these things in a friendly manner without resorting to personal attacks on one another.
Oops again. The post to which you were responding was unquestionably civil, in my opinion (I re-read it to make sure) and in no way resembled a personal attack. It was a bit of a shock to me to suddenly happen upon the part about the personal attack. So much of a shock that, now I am wondering if you have an agenda or protocol you are following and didn’t notice that the poster to which you were responding didn’t match the stereotype.

Oops again. Another poster mentions personal attacks frequently. That poster confuses disagreement with animosity – and I think disingenuously. Sort of makes you think this personal attack business is a ‘play’ rather than a ‘premise.’

Moreover, when we hear patterns of words repeated, we begin to think maybe people are getting together via private messaging or even on other boards to strategize. Nothing wrong with that as long as the argumentation remains at the level of discussion and does not violate the following board rule:

**Do not view the discussion area as a vehicle for single-mindedly promoting an agenda. **

Operative concept: single-mindedly

If people are getting together to strategize, it would be much more conducive to discussion to just come out and say so.

If what you are saying is unfounded or unsound, somebody is going to take issue with it. This has nothing at all to do with you as a person and cannot legitimately be construed as a personal attack. It may feel uncomfortable to have your views challenged, but it is not a personal attack.

  1. *]
 
40.png
michaelp:
Great answer stingray. I find that most Catholics on this forum do not realize this and are therefore spending alot of time and energy battling a straw man understanding of sola Scriptura.

It is the difference between sola scriptura–the belief that the Scripture is the final and only infallible source for theology, and solo Scriptura–the belief that Scripture is the only source for theology. Most Roman Catholics are attacking solo Scriptura. Admitingly, many uninformed Protestants and fundementalists do unwittingly believe in solo scriptura, **but the Evangelical definition is that of the early church and the Reformers–sola Scriptura. **

Thanks for clarifying. I am keeping my eye on you.

Michael
Michael,

Where is your historical evidence for the early Church’s adherence to sola scriptura? You know full well that the “Reformers” invented it.

Peace
 
Genesis315 said:
(sorry for jumping the gun:o , don’t for get to critique post 78 too)

You’re right, his canon does not derive it’s inspriation from the Church’s ability to recognize it. It would be inspired if no one but the inspired author ever saw it. The crucial fact that we do know that it is inspired is purely a matter of Tradition. Just because it is inspiring doesn’t make it inspired. You can’t claim sola scriptura unless every rule of faith is in Scripture. One rule of Faith is that the canon we have now is the inspired word of God. You cannot, however, derive the canon we have now from Scripture alone. Do you see my point?

(sorry for posting things twice, people always miss my little posts :crying: )

That’s okay. I do see your point, but I think you misunderstand Sola Scriptura. While it does claim the scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith, it doesn’t deny that God works through His church. It’s at the point once received that the scriptures become the sole infallible rule of faith. As God reveals to His church what scripture is, His infallible word, that is when that word becomes the rule of faith. Basically, you are asking where was Sola Scriptura before Scriptura, at least with regards to the NT. However, SS does not deny that there was a process whereby God made known to the church the full extent of His word.

God bless,
Stingray 🙂
 
40.png
dennisknapp:
Michael,

Where is your historical evidence for the early Church’s adherence to sola scriptura? You know full well that the “Reformers” invented it.

Peace
Invented the term?? I concede Dennis!
 
40.png
michaelp:
Invented the term?? I concede Dennis!
Still waiting on that historical evidence that the early Church adhered to sola scriptura.

And you know they invented the doctrine.

Peace
 
40.png
michaelp:
Invented the term?? I concede Dennis!
I am shamefully momemtarily hijacking this thread:crying: All Catholics and protestants,non- catholics,shoot!Listen Christians on this thread we must pray for Terri Schiavo her stay has been denied starvation starts at 1:00pm tomorrow!Email Jeb Bush and anybody else that will make waves.We are Christians and need to do something.There is a thread about it in the news.God Bless
 
40.png
dennisknapp:
Still waiting on that historical evidence that the early Church adhered to sola scriptura.

And you know they invented the doctrine.

Peace
Here is my standard stock. But this is pretty useles since we have been throught this before.

Irenaeus (ca. 150)

Against Heresies 3.1.1

“We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith.”

****Clement of Alexandria (d. 215) ****

The Stromata, 7:16 ****

“But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent pursuits, will not desist from the search after truth, till they get the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves.”

****Gregory of Nyssa (d.ca 395) ****

**“On the Holy Trinity,” NPNF, p. 327 **

“Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words.”

****Athanasius (c.296–373) ****

Against the Heathen, 1:3 ****

“The holy and inspired Scriptures are fully sufficient for the proc****lamation of the truth.” ****

Basil the Great (ca.329–379)

On the Holy Spirit, 7.16 ****

****“We are not content simply because this is the tradition of the Fathers. What is important is that the Fathers followed the meaning of the Scripture.” ****

****Ambrose (340–397 AD) ****

On the Duties of the Clergy, 1:23:102****

“For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?”

St. Augustine (354–430)****

De unitate ecclesiae, 10****

****“Neither dare one agree with catholic bishops if by chance they err in anything, but the result that their opinion is against the canonical Scriptures of God.” ****

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

Summa Theologiae, Question 1, art. 8****

****“For our faith rests on the revelation made to the Prophets and Apostles who write the canonical books.” ****

I know, I know, I took them out of context, right?

I pray that you are doing VERY well Dennis. Always good to hear from you,

Michael
 
40.png
Stingray:
Who are you to say this? The people who preach these untruths think they are real christian.

Thinking one is Christian doesn’t make it so. I am not judging anyone individually as to whether or not they have been saved.Yes you were… I’m judging what it is the Catholic Dude says they are preaching, which by the way I have yet to see any examples of. I don’t know of anyone individually or a protestant church as whole that teaches Christians are saved to sit around. Until some evidence is provided to the contrary, I would say that is simply a mischaracterization of protestants.

What authority are you to say they are not real christians. Not much by your own bliefs, right?

In context we were discussing teachings. I was not attempting to judge who is and is not saved Once again, Yes you were passing judgment, but simply saying real Christianity doesn’t teach one is saved to sit around. If you find someone who claims to be a Christian teaching that, wouldn’t you be concerned that they are a wolf in sheeps clothing. Christ told us to beware of false teachers. Don’t you agree that we should?

For all your fancy little “tricks” you think you know, which I hope one day you can allow yourself to see the Truth.

I don’t enjoy being personally attacked (your fancy little tricks, you think you know) do you?I don’t mind, and anything other than the truth is a trick Let’s make a deal. I will stick to evaluating your arguments rather than your person. Will you agree to do the same?
  1. You can’t expain the first 1500 years of Chistianity, where there were no Potestants.
Protestants are Christians. It’s that simple. Do you disagree?
well you answered that question…this is about the time a prots eyes glaze over…
2. You can’t explain away the fact the the Catholic Church organized and produced the Bible, like mentioned previously around 390A.D.

I’m fairly sure we have different understandings concerning how we arrived at a knowledge of the canon of scripture, but I have no problem acknowledging that the church used by God played a role in it.
Not just the “church”…The Catholic Church…
3. You can’t explain away the fact that your beliefs are based on “documents”[sola scriptura, sola fida], not any form of scripture,

Actually, that is incorrect. Both beliefs are derived from scripture. If you doubt, let’s discuss. Where do you want to start? Actully my statement is correct…since nowhere in scripture did Christ say …“here’s a book, figure it out for yourself”. That is why Christ started his Catholic[universal] Church, in which He then gave it Authority over the “keys to the kingdomn of heaven”.

written by Martin Luther, who was not inspired by the Holy Spirit,
might add, since Luther’s documents were meant to take away the authority given to Christ’s Church, by Christ Himself I might add…

Well…To my knowledge no one has ever said Martin Luther’s works are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Then why do you follow his teaching instead of the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church? Actually, Luther wanted to reform the church, but that’s another subject. Yeah, and homosexuals want to reform the Church too…doesn’t mean their gonna do …“not even the gates of Hell will prevail against it!”
  1. Your church, or “organization”, was not started by Christ.
Those who are saved are the body of Christ, the church. It is not their denominational affiliation that places them in Christ. So the Church that Christ Found is not important eh?..well without it, you wouldn’t have the bible to base your church on…hmmmm

God bless,
God bless you too…
Stingray:)
 
40.png
michaelp:
Here is my standard stock. But this is pretty useles since we have been throught this before.

Irenaeus (ca. 150)

Against Heresies 3.1.1

“We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proc**laim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith.”**

Irenaeus (ca. 150)
"But since it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the successions of all the churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. (Against Heresies., 3:3:1).

****Clement of **Alexandria (d. 215) **

The Stromata**, **7:16

“But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent pursuits, will not desist from the search after truth, till they get the demonstration from the Scriptures themselves.”


Clement of Alexandria (d. 215)
“Well, they preserving the tradition of the blessed doctrine derived directly from the holy apostles, Peter, James, John, and Paul, the sons receiving it from the father (but few were like the fathers), came by God’s will to us also to deposit those ancestral and apostolic seeds. And well I know that they will exult; I do not mean delighted with this tribute, but solely on account of the preservation of the truth, according as they delivered it. For such a sketch as this, will, I think, be agreeable to a soul desirous of preserving from loss the blessed tradition” (*Miscellanies *1:1 [A.D. 208]).


****Athanasius (c.296–373) ****

Against the Heathen**, 1:3 **

“The holy and inspired Scriptures are fully sufficient for the proc**lamation of the truth.” **

Athanasius (c.296–373)
“Again we write, again keeping to the apostolic traditions, we remind each other when we come together for prayer; and keeping the feast in common, with one mouth we truly give thanks to the Lord. Thus giving thanks unto him, and being followers of the saints, ‘we shall make our praise in the Lord all the day,’ as the psalmist says. So, when we rightly keep the feast, we shall be counted worthy of that joy which is in heaven” (*Festal Letters *2:7 [A.D. 330]).

I know, I know, I took them out of context, right?

I pray that you are doing VERY well Dennis. Always good to hear from you,

Michael
No, not out of context, just not the full picture.

Peace
 
Cont.

Basil the Great (ca.329–379)

On the Holy Spirit, 7.16 ****

****“We are not content simply because this is the tradition of the Fathers. What is important is that the Fathers followed the meaning of the Scripture.” ****

Basil the Great (ca.329–379)
“Of the dogmas and messages preserved in the Church, some we possess from written teaching and others we receive from the tradition of the apostles, handed on to us in mystery. In respect to piety, both are of the same force. No one will contradict any of these, no one, at any rate, who is even moderately versed in matters ecclesiastical. Indeed, were we to try to reject unwritten customs as having no great authority, we would unwittingly injure the gospel in its vitals; or rather, we would reduce [Christian] message to a mere term” (*The Holy Spirit *27:66 [A.D. 375]).

St. Augustine (354–430)****

De unitate ecclesiae, 10****

****“Neither dare one agree with catholic bishops if by chance they err in anything, but the result that their opinion is against the canonical Scriptures of God.” ****

St. Augustine (354–430)
“But in regard to those observances which we carefully attend and which the whole world keeps, and which derive not from Scripture but from Tradition, we are given to understand that they are recommended and ordained to be kept, either by the apostles themselves or by plenary [ecumenical] councils, the authority of which is quite vital in the Church” (*Letter to Januarius *[A.D. 400]).
Peace
 
40.png
Stingray:
If someone asked you what they must do to be saved, why would it be wrong for you to give the same answer? Certainly, the apostle knew how one is saved.
The quick response would be “yes”, if that was all you said and depending on the context the question was asked. A more detailed explaination is in order and for all we know Paul gave a more detailed information. Obviously the Bible authors were not court reporters writing detailed transcripts. To prove this let me offer a little experiment.

Eat lunch. Read the sermon on the mount from Matthew. Are you starving, yet? No, of course not. What took you minutes to read covered hours.

This is the basic problem with looking at one verse. Just for grins, before I became Catholic, I read the book of Romans at one sitting. Paul doesn’t even address Gentiles until the 11th or 12th chapter. So the “Roman Road” must be viewed from the standpoint of what Paul is saying to his Jewish brethren. The phrase, “works of the law” had a specific meaning and has nothing to do with the works of charity that Catholics emphasize or the works of charity Jesus said were how the He knows His own.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top