What Catholics believe about Prostestants

[SolaFide]

I just checked the board before I am out the door for two days. I read a few threads and let me just say this…

A lot of you claim that what I am posting is not the truth about Catholicism but I see grave errors, assumptions and sweeping generalizations (all protestants, etc.) about Protestants made by many of you.

Before you start laying claim at my door that I don’t know what I’m talking about (BTW: I’ve probably studied Catholicism longer than some of you) maybe you should take a dose of your own medicine and check out the truth about protestantism before defaming it. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Maybe that would be the charitable thing to do.

 

[jesusluv]

That is exactly why my signature is what it is.

 

[mark_a]

Before you start laying claim at my door that I don’t know what I’m talking about (BTW: I’ve probably studied Catholicism longer than some of you) maybe you should take a dose of your own medicine and check out the truth about protestantism before defaming it.

Maybe that would be the charitable thing to do.

Sometimes what is perceived as lack of charity is actually defensiveness.

By the way, what’s your church’s stand on artificial contraception?

 

[Mannyfit75]

Here is what I commonly believe what Protestantism teaches is the following:

1. The rejection of Papal Authority or Primacy.
2. The rejection of fundamental doctrines of the Catholic Church.
3. The rejection of Apostolic Succession (in some degree. Anglicans claim to have this because they have bishops).
4. The Bible is the final authority in all faith and moral issue.
5. The belief in Faith Alone.
6. The priesthood of believers, which is also believed by both Catholic Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians.

The fact that within Protestantism, there are 33,000 different denominations, which different core beliefs, but maintain the core essentials such as the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection.

I will post the Assemble of God’s Fundamental Truths from their website:

16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God

1. 
   *]WE BELIEVE…The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…There is only One True God–revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s son Jesus was both human and divine.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through ‘Salvation’ (accepting Christ’s offer of forgiveness for sin). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]
   
   *]WE BELIEVE… The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe ‘the Church’ is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, and to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ’s atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
   
   *]WE BELIEVE…and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord!’
   
   Source: ag.org/top/Beliefs/Statement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_short.cfm
   
   This may differ from other denominations but the essentials of Protestantism remain such as faith alone, and Bible Alone.
   
   Oh it was me who said that SolaFide doesn’t know what he is talking about Catholicism. He doesn’t. I been Catholic for 32 yrs. My process of knowing my faith took years for form, and I believe most Catholics here know more about Catholicism than SolaFide.

 

[BrianH]

Without getting too deep into it, how many of those 16 do you generally accept Manny?
Part of the issue is there would a lot less differences if the denomination you listed was not charismatic.

 

[BrianH]

I need to add Manny, of the six you listed, I have only ever heard one of them talked about in a Methodist church in a sermon or part of the service. Seriously.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Without getting too deep into it, how many of those 16 do you generally accept Manny?
Part of the issue is there would a lot less differences if the denomination you listed was not charismatic.

Do you mean that I accept as truth? I would say the first 12 is true statements. The others are dispensationist doctrines. I don’t believe in the Rapture in the that some dispensationist Protestants do.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I need to add Manny, of the six you listed, I have only ever heard one of them talked about in a Methodist church in a sermon or part of the service. Seriously.

I don’t expect them to be discuss in the sermons in Protestant churches. However one can imply that they don’t recognized the primacy of the Pope. If they did they would be Catholic.

 

[BrianH]

Do you mean that I accept as truth? I would say the first 12 is true statement. The others are dispensationist doctrines. I don’t believe in the Rapture in the that some dispensationist Protestants do.

You dont believe 14-16? I thought for sure 15…

 

[mainusch]

The first forty years of my life were spent in a protestant denomination. For the last year and a half, I’ve been Catholic. I never make statements about protestantism that are not grounded in direct first-person experience.

 

[Mannyfit75]

You dont believe 14-16? I thought for sure 15…

It depends. If there are any AOG here feel free to correct me. If the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is exactly the way the Left Behind Series go, I would reject it fully.

I do believe in a Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I don’t believe he will literally reign 1,000 yrs and then leave us. The Scripture often said that the Reign of Christ is for all eternity. It doesn’t end.

 

[BrianH]

I don’t expect them to be discuss in the sermons in Protestant churches. However one can imply that they don’t recognized the primacy of the Pope. If they did they would be Catholic.

But you said “teaches”. I know that is a different concept. In Catholicism what your church teaches…officially…infallibly maybe is a better word is VERY important.
In a Protestant church, what the official denomination teaches is A LOT less important than what we hear every week.
I know that may or may not seem logical to you but that is definitely the way I see it:shrug:
It may be different for other Protestants…I dunno

 

[jmcrae]

I need to add Manny, of the six you listed, I have only ever heard one of them talked about in a Methodist church in a sermon or part of the service. Seriously.

How about in Sunday School, Bible class, private reading, or around the dinner table? Most of us receive the teachings of our faith in a variety of ways; if we had to rely on just the Sunday sermon alone, most of us wouldn’t know very much at all.

As I recall, Methodists hold to the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral” rather than to “Scripture Alone,” and they also hold to a doctrine of social justice; they certainly don’t believe in “faith alone” - those who still think there’s such a place as Hell, that is.

 

[Mannyfit75]

But you said “teaches”. I know that is a different concept. In Catholicism what your church teaches…officially…infallibly maybe is a better word is VERY important.
In a Protestant church, what the official denomination teaches is A LOT less important than what we hear every week.
I know that may or may not seem logical to you but that is definitely the way I see it:shrug:
It may be different for other Protestants…I dunno

BrianH, I am going by my own assumptions here. I know the basic of some essentials of Protestantism. Protestantism is a diverse group of Christians. I hardly can’t find the words to describe in a more universal terms.

You are a Protestant, you educate us. Your friend, SF, wanted to know what Catholics think Protestant believe so I spill out my views.

I also base this on my encounters with other Protestant Christians. Of course they are individuals, and their opinons may vary.

 

[BMSODM]

I found when people search truth they do it all wrong no matter what there faith is. If you talk with a catholic who is a cradle catholic you will find they search truth from a bias veiw. They learn from there family. If you talk with a protestant you will usually find they search truth from a bias view by the person who led them to Christ. I feel these searches are both wrong because we start from the middle and work our way back. The only way to derive to complete truth is to start from the beginning and work our way to the now.

If we do this without any bias preconceived notions we will find that when we read the church Fathers writing they are with out question catholic in there practices. And we will also find that the true context of the bible is 100% in accord with the catholic teachings. It wasnt until I finally put down all my bias knowledge at the foot of the cross that I was given a clear understanding of the scriptures. Im 100% positive that the sacraments within the catholic church are the organs within the body of Christ…

TRUTH IS TRUTH…

 

[BrianH]

How about in Sunday School, Bible class, private reading, or around the dinner table? Most of us receive the teachings of our faith in a variety of ways; if we had to rely on just the Sunday sermon alone, most of us wouldn’t know very much at all.

As I recall, Methodists hold to the “Wesleyan Quadrilateral” rather than to “Scripture Alone,” and they also hold to a doctrine of social justice; they certainly don’t believe in “faith alone” - those who still think there’s such a place as Hell, that is.

Probably some,
not a whole lot. Methodists do not seem to care about Catholics, they bash teleevangelists a lot…if anything

a dinner table, we have a buffet, but anyway
Yes we hold to scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.

 

[Metaron]

I just checked the board before I am out the door for two days. I read a few threads and let me just say this…

A lot of you claim that what I am posting is not the truth about Catholicism but I see grave errors, assumptions and sweeping generalizations (all protestants, etc.) about Protestants made by many of you.

Well, you have also made grave errors and assumptions, like the belief that Catholics have a “works-salvation” but that is just, I guess, because you have studied Catholicism more than all of us . I bet you’ve hardly ever, if ever, studied Catholic views from a Catholic book. If you’ve only studied Protestant views of Catholicism, you get a distorted and charicature-ish view of Catholicism. Which seems to me you have.

 

[jmcrae]

.The Scriptures are Inspired by God and declare His design and plan for mankind.

Agree - alongside Holy Tradition and the Magesterium, of course.

WE BELIEVE…There is only One True God–revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).

Agree!

WE BELIEVE…In the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s son Jesus was both human and divine.

Agree!!

WE BELIEVE…though originally good, Man Willingly Fell to Sin–ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

Agree!!

WE BELIEVE…Every Person Can Have Restored Fellowship with God Through ‘Salvation’ (accepting Christ’s offer of forgiveness for sin). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

Agree, as long as we don’t get into the specifics of how that works.

WE BELIEVE…and practice two ordinances—(1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and (2) Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.

Disagree; we believe that Baptism and Holy Communion are not merely smbolic ordinances, but are actually Sacraments, together with five others.

WE BELIEVE…the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a Special Experience Following Salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

We believe that Baptism effectively washes away both original and actual sin. It is the first Sacrament of the Church, and opens the way to all of the other Sacraments.

WE BELIEVE… The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.

We disagree. Although some people manifest the gift of tongues, it is a minor gift that is given only to a few, and less important than the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgement, Courage, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, which are given to all Catholics at the moment of Confirmation.

WE BELIEVE…Sanctification Initially Occurs at Salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.

We believe that this occurs at the moment of Baptism, but aside from that quibble, we agree with the rest of it.

WE BELIEVE…The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe ‘the Church’ is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.

We believe that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ in a visible manner, as a city lit up and set upon a hill. There is nothing “invisible” about it.

WE BELIEVE…A Divinely Called and Scripturally Ordained Leadership Ministry Serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, and to build up or edify the body of believers–the Church.

Agree!!

*]WE BELIEVE…Divine Healing of the Sick is a Privilege for Christians Today and is provided for in Christ’s atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins). [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

Miracles do continue in our present time, but we don’t consider ourselves to have a “right” to these miracles, and we don’t expect everyone to receive them. God also created the doctor, and the doctor’s work is the ordinary means of healing.

 

[jmcrae]

WE BELIEVE…in The Blessed Hope—When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever. [1 of 4 cardinal doctrines of the A/G]

Christ is only coming one more time, at the end of the world. There will be no one left alive at that time. All will be brought out of their graves, and judged according to their deeds and faith.

*]WE BELIEVE…in The Millennial Reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.

We don’t.

*]WE BELIEVE…A Final Judgment Will Take Place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.

We believe that a final judgement will take place for all human beings who have ever lived; both Christians and non-Christians.

WE BELIEVE…and look forward to the perfect New Heavens and a New Earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord!’

We agree, aside from the part about the millennial reign on earth.

 

[jmcrae]

Probably some,
not a whole lot. Methodists do not seem to care about Catholics, they bash teleevangelists a lot…if anything

No, no - I think you may have missed the point. The question was not what does Methodism teach about other religions, but what does it teach about itself?

1. The rejection of Papal Authority or Primacy.

Does Methodism teach that there is a Pope who has authority over the whole Church, and the right to tell people what to believe? (No.)

1. The rejection of fundamental doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Does Methodism reject certain doctrines of the Catholic Church? (Yes; it considers itself to be founded by liberators who freed them from the requirement to believe these teachings.)

1. The rejection of Apostolic Succession (in some degree. Anglicans claim to have this because they have bishops).

Do Methodists consider themselves to have Apostolic Succession; is Apostolic Succession considered to be an important feature for a Church to have? (No.)

1. The Bible is the final authority in all faith and moral issue.

I’m not sure that Methodism even recognizes the concept of a “final authority,” or what it would be, if they had one.

1. The belief in Faith Alone.

No, Methodists don’t believe in this.

1. The priesthood of believers, which is also believed by both Catholic Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians.

I think Methodists agree with this idea.