What is the Gospel?

[2nd_Adam]

2nd Adam-

Would you be accomodating if Tweety were completely mis-representing Calvin while claiming to be Reformed?

Of course, since Calvinism is not the gospel, nor is John Calvin our savior. My Christan siblings don’t have to be a Calvinist like me on this side of glory. There is no perfect church or perfect systematic theologies since we all know in part. I do apologize when some overzealous Calvinist makes Calvinism more than it is. Charles Spurgeon once said that Calvinism is simply a nickname for “biblical Christianity”. Do I believe that many of these issues will be resolved in Heaven… yes! and you will be more Calvinistic than you are now in Heaven. , knowing that you were predestined to dwell with God forever through the sufficiency of Jesus Chrsit alone will help you glorify God and enjoy Him forever when we are face to face with Jesus. Calvinism allows us Christian siblings to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in greater depth, but it is not the gospel.

 

[2nd_Adam]

Thank you Adam, one thig I am a Great grandma too 10 times. I do teach in Rcia. I teach what a ministry is and the power of prayer, nothing else. My lesson plans are always turned into our Priest and meet with His approval! Oh I am not a liitle old lady who knits etc. I am a great Grandme(heavy on the great) who has a ball.I go dancing etc. nd anything I am able to do, which is a bunch, probaly would amaze you. I do have gray hair but I am not dottering.

I love Jesus and try the best I can to be what He wants me too. I have read some of the posts to fellow Catholics and they think some are out of line. Not Adams tho. Now for those of you who think I am not living up to what you think a Catholic is or isn’t that great! So continue with the bashing or what ever you call it. I am pleased when you do because I know that I am where Jesus wants me to be getting bashed by peole that think they are alwats perfect. I am not but sure try hard to be. Oh and God Bless you Adam.

Oh by the way I received 2 more PM today from people who have apoliged for how some have been so judgemental.

Hi Greatgrandma Tweetymom,

I love your screen name and love your posts too!. I believe true Christianity is measured by our love for God and our love for each other. Therefore, I see you as being one of the most mature Christians on Catholic Answer to the praise and glory of God alone! Sometimes many of us get caught up with apologetics (defense of the faith) losing site of the heart of Christianity which is being reconciled to God through Christ so we can glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We have such as wonderul and amazing Heavenly Father in which I know that you rejoice in every day… thanking and praising Him dearly from the bottom of your heart. God is such an infinite God that it is good to challenge each other for the purpose to grow our love and affection for our Triune God. May God continue to abundantly bless you and your family! Pray for me that one day I too we be a Grandparent, or even a greagrandparent. I have a 20 years old, 18 year old, and 16 year old and wonderful Christian wife of 23 years. They are all gifts from God!

This site is really about :harp::harp::harp: worshipping God together! Apologetics should be done as a form of worship, otherwise it is empty knowledge which puffs up.

 

[2nd_Adam]

Still no answer.

2nd Request

Do you agree with everything that the Catholic Church teaches?

When an RCIA student asks if he or she must agree with everything that the Church teaches before becoming a Catholic, how do you counsel him or her?

Please consider this comparision and contrast. I was nominated by the pastor’s wife at a PCA Church (Reformed) to serve as an elder about eight years ago. All leaders are required to study the Westminster Confession of Faith and are allowed to take exceptions to some of the views and position stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith. If our exceptions were not as essential, you were still able to serve in official leadership. Therefore in good conscience, all Christians should be able to have an honest disagreement on issues that are considered less essential, or are not clearly revealed as truth from above. The Catholic Church does not want to appear to change, but she does change in various degrees and issues. Christian love is the ablility to agree disagreeably on issues that are not essentials to the Christian Faith since we all truly know in part. I know many Catholics disagree with different teachings of the church. I’ve been to RCIA classes before, so I know what basic level it is taught. If you want to argue and debate that the Catholic Church does not change, do you think a Pope could agree with Martin Luther on justification by faith alone as noted in on my signature link. I think Pope Benedict would have been labeled as a heretic if he taught as he did 400 years ago in regards to Martin Luther’s infamous statement of faith alone. Of course, that’s just my viewpoint and opinion.

 

[2nd_Adam]

As long as she is on CAF purporting to espouse a faith she does not, she will make herself the subject of notice.

She could well follow the example of Polycarp, who, despite his “age”, refused to deny the faith that was committed to him by the Apostles.

This is a cheap shot brother, but my intention is right. You sure mention the Apostles more than Jesus Himself. Our goal is not to love the Apostles and Apostolic Succession, or John Calvin and Calvinism more… Our goal is to love God more! The more we love God, the more we are enabled to love each other more… for God is love!

 

[Philthy]

I don’t deny that some of our theological thinking is closer to Protestantism than to Catholicism. But on the more fundamental issues such as justification and salvation, the sacraments, the priesthood, we are closer to Catholicism than to Protestantism.

You keep alluding to this alleged difference between the Gospel “of” Mormonism and the Gospel “of” the Catholic Church and yet I didnt find anything in your lengthy link which articulated a point of difference.
I suggested quite some time ago that we need to make a list of items included as “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and see where we agree and where we disagree. Otherwise we end up in these ridiculously vague “exchanges” where we don’t truly understand what we are saying.
Having no qualification for doing so other than the idea occurred to me, I will offer some aspects of the Gospel from a Catholic perspective. Catholics and non-Catholics can and are encouraged to agree or disagree with my representations.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ

**We believe in one God comprised of 3 persons: **
The Father who created all that is seen and unseen,
The Holy Spirit - Lord and giver of life - who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
**The Son, **Jesus Christ, who is eternally begotten of the Father:
Through Him all things were created
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; eternally one in being with the Father
Nonetheless He became fully human in order to rescue fallen Mankind who, through the free, willful rejection of God by the first humans, had doomed themselves to eternal separation from God who is the intended perfect fulfillment of every good human desire.
For all man and for our salvation He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, He was crucified, died and was buried. On the 3rd day rose again, fulfilling the OT Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and He will come again to earth to judge the living and the dead as to their eternal destiny: either Heaven - inclusion in God’s kingdom, or Hell - exclusion from God’s kingdom. This judgment will be based upon our forgiveness, repentance, our belief in Him, and our faith working through love of God and neighbor. He has sent the Holy Spirit to aid us on our journey of faith to accomplish our forgiveness, repentance, faith and love. **We cannot accomplish any of these things apart from God - they are all a gift - but we are capable of rejecting the gift through choosing selfishness over love and the end of such a choice, when persisted in unrepentantly until death, is eternally separation from God. **

OK, this is a lot harder than I thought! Anyhow, please feel free to chime in…

 

[jmcrae]

Please consider this comparision and contrast. I was nominated by the pastor’s wife at a PCA Church (Reformed) to serve as an elder about eight years ago. All leaders are required to study the Westminster Confession of Faith and are allowed to take exceptions to some of the views and position stated in the Westminster Confession of Faith. If our exceptions were not as essential, you were still able to serve in official leadership. Therefore in good conscience, all Christians should be able to have an honest disagreement on issues that are considered less essential, or are not clearly revealed as truth from above.

1. Why would you have in your statement of beliefs, anything non-essential, or not revealed as Truth by God?
2. Who decides what’s “essential” and “non-essential” - and how are you not making that person your “Pope”?

The Catholic Church does not want to appear to change, but she does change in various degrees and issues. Christian love is the ablility to agree disagreeably on issues that are not essentials to the Christian Faith since we all truly know in part. I know many Catholics disagree with different teachings of the church. I’ve been to RCIA classes before, so I know what basic level it is taught. If you want to argue and debate that the Catholic Church does not change, do you think a Pope could agree with Martin Luther on justification by faith alone as noted in on my signature link. I think Pope Benedict would have been labeled as a heretic if he taught as he did 400 years ago in regards to Martin Luther’s infamous statement of faith alone. Of course, that’s just my viewpoint and opinion.

If you read through the Council of Trent, you will notice that their definition is exactly the same as Pope Benedict’s definition.

 

[2nd_Adam]

1. Why would you have in your statement of beliefs, anything non-essential, or not revealed as Truth by God?
2. Who decides what’s “essential” and “non-essential” - and how are you not making that person your “Pope”?

If you read through the Council of Trent, you will notice that their definition is exactly the same as Pope Benedict’s definition.

I am simply posting these comments so you guys would consider to treat Tweetymom in a more gentle and Christ-like way. She’s a Greatgrandmother at the age of 71, and the Catholic Faith is not as uniform as you try to make it sound. So many Catholics have different takes on many many issues, and you already know that. Don’t make your version of the Catholic Faith superior than another Catholic who may see things quite differently.

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

Thanks to all who participated in this thread.
The thread is now closed.