What's lacking?

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Justin_Mary

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So I’ve got a protestant aunt who sends me messages from time to time. This is the latest.
The Cure for Materialism

3 John 1:2

When Simon offered money to the disciples, Peter responded: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20).

Materialism carries with it a heavy curse. It began when Adam and Eve wanted to satisfy their own appetites, and the whole world fell under the curse of sin. Materialism causes people to forget about God, and where God is not the focus, life will be pointless. Matthew 13:22 says: “The worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

The good news is that there is a cure for materialism. The cure is repentance. In Acts 8:22-23, the disciples told Simon: “Repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

God doesn’t want money to bind you or chain you down. Deuteronomy 8:18 says: “It is [God] who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant.” His blessings are meant to free us up to do more for Him. Giving of our blessings means that people are saved, the gospel is preached, and the poor are helped. God never blesses us to keep it for ourselves; He blesses us to share that blessing with others. Our financial prosperity and our spiritual prosperity are intertwined; they go hand in hand.

If we repent and make God’s glory our motivation, He will be honored in our stewardship.
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I believe the Holy Spirit brought about that understanding, therefore the Holy Spirit is at work in them, transforming them from the inside.

But they’re not Catholic. What benefit of sacramental living are they missing? I understand they are missing the sacraments themselves.

Are we saying they can’t reach the union possible in this life as our Saints have?

I believe Jesus’ words, unless you eat my flesh there is no life in you. But if others are achieving the same level of understanding as we are, isnt that proof of life in them?
 
Two things:
One, do they have the full Truth? certainly not, but they have a partial Truth. I have Protestant relatives and for sure they show errors and we oppose each other but certain things we do agree.
Two, will they be saved? I don’t presume to know, God is merciful and maybe helps them even if they are in error. Certainly some of them act like they are already saved and that leads to more errors.
 
Dan_Defender said:
will they be saved? I don’t presume to know
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Understood. Even as Catholics we believe if we are to be saved there will be purification before we can stand in the presence of God.

So by living a sacramental life are you saying our salvation is more assured?
 
I believe as Catholics we have access to more gifts and graces to achieve salvation, yes. Doesn’t mean everyone uses them. Also, it is not by chance that great saints and miracles occur within the Catholic Church. In a recent argument, I asked my Protestant relative: where is the equivalent of Padre Pio in Protestantism?!
 
I’m pretty sure Billy Graham is in heaven.
The Catholic Church has the fullness of the truth, Whether we avail ourselves of it is another question.
I’m sure Protestants who love Jesus will be in heaven.
 
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