Why Be Protestant?

[Randy_Carson]

Why be Protestant (or Baptist )?

What are Catholics missing by being Catholic?

Begin by considering the following creed which contains many of the fundamentals of our Catholic faith:

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

+++

Was anything significant omitted?

If not, why should someone leave the Catholic Church in order to become some variety of Protestant (or Baptist)?

 

[crazzeto]

You got me Randy, good question!

 

[ESMDHokie77]

the answer to this question depends on who you’re asking.

If you’re asking me, I’d say I have no reason to be Protestant. I never wanted to become one, even when I was ignorant of how to defend Holy Mother Church and of how much the Church means to me. Thankfully, I’ve always loved the Liturgy and never had a thought to leave.

If you ask a cradle protestant, they may say they were raised by their whole family this way. (Much like how I would’ve answered the question since I am a cradle Catholic and was unarmored about my faith until recently).
If you ask a protestant who is educated in their faith, they might go through a list of talking points, spouting off their misconceptions of the Catholic Church while doing so.

…

Oh, I just saw the last line of your post… Well I suppose it’s because they never fully investigated the Catholic Church FOR THEMSELVES. I’m talking a FULLY comprehensive, let’s buy a new bookshelf for this apologetic library, (gee this sounds familiar), comprehensive.

 

[JesusforMadrid]

Why be Protestant (or Baptist )?

What are Catholics missing by being Catholic?

Begin by considering the following creed which contains many of the fundamentals of our Catholic faith:

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

+++

Why should someone leave the Catholic Church in order to become some variety of Protestant (or Baptist)?

Well, perhaps he does not like your version of the Creed.

Here’s a better one:

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not created, of one essence with the Father
through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried;

And He rose on the third day,
according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living
and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life,
Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

Amen.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Well, perhaps he does not like your version of the Creed.

Here’s a better one:

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not created, of one essence with the Father
through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried;

And He rose on the third day,
according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living
and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life,
Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

Amen.

What makes it better, and is it so much better that someone should leave the Catholic Church to become Anglican?

 

[Suslar]

In my experience, people have left the Chruch because of:

1. lack of understanding/lack of catechesis
2. personal convenience (it is a lot easier to belong to a church that doesn’t require you to obtain Declaration of Nullity prior to remarrying after civil divorce)
3. complete ignorance over WHO founded our Church
4. some protestant mega-churches help people feel really good . . . there is no talk of sin, and since there is no Real Presence, they hire in rock bands who perform shows at services. It’s kinda fun, but hollow.

Lastly, in paraphrasing Bishop Sheen, lots of people HATE what they mistakenly think Mother Church stands for . . . .

“Few people in America hate the Catholic religion,
but there are many who hate what they mistakenly believe is the Catholic religion
—and if what they hate really were the Catholic religion, Catholics would hate it too.”
Bishop Fulton Sheen

 

[JesusforMadrid]

What makes it better, and is it so much better that someone should leave the Catholic Church to become Anglican?

Well, there is much to be said for sticking with the original.

I sense you are being purposely provocative with your question, so I hope my response is not impertinent. Arguably, your version of the Creed, with the filioque imperiously added, is a manifestation of the very problem that many Protestants and Orthodox see in Rome.

Is your new, improved version of the Creed sufficiently better that one should leave the Orthodox Catholic Church and cause a schism? Protestantism never arose in the areas of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that didn’t change the Creed. Perhaps if Rome didn’t innovate, Protestantism would have been necessary.

 

[crazzeto]

What makes it better, and is it so much better that someone should leave the Catholic Church to become Anglican?

I noticed he ditches the Filioque, which honestly doesn’t make it “better”, just gives the creed a difference emphisis. On balance, this provides no honest Catholic a good reason to abandon the See of Peter for Anglicanism.

 

[Randy_Carson]

[SIGN]
This thread is not entitled, “Why Be Orthodox?”.
[/SIGN]

 

[GaryTaylor]

I think its a great question, but I only see Catholic answers. I could speculate but that wouldn’t be the right thing to do. I’d love to hear the different thinking though.

God Bless, GT

 

[LDNCatholic]

Well, there is much to be said for sticking with the original.

Lol. Becoming a Protestant to stick to the original I’ve read it all now.

 

[Chris_Etzel]

Why be Protestant (or Baptist )?

Because I grew up with a barely-Catholic father and a fundamentalist mother. Guess who initially won ?

What are Catholics missing by being Catholic?

As a prior Baptist, my answer would be:

“A personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

But being able to use a condom guilt-free is probably a close second.

Begin by considering the following creed which contains many of the fundamentals of our Catholic faith:

The Nicene Creed
…

Was anything significant omitted?

No, but there was something added that has caused some controversy. Not sure if it’'s worth leaving the Church. That is for another of many threads on the subject though.

 

[waxwing]

the answer to this question depends on who you’re asking.

If you’re asking me, I’d say I have no reason to be Protestant. I never wanted to become one, even when I was ignorant of how to defend Holy Mother Church and of how much the Church means to me. Thankfully, I’ve always loved the Liturgy and never had a thought to leave.

If you ask a cradle protestant, they may say they were raised by their whole family this way. (Much like how I would’ve answered the question since I am a cradle Catholic and was unarmored about my faith until recently).
If you ask a protestant who is educated in their faith, they might go through a list of talking points, spouting off their misconceptions of the Catholic Church while doing so.

…

Oh, I just saw the last line of your post… Well I suppose it’s because they never fully investigated the Catholic Church FOR THEMSELVES. I’m talking a FULLY comprehensive, let’s buy a new bookshelf for this apologetic library, (gee this sounds familiar), comprehensive.

I agree with main gist of this…however a Protestant can spout off more than just misconceptions to come to a different conclusion as to why they decide to become/remain Protestant. Even if they do comprehensive investigation into the Church many will remain Protesant for some fundamental difference’s between the two. I think of some of the more respected writers in Protestantism, like Packer, Stott and Keller, I have to think that they are aware of the positions of the Catholic Church but choose to stay Protestant.

 

[ESMDHokie77]

I agree with main gist of this…however a Protestant can spout off more than just misconceptions to come to a different conclusion as to why they decide to become/remain Protestant. Even if they do comprehensive investigation into the Church many will remain Protesant for some fundamental difference’s between the two. I think of some of the more respected writers in Protestantism, like Packer, Stott and Keller, I have to think that they are aware of the positions of the Catholic Church but choose to stay Protestant.

Then individuals such as those that you name stand in contrast to fellows like Scott Hahn, who sounds like, looks like, and appears to be a very learned scholar who was once protestant, and it’s my opinion that he is.

Certainly, they don’t need to have misconceptions (or misinformation) about the Church, they could be academically ignorant of a topic outright.

One should not choose to be protestant simply because it’s different than Catholicism, one should be protestant if they believe that it is the truth. And truth is universal, or to use another word, Katholikos.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Problem with the Truth is a small issue called learned behavior. Some have minds that are just an open book, Others cannot open the book to grasp different thinking.

Add to the equation personality and education?

And let me speak on education for moment. I seen 4.0 average top of the class PHDs with an inability to grasp Truth and overcome alcohol and substance abuse. So denial is no easy river to cross my friends. As a matter of fact they were the most difficult to treat. So while education may help one it may also be a negative factor.

Though I would think a great percent rely on learned behavior. Look at Islam? Try to tell them Jesus Christ is God and Died on the Cross.

Me? I’m a firm believer in Prayer. An just as God speaks to you so does satan, and of course your own thinking comes into play. So the test becomes too really think every thought through, one at a time in context with scripture. Then if in doubt pray on it. God can read your mind also, here satan fails. But thats another topic for another day.

Lets face it man is a lazy creature, he’s not going out of his way to disturb his comfortability. So the question becomes is your comfort an issue to your spiritual welfare? Is your spiritual situation serving God and the greater good of His Kingdom? Tough questions each must have to answer while the opportunity is afforded.

God Bless, hope that made it easier.

 

[waxwing]

Then individuals such as those that you name stand in contrast to fellows like Scott Hahn, who sounds like, looks like, and appears to be a very learned scholar who was once protestant, and it’s my opinion that he is.

Certainly, they don’t need to have misconceptions (or misinformation) about the Church, they could be academically ignorant of a topic outright.

One should not choose to be protestant simply because it’s different than Catholicism, one should be protestant if they believe that it is the truth. And truth is universal, or to use another word, Katholikos.

Yes I agree Scott Hahn does apprear to be a very much learned Scholar as is Francis Beckwith who returned to the church. I do not see this as being a issue of being academicaly ignorant and therefore one remains Protestant’s, it is different understanding of history. I contend that you put the brightest and most learned minds of both persuasions in room to debate thier points of view…have a audience of both Catholic and Protestants…in the end, your audience will walk out of their with questions/points that were brought up that they don’t have plausible answer too but remain Catholic and Protestant. As it is matter of faith, upbringing, their understanding of Scripture and Tradition. I choose to be Catholic for a variety of reasons but that doesn’t mean I have all the answers and their are certains things I just don’t know or don’t make sense but a Protestant could say the same things.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Yes I agree Scott Hahn does apprear to be a very much learned Scholar as is Francis Beckwith who returned to the church. I do not see this as being a issue of being academicaly ignorant and therefore one remains Protestant’s, it is different understanding of history. I contend that you put the brightest and most learned minds of both persuasions in room to debate thier points of view…have a audience of both Catholic and Protestants…in the end, your audience will walk out of their with questions/points that were brought up that they don’t have plausible answer too but remain Catholic and Protestant. As it is matter of faith, upbringing, their understanding of Scripture and Tradition. I choose to be Catholic for a variety of reasons but that doesn’t mean I have all the answers and their are certains things I just don’t know or don’t make sense but a Protestant could say the same things.

Another great point, nonetheless as we move closer to the end, if in fact the end is even near? Then whats the right move for Gods Kingdom? To admit as human’s we don’t have all the anwsers and unite the church. No?

Its not like we are on vacation deciding over which sun screen is better for you.

God Bless, GT

 

[FaustinaClare]

As a former Baptist and very anti Catholic I can only attribute my conversion to the Grace of God and being led by the Holy Spirit. It was almost like being hit over the head. You couldn’t pay me to go back to being a protestant now though.

It is frustrating b/c I see everything so clearly in my studies but giving that same info to some of my protestant family and they still insist on seeing the errors. What I think is plain English, they still see as gibberish.

For instance in trying to explain we don’t worship Mary and by providing biblical evidence and evidence from tradition and they walk away with the same misconception that we somehow still worship Mary.

It is the most frustrating thing. I think some people just choose to remain protestant b/c it is easier. If they were to become Catholic that would have to deal with a lot of sin issues in their lives that would make them uncomfortable. I sure had to! Like birth control and divorce. Some people CHOOSE to remain ignorant of the truth and therefore remain protestant. My conversion was definitely an Act of God, praise the Lord

In this ramble I hope I made some sense!

 

[qOcOp]

Well, there is much to be said for sticking with the original.

I sense you are being purposely provocative with your question, so I hope my response is not impertinent. Arguably, your version of the Creed, with the filioque imperiously added, is a manifestation of the very problem that many Protestants and Orthodox see in Rome.

Is your new, improved version of the Creed sufficiently better that one should leave the Orthodox Catholic Church and cause a schism? Protestantism never arose in the areas of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church that didn’t change the Creed. Perhaps if Rome didn’t innovate, Protestantism would have been necessary.

Both Forms of the Creed are products of the Catholic Church so I don’t really see what you’re getting at. Whether you like the creed with the filiogue or you like it without it the fact still remains they are both Catholic Creeds and therefore cannot be justification for leaving the Catholic Church. Furthermore the filioque neither made the creed better or worse but rather defined more clearly what was already known regarding the Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity.

So I think we are still waiting for that answer to the OPs question.

 

[FaustinaClare]

One more thing

a protestant friend of mine said she liked the Catholic church but remained protestant b/c their services were more ENTERTAINING!!!