Why can't (not all but some) Protestants leave us (Catholics) alone with our devotion?

[DDClark]

I don’t get it. Since Catholic devotion prayers is a private matter that the Church does not require its faithful to pray but recommends it for spiritual, why don’t Protestants just leave us alone with we pray the rosary or the the Divine Mercy Chaplet? It’s our devotion, it’s not theirs. Nor it is none of their business.

I read the thread you referred to (on the apologetics board).

Am I correct in thinking that you are frustrated by that conversation, or is there more to it than that?

You aren’t talking about being interrupted or criticized while praying? I surely hope that hasn’t happened to you.

I think what you mean is “why don’t Protestants respect and understand Marian devotion”.

As a non-Catholic Christian, I do respect and understand most, if not everything you’ve said. I have a rosary, a guide to praying the rosary and can actually recite large portions of it after having EWTN on in the background while working in my kitchen

Having said that, I don’t pray the rosary personally because it is not the way I choose to connect to God. The reason I don’t choose the rosary in particular is that I don’t relate to Mary as my mother so it wouldn’t make sense for me to pray it.

It DOES make sense for me, personally, to pray the psalms or another devotion.

It HAS made me think about devotional prayer and contemplative prayer in a totally new light. Many Protestants have never been taught the value of contemplative prayer.

I’m new here, but my experience from participating in other board discussions tells me that some people just like to argue. That’s what happened on the other thread (with 1-2 non-Protestants putting forth much of the disagreement).

 

[Mannyfit75]

Well Manny, if I thought you sincerely wanted an answer to that question I’d try to give you one. But I don’t really think you do…

Nope you are always in opposition to the Catholic faith.

 

[Neophyte_Rose]

I am just a little curious…

where are we taught, as Catholics, that if we treat them with scorn, disgust and revilement, that they will be drawn to us?

I think we need to remember that we are taught to preach always, use words when necessary.

It’s more about how you act that will draw a person to or push a person away from Catholicism.

If you say that you are a part of this great religion that teaches you to love everyone as Christ has loved you, but then you treat anyone who happens to dissagree or misunderstand you with contempt and cruelty - the trademarks of hatred, not love - then the very people you are attempting to convert will look at you, see a hypocrite, and translate that experience into looking at the Church and seeing hypocrisy.

I just want the people who are behaving so oppostitionally here, or who feel so super-offended by Protestants who don’t trust the rosary, to read over this thread - and pretend that you are a person who does not understand… put yourself in their shoes… and see if anything you’ve written would either:

a) encourage you to try Marian devotions, encourage you to check a little bit more deeply into this Catholic faith

or

b) encourage you to avoid Catholics, as it appears they don’t really seem to like you or be interested in explaining anything to you with any amount of sincerity.

I mean, come on people. peace out. play nice. we’re all friends here, so let’s behave like it.

Pax Christi
Esther Rose

 

[AllSaints1631]

I don’t get it. Since Catholic devotion prayers is a private matter that the Church does not require its faithful to pray but recommends it for spiritual, why don’t Protestants just leave us alone with we pray the rosary or the the Divine Mercy Chaplet? It’s our devotion, it’s not theirs. Nor it is none of their business.

Not the most cordial thing for a Catholic to say. Didn’t Jesus tell Peter to be a fisher of men?

 

[Metaron]

Not the most cordial thing for a Catholic to say. Didn’t Jesus tell Peter to be a fisher of men?

Uh, don’t you jump on Mannyfit75. The some Protestant who make those accusations are not cordial at all. Just get over your whining, Allsaints! Why do you have a vendetta against Mannyfit75 and our Church???

 

[AllSaints1631]

Uh, don’t you jump on Mannyfit75. The some Protestant who make those accusations are not cordial at all. Just get over your whining, Allsaints! Why do you have a vendetta against Mannyfit75 and our Church???

Questioning the church isn’t having a vendetta against it, but maybe calling out those Catholics here that believe that they can treat others any way they wish, Christianlike or not is. When my Aunt (who was Methodist) died and half of the family who is Catholic prayed the Rosary at her funeral, none of the Protestants objected and certainly didn’t question or insult them. I think that this is just a personal problem or a figment of some of your imaginations.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

I don’t get it. Since Catholic devotion prayers is a private matter that the Church does not require its faithful to pray but recommends it for spiritual, why don’t Protestants just leave us alone with we pray the rosary or the the Divine Mercy Chaplet? It’s our devotion, it’s not theirs. Nor it is none of their business.

Hey Manny I had my friend show me how to pray the rosary, she just explained it plainly. I think its a “good idea” it hekps one think about what to pray. Im still not in agreeance with Mary but Im not against it. I even hae my Great Grandmas rosary and I cherish it.

If you want to “get through” to people like us little protestants try just as my friend did. let us accept what we “like” about it or understand and leave the rest to God.

Another thing I was at a retreat with my old Baptist church and we had a Lutheran speaker talk on prayer. She brought in a book of written prayers. She explained that some say these written prayers are not from the heart. BUT they were from someones heart and while one may want to use their own words, sometimes its a blessing to share with the author of the prayer and read the words they wrote. After all we read the prayers of Jabez etc from the bible, why not others?

And on the flip side in my bible study (Baptists love to pray aloud) anyway we were feeling inadequate to the pastors prayers. He said it was nice to hear ours because they were simple and from the heart and if we were not perfect in our words that God would still appreciate it.

You are good at explaining things Manny, you just have to be patient, break it down to something the other can understand. And let God do the rest.

take care out there

 

[Mannyfit75]

Not the most cordial thing for a Catholic to say. Didn’t Jesus tell Peter to be a fisher of men?

I don’t think it would be wise to go against me. I can pretty much refute your attacks against the Catholic Church. It saddens me to see you point nothing but Anti-Catholic posts. A disappointment from someone who claimed to a “Catholic.”

Jesus tell Peter to be fisher of men. I hardly think Protestant fit that role if they want to drive Catholics away from that faith by Proselytizing Catholics. That is what most of their objections are when they confront Catholics about our so called devotions.

I do admit I meet some Protestants who are sincere and respect our devotions and don’t tell us the rosary as being unbiblical, etc. Those are the only Protestants I have respect for. Any Protestants who proselytizing, I have no respect for. I am merely sadden by their distorted view of Catholicism.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Hey Manny I had my friend show me how to pray the rosary, she just explained it plainly. I think its a “good idea” it hekps one think about what to pray. Im still not in agreeance with Mary but Im not against it. I even hae my Great Grandmas rosary and I cherish it.

If you want to “get through” to people like us little protestants try just as my friend did. let us accept what we “like” about it or understand and leave the rest to God.

Another thing I was at a retreat with my old Baptist church and we had a Lutheran speaker talk on prayer. She brought in a book of written prayers. She explained that some say these written prayers are not from the heart. BUT they were from someones heart and while one may want to use their own words, sometimes its a blessing to share with the author of the prayer and read the words they wrote. After all we read the prayers of Jabez etc from the bible, why not others?

And on the flip side in my bible study (Baptists love to pray aloud) anyway we were feeling inadequate to the pastors prayers. He said it was nice to hear ours because they were simple and from the heart and if we were not perfect in our words that God would still appreciate it.

You are good at explaining things Manny, you just have to be patient, break it down to something the other can understand. And let God do the rest.

take care out there

You are one of the Protestants who I respect fully. I think explaining Catholic practices one step at the time would be benefit and open the lines of understanding. This is what I expect that all Protestants should do instead of proselytizing Catholics.

 

[Rightlydivide]

I

I do admit I meet some Protestants who are sincere and respect our devotions and don’t tell us the rosary as being unbiblical, etc. Those are the only Protestants I have respect for. Any Protestants who proselytizing, I have no respect for. I am merely sadden by their distorted view of Catholicism.

So you only respect people who do not tell you you are wrong?

 

[Kitty_Chan]

You are one of the Protestants who I respect fully. I think explaining Catholic practices one step at the time would be benefit and open the lines of understanding. This is what I expect that all Protestants should do instead of proselytizing Catholics.

well, I figure we all better get along now, as forever is a long time.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Questioning the church isn’t having a vendetta against it, but maybe calling out those Catholics here that believe that they can treat others any way they wish, Christianlike or not is. When my Aunt (who was Methodist) died and half of the family who is Catholic prayed the Rosary at her funeral, none of the Protestants objected and certainly didn’t question or insult them. I think that this is just a personal problem or a figment of some of your imaginations.

Figment of some of my imagination. Tell me AllSaint, are the web master of these website a figment of my imagination:

jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/catholic_vs_bible.htm

or tell that to Steven Hirsch who posted this:

I have absolutely no doubt at all that Anneleise was possessed by demons. Being religious has nothing to do with salvation and this is what left her open to such an occurance. Having read her story and knowing that she felt she could pay for someone elses sins is completly contrary to the word of God, but it is Roman Catholic teaching. However, there is only one way to be saved and it is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not as a result of works, lest one shall boast {Eph 2:8-9} for one example. The Word of God is also quite clear that truly saved people cannot become demon possessed, yes they can be demonically influenced but not possessed as she was. Her religious acts such as saying the rosary, “another unbiblical teaching”, along with the Roman Catholic teaching that one can pay for anothers sins is simply man trying to exalt himself to God status, which is what Lucifer wants to be when he says “I will be as the most high”! What is truly astonishing is that alot of Roman Catholics actually think that she was a Saint. However the spiritually blind and dead in sin cannot know truth because they seek a God of thier liking, not the God of the Bible. Christian pseudo-cults proclaim teaching very near the truth but with a twist, also mentioned in Galations chapter one by the Apostle Paul.

This was posted in christianswhothink.com/index.php/2005/09/09/the_real_emily_rose

or the webmaster at

gotquestions.org/praying-rosary.html

Unless you can prove these people are a figment of my imagination. You have proven your case. However, these people are out there, and perhaps there are thousands of others who have their belief as well. They aren’t my imagination.

 

[Singinbeauty]

Manny,
Take your subject line and switch ‘protestant’ and ‘catholic’ and you get the same question that protestants ask about catholics.

Both sides have followers who won’t leave the others to their worship and devotion. Why? Humans have an insane need to be better than others. To prove that Daddy loves them best and all others are evil satan worshippers because they don’t trust or believe that God can love someone as sinful as their own souls can be. It’s a self esteem kind of thing though it goes so much deeper than the mental / psycholigical esteem we have done so many studies on. This is the esteem that our souls are in. If they can prove that they are holier than anyone else then God CAN’T leave them behind.

But then there are others who are so passionate about their beliefs and that they REALLY do believe that the others are sinners and don’t want to see them left behind that they try to convince the others of the error of their ways. Anyway they can. Unfortunately, if not done in love, people lose sight of the real reason that this person is accusing them of sinning. The focus of this person is that they don’t want to see anyone unknowingly separate themselves from God so the scream and fight all the while thinking they are being convincing but in reality they are turning them away.

Either way, it needs to stop. Catholics, stop telling protestants their belief system is from satan and protestants stop telling catholics their belief system is the anti-christ. We all have a heart for God and we should rely on Him to guide us to unity instead of trying to force the other side to go against everything they believe God has led them to.

 

[water]

We all have a heart for God and we should rely on Him to guide us to unity.

I agree; unfortunately, not everybody recognizes how exactly we rely on God. He sometimes doesn’t talk to us directly or lead us directly.

 

[pete_29]

Are they scriptural?

No!

Does this mean they arte wrong?

No!

Correct.

Does “Hail” mean “Messaage to” or does “Hail” mean the same as it does in the phrase "Hail Ceaser. If it means the latter, then we should absolutely oppose it because it is worshiping her.

You would say it isn’t worshiping her, but if it has feathers and floats and looks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

If "Hail means “Message to” then I would not have an objection.

I have siad the hail Mary on Anunciation day. But to me “Hail” meant “message to.” what does it mean to you?

I stoped before the “Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” because I don’t see the point of it and no RC has given me an explanation why you pray that.

This does not mean it is right. Some would say heroin is uplifting but I wouldn’t take it. It is our concern that it is not right and you think it is right because it makes you feel good that causes us to speak out.

As many protestants do that, there is no problem.

What is it?

Did you ask them why they so often say The Lords Prayer in a service or why they always end a service with The Grace? Seems repititous to me.

Hush! you might cause a witch hunt!

Also, as the objective of this sight is to convert us all to Roman Catholism, you are obviously not leaving us alone.

Someone forced you to come here?

 

[Mannyfit75]

Manny,
Take your subject line and switch ‘protestant’ and ‘catholic’ and you get the same question that protestants ask about catholics.

I can’t speak for those who do say the opposite concerning Catholics. There are new Catholics in here who claim their doctrine is from the devil. I don’t agree. I believe the doctrine of Protestantism is developed by man during the Reformation. I believe sin cause this division.

Both sides have followers who won’t leave the others to their worship and devotion. Why? Humans have an insane need to be better than others. To prove that Daddy loves them best and all others are evil satan worshippers because they don’t trust or believe that God can love someone as sinful as their own souls can be. It’s a self esteem kind of thing though it goes so much deeper than the mental / psycholigical esteem we have done so many studies on. This is the esteem that our souls are in. If they can prove that they are holier than anyone else then God CAN’T leave them behind.

Being obedient to God’s precepts is what makes us holy. His grace helps move us to do good towards others.

But then there are others who are so passionate about their beliefs and that they REALLY do believe that the others are sinners and don’t want to see them left behind that they try to convince the others of the error of their ways. Anyway they can. Unfortunately, if not done in love, people lose sight of the real reason that this person is accusing them of sinning. The focus of this person is that they don’t want to see anyone unknowingly separate themselves from God so the scream and fight all the while thinking they are being convincing but in reality they are turning them away.

They maybe passionate with their zeal but some of your Protestant brothers and sisters have read some of Jack Chick’s tract like the new user Bible Believer. He made a comment of dying the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.

Either way, it needs to stop. Catholics, stop telling protestants their belief system is from satan and protestants stop telling catholics their belief system is the anti-christ. We all have a heart for God and we should rely on Him to guide us to unity instead of trying to force the other side to go against everything they believe God has led them to.

The difference is commonly discuss in this thread. I have attempted in the past to post thread on our likenesses and differences on our belief. That thread didn’t last even a week.

 

[Neophyte_Rose]

Any Protestants who proselytizing, I have no respect for. I am merely sadden by their distorted view of Catholicism.

woah, woah, woah!

after saying something like that, you expect ANY of those people to actually listen to you?

Personally, I respect every single human being as being a creation of God - and personally, I do my best to treat every person with respect and as I would wish to be treated - even if I don’t like what they are doing!!!

Manny, all I’m saying is: slow down, don’t take these things personally because they’re really not meant to be personal - and if it is personal, the Protestant who is trying to proselytize to you is simply doing so out of love, out of concern for your soul because there is something that they don’t understand about the faith.

That is where your chance to be a loving witness to that person comes in! You get the privilege of explaining it to someone, and if they don’t appear to listen at least they might be struck by a kind respectful attitude and think more on it later… if you just get sulky and disrespectful on them, all you will do is confirm their misinformation by your actions.

Every human being deserves our respect, Manny. Even the ones we don’t like; even the ones who do things that we don’t like.

I’m not saying you have to appreciate what they are trying to do, though it might benefit you to consider their intentions and treat them with Christian Charity… but you do need to respect that they are human beings with inherent worth and dignity, created by God and loved by God.

You need to treat them with love, this contempt and hatred will get us nowhere.

Pax Christi,
Esther Rose

 

[Mannyfit75]

woah, woah, woah!

after saying something like that, you expect ANY of those people to actually listen to you?

Nope. They seek to preach the Word of God to us and tell us our doctrines are false. They claim they are right, and we got it wrong.

Personally, I respect every single human being as being a creation of God - and personally, I do my best to treat every person with respect and as I would wish to be treated - even if I don’t like what they are doing!!!

They should be treated with respect. The only I don’t respect is their insistence that our religion is pagan, or worst Apostacy.

Manny, all I’m saying is: slow down, don’t take these things personally because they’re really not meant to be personal - and if it is personal, the Protestant who is trying to proselytize to you is simply doing so out of love, out of concern for your soul because there is something that they don’t understand about the faith.

Most of the time when we explain our faith to them. They will say, you are taking the Scripture out of context, or the ECF out of context. Or say the ECF are un-Biblical. If they want to understand, they should say. Oh, I see. I get out now.

That is where your chance to be a loving witness to that person comes in! You get the privilege of explaining it to someone, and if they don’t appear to listen at least they might be struck by a kind respectful attitude and think more on it later… if you just get sulky and disrespectful on them, all you will do is confirm their misinformation by your actions.

Even if we correct them, they still say we are wrong.

Every human being deserves our respect, Manny. Even the ones we don’t like; even the ones who do things that we don’t like

.

Should we accept people who tell lies about our Church?

I’m not saying you have to appreciate what they are trying to do, though it might benefit you to consider their intentions and treat them with Christian Charity… but you do need to respect that they are human beings with inherent worth and dignity, created by God and loved by God.

You need to treat them with love, this contempt and hatred will get us nowhere.

What hatred? I said I was sadden. Sadden and hatred are two different emotions.

Pax Christi,
Esther Rose

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Manny,
Take your subject line and switch ‘protestant’ and ‘catholic’ and you get the same question that protestants ask about catholics.

Both sides have followers who won’t leave the others to their worship and devotion. Why? Humans have an insane need to be better than others. To prove that Daddy loves them best and all others are evil satan worshippers because they don’t trust or believe that God can love someone as sinful as their own souls can be. It’s a self esteem kind of thing though it goes so much deeper than the mental / psycholigical esteem we have done so many studies on. This is the esteem that our souls are in. If they can prove that they are holier than anyone else then God CAN’T leave them behind.

But then there are others who are so passionate about their beliefs and that they REALLY do believe that the others are sinners and don’t want to see them left behind that they try to convince the others of the error of their ways. Anyway they can. Unfortunately, if not done in love, people lose sight of the real reason that this person is accusing them of sinning. The focus of this person is that they don’t want to see anyone unknowingly separate themselves from God so the scream and fight all the while thinking they are being convincing but in reality they are turning them away.

Either way, it needs to stop. Catholics, stop telling protestants their belief system is from satan and protestants stop telling catholics their belief system is the anti-christ. We all have a heart for God and we should rely on Him to guide us to unity instead of trying to force the other side to go against everything they believe God has led them to.

Hi nice to hear your voice again

 

[O.S.Luke]

Manny… you have outdone yourself this time for sure. Man, you’ve got to lighten up.

O+