Why can't protestants see that Sola Scriptora is broken?

[Karen107]

I saw the title of the thread as “Protestants”…

And I started off with Christ and His interacting with the Samaritan woman at the well. And that God can take us where we are at and lead us. That the Spirit can guide us in that…

And I still stand by that…

God can and does write straight with crooked lines. A Samaritan at the well of human life can be lead to Him…

I still disagree with Concrete’s statement that it’s “pointless” to start off if one has wrong theology.

I dont see it as pointless at all. Never have. I see it as a starting point (the well) and with the Spirit’s guidance, one can be lead to Christ.

If we had to “wait” until people had right theology, then why both even trying to evangelize? That makes no sense to me and marginalizes the Spirit in the conversion process…

I have great faith the Holy Spirit, and I strive to be a conduit to the Spirit working thru me to bring people to the truth…

I think it’s sad to not even bother with people simply because they are under a false theology. I dont think that is what Christ’s asks of us at all. Never have. I don’t think we should view others place of spirituality as “pointless” (again Concrete’s word, not mine)

And I am glad He never gave up on me…

I believe I understand what you are saying, But people were put in your life who shared the truths of the church weren’t they? That’s what we should do as fishers of men. Protestants would even do that it’s part of evangelizing but base truths on their understandings of the truths. Living our faith is paramount of course because no one wants to hear anything if the fruit of the spirit is not evident by our behavior. People are often taught wrong things about us because of the behavior of some who don’t reflect what it means to be a Christian and doesn’t reflect Catholic principles, but they hear just what they hear about us nothing more in a lot of cases. And it happens in all belief systems, however not all belief systems have the truth. So how do you receive truth? A person has to come to it with an open heart and an open mind just like you probably did. .

 

[Marie5890]

I believe I understand what you are saying, But people were put in your life who shared the truths of the church weren’t they? That’s what we should do as fishers of men. Protestants would even do that it’s part of evangelizing but base truths on their understandings of the truths. Living our faith is paramount of course because no one wants to hear anything if the fruit of the spirit is not evident by our behavior. People are often taught wrong things about us because of the behavior of some who don’t reflect what it means to be a Christian and doesn’t reflect Catholic principles, but they hear just what they hear about us nothing more in a lot of cases. And it happens in all belief systems, however not all belief systems have the truth. So how do you receive truth? A person has to come to it with an open heart and an open mind just like you probably did. .

I didn’t say otherwise. And I mentioned that openness and humility mattered and that arrogance and ego get in the way on a couple of occasions.

Like I said, I disagree with concrete’s contention that its pointless. Its not pointless and we should never give up on people no matter where they are at. If we have faith that the Spirit will guide us we should never give up. Never think its pointless

 

[Karen107]

I didn’t say otherwise. And I mentioned that openness and humility mattered and that arrogance and ego get in the way on a couple of occasions.

Like I said, I disagree with concrete’s contention that its pointless. Its not pointless and we should never give up on people no matter where they are at. If we have faith that the Spirit will guide us we should never give up. Never think its pointless

I believe that Protestants evangelize Catholics and Catholics evangelize Protestants all the time. I was Catholic long before I had a conversion experience with the help of a fisher of men who does not belong to the church, but he admits he had an encounter with God from a women he knew who was Catholic. When I had my conversion experience I continued to be Catholic but a much stronger Catholic. My sister on the other hand, who wasn’t as grounded in the Church, will speak very negatively about it. We can pray together, but we cant talk about any experiences I have with the church or the sacraments. She just can’t hear about it and she doesn’t see merit in our practices, but I know what I know about them and the Churches Beauty. So well, I still love her and always will In Christ.

 

[Marie5890]

I believe that Protestants evangelize Catholics and Catholics evangelize Protestants all the time. I was Catholic long before I had a conversion experience with the help of a fisher of men who does not belong to the church, but he admits he had an encounter with God from a women he knew who was Catholic. When I had my conversion experience I continued to be Catholic but a much stronger Catholic. My sister on the other hand, who wasn’t as grounded in the Church, will speak very negatively about it. We can pray together, but we cant talk about any experiences I have with the church or the sacraments. She just can’t hear about it and she doesn’t see merit in our practices, but I know what I know about them and the Churches Beauty. So well, I still love her and always will In Christ.

That is beautiful!! The “well” with your sister is your ability to pray together!!! The rest is in God’s hand and in her willingness or unwillingness to be open.

What is it that Fr Pacwa says? “God is management”
It’s not our job to convert. That is why, for some anyway, the use of reason/intellect doesnt always work. (For some it may) It’s the Spirit’s job to convert, not ours.Our job is to make God more present to them

I’ll pray for your sister and you…

God Bless…

 

[Karen107]

That is beautiful!! The “well” with your sister is your ability to pray together!!! The rest is in God’s hand and in her willingness or unwillingness to be open.

What is it that Fr Pacwa says? “God is management”
It’s not our job to convert. That is why, for some anyway, the use of reason/intellect doesnt always work. (For some it may) It’s the Spirit’s job to convert, not ours.Our job is to make God more present to them

I’ll pray for your sister and you…

God Bless…

I don’t believe you understand. She’s fallen away from the Church and no longer receives the Body and Blood of Christ and that deeply saddens me.

 

[Marie5890]

I don’t believe you understand. She’s fallen away from the Church and no longer receives the Body and Blood of Christ and that deeply saddens me.

That doesnt mean that cant change.

That is what faith is about…

YOu take people where they are at, and go from there. Not from where you think they should be…

God takes each of us, sinners that we are, where we are at. And goes from there…

You are saddened by the situation. And I see opportunity.
Hopefully God will touch your heart to see the opportunity and then guide you in it’s journey…

I see you and your sister at “the well” of opportunity.

I hope God touches your heart too, to see the opportunity.

 

[Karen107]

That doesnt mean that cant change.

That is what faith is about…

YOu take people where they are at, and go from there. Not from where you think they should be…

God takes each of us, sinners that we are, where we are at. And goes from there…

You are saddened by the situation. And I see opportunity.
Hopefully God will touch your heart to see the opportunity and then guide you in it’s journey…

I see you and your sister at “the well” of opportunity.

I hope God touches your heart too, to see the opportunity.

I know you do, but I know my sister and she’s pretty set in her ways, For probably 15 years now and we can only talk about the things we both agree on, nothing more or she gets offended. God didn’t mean it to be that way.

Adds this is where I see Jesus said families will be divided.

 

[Adamski]

I don’t believe you understand. She’s fallen away from the Church and no longer receives the Body and Blood of Christ and that deeply saddens me.

As I tell fallen away catholics you are only one confession away from sainthood

Wow my second confession was when I was 33 and I felt like such a grace filled experience

 

[Karen107]

I bet it was s wonderful experience…

 

[Marie5890]

I know you do, but I know my sister and she’s pretty set in her ways, For probably 15 years now and we can only talk about the things we both agree on, nothing more or she gets offended. God didn’t mean it to be that way.

Adds this is where I see Jesus said families will be divided.

Well, I wont give up on my family.
I am the only practicing Catholic amongst agnostics, athiests, a Wiccan, and a Buddhist. We are different yet we arent divided from each other. I dont give up that the Spirit can, and does make a difference. I always pray that the “wells” will be made clear to me, and they are, in subtle ways…

I am sorry that your family is so divided that you see, little, if any hope of change.
God Bless

 

[Karen107]

I didn’t mean we were divided in love. Love keeps us together and always will, but as she is of the evangelistic ‘born again’ believers, she has separated herself from the church and is convinced the church is wrong in many things. So we have to not talk about the church if I want to keep our relationship intact and meet her on her terms only which I believe is sad. I’m sure there are others who also experience this separation of sorts. There’s a time where we should drink from the fruit of the vine and eat the bread of life which is found in the mass. Of course she sees that when everyone brings potluck and appetizers before they gather in prayer.

All this is brought up because of division created by going by sola scriptura you see? The bible didn’t float down from the sky in order that each one of us may interpret it as we see it. Jesus started the Church so that the truths of God could be taught through it in one voice. It’s important that that message get out there in my humble opinion or the truths shall be lost, and quite possibly souls as well. So I will keep trying to get truths out there and to love people unconditionally.

 

[Karen107]

I’ll pray for your sister and you…

God Bless…

Anyhow Marie thanks for your prayers I know that God is capable of anything!. I just had a notion that maybe someone else might bring her to this truth, certainly her little sister doesn’t know too much…lol . If she doesn’t I still believe I will see her in heaven… She sure loves Jesus I would say just as much as I do! We certainly have a family history of religious in our roots, btw so The spirit can’t be stopped… Amen…