Why do protestants get it easy?

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Nelka

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I’m always hearing protestants at work saying how they prayed for this and that and got exactly what they asked for whether it be healing or help in some way. Their prayers only last a few seconds and whoosh the answer is always yes. They aren’t in any mortal sins apparently because they don’t have full knowledge of them. They are always happy too, I don’t want people to not be happy but I am jealous of them and we have so many rules it is almost impossible to follow.

They must have faith the size of watermelons.

Talking mainly of non-denominational protestants.
 
Didn’t you say in an earlier thread that you had never met such liars as your coworkers, what makes you think that they’re telling the truth?
 
@Nelka

We ought to be happy for a person if something well goes for them, as long as that something isn’t selfish or sinful. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn”. That being said:

There is nothing fortunate about having an incomplete and/or distorted understanding of truth.

As a general rule, people maintain a good impression in public, sometimes even to the point of lies. Do you put all of your inner turmoil on a loudspeaker? Neither does most anybody else.

Not everything goes their (protestants’) way.

Peace.
 
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The kind of Protestant who feels a need to announce God’s positive answer to his or her prayers isn’t going to tell you about the times they prayed and God said No.
 
Do your Protestant coworkers claim to get “everything” they prayed for?
Or are they simply sharing a praise and gratitude report for their blessings they did receive?
My Protestant friends and acquaintances also struggle with “no” and “not yet” answers, the same as me.
 
On a similar vein when people claim God told me to do xyz, maybe I’m being a jerk but I cant help think 9/10 it’s just them telling themselves what they want to hear.
 
Not really my subject but from what I usually heard, don’t know whether true or not, there are Protestant denominations which teach that they must be positive that God answers theirs prayers and therefore be expectant in faith, so that the prayers would be answered, even before their prayers are answered. Probably that’s why you see their positive expectant outlook/disposition. Perhaps ex-Protestants can comment on this.
 
Nelka said:
I’m always hearing protestants at work saying how they prayed for this and that and got exactly what they asked for whether it be healing or help in some way.
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Why do you believe this?
 
No. Protestants prayers do not always get answered with yes. And they are not always happy. People are very good, and doesn’t really have anything to do with religion, at showing people what they only want them to see.

But being in and out Protestant churches for years I’ve been around some of the most fake people ever. That until you are more on the inside you don’t see the negativity and the unhappiness. That of course isn’t everyone. There are going to be people who are truly happy.

We can’t let what we think is going on in other people’s lives effect ours. And a lot of the happiness comes from being oblivious. Like children…children are so happy because they don’t deal with the world as adults do, they play, eat, sleep…I would rather know the truth, and know what is really going on, and maybe be a bit more serious about things.

Being a protestant, who no longer is a protestant but not yet a Catholic, let me tell you that bounce of happiness goes away some when you realize and your eyes are open to things such as purgatory…but that happiness comes back from prayer…but you see things with more serious intentions. I don’t have enough coffee yet, so probably not making sense.

If they are happy, be happy for them. If their prayers get answered, be happy for them. But remember that everything is not always what it seems.
 
I don’t think truly believing Protestants get it easy they are called by Christ to very similar (arguably the same) truths as Catholics and Protestant women miss the blessing and example of Our Lady.
 
Have you ever thought that they could be bragging or lying? Especially since you talk religion with them and they know you don’t belong to their denomination. Neo-protestants are very keen on convincing others to join their communities.
Not everything that has wings flies…
Then again you have to find what they consider prayed for and answered to. If they needed money and they went to someone and borrowed the money but they also previously prayed for, who do you think sent the money? God or the person lending them. Many of the neo-protestant communities are very tight, it’s true, and have their own economics as well.
I really do wonder if you will go ask them what that “miracle” consisted of what kinda answer you will get.
And also lack of spiritual understanding leads to increased happiness, it’s a fact.
 
They don’t have it easy. They don’t have priests. They don’t have Sacraments. They don’t have the complete Scriptures. They don’t have a true concept of the Church. They don’t have the safeguard of Tradition or Magisterial authority. They don’t have the Communion of Saints.

They are baptized and truly Christians in that sense. God hears their prayers. God loves them and labors for and desires their salvation. We can reasonably hope that will be ultimately saved, just as we, while possessing the whole Truth, can’t be fully certain of our own salvation until the end.

But they have far fewer tools with which to live the Christian life. I pray that we may all be One.
 
One can’t believe everything. Maybe the Lord is showing you that you need to root out jealousy from your spirit. Also, you don’t know what is ahead for this person that you would not like to bear and would not trade places with them in the future even with all their current blessings.
 
Athanasius_Mary said:
They don’t have it easy. They don’t have priests. They don’t have Sacraments.
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I didn’t know Catholicism was easy. 😀 I don’t know what you speak of when talking about Priests, there are many denominations that have Pastors with the same level of training and degrees as your typical Priest. At least a few have Sacraments and call it so; just not as many as Catholics.
 
Nelka said:
I’m always hearing protestants at work saying how they prayed for this and that and got exactly what they asked for whether it be healing or help in some way. Their prayers only last a few seconds and whoosh the answer is always yes.
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It sounds like you are talking to people with some sort of Prosperity Gospel influence. This teaches that God will send the righteous wealth proportionate to their beliefs. This is not the mainstream if Protestantism, just the high profile televangelists.
 
This sounds like “word of faith” or “name it, claim it” teaching. I don’t think it is officially taught by any denomination, but there are a lot of Protestants in the Pentecostal and Charismatic camps that buy into it. With that said, those who are part of it may distinguish between an expected “yes” and an actual “yes”, but that isn’t guaranteed.

Either way, in my experience, people tend to only focus on the “yes” answers when talking about prayer. Generally, they’re hoping to paint their faith in a good light and are unlikely to share the inner struggles unless they’re in a group where they’re comfortable sharing the details. It also allows us to bask in the joy of what God has done without addressing the harder realities of how He doesn’t always do things like we want.

This is something I’ve seen to some extent from both Catholics and Protestants.
 
Protestants don’t get it easy.

As a former protestant, I can say that what you describe is a facade. The answer from God is not always yes. It was usually no. But peer pressure within a particular church can result in people exaggerating or flat-out lying. I’ve seen it too many times in the health/wealth and prosperity Gospel circles. I did it myself. And the happy smile? We called that “perma-grin”. A mask.

I know I had mortal sins as a protestant. A lot of them. And the thing is, no matter how much I prayed for forgiveness, or how many hours were spent at altar calls, it seemed as if heaven was silent. My sins remained unforgiven. I became aware that I couldn’t change my nature. Despite all of the solas, it didn’t matter. I ended up leaving the church.

But God never gave up on me, and led me to the Catholic church. I will never forget my first confession (which lasted well over an hour). When the Priest gave me absolution, I was astonished. The yoke of sin I carried for decades immediately lifted. And God gave me grace.

God’s “yes” to forgiveness is the best thing of all… And I’m glad to finally be home!
 
Nelka said:
I’m always hearing protestants at work saying how they prayed for this and that and got exactly what they asked for whether it be healing or help in some way.
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Well that is what they say anyway.
Nelka said:
Their prayers only last a few seconds and whoosh the answer is always yes.
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You assume their prayers only “last a few seconds” but that is an assumption. Someone might have been praying about something a long time.

The answer is not always “yes”.

They may be ascribing God’s action to every day occurrences or where something like medical treatment is actually to thank.
Nelka said:
They aren’t in any mortal sins apparently because they don’t have full knowledge of them
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This is not correct.
Nelka said:
They are always happy too,
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We usually present the best version of our lives to others, whether in person or on social media.

This is a gross generalization.
Nelka said:
we have so many rules it is almost impossible to follow.
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We have two: love God and love our neighbor
 
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