“My understanding is that there is a general belief, depending on which denomination or church you’re referring to, that salvation is done.” Are you suggesting that none of the protestant groups or churches have such beliefs? Or did you feel that these words applied to all protestants from my opening sentence?
Amen!!
Very special moment to be up there at the Communion rail with all my Anglican brothers and sisters AND Jesus himself! I share your passion and enthusiasm!
That depends on your definition of “solo scriptura” or “sola scriptura.” I believe that the teachings of the church may not contravene scripture but that they need not be explicitly stated in scripture. For example, scripture does not command us to recite the Lord’s Prayer in our worship services but that doesn’t mean that we should not.
Everything? Even God’s communication of salvation to the world?
It may be symbolic in your denomination (ecclesial community), but for Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans and Anglicans it is the real body & blood, litterally.
That would be God’s communication, Trevor. The very fact that there are divsions amongst the people of God is certainly evidence. Thanks be to God that His grace will overcome our divisions, and preserve His Church into eternity.
Very well said. I recently got addicted to the podcasts of Fr. John Riccardo. He made, to my mind, a perfect synthesis of the idea. Protestants go to Church to give something, i.e., worship to Almighty God and that is a very great and good thing. But one can give worship anytime and anywhere, and all should!
I’m sorry you had such a cynical view of your Protestant church, pismopal.A successful non Catholic gathering of believers typically has a charismatic speaker…or preacher/pastor. If they do not have a charismatic or dynamic speaker/teacher, the gathering will usually have a hard time with attendance and that will translate to a poor/poorer income. All of the preachers are under pressure to be charismatic for the aforementioned reasons but it is always hard to hit a home run…so to speak, every Sunday but they need to bat .500 at least or they are in danger of being replaced or demoted to assistant. Since many denoms do not have an emphasis on communion, that aspect is not considered primary at the least. The truth for Catholics is that they(non C denoms) don’t have the sacrament anyway…no Body or Blood…just a little memorial that takes a back seat to the “message”…the pep talk delivered by the speaker which is aimed at firing them up and bringing them back next Sunday. The pastors who are well trained are usually members of some larger denom and their training puts an emphasis on dynamic speaking…emotion evoking speaking, because that is the life blood of their gathering’s success. I watched them struggle week after week trying to hit that “sweet note” with the attendees and I always felt sorry for them because I knew how important it was to their careers. Some did very well…others not so well and if that was the case there would always be a change coming. Many of them seemed to be very nice people who were cheerful and very out going…most of them seemed to enjoy it more as a happy time than a religious ceremony but that is just my take. I never had a feeling that I was attending a religious ceremony myself…just at a meeting of believers who were there…like myself…to have someone pump me up with a sermon…envigorate me. Now if I seem to be knocking this forgive me …I am only giving my tack on what it was like for me looking back. I don’t look back often except to contrast what I had then with what I have now. No comparison really…the rich tapestry of the Catholic Church with a time;ess history and authenticity which cannot be matched. Sometimes the homily is a home run…sometimes not but that is not the most important part anyway…is it?
I attended many denoms my friend, I am 70 years old and converted when I was 58. You call my view cynical…I call it the truth as I and others I have discussed this with privately see it. If my observations have no merit in your view…fine. I was very careful not to be harsh and I have read it over and I am satisfied that my expressed opinion was delivered without a hint of bitterness or spite…just my memories. But I am curious…what in your observation happens to a “preacher” who does not succeed in bringing in parishioners in ever increasing numbers or at least keeping them at a high level? Do you have decons or elders whose job it is to hire and fire preachers? Why are they hired or fired? Previous succcess/failure or is it because of some other issue? If you think my opinions have no veracity I would like to be enlightened. Thank you!
So how does He communicate with us?
I know boat loads of Protestant pastors who aren’t great preachers and whose churches struggle to attract new or maintain current members. They don’t get fired because of it. And I know tons of Protestant preachers who don’t have a charismatic bone in their body. Their sermons sound more like academic conference sessions than sermons. Look at the mainline denominations. They are losing members every year. If your observation was generally true, then there should not be any mainline church with a pastor lol.I attended many denoms my friend, I am 70 years old and converted when I was 58. You call my view cynical…I call it the truth as I and others I have discussed this with privately see it. If my observations have no merit in your view…fine. I was very careful not to be harsh and I have read it over and I am satisfied that my expressed opinion was delivered without a hint of bitterness or spite…just my memories. But I am curious…what in your observation happens to a “preacher” who does not succeed in bringing in parishioners in ever increasing numbers or at least keeping them at a high level? Do you have decons or elders whose job it is to hire and fire preachers? Why are they hired or fired? Previous succcess/failure or is it because of some other issue? If you think my opinions have no veracity I would like to be enlightened. Thank you!
And so a pastor at any particular denom gathering is going to be there until he/she decides to move on? Sorry…we have had different experiences…such is life.
)There are a variety of reasons pastors leave churches to pastor other ones. It’s doesn’t have to be (and in my experience rarely is) because of falling numbers. Some include:And so a pastor at any particular denom gathering is going to be there until he/she decides to move on? Sorry…we have had different experiences…such is life.
