I don’t think that my reaction to these pictures of impoverished churches is what was intended by the poster.
My first reaction is that here is more Catholic contempt for non-Catholic churches: we have the Vatican, you have a steel door church. We have wealth, you have poverty. We have it together, you are impoverished scum, which is the viewpoint commonly expressed by many Catholics. Spiritual pride runs deep in those waters, and Protestants are finely attuned to tasting it from Catholics. It is expected and this just confirms that here it is again. It does not tell me of the disunity of the Protestant world as much as it does of the contempt Catholics have for Protestants.
Why is Catholicism so unattractive to Evangelicals? History. The attitude towards Protestants. Rome and Milan and Naples are notoriously dangerous cities in the Catholic heartland. The recent Irish church scandals, which is probably why Ireland recently voted against Catholic positions on issues. Salvation by works as expressed by Catholics, and downright ridicule of Protestant beliefs. For example, the common cliche around here that in Calvinism we are only robots, or that Luther was simply a mad monk. There is a dearth of charity and an overemphasis on authority and submission: Catholics are overly fond, it seems to us, of words like obedience and submission, obligation and binding. Very legalistic.
There is beauty and depth in Catholicism but there is the seeming steadfast refusal for those responsible to teach to actually teach what the Church says it teaches. They will, it seems, teach anything else except that. Instead of charity we get contempt, instead of mercy judgement, and too many Catholics are interested in telling us what is wrong with what we believe and not at all interested in telling anything about what they believe. So Catholicism comes across as very, very negative.
Thanks for taking the time to spell out your thoughts. I have been hitting on the lack of charity in many Catholic posts ever since this thread started. I get hit by it myself. I can understand why a Protestant or other non-Catholic would be turned off by it to the point of losing interest in learning about the Catholic Church. I’ve been sarcastic once or twice and I apologize if I gave offense. (to you or others)
But as Peter and other posters point out - this is not what the Catholic Church is about. I am not trying to convert you. I consider myself a Christian in the original Church of the Apostles. I consider you a fellow Christian in the body of Christ (this is in accordance with Catholic teaching). We are in “imperfect” communion because of our differences in belief. But communion all the same.
Along with many in the Catholic tradition, I have read approx 1/3 of Luther (he wrote a ton - much of it very repetitive
). I read Orthodox writing - the Desert Fathers - the Evergetinos, the Philokalia, Gregory of Nyssa. I have made it through the Bible maybe twice - new Testament over and over and over again. Ditto Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Prophets, Ecclesiastes. If I hadn’t read Luther I wouldn’t have read the Bible. I am very thankful to him.
I would urge you if you care to - to read the CCC. Not in preparation for conversion just for knowledge. Catholics don’t believe in works to salvation. The Catholic Church is very close to Luther in this - Augustine is common heritage - God’s grace is offered to all (not just the elect) and the individual accepts the grace (freely? who knows - opens a huge can of worms - drives me nuts) which God freely gives (regardless of merit, undeserved).
The Catholic Church has never taught we “earn” our salvation. It is an inheritance (Galatians 5:21), freely given to anyone who becomes a child of God (1 John 3:1), so long as they remain that way (John 15:1-11). You can’t earn it but you can lose the free gift given from the Father (James 1:17).
Check out Mother Teresa and the domestic and international work of Catholic charities. The Church is not just about wealth.
The CCC is reliable and very readable - and my guess is you’ll come out still a Protestant - just a Protestant who knows what Catholics believe and what is a crock. Knowledge is power. I’d do the same with Calvin in a heartbeat - speaking of which - is the Tulip still in practice? I find it blood chilling to be honest.
Limited Atonement:
Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. Support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matt. 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many’; John 10:11, 15 which say that Jesus died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matt. 25:32-33); John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not all).
calvinistcorner.com/tulip.htm
Sometimes I think God split the Churches to keep us honest. The Reformation led Catholics to the Counter-Reformation and today we have post Vatican II Catholicism. Vatican II brings the Church back around in key ways to where it started. I believe the Church consists of all who accept Christ in faith and are transformed by his Grace (i.e., follow the commandments, beautitudes and Word of God). I relegate a lot of our differences to “minor” perhaps to a fault, but I do believe my Church is the fullness of God’s revealed truth. (flawed? yes)
The fact that Catholics and Protestants are trying to talk speaks volumes, especially when done in good will, not nastiness or just trying to gain more for your side. I actually think in this act the Church heals a little bit, which pleases God.
)
Not sure about devout Catholics.