That was a great post. I’m in near agreement with you.
The agree-to-disagree part: in my mind, let’s say a Catholic was trying to “save” someone he/she really really loved, like their child, I’d say that the Church is adamant that only the Eucharist and Reconciliation are requirements different from most Protestants. If had to focus, I’d say the rest of the doctrines are helpers.
As said many times, the Church points to Scripture as the basis for this line in the sand, which must be flowed down through interpretations of Spirit-inspired men and women (tradition) (there’s no getting around the need for this - even the original languages are different).
That’s all - agree to disagree.
Wrong. Lumen Gentium teaches that baptism is the essential thing that makes Protestants member of the body of God. And the Lord's supper was never preached as the means of salvation by the NT church, contrary to Catholicism .
As said many times, the Church points to Scripture as the basis for this line in the sand, which must be flowed down through interpretations of Spirit-inspired men and women (tradition) (there’s no getting around the need for this - even the original languages are different).
Wrong. The Catholic church may invoke Scripture, but since in any conflict Scripture only consists of and means what she says, then her veracity is effectively the basis for any line in the sand, which premise of ensured veracity she imaginatively says Scripture supports.
For Rome presumed to "infallibly" declare she is and will be perpetually infallible whenever she speaks in accordance with her infallibly defined (scope and subject-based) formula, which renders her declaration that she is infallible, to be infallible, as well as all else she accordingly declares. Which is cultic, not Christian.
Always glad when we can have some agreement here.
My agree-to-disagree part with this point is that we don't "save" anyone, only Jesus Christ saves and that only comes when God has opened spiritual eyes and hearts to understand the truth of the gospel. What may surprise you is that I CAN agree that the Eucharist and Reconciliation are part of that process - just not in the way the Catholic church does. Jesus said we must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life. I don't take him literally to mean, as Catholicism teaches, that this can only happen when a Catholic priest says specific words and calls down the Lord from heaven to inhabit bread/wafers and wine and that the receiving of these transmutated elements is what imparts eternal life. I agree with many of the early church fathers who recognized that this HAD TO BE figurative/metaphor and that when we BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, we ARE eating and drinking him. It is, after all, faith that brings salvation and not partaking of bread and wine. I think you would agree that without faith, the act of taking Communion imparts no benefit. Seeing that "eucharist" means thanksgiving, I believe that we demonstrate both our faith as well as out gratitude to God when we together with fellow believers partake of the Lord's Supper.
I also believe in "reconciliation" - though I disagree that a priest alone can impart forgiveness and absolution for confessed sins. Repentance is part of that process towards faith in Christ. It is us "changing our minds" about our lives and how we see God and being reconciled to Him through Christ. Scripture tells us that we should confess our sins to one another and pray for each other for healing. When we have sinned against someone, we should go to that person and confess and ask for their forgiveness. We should ask God for forgiveness and make amends for wrongs we have committed against another. The blood of Jesus Christ constantly cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. The confession process restores both our relationship with others and with God. It also heals our hearts and that is always a good thing.
So, you see, we don't differ all that much except perhaps in the way we define terms. Where I doubt we will ever see eye to eye is justification by faith alone. This IS the basis for the rest of the doctrines. Without faith, there can be no Reconciliation nor a proper realization of the Eucharist. If I were trying to lead a loved one to salvation, that would be the starting point. Observing Communion and Confession are the TRUE "helper" doctrines and the truth of the gospel and salvation can be found outside of the Roman Catholic church. So that remains the obstacle to our full agreement. But I do appreciate your respectful answer.