[blue-duncan]

"No, Protestantism is easy"

No Christianity is really hard; Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy is easy. In Christianity you have a crises in life where the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and reveals you for what you are lost and without hope in this world. With the crises comes the heart changing knowledge that the sin question has been paid for once and for all and you realize the decision you made to trust Christ for your salvation was the only one you could make since it was made for you before the foundation of the world. That understanding is far harder than the simple joining a church, attending mass and partaking wafers and thinking someday you will be saved.

It is far harder to deal one-on-one with the holy God concerning your daily walk than to confess some sin once a week or month or year to another sinner and believe that somehow, based on an erroneous interpretation of a proof text that the sin is forgiven.

It is far harder to study the text for yourself in order to understand what God has revealed for your life and glean the counsel and direction He is giving you in order to mature and purify you for the work He has for you than to rely credulously on church tradition or dogma or some obscure and transient translation of a word or phrase that conveniently under girds a theory contrary to what is in the scriptures and contradicts the plain language.

It is far harder to be part of a reasonable faith that requires the whole person, body, soul, mind and spirit inspired and energized by the Holy Spirit than it is to think one has fulfilled his responsibility for worship because he has participated in some ancient liturgy that long ago became repetitious, rote and devoid of Spirit and truth that changes lives.

No, Christianity is harder for it requires one to moment by moment keep close accounts with the holy God without the interjection of a mediator, in prayer or petition, other than the living Son.

I have to take it back, Christianity is easier in this sense, we persevere in faith to finish the course laid out for us by God well, because of love, His for us and ours for Him, not because we fear we will not be saved when He calls us home. The salvation question was answered once and for all when He drew us to Himself.

[annalex]

It is far harder to study the text for yourself in order to understand what God has revealed for your life and glean the counsel and direction He is giving you in order to mature and purify you for the work He has for you

Based on the arguments you and I had about the scripture, I'd say this task of yours is not merely hard but outright impossible.

[HarleyD]

No Christianity is really hard; Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy is easy.

You were on a roll. Why'd you go to bed. :O)

You're absolutely correct. It is much more easier simply to pop into a Cathedal, say "Father I have sinned", pop a waffer in the mouth filling you with "God's grace, and be done until the next week.

Protestants-true Protestants-are required to "study to show ourselves approved". This is far more difficult than having someone tell you what to believe.

[kosta50]

No Christianity is really hard; Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy is easy

The easiest thing to do is to say "Lord, Lord" and be done with what you give the Lord. Other than that, the Protestants make up their own little private theology as it suits them, and even establish whole new "churches" or denominations, sometimes for no other reason that for disagreeing with the pastor.

Comfy, perhaps even selfish IMHO.

[wmfights]

"I have to take it back, Christianity is easier in this sense, we persevere in faith to finish the course laid out for us by God well, because of love, His for us and ours for Him, not because we fear we will not be saved when He calls us home. The salvation question was answered once and for all when He drew us to Himself."
______________________________

It's those moments when the HOLY SPIRIT convicts you in your sin and you realize that your Christian walk has failed to glorify GOD that are hard.