Posted on 05/24/2014 8:26:44 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
When I, a “cradle Catholic,” am accosted by a “born again” Christian, and asked whether I am “saved,” my thoughts usually go to St. Paul’s frequent admonitions to work out your salvation in “fear and trembling.” Even St. Paul, after having been raised to the “seventh heaven,” felt it necessary to chastise his body, lest he become a castaway. (1Cor. 9:27)
The conviction that one is “saved” may be the result of a powerful religious experience. (Catholics have those too!) But people sometimes interpret it like Freud, as something psychological, or just some friendly divine encouragement to keep trying, or perhaps as a sign of God’s mercy in spite of one’s sins.
Personally, I am convinced that, if two-thirds of the angels, who never had to suffer, and had clear insight into what would happen if they rebelled, were saved (Rev. 12:4) – certainly at least that percentage or more of us humans, working our way with limited vision through suffering and often messy lives and bad choices, will be saved. Of course, I try to stand clear of the “universal salvation” heresy of Origen and others, condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 543.
That said, it seems to me that Protestants are really missing out on the multiform assistance that the Church could provide, if they were open to it.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecatholicthing.org ...
Answer-
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This applies to Catholics too...
That's what Catholicism has become for many people and it's costing the Church adherents.
I grew up Pentecostal and my experience was very different. There was a lot of emphasis on trying to achieve a direct connection to and experience of God.
Now I won't claim that I'm still a born again Pentecostal. But I regard the experience as essential to my views of God and spirit. I had moved through a period of atheism, but I couldn't shake the idea that there was more to reality than just the material world and I haven't stopped trying to learn about the nature of God and what God is.
My wife, on the other hand, is a pure atheist at this point and sees little difference between the rituals of Catholicism and voodoo.
And she's not the only former Catholic I know like that.
There's something about Catholicism that kills spiritual curiosity and freedom. It seems to me to be the religious analog of the secular, bureaucratic, and soul killing government university where there are official truths that can't be questioned and authorities tell you what to think.
And so whose fault is it that your wife's understanding of Catholicism never matured beyond the coloring book stage?
That's what Catholicism has become for many people and it's costing the Church adherents.
If that's the case then so be it. Even Pope Benedict XVI said that the Church of the future would be smaller. If people are too ignorant to understand the theology behind "rituals" and the purpose of a priest then let them go to a rock band "church" and be entertained.
My wife, on the other hand, is a pure atheist at this point and sees little difference between the rituals of Catholicism and voodoo.
With respect that's because your wife is ignorant. As someone who claims to be a Christian you have a husbandly duty to do what you can to correct that deficiency. .
There's something about Catholicism that kills spiritual curiosity and freedom.
Try going into a Catholic Church, sit in a pew, look at a stained glass window and meditate on its contents then come back and tell me about the death of spiritual curiosity within Catholicism. And just what the heck is spritiual freedom anyway? This is not a democracy. You don't get to vote on what is Truth.
seems to me to be the religious analog of the secular, bureaucratic, and soul killing government university where there are official truths that can't be questioned and authorities tell you what to think.
That's a laugh. And the primary reason for this error. Who would conflate spiritual Truth with secular institutions?
Rather, it is time for ALL Christians, because of our COMMON baptism, come together to witness to the good news of the Gospel of Jesus.
I'd like that. I really would. But as I pointed out before even in their worship and praise of Jesus protestants have embedded anti-Catholic ideals. They can't let it go. The obsessive need to distinguish themselves from Rome. Prevents ecumenism.
I've tried. Imagine the dissapointment I felt praying the rosary outside of an abortion clinic only to have some protestant get on me about Mary or how the bible doesn't prohibit contraception. They can't let it go, even in a worthwhile cause such as protesting abortion clinics.
We do not worship the church. We worship the Triune God who gave us salvation in the sinless life and death of Jesus. It is a gift that was paid in full on the cross, when our Savior said, “It is finished.” We lack nothing for our salvation and are living in eternal life already. Praise to our gracious God!
Well we could this weekend from Pope Francis, who is going out of his way to meet up with the leader of the Orthodox Church. This could show to our brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus who are Protestant we do have much more in common than what divides us.
Also you could say that Catholics at the Sunday, everyday masses is presented in 1 year’s time to the Holy Bible via the readings.
Christians, regardless of church backround, let us LOVE ONE ANOTHER as Jesus commanded!
boatbums #56
I would add a ‘ditto’ to post
“Jesus Christ is my high priest.”
Mine too.
“We have no need for Rome’s sacrificial priesthood for those born again are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and our once for all time perfect blood sacrifice was made and accepted roughly 2,000 years ago.”
You have no need of what God has chosen to give you?
“Lutherans do”
Lutherans believe in the Real Presence (incorrectly in form, however), but they have no sacrificial priesthood as they themselves admit.
My high priest also!
“He would not go from saying something is abhorrent and forbidden to saying it is OK and acceptable.”
So you’re saying that human sacrifice was allowed in Judaism? After all Jesus was a man and He was sacrificed. Wasn’t human sacrifice abhorrent and forbidden by God?
“The eating of flesh and the drinking of blood are forbidden.”
And yet Jesus gives us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink.
“There are only 5 uses of the word Priesthood in the new testament”
And zero uses of the word “Trinity” and zero uses of the word “Bible”.
This is not Catholic.
-——And in doing so, in creating this epoch of rationalism and radical individualism the protestant mind has destroyed Western Civilization-——
Seriously ?
I would agree with the point about radical individualism, if we have the same definition, has “some” merit but only in extreme examples....
>>But I don’t think they believe in the Real Presence, as in the bread and wine actually becoming the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus<<
There are millions that do. Conservative Anglican, Lutherans are two that I know of that proclaim this during the consecration of the elements.
>>Actually exactly none of them do.
1) The vast majority don’t believe they do.
2) None of them can - for they have no sacrificial priesthood from Christ<<
Hey, with all due respect...and I mean that sincerely, you are not speaking the truth. Please do your research on history before popping off with stuff like that.
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