Posted on 07/07/2015 10:33:57 PM PDT by Morgana
1.“Catholics worship statues.” This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.
2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.” This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.
3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.” I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays: -Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” -Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.” If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.
5. “Catholics made up all their rules.” Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.
6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.” This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please. -James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.
7. “Catholicism is a cult.” Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.
8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.” The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.
9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.” This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.
10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.” We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.
Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.
“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it, let it loose, and it will defend itself.” -St. Augustine of Hippo
I'm not.
I am not even a lifelong Christian.
And during the time I have been a Christian; I've not been a very good one at times.
The Ethiopian eunuch only had SCRIPTURE; the scroll of Isaiah; and a fella willing to explain it to him.
Trees bearing bad fruit have roots; don’t they?
“The Ethiopian eunuch only had SCRIPTURE; the scroll of Isaiah; and a fella willing to explain it to him.”
No, all he REALLY had was the Deacon Philip. He didn’t understand Isaiah. He needed the Catholic Church to teach him - and he got it.
Yes. Really.
With regard to the everlasting Protestant vs Catholic/Hatfield and McCoy game you guys are playing, I'd rather not.
As luck and fate would have it, I didn't grow up being around or playing that game and it just doesn't fit with my personality and goals now.
No one ever wins and all I see is the downside, and usually a glimpse at the darkside, when I watch you guys play it.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Justify things as you will, but the above seems like the better way to me than the constant arguing and taking shots at each other about Mary and all the rest.
Matthew 5:9Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3These six [things] doth the Lord hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,--Proverbs 6:16-19
A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness [that] speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
2 Timothy 2:14Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
2 Timothy 2:22-25
Since the franchise started, seems like there's never been a shortage of players to suit up for battle against each other in that game. That Satan fellow is quite the talent scout and recruiter!
Poorly catechized Catholics can go to RCIA. It’s a great refresher course.
You wrote ..”every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory... This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin.”
This statement immediately declares that the sufficiency of Christ's blood ‘is not sufficient’ to be payment for sin...that the "stench" still hangs on after death...regardless of the level of sin (as you indicated)..... So let's see what the scriptures say.......
...”We are always of good courage....We ‘KNOW’ that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord....and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” ....ll Cor. 5:6,8......Therefore we can see that as soon as departure from the body residence we are then take up permanent residence with the Lord.
Further Hebrews 12, 24 tells us, and speaking to the entire congregation of Jerusalem of which there is no mention of any in purgatory instead all Gods people are with Him......”You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ‘to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven’. ...You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous MADE PERFECT, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
Furthermore Jesus states with clarity.......“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.....John 5:24...Again no mention of purgatory....Note clearly they have passed from death to life.
Additionally Colossians 2:1314 tells us....”When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, ‘God made you alive with Christ’..... He forgave us ALLOUR SINS, having ‘Canceled The Charge’ of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (keeping in mind the Greek is clear it's ‘ALL’ our transgressions not just some of them)
As for ‘purging’ of any kind......It is written Jesus did this by Himself....We are clearly told....” The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word... After “he had provided purification” for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven”..... Heb:1;3...(The word “purged” in the Greek is “removal of sin”...further the word “provided” is based on past action..IS COMPLETE.), Therefore Jesus ‘fully completed’ the removal of all the believers sin....His last words on the Cross...”It is finished”....the debt of all sins paid in full.
Recently Pope Francis said that following Him on “Twitter” would give them “time off” from Purgatory. Now can you imagine God Almighty ever saying by pushing A computer key could get you to heaven faster??? I think not.
The blood of Jesus Christ is the only satisfaction, expiation and cleansing for any and all sins of the believer.
No doubt; but...
...they don't know that they are Poorly catechized Catholics.
Who judged anyone. I said he is disappointing to ME.
I did not say he was disappointing to the world, or to God.
I was expressing a personal feeling. If you find personal feelings and opinions judgmental perhaps you’re chatting with the wrong people. Maybe you would be happier commiserating with liberals. You know, the ones who think my personal feelings about SSM, and abortion are “judgmental”.
“[fill in the blank] is mistranslated/misunderstood, does not speak for The Church, and is poorly Catechized.”
Works every time!
I collect data and assess it according to MY standards.
It is neither a bad thing or a good thing.
It seems to work for terycarl!
Pope Stephen VI (896–897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber.[1]
Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.
Pope Benedict IX (1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048), who "sold" the Papacy
Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303), who is lampooned in Dante's Divine Comedy
Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured.[2]
Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503), a Borgia, who was guilty of nepotism and whose unattended corpse swelled until it could barely fit in a coffin.[3]
Pope Leo X (1513–1521), a spendthrift member of the Medici family who once spent 1/7 of his predecessors' reserves on a single ceremony[4]
Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), also a Medici, whose power-politicking with France, Spain, and Germany got Rome sacked.
Every Catholic (and every Baptist, every Calvinist, every Mormon, and every Adventist) believes that he or she is doing just that.
The Church is full of saints and sinners. We cannot make our decision to be a part of it based upon what our neighbor is or is not doing. If you recall the prayer of the Pharisee versus the Publican, which was pleasing to God? If the Holy Spirit is calling you to full communion, trust Him, and pray for the Pope, he needs prayers and Grace just like we do, especially if he comes to the Office woefully unprepared for the task at hand.
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