At least after the Reformation, the Evangelicals and even the Pentecostals did not dump Baptism and Scripture, which means that they are still, to that extent, in the Church. Thank God.
***I’m much more afraid that many will leave the Catholic Church to become either outright, on-the-nose Neopagans, or “Nones.”***
Of course you are.
Unloosed from the bonds of oppressive/controlling Catholicism it will be easier for their eyes to be opened and hopefully join basic Christianity and the real body of Christ, His church.
That being defined as every believer in Jesus that has gone through the simple process of becoming a Christian.
As many ex-Catholic posters here have testified.
***At least after the Reformation, the Evangelicals and even the Pentecostals did not dump Baptism and Scripture***
Why should they? Non-Catholic Christians have existed ever since Jesus walked the earth in the Flesh.
They grew in numbers and of course always believed in Baptism and Scripture.
It’s a false premise that all Christians from day one of the birth of Christianity were Catholic (part of what is now present day Catholicism) and that Jesus was a Catholic (stated previously by a Catholic that used to post at FR.)
Historically Catholicism started in the 2nd or 3rd century.
This of course has been debated quite a lot here at FR.
*** which means that they are still, to that extent, in the Church. Thank God.
***
That’s another false premise if by “Church” if you mean the Catholic Church.
In the reformation, the groups you describe as Evangelicals and Pentecostals, when they left Catholicism became part of the body of Christ, His church, which existed ever since day one of Christianity.
[They are NOT “still, to that extent, in the (Catholic) Church.” I’m sure they left it altogether to become Biblical Christians. Of which as I have stated there were many non-Catholic Christians already here since Jesus walked the earth] Sorry for repeating myself...
What makes them part of the church (body of Christ) inspired by Jesus back in the day that includes every born again Christian that has a personal relationship with Jesus.
Made up of members of virtually every Christian denomination, including, of course, Catholicism.