Thanks for your answer. I have a quick question on the difference between mortal and minor sin. Does it have to do with breaking one of the ten Commandments? I scanned 1 John and saw a reference to walking in the light, but I did not pick up on a distinction.
Also, it must be the case that some Catholics do not habitually practice confession. (No slam intended, many SBs don't practice what they ought either :) Anyway, I wondered what happens when a person commits a mortal sin, but by the time of the next confession it is innocently forgotten. So, there is no intention to confess and the sin is left "hanging" there. Can this be overcome using a "totality of the circumstances" type of approach or are rules, rules?
Also, recall that we do share many Catholic beliefs, Catholic traditions, Catholic practices, and we read a Catholic book. To the effect that you follow Christ, you are, in some manner, Catholic!
LOL! I can actually accept that, and I very much appreciate the olive branch. Based on my own standards which I have professed, I have always thought of Catholicism as a true faith with which I have some disagreement, as opposed to a false faith with which I have some agreement. I do truly believe there are many Catholics in heaven, and I do appreciate the opportunity to learn from my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. :)
Nowhere in Scripture does judgment speak of "lesser rewards" or "greater rewards" in heaven, that I am aware of... Judgment is ALWAYS in the context of heaven or hell.
I meant judgment in the sense of "a thing to be decided". I was referring to verses like these:
Matt. 5:11-12 : "11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matt. 6:1 : "1 Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Luke 6:35 : "35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
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Obviously, Catholics also believe in objective truth. Thus, the "subjective truth" that Hitler wrote about doesn't apply. We contend that he KNEW right from wrong, but his intellect and will became slowly clouded, subjected to the temptations of the devil, to follow his own deviant will and intellect. Thus, Hitler chose not to follow the natural law, that objective Law written on our hearts, such as "thou shall not kill". Man doesn't need the Mosaic Law to tell him that.
I'm not so sure. I read you, then, to say that man is born with "some" good already written on his heart (natural law). If so, then would you comment on the following very personal account of Paul, particularly regarding his assertion that "nothing good lives in [him]", in his sinful nature which is the nature he was born with? -
Rom. 7:15-20 : "15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. "
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The concept of infant Baptism most CLEARLY describes salvation as a GIFT! What can a baby do to earn anything? Some brag about their faith - can a baby? Catholics believe that the sacrament is operative, NO MATTER the recipient's disposition, age, etc.
But, I know you have said that the gift of grace must be accepted to "count". Can the personal gift of salvation be accepted through proxy (parents)? Does infant baptism count, by itself, as initial salvation?
I suppose the Baptism/Confirmation sacraments are similar to what you do in the Sinner's Prayer, FK.
It's interesting. I really don't have much against infant baptism, I just don't see it as counting toward salvation. We would note the great commission, in which Jesus gave a particular order to the disciples of what should occur, belief first, then baptism. Both of my children were baptized as infants in other churches for family reasons, etc., so it's no problem for me.
In our SB church, instead of infant baptism, we have something called a "baby dedication". In front of the whole congregation during a normal Sunday service, the pastor first explains the spiritual translation of the meaning of the baby's name, then he prays over the baby. The parents pledge to raise the baby in a Godly manner, and the congregation pledges to support the family toward that end. It's really quite nice.
This suggests that GOD is the one who determines the saved, not our own faith proclamation.
LOL! Sign up one forest keeper for a ticket on that train! :)
There is mortal sin and venial sin. A mortal sin is anything that separates us from Christ, when it is done with full cooperation of informed will. A venial sin is anythiong that separates us from Christ done out of ignorance or inadvertence. Either sin can be looked on in terms of its gravity. We can speak of a grave or minor mortal sin, and of grave or minor venial sin. Either venial or mortal sin can be minor and not relate to the Ten Commandments directly. I just discussed, for example, the love of animals. Cruelty to an animal is a sin because it offends God's creation. But it is not listed anywhere directly. It is minor, relatively to cruelty to fellow man, anyway.
Unfortunately, many people of today have lost the concept of what it means to sin against an infinitely loving and powerful God. Sin has been redefined as a "mistake", something that is no big deal. "Jesus is our buddy"! As to your question about a "forgotten" mortal sin, you can tell the priest that you also confess any sins that I cannot remember right now. Sins of omission or commission that have not come to mind. We are forgiven of those sins, although with the caveat that we confess them if we remember them. Obviously, this doens't count for those we remember but don't want to tell!
Based on my own standards which I have professed, I have always thought of Catholicism as a true faith with which I have some disagreement, as opposed to a false faith with which I have some agreement. I do truly believe there are many Catholics in heaven, and I do appreciate the opportunity to learn from my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. :)
Thank you, you are very kind. It is my experience that most people are not aware of what Catholicism really teaches, so I try to explain what the Church teaches. It is up to God to do the conversion. I also enjoy learning about other people's faith, although I find it interesting the some people base their faith on contradictions. Religion can be an interesting discussion!
I read you, then, to say that man is born with "some" good already written on his heart (natural law). If so, then would you comment on the following very personal account of Paul, particularly regarding his assertion that "nothing good lives in [him]", in his sinful nature which is the nature he was born with? -
We are born without the life of God within us. Nothing good remains within us. However, God DOES instill within us the natural law, a knowledge of basic right and wrong. Without God's graces, we will not follow that law within us. In time, we will disregard it. Catholics believe that man is NOT totally depraved. From time to time, he might choose good. But his tendency is to choose himself. He won't be able to earn heaven. But the Spirit blows where He will, and from time to time, an "unsaved" man might choose to do good. However, it has no or very little supernatural value.
Does infant baptism count, by itself, as initial salvation?
We would say "yes" because it is God's grace that matters, not the acceptance of the baby. Recall that Jews also allowed infants into the People of God, as well. Christ said to not hold the children away from Him. Ancient writers of Christianity verify it as an Apostolic practice. Considering many of the first converts were Jews, it shouldn't be strange that they, too, wanted their infants to be allowed into the Kingdom, with the provision that they would teach them in the faith, and that the children would some day verify their own stance in the faith. Again, the idea is that Baptism is a gift from God, not something we receive because we have "x" amount of faith.
We would note the great commission, in which Jesus gave a particular order to the disciples of what should occur, belief first, then baptism
I suppose the commission to the infant Church was given to spread the word to adults, because THEY are the ones who would bring their families into the Church. With the second and third generation, families would naturally want to bring their children into the faith. I am satisfied with it because the Church had practiced it from the beginning. There is NO writing against the practice. As a matter of fact, in the 200's, their is complaints that children had to wait for 8 days to be baptised (as per circumcision)!
In our SB church, instead of infant baptism, we have something called a "baby dedication". In front of the whole congregation during a normal Sunday service, the pastor first explains the spiritual translation of the meaning of the baby's name, then he prays over the baby. The parents pledge to raise the baby in a Godly manner, and the congregation pledges to support the family toward that end. It's really quite nice.
Yes, it sounds nice. It is pretty supportive to the parents to know that the community stands behind them - it is a big responsibility to raise children in a Godly manner, especially nowadays. Sounds like the same thing we do, minus the actual water baptism.
LOL! Sign up one forest keeper for a ticket on that train! :)
If we persevere to the end, we can count on the Lord.
Brother in Christ