You wrote:
“I don’t like evangelizing? Christ told us to go into the world and preach the “Good News”.”
I NEVER SAID you didn’t like evangelizing. You wrote: “Paul evangelized in his time, and likewise Christ’s disciples, in Christ’s time on earth. If I didn’t know better I’d say you are trying to be obtuse.” I responded with: “I’d say you’re just trying to ignore what you don’t like.” That wasn’t about evangelization itself. If you’re going to attack my words, then at least make sure you attack what I actually say.
“Baptizing is symbolic. The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized and Christ told him “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”.”
The fact that Jesus says that does not mean that baptism is symbolic. You are confusing two issues. 1) baptism washes away sins and the Bible says it saves thereby, and 2) the good thief was not baptized but Jesus said he would be paradise with Him that day. Why would you assume that someone who could not be baptized would not be able to be saved by Christ in some other way through His grace filled mercy?
Luke 16:19-31 is about hell, not purgatory. You yourself said so. Why do you repeat the whole story when it does prove anything according to your point?
“The only way you will go to Hell is complete rejection of Christ. I’m not talking about people who haven’t heard the gospel, I’m talking about people who heard and rejected the message of salvation.”
Sin is a rejection of Christ. Schism is a sin. Apostasy is a sin. Heresy is sinful. Now, granted, people may not always be subjectively blameworthy of those things in all instances, but they are all still sinful. And to top it all off is the simple fact that all of us were born stained with sin. Baptism washes away sins - just as St. Paul said.
“As far as being a “lone ranger”, I read the Bible everyday and have not let dogmas get in the way of understanding God’s Word.”
Orthodox dogmas do not get in the way of understanding God’s word. They are the only way to understand God’s word. I have seen Protestants - disagreeing with one another - say baptism is a symbol, others say it is more than that; some say this, some say that. The disagreements are endless. And yet all claim they follow the Bible alone. Imagine that. Have they forgotten what St. Peter said about twisting scripture to their own lusts?
“I grew up in a church and it didn’t hurt me any. I have found that too many churches have lost sight of it’s purpose and have become too political. I don’t need someone else to feed me God’s Word. It’s great that people still want to go to church, but as far as I’m concerned, I don’t need someone forcing their doctrine down my throat especially when it isn’t even scriptural.”
You have made yourself your own church. Now, ask yourself: Was I sent by God to minister to myself?
“If it’s in the Bible I believe it, if it isn’t I’m not buying it.”
I don’t believe that’s what you believe at all. Think about it, no where in the Bible does it say that Matthew wrote the gospel named after him, but I bet you still believe it? You do, don’t you? Show me where in the Bible it says that Matthew’s gospel is inspired by God? Can you point to a single verse that says that? Even one? No, not one. These things are traditions - from the Catholic Church.
“I have the Holy Spirit to convict me when I’m doing something wrong.”
That’s what every Protestant claims, and yet they disagree again and again.
“I have so much still to learn and God is continually molding me into the person He wants me to be.”
And yet you don’t believe He wants you in the Church when He established it?
“Being Catholic is an organized religion, christians are followers of Christ, not a religion.”
Christ organized 12 Apostles. He chose 70 Disciples. He gave them explicit instructions. He did not tell them to make it up on their own. Christ sent an organized Church into the world to evangelize it. He did not send you to make it up as you go along.
“I agree that not all who are in the church are christians, but you saying that only true believers are Catholic is very arrogant of you.”
No. I never said that only true believers are Catholics. I will say - truthfully - that only Catholics are true believers. There is a difference. One cannot be a true believer without being a Catholic for only the Catholic Church teaches the fullness of the truth. There is nothing arrogant in this. It is simply truth. What is arrogant is for a person to think they can make up Christianity on their own and get it right.
“There’s as many charlatans in the Catholic church as any other.”
I do not follow charlatans and have never been fooled by them. I listen to the Church - because Christ speaks through it. Charlatans are in every field. The Church is not changed by charlatans. She is always true because she comes from Christ.
“How do you justify all the pedophilia in the Catholic Church, much less the homosexuality?”
I don’t. Why would I? Why would you think for a single minute that I would justify objectively sinful and disordered behavior?
“This is what you call the True Church?”
No, I do not call pedophilia nor homosexuality the True Church. I call pedophilia and homosexuality sinful and disordered. What do you call them? What I do call the True Church is the True Church. I do not confuse the Church with the sins of its members. We are all sinful. If your brother was a homosexual, I would not think that makes you a liar, or unfaithful or evil. Your brother is the person with the problem, not you. Likewise, I do not blame the Church - which condemns both pedophilia and homosexuality - for the fact that there are pedophiles and homosexuals who abuse people AND THE CHURCH from within her.
“And I’m not saying that that only happens in the Catholic church.”
Oh, no, gee, you’re not saying that at all. Noooooo. You’re instead somehow saying that the Catholic Church is responsible for the sins of her members even when she teaches against their actions!
“I don’t mean to disparage the Catholic Church but they, like other religions, have their flaws.”
No. People have flaws. The Church doesn’t. Christ sent the Church. She has no flaws. Christ (through the Holy Spirit) sent the New Testament. It has no flaws. What it does have is people who twist it and misuse it. See how that works?
“How many people go to church and don’t even believe in God, much less Christ and His sacrifice on the cross?”
Few. Most believe, but many don’t understand properly.
“I’m far from perfect and that’s why I need God. As far as confession goes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous”.”
Yes, but that just brings us back to how we confess. Again, John 20:19-23.
“But I don’t need some Priest, or Pastor, to do that, I can go to my mediator, Christ, and do it.”
But your mediator sent the Church for that job when He left this earth. Again, John 20:19-23. That’s exactly what Jesus says, As the Father sent me, I send YOU. He meant the Church.
“And I don’t tailor anything to my liking. I’m so sick and tired of people passing off doctrine as gospel, I, for one, would not want to lead someone astray with something that is not scripturally based.”
Really? I’m sick and tired of people claiming they’re Bible Christians and yet they ignore 2 Tim 4:3
“3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.”
You see, the gospel cannot be cut away from sound doctrine. That’s why Paul told Timothy: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
(1 Tim 4:16) Imagine that! People who persevere in good doctrine will be saved!!! And yet they are not left to make it up themselves nor are they handed copies of the NT (which wasn’t finished yet) to work it out on their own.
St. Paul also wrote to Titus:
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9)
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)
“Just cuz the church says it, don’t make it so.”
Yeah, actually it does. Again, things from God have no flaw.
“I read God’s word, that’s what He wants me to do so I can apply it to my life, and when the opportunity arises I can share the message of salvation with others.”
No. He sent the Church to teach you. Reading the Bible is great and I do hope you apply it to your life. But most likely you are only applying things you like to your life. Christ did not send you to minister to yourself. He sent the Church. She wrote the scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. One day you’ll know.
Baptism does not wash away our sins, belief in Christ does. Quote the scripture that says baptism washes away sin, please. Baptism is symbolic of Christ dying and raising from the dead. Gettin baptized is a public observance of our conversion.
YOu said it yourself. Different churches battle over what the Bible says, so, in a nutshell, religion is divisive.
Why would you need to minister to other believers? Why not take it to the streets and minister there?
As far as believing the Bible being inspired by God, I take that on faith.
I truly believe that the Catholic church is not where God wants me to be.
FYI it is the Holy Spirit living within us that convicts us when we do something wrong. Hence the verse about grieving the Holy Spirit.
Let’s face it the only thing you’ve got to back up your argument is church doctrine. No scripture.
Hello!! Some of Christ’s disciples were Jews, not Catholics.
What makes you think I make up christianity as I go? Listen to yourself. Do you know haughtiness is one of the seven deadly sins? Just ask Lucifer.
They condemn pedophilia? Right. What do they do when sexual abuse happens, they cart him off to another church to do some more damage there. This mentality is unacceptable. They should strip him of his title, and file criminal charges against him. Look at how much it cost the church, monetarily speaking, all the lawsuits, and it all could have been avoided. You don’t send an alcoholic to tend bar anymore than commonsense tells you to put a pedophile with children.
The church is responsible for the Priests actions.
Again with the dig about my christianity. I’m willing to bet my husband’s pay that you don’t win too many to Christ.
So it’s okay for me to read the Bible? Goody, goody. I know, it’s a last resort (smothered in sarcasm)reading that pesky Bible, and me, a commoner at that. Well, I think that if the Caltholic church can skew the scriptures to their way of thinking and try and justify their way of believing, so can I. How dare you question my faith. Be careful, God has a thing about a prideful person, He might just take you down a peg or two or three.
I just had an epiphany. I now know why you think I need the Catholic church, more money to pay for all those lawsuits you’ve got going from all those pedophiles. See what it’s like to have someone bring your integrity into question.
Only applying what would be comfortable for me, is that right? Then I’m doing something wrong because my life is less than comfortable, but then I guess you know better than I, since you are all knowing.