PugetSoundSoldier:
Well, all salvation is from Christ, through the Church, which is his body. So, yes Christ has given the Catholic Church, along with the Orthodox Church, the fullness of the means of salvation via the Sacraments or what the East refers to as the Holy Mysteries. Given that most Protestant confessions stil baptize in the Holy Trinity, believe in the incarnation of Christ, paschal mystery, they are by virture of Baptism, Christian and thus related to the Church, which is Christ’ body and thus can be saved.
In addition, the Catholic Church does not say definitively who is in hell, as that is not for the CHurch to decide as that is only in God’s providence. In addition, I should have clarified that not all Protestants here go after Catholics with a vengeance. But notice the Threads that present a Protestant Position don’t have every Catholic on this forum launching flame attacks. However, if you look at the Catholic threads, they tend to get the full shot.
PugetSoundSolider, I have heard of Methodist, and I guess Free Methodist means you are somewhat of a independent Methodist, not in communion with the United Methodist Church? Again, some Methodist lean more to the Anglican Traditon, since they are an offshoot from the church of England, some are more Arminian in there doctrine, some more Weslyan, etc.
driftdiver: Ok, you are a Baptist, which also means you can have theological leanings that are Arminian or perhaps Calvinist.
Now, looking at your 2 traditions, most Methodist I know of use the Creed in their services, they also have Liturgical form of worship, although not maybe to the level of Lutherans and Anglicans, and of course certaintly not to the degree as Catholics and Orthodox. I think Methodist have historically baptized infants, have more of heiarchial structure, etc.
Baptist on the other hand, at least my experience in the Southern United States, which is the only place I have ever lived, are historically anti Creeds, anti Liturgy, and anti infant Baptism, just top of my head, which are in my humble opinion, 3 major theological differences between your 2 traditons.
In closing, I have never said everything in Protestantism is wrong. In fact, it is often said that Protestantism is corrrect in most of what it affirms, but is usually wrong in what it rejects and at there are some Protestant confessions who don’t, as a matter of doctrine, state that Catholics are going to Hell, which the Catholic Church agrees with.
I would expand that Jesus said that anyone who believes in him would be saved; I think most Protestant denominations consider baptism and communion integral expressions of a person's faith, but just that - an expression. It is by faith we are saved, not by baptism or by communion.
Free Methodism grew out of the more conservative movement of Methodism back in the 1840s over the issue of slavery. Specifically, Free Methodists were completely opposed to slavery of any form, as well as the typical traditions of selling of pews, paying for prayers to others, etc. We tend to be quite Armenian/Wesleyan, along with the Nazarenes, for example.
Today, it is related to the United Methodists by the fact we share the last name...;) Free Methodists are a very conservative denomination which emphasizes a personal relationship with Christ.
We - like most evangelical denominations - hold to the inerrancy of the Word of God. We also believe that a man's salvation is between him and God; as such, we have an open communion. Anyone who professes faith in God can take communion, as it is between them and God, not the church and them.
The primary focus of the church is evangelism, predominantly though overseas missions and education. A high percentage of Free Methodists are teachers who live their faith. We also have very large and fruitful missions field in South America, Africa, and India.
In closing, I have never said everything in Protestantism is wrong. In fact, it is often said that Protestantism is corrrect in most of what it affirms, but is usually wrong in what it rejects and at there are some Protestant confessions who don’t, as a matter of doctrine, state that Catholics are going to Hell, which the Catholic Church agrees with.
I think most of the disagreements between Catholics and Protestants are over positions of dogma, not fundamental theology; I know, I was raised as a Catholic and have Catholic clergy and educators in my family! :)
It is when things like "no salvation outside the Church", or "your church is only 200 years old" that these things arise. Protestants are Christians, and are part of the church from AD33; that we have different dogma and a different ways of worship should not cause division.
There is no need to "call Protestants back to the Church"; we never left. We just worship in a different way, with some small - but not critical - doctrinal issues.
I’ve been a Baptist since shortly after my conversion. Being both a military brat and a 25 year veteran, I have often worshiped in Chapels with services led by Lutherans, Methodists, and Baptists.
We do differ on a variety of issues. MOST of the Baptists I know say believers baptism is the way to go - but that if a believer thinks his baptism as an infant suffices, then A) he won’t be allowed to become a member of a Baptist Church, but B) he is still a Christian - just lacking a bit in understanding. For my part, I wasn’t baptized until I was in High School, so NO Protestant has ever argued against my baptism. If I understand bdeaner correctly, Catholics wouldn’t deny my salvation either, since I was baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (it was a somewhat old-fashioned Amerian Baptist who baptized me).
I don’t know much about Methodist doctrine, but suspect that we differ more on form of worship than genuine content. The Methodists here will have to correct me if I’m wrong - it has been a long time since I had a Methodist for a Pastor.
Obviously, there are always exceptions. I once visited a Fundamental Bible Baptist Church in Texas...the pastor started preaching about how NO ONE in his congregation would EVER accept ANY translation but the KJV, and how anyone who did would burn in hell. I was a bit worried that I would have to fight my way out, swinging my New English Bible left and right!
In like manner, I’ve been told by Catholics that I was destined to burn in hell for not being Catholic, and that we were saved by being really good and trying hard, and would see if we were good enough on Judgment Day.
In an age where Michael Jackson is adored, can we be surprised that many church-goers are just that, and nothing more?
Some things you are missing here...Most Protestants get their theology from the scriptures, only...As a result, they pour over the scriptures for truth and understanding...The bible is the 'final authority' for all matters of faith and practice...
Your religion on the other hand, relies on the writings and opinions of it's old and newer church fathers and tries to make the scriptures line up with those things that you call tradition...
Those that spend even a little time in the scriptures know that the Body of Christ is made up of believers...And ONLY believers...
It would be ignorant to say that all Catholics are believers, or all Protestants are believers...Therefore, it is IMPOSSIBLE that your religion is the Body of Christ...
Secondly, any honest student of the scriptures know that salvation does not come from the Body of Christ (the believers)...It comes from the Head, Jesus Christ...It is biblical IMPOSSIBLE that salvation comes from your church thru your religion...
So, yes Christ has given the Catholic Church, along with the Orthodox Church, the fullness of the means of salvation via the Sacraments or what the East refers to as the Holy Mysteries.
Again, this is not only a lie, it comes from the Father of Lies...
There are no Holy Mysteries...The mysteries that were spoken of by the apostles have been revealed...They are no longer mysteries...
Your's is just a catch-phrase to make your church sound spiritual, religious...Nothing biblical about it...