One Hundred Fifty Reasons I'm Catholic - And You Should Be Too!

http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org ^ | January 23, 2014 | Dave Armstrong

[NKP_Vet]

1. Best One-Sentence Summary: I am convinced that the Catholic Church conforms much more closely to all of the biblical data, offers the only coherent view of the history of Christianity (i.e., Christian, apostolic Tradition), and possesses the most profound and sublime Christian morality, spirituality, social ethic, and philosophy.

2. Alternate: I am a Catholic because I sincerely believe, by virtue of much cumulative evidence, that Catholicism is true, and that the Catholic Church is the visible Church divinely-established by our Lord Jesus, against which the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail (Mt 16:18), thereby possessing an authority to which I feel bound in Christian duty to submit.

3. 2nd Alternate: I left Protestantism because it was seriously deficient in its interpretation of the Bible (e.g., "faith alone" and many other "Catholic" doctrines - see evidences below), inconsistently selective in its espousal of various Catholic Traditions (e.g., the Canon of the Bible), inadequate in its ecclesiology, lacking a sensible view of Christian history (e.g., "Scripture alone"), compromised morally (e.g., contraception, divorce), and unbiblically schismatic, anarchical, and relativistic. I don't therefore believe that Protestantism is all bad (not by a long shot), but these are some of the major deficiencies I eventually saw as fatal to the "theory" of Protestantism, over against Catholicism. All Catholics must regard baptized, Nicene, Chalcedonian Protestants as Christians.

4. Catholicism isn't formally divided and sectarian (Jn 17:20-23; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 1:10-13).

5. Catholic unity makes Christianity and Jesus more believable to the world (Jn 17:23).

6. Catholicism, because of its unified, complete, fully supernatural Christian vision, mitigates against secularization and humanism.

7. Catholicism avoids an unbiblical individualism which undermines Christian community (e.g., 1 Cor 12:25-26).

8. Catholicism avoids theological relativism, by means of dogmatic certainty and the centrality of the papacy.

[Iscool]

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Failure to post the rest of the sentence is deception...I'm sure you know that...

[impimp]

But many had faith in the Messiah and rejected that Jesus was the Messiah. If you are saying God gave the benefit of the doubt to those before Jesus’ time then it sounds like you believe in invincible ignorance.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-— I am sure that is firmly rooted in the catechism, but not the Holy Scriptures. Please point out where in the doctrines of the NT (for example Romans) it is asserted the church is a vehicle for giving grace to believers. -—

Your premise is invalid, since it is self-contradictory. The idea that the only valid Christian doctrines must be contained in Scripture, isn’t found in Scripture. It is a novelty invented by Luther.

Regardless, “the church of the living God” is “the pillar and foundation of truth.” Jesus said, “if he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.” Jesus also said to his Apostles, “he who hears you, hears me.” And we are to hold fast to the Apostolic traditions “handed down by word of mouth or by letter.”

So Apostolic Tradition and Church Teaching are sources of Christian Authority, in addition to Scripture.

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/sacraments_in_scripture.htm

And the efficaciousness of the Sacraments in imparting grace is found in Apostolic Tradition and confirmed by Christ’s Church.

[metmom]

And the efficaciousness of the Sacraments in imparting grace is found in Apostolic Tradition and confirmed by Christ’s Church.

But not supported anywhere in Scripture.

FWIW, the word *sacrament* is not found anywhere in Scripture. If it was the means by which grace is imparted, don't you think SOMEONE, like the Holy Spirit, would have told us so?

[redleghunter]

How do the teachings of Jesus Christ differ from Moses? Did not YHWH give the Law to Moses?

[metmom]

I believe it would be presumptuous of me or of anyone else to claim the ability to determine who will be saved and who will be damned.

And yet that is PRECISELY what the Catholic church claims to do when they claim the ability to retain or remit the sins of the adherents of the RCC..

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

” Since he was a protestant theologian who became a Catholic theologian, and has basically memorized the Old and New Testaments and speaks fluent Latin and Greek.”

---

Sounds like a reverse Martin Luther or John Calvin, except nobody cares about what Scott Hahn has to say, except maybe other Catholics.

[PhilipFreneau]

Vladimir, you wrote,

>>>BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry, that’s just too funny.<<<

That is not considered a mature debating technique. Instead of laughing like a Hyena, or trying to sidetrack the issues, why not address some of the points I made. For example, the lame notion that the pope has the Holy Spirit. Or that the Catholic "church" in any way resembles the early, true Church created by the apostles. Or that the pope is the "Holy Father." Those are more sinister than myths: they are satanic lies, and those lies have helped destroy the lives of countless people over the centuries.

The only reason I have not labelled the Catholic Church as the Great Whore, "Babylon The Great," like many misguided Christians have done over the centuries, is because there is no evidence they ever killed a prophet. But that is the only reason.

The person laughingly called "Holy Father," is little more than a modern day Pharisaic rabbi, as Jesus explained:

"Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." (Mat 23:1-9)

Anyone who gives a pope or priest the flattering title of "father" denies Christ, since Christ, in Matt 23:9, plainly warned us not to.

This is the only way to heaven, and there is none other:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

That wasn't so tough to figure out. Now, let's see where the early Church, created by the apostles, can be found today.

The Church of Jesus Christ sits on heavenly mount Sion in the beloved city, New Jerusalem; and in it there is only one mediator of our faith: Jesus Christ:

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant . . . " (Heb 12:22-24)

And what are his commandments?

". . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mat 22:37-40)

Or, more simply,

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mat 7:12)

Now, let's add it all up. To be a Christian we must:

1) Love Christ

2) Love our neighbor

Philip

[redleghunter]

You may have to blow the dust off that one and repost.

[boatbums]

Thanks for your comment. If I were to guess, I’d say that explanation has probably been posted at least a dozen times but, as you can see, those who like to play their “Luther card”, usually do so when they are desperate and can’t or won’t admit they have failed to prove their point. I find it amusing that one minute they are condemning him and calling him every name in the book and the next they are quoting him if it even remotely sounds like he defends their point. I call it the “Luther Schizophrenia Syndrome” (LSS). Several seem to be infected with it. ;o)

[vladimir998]

“That is not considered a mature debating technique. Instead of laughing like a Hyena, or trying to sidetrack the issues, why not address some of the points I made. For example, the lame notion that the pope has the Holy Spirit.”

That’s not a point. That’s a “lame notion” of an assertion. Also, I think it is somewhat hypocritical of you to say my laughing at your post is “not considered a mature debating technique” while you use phrases such as “lame notion”.

When you display such hypocrisy and such poor reasoning I see even less reason to take you seriously.

[NKP_Vet]

Oh, but you are wrong my friend. Scott Hahn, when he was a protestant minister and theologian, was known for his hell-raising against the Catholic Church. It was his job and he was one of the best apologist for protestants you will find. It was his life. Then he became a Catholic. He has a great story. It can not be said that this man does not know the Bible. He’s a prolific writer and a better apologist for the Catholic faith I have not heard.

[Salvation]

The Catholic Church has the same Gospels in our Bibles as you have in your Bibles. Nothing false about it?

[vladimir998]

“I am sure that is firmly rooted in the catechism, but not the Holy Scriptures.”

Yes, it is. Jesus said He would establish the Church and He did. The Church is His Body, His Bride. The gospel and Church always go together. There is no way to separate them.

“Please point out where in the doctrines of the NT (for example Romans) it is asserted the church is a vehicle for giving grace to believers.”

Wherever you found the Apostles - those who spread the gospel - you found the Church. The same is true of the sacraments. They are part and parcel of the Church’s life and authority. So, open Romans and look at 6:1-14. See baptism? See Paul? That’s a sacrament of the Church (from Christ) for the forgiveness of sins, and an Apostle (sent by Christ and the Church) teaching Christians (members of the Church). Did that not occur to you?

[redleghunter]

Well if someone perfectly follows the Law then sure I think they get in the Kingdom. But only One has ever done so, and that would be Jesus Christ. As He said:

Matthew 5:48 KJV

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

What Muslim or even Christian can claim the above? Not even Mother Teresa would have claimed perfection. We are humble for a reason...We will never be able to follow the Law perfectly for salvation. And the Law was never intended as a vehicle for salvation. That leaves us one conclusion..

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>By the way, ask yourself why DRV has “repent” rather than “do penance” in Mark 1:15, Luke 17:4, Acts 3:19, even though the same Latin root word is translated there that is elsewhere is translated as “do penance”.<<<

Vladmir,

What is your point in that statement? My NT does not have Latin root words. Only Greek.

What is a DRV? Is that a bible?

Philip

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>When you display such hypocrisy and such poor reasoning I see even less reason to take you seriously.<<<

You have a tough time debating the scripture, don't you?

[redleghunter]

Wow, even ol’ Tommie A weighed in on the “alone.” Never knew Aquinas was Lutheran:)

[boatbums]

It makes perfect sense, actually, because they are sinners in need of a Savior. Without one, they are Hell-bound — as we all are without Christ. When Christ said “No one comes to the Father but through Me”, He meant it. Scriptures make it plain that everyone has been given enough light sufficient to guide them if they are hunting for the Lord. To make up a god in their own image is not an option, as is clearly shown in Scripture. Anyone can claim to “love God” but Christ has made it plain in Scripture that if one knows Him, one knows God. Without Him, no one can know, let alone love God. Your argument is with God, not anyone else on this forum. You don’t think it fair that He would condemn people who have never heard. What you are forgetting is that we are all Hell-bound without Christ. There are not multiple doors by which one can enter Heaven. There is only one: Christ.

Well said. In addition, we should remember that, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) If God loves us that much - more than we can ever imagine - then why would anyone think He would NOT reveal the truth to anyone who was sincerely and earnestly seeking Him? We forget that Abraham WAS that distant "savage", so to speak. He lived in Ur of the Chaldees, somewhere in southern Mesopotamia, and his people worshiped idols. Yet...he was seeking after the true God and God spoke to him and the rest, they say, is history. We shouldn't limit the Holy Spirit like that - He is able to open the hearts and minds to the truth of Jesus Christ no matter where they are, no matter what they may have been brought up to believe.

As you stated, JLLH, it is God who makes the rules. We are His creation, He isn't ours. If he says no one comes to Him BUT through Jesus, then He means it. Why must we question Him? He is able and willing to reveal the truth to ALL who earnestly seek Him.

[redleghunter]

I did not say your first sentence was inaccurate, I said it was a bag full of snakes. I said so because you admit the South has always been very conservative in their voting. I agree, but that seems to conflict with your assertions in which you say evangelicals, Baptists and protestants vote more liberal than Roman Catholics. Southerners are predominantly non-Catholic Christians. Or is it now your assertion the Southern Bible belt is predominantly Roman Catholic?