Posted on 06/21/2018 9:48:25 PM PDT by boatbums
Over the years, I’ve had several Catholic friends and converts ask why I ultimately didn’t convert to their denomination. During my first two years of college, I spent a significant amount of time with Catholics, including at the (then?) US Opus Dei headquarters in NYC. I attended these gatherings with a good friend, who eventually decided to convert from Evangelicalism. I came close to converting, but ultimately decided against it. This has surprised some Catholics. I suspect this is because the standard narrative is that Protestants, especially Evangelicals, are crossing the Tiber in great droves.
Statistically, the narrative isn’t quite so neat: in recent years, Catholicism has lost millions of adherents, most of these converting to a kind of nonreligious spiritualism/secularism or to Protestantism, while millions more Protestants remain Protestant. For every one person who converts to Catholicism, about six leave the church.
Still, the notion that Catholicism is attracting large numbers of Protestant converts, with no movement in the other direction, can create the impression that there is something irresistible about Catholicism to anyone who studies it. My reasons for remaining Protestant haven’t changed a great deal, although they have become more refined, especially since seminary. I would like to share some of them here.
(Excerpt) Read more at medium.com ...
I certainly believe that without Christ’s sacrifice, none of us is redeemed. But I also believe that accepting Him as my savior is not confined to one moment, or thought. That, to me at least, would seem to be a “work, enacting my own salvation.
Wasn’t that her original name? I wonder if this was Diana of the Ephesians? I think maybe the so called queen of heaven, had different names at one time or another, maybe the latest name, is blessed Mary, ever virgin.
Fair enough. I’m sure I believe things that many Catholics would cringe at. Some might be doing that right now. I’ve never thought, nor remember being taught, that Protestants were not saved. That would not bode well for my Presbyterian father.
Holy Traditions - purportedly passed from person to person - is no different that Big Foot.
People believe it, can't prove it, have no idea what happened in the past.
It is a fable, held onto by those who must prove another fable - that Rome is the true church.
And of course, no tradition is ever equal to the words of God Himself.
There goes Holy Tradition, look!!
I can grok that. Though I honestly think that most Protestants and evangelicals would agree with you there.
Quite frankly, I’m no theologian (lol), but I’ve never seen the huge difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, at least on thevstuff that really matters, that some others, on both sides obviously do. Perhaps that’s from not growing up in a Super Catholic family, with a father who rarely attended church.
Doesnkt Christ himself, in Matthew & John, talk about works done here on Earth? The the Father will reward us for?
These believers will not face a judgement of heaven or hell. Christ paid the penalty for 100% of all their sin.
These believers will stand before the Bema Seat and their works (after salvation) will be tested with fire.
Whatever was done from the Spirit will survive. They will be rewarded.
They themselves will be saved no matter what.
Do you think your choice of being a “member” of a local church is what saves you?
Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior is what saves and it is this faith that places us in His universal body. I would think where you choose to worship with others is secondary to that.
Your personal insults in every post prove it.
Your first post to me.
Oooo, someone can’t come up with a good answer so he has to be childish and petulant. Isn’t that nice?
I had said nothing to you prior to this so why don`t you grow up.
Doesnkt Christ himself, in Matthew & John, talk about works done here on Earth? The the Father will reward us for?
***
Yes. Paul speaks of it too, as of (paraphrased) ‘works tested by fire.’ Good works will be refined, evil works consumed, but the person who has faith will still be saved, though, I suppose you could say in the case of the person with mostly evil works, still with the smell of brimstone clinging to them.
But Scripture also makes clear that works don’t cause salvation; good works are the EFFECT of salvation, and it’s an error to mix up the rewards for good works with trying to earn salvation.
Personally I prefer not to think about it that much, because for me, there’s the temptation to think of doing good as something I do in order to get something, which, for me, robs the good work of the ‘good’ adjective and makes it self-centered.
But Scripture does say that good works are rewarded, at least for people who are in a state of salvation.
Indeed, indeed.
You were the one who brought up harlots and insulted people.
I responded by noting how childish and petulant that comment was.
You have responded by being, once again, childish and petulant and insulting, over and over and over.
Grow up, man.
You were the one who brought up harlots and insulted people.
Come back darlin.
1: How about you point out which chapter and verse you’re talking about first, and what point you’re trying to make with them.
2: And for that matter, how about you try to make a cogent argument instead of REEEEEEEing all over the place while insulting people? In other words, bring up your point instead of yelling about harlots and attacking people personally.
3: That or just grow up. I’ll settle for posts that don’t sound like a 6-year-old throwing a tantrum.
Looks to me like you were trying to respond to some earlier post accusing the RCC of being the whore of Babylon. Of course I can’t be sure of that, because you didn’t respond to the post in question. I still can’t really make out what you’re trying to say anyways.
So let’s start over again, shall we? What argument are you trying to make?
I do.
I wasn't even allowed into a non-Catholic church.
When I wanted to join a girl scouts troop that met in the basement of the local Baptist church, my parents had to check with the priest to see if it was OK. It was. As long as I didn't go into the sanctuary or even enter by the front door that might look like I was going into the CHURCH for church.
But if I went in by the back door right into the basement, then it was OK. Bur I HAD to avoid the rest of the church.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
