what do you think is God's view on the division between catholics and protestants?

Question

considering that in ephesians 4:5 he said their is ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM
not many lords, many faiths, many baptisms............
a house divided cannot stand
divided we fall
ONE BODY IN CHRIST
not many bodies of christ

Answer 1

I think God would be a bit disappointed in us.

"The Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love…Jesus himself, at the hour of his Passion, prayed 'that they may all be one' (John 17:21)." -- Pope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint, May 25, 1995.

The Catholic Church already has the following open dialogs with her sister Churches:

- The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation
- The Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops
- The Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultation
- The Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic Dialogue
- The Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation USA
- The Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue
- Roman Catholic-Reformed Consultation
- The United Methodist-Catholic Dialogue
- Southern Baptist Convention-Catholic Dialogue
- The Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue
- Faith and Order Commission, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
- Consultation with the National Council of Synagogues
- Consultation with the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I think when a denomination becomes polluted with critical theological errors, it is generally best for a true Christian to separate themselves from it, just as Martin Luther did. I wish we were not divided on scriptural issues. I was raised Catholic, though, and was never encouraged to read the Bible. When I became a Protestant, I discovered why. Catholic tradition contradicts Scripture more often than it doesn't. I do know some true believers in the Catholic church, but the majority of Catholics I know don't even know half of what the church teaches, and they don't even read Scripture. They trust the church to save them.

That said, I spent the last nine months or so in an interdenominational Bible study where we all united over all of the aspects of our faith that we had in common, and it was a beautiful thing. Everyone- EVERYONE- referred to Scripture alone for their studies, and in this way nobody was misled by issues of tradition. We all gained greater understanding for God's word. We all celebrated our common Lord, Faith, and Baptism. We all recognized eachother as members in the same Body. As long as we're able to filter out the nonessentials of our church affiliations, fellowship in Christ is possible and beneficial.

Answer 3

We, as believers, must believe the same on the essentials of the faith, but beyond that there is great latitude in how a Christian should worship, serve, and live his life. This latitude is what causes so many different flavors of Christianity. Diversity is a good thing, but disunity is not. If two churches disagree doctrinally, it is fine that they remain separate. This separation, though, does not lift the responsibility Christians have to love one another (1 John 4:11-12) – and ultimately be united as one in Christ (John 17:21-22).

Recommended Resource: The Master's Plan for the Church by John MacArthur.

Answer 4

The Lord knows that the Catholics are Idol worshipers and that they bow to statues, for an example of what he thinks you could read about what he though when Moses went up on the mount for 40 days and came back down and found the ppl worshiping the golden calf. Same thing.

So the Catholics are not part of the real church or the Christian church they are idol worshipers.

Answer 5

I am not God, so I can't say. But are Catholics and Protestants really divided. The only difference is a little dogma. There is no one world church, even the protestants have splits in belief, that's why there are thousands of protestant denominations.

Answer 6

So, we should all be Catholic, is that what you're saying? But I have problems with the theology of quite a few Protestant faiths too.

Answer 7

What's important is what it says in The Book. Read Acts 2.

Answer 8

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3

It does not matter to what family a person is born, christian or muslim or catholic or hindu or buddhist, but a person has to be born again (which means the heart of sin should be repented) and accept Jesus and be born into His famiy to follow the teachings of Jesus which will lead us to God.

So whichever church they belong to, what matters is their inner being which will constitute Christ body.

Answer 9

God did not come in the flesh (Jesus) to bring division among us, but to unite us together in His love on the cross when He gave His life to everyone, equally. Satan brings division among us to confuse, rob, steal and destroy. We who love Jesus are one body in Christ with Jesus Christ at the head of the body. God bless

Answer 10

Oh Boy Here We Go.....Here comes the prejudice remarks, and put-downs. Anytime someone mentions "Catholic"--the mean and hurtful words come out. SAD, SAD!!

The Bible is Right-----ONE, and let me repeat it, ONE FAITH, ONE BODY.

Proud to Be Catholic. God Bless.