I come from a Catholic background. My family is Catholic and so is my in laws as well. My question to all of you is this even though I am a Catholic is it still ok to attend the protestant churches activites if your church does not have the same programs as the protestant churches does and also is it ok to be friends with protestants if your a catholic? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.
2007-06-07 02:43:24 · 16 answers · asked by Snowwhite30 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'd think it is better for you to avoid Protestant church activities but it is okay to have Protestant friends. I'm curious. Would your Protestant friends be as eager to participate in Catholic church activities? Most of them think the Pope is the anti-Christ.
2007-06-08 17:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Pat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course it's alright to have protestant friends and to attend church activities at protestant churches. The Catholic Church doesn't say to snub anyone who isn't Catholic -- we're all God's children regardless of our religion. However, attending protestant church services doesn't fulfill your obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. You still need to go to the Catholic Church even if you attend the Sunday service at a protestant church.
2007-06-07 20:11:43 · answer #2 · answered by Mary S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-06-07 09:51:25 · answer #3 · answered by Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, sure, it is a good idea as long as you do not receive their Communion and you still attend the Catholic Church's Liturgies. They really love Jesus as much as we do I think, they are just missing some pieces of the truth. Please do not let them speak down to you of the Catholic Church. If it wasn't for the Church they would not be here either. Many, many Catholics have been martyred over the years to bring the Faith that they distort down through the ages.
2007-06-07 10:07:23 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We (Christians, Protestants & Catholics alike) all serve the same God. Don't get hung up on a church building or denomination. The Church is the body of believers, which is the Bride of Christ.
2007-06-07 09:50:06 · answer #5 · answered by capitalctu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things like like Vacation Bible school and Bible study? No problem. (As long as one is certain to supplement what one learns with the Catholic point of view).
The problem arises when it comes to things like receiving communion or baptism in a Protestant Church, or going to the protestant service instead of Sunday mass.
No problem with protestant friends either. Only thing would be, not that all do this, but if it seems that all they do is try to show you your faith is wrong, then maybe they are not true friends.
The protestant friends I have I consider a treasure, and we encourage each other in our faith in Christ Jesus. They respect my faith and I theirs.
2007-06-07 09:55:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they most important thing is that you are in fellowship with other Christians. Unless someone is pushing doctrine, there shouldn't be an issue. I've gone to bible studies with protestants and with Catholics. Our current group is a Catholic, 3 Lutherans, 2 baptists, and one pentocostal! I have friends off all different religions and belief systems. If I couldn't be friends with Catholics, I wouldn't have had my 2 best friends from college, one of whom was like an older sister to me and really helped me out.
Be secure in your faith and have fun with your friends!
2007-06-07 09:53:46 · answer #7 · answered by usafbrat64 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you ask a great question. My advice to you would be to not look at it in that way: "Prostestant or Catholic". Jesus, the One who has to humble Himself just to look at the universe (Ps. 113:5-6), became a man and died at the hands of His own creation so YOU could share in the inheritance that was planned for Him since the foundation of the world (Ps. 2). We have something greater in store for us than what we in the church have presented...Protestant or Catholic. We, sinful man, are going to live forever with a mighty God, in intimate communion with the One who made us. This is the most amazing story line I have ever heard! Don't get too caught up in what man tells you to do or not to do. Jesus said to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind...and to love your neighbor as yourself"(Mt. 22:37-40). Paul said that this sums up the entirety of the law! (Rom. 13:9)
So in response to whether or not it is ok to "be friends with Protestants", Paul said it best in Colossians 3:11, "For there is neither Jew nor Gentile...slave nor free, but Christ is all in all." I would encourage you to not make the distinction between the two and begin to look at the hearts of those you're around. Jesus said that we can tell if someone is genuine by looking at the fruit in their lives. Peter said that we should take everything given to us and test it against God's Word to see if it be true. So I would advise the same to you, because when it is all said and done, God alone is the Judge and He isn't going to make a distinction between Jew or Gentile, slave or free, Protestant or Catholic. Because when He judges He will test the heart of each man and see how it stacked up with His Word.
So don't get caught up with distinctions in the church. The fact is, we all have done a pretty poor job of being "little Christs" (Christians). Love God, love your neighbor as yourself and be a walking, living, breathing epistle that brings glory to the God who is so worthy of it and I believe that He will bring you peace about who you should hang around with.
Grace and peace to you...
2007-06-07 10:23:30 · answer #8 · answered by DB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What? Yes, of course. I was raised Catholic and attended churches and temple with friends of other faiths. It didn't mean I wasn't Catholic (and I still attended Mass).
2007-06-07 09:48:36 · answer #9 · answered by ms_coktoasten 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course it's okay, for goodness' sake. You can attend protestant church activities and there is certainly no proscription against having friends outside your faith; Catholicism is not an insular cult. Attending their worship services is another matter, you need to be going to Mass. But surely if they are your friends, they will respect your beliefs as you respect theirs.
2007-06-07 09:50:48 · answer #10 · answered by Clare † 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋