How to convince my Protestant friend?

Question

I'm Catholic and I have this Protestant friend who keeps bagging on my religion. When ever we discuss things like the the Papacy, Mary having no children or anything else for that matter he wants to know where thats at in the Bible.

Theres nothing wrong with this mind you and I usually give a pretty good explanation. The problem is he always says "Well thats your interpretation, your not reading it in context."

My immediate response is usually "By what authority do you question my Churches teachings, then I usually will follow up with a quote from Turtullian, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Ireaneus or a host of other Early Church fathers from the early 1st-4th century to show that the interpretation or teaching I'm giving him was historically excepted as true or at least widely taught by all of Christendom for the past 2000 years.

But he won't except it. How do I convince him to see reason?

Answer 1

Everyone has his own mind, why don't you leave him alone????

Answer 2

Most protestants don't know anything about church history. If you tell a baptist that his church wasn't organized until the year 1601, he will usually be shocked!

The best way to convince him is to show him the true church from a historical point of view. Don't just tell him, but show him the documented facts.

We know it was close to 400 years AFTER the true Church began that the Bible even came along. The Bible came out of the Church, not the Church from the Bible. This alone shows that the Bible cannot be the sole authority. In the Church's infancy, they relied upon oral tradition as handed down by the apostles.

2 Thes 2:15 - "So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter."

Besides, nothing in the Bible ever says that everything must be found in the Bible. If anything, it tells us that not everything Jesus said and did could possibly have been written down.

St. Ignatius, whom you mentioned, was actually a disciple of St. John the Apostle. And Ignatius believed in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Catholic Church. I don't think that Jesus' favorite apostle would have led anyone astray, do you?

We also know from early writings that "going to Church" for the earliest Christians was having a sacrificial Mass, as we do today.....it in no way resembled a protestant church service.

In closing, what is the "pillar and bulwark of truth?" Is it a book? Here's a hint...

1 Timothy 3:15 - "But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the CHURCH of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth."

I have to warn you that many protestants have had their beliefs and misconceptions so deeply instilled into them, that convincing them to see otherwise would literally take an act of God. You can't win them all, so always be ready to "wipe the dust from your feet" and move on. But approaching them from a historical viewpoint is the best way, and always remain patient with them. Pray for him everyday that God will open him up to the truth and lead him home to the true Church. God bless you.

"To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."
- Cardinal Newman

Answer 3

show him what the early church fathers believed. Keep in mind the the Bible wasn't completed for the first 400 years of Christianity, therefore, the Church built sacred tradition and the sacred magesterium to guide and teach the faith. It is easy for protestants now that we have the Bible, but they have to take into context how Christianity developed, because not everything was written down at first.

Answer 4

I dont understand. This is not the historical difference in the catholic and protestant interpretations. im just a student of history, so this question fascinating. At what point in history did the protestants focus on Mary as the point of contention? bizarre!

Answer 5

It is not reasonable to expect people to have the same interpretation of a poorly written book. The argument that one interpretation has been taught for millenia is not a valid one. The teaching that the world was flat has also been around for quite a while until that has been disproved.

My advice is to let everyone believe what they like as long as they are not insisting you believe as they do.

Answer 6

You can't.

He believes that the Holy Spirit provides him with the "truth" of what he believes about the scriptures.

That means he can believe or reject anything he chooses to, in spite of what anyone else believes, or even knows to be true.

How are you going to beat that?

Just remember to thank God every day, for your Catholic faith!

Answer 7

Just stop trying to convince him ... his church teaches one thing, and yours teaches another. Neither of you will ever convince the other, nor should you. Give it a rest. Talk about other things besides religion if you want to keep him as a friend.

Answer 8

instead of arguing with him maybe you both should just agree to disagree. decide not to discuss religion any more and move on to other subjects that wont bring such animosity between the both of you. the only other suggestion i have is don't be friends anymore and go your separate ways.

Answer 9

You can't convince him of anything he is not ready to be convinced of. If I were you, I would stop this particular conversation with your friend, before your friend is no longer your friend.

Answer 10

I guess just tell him that everyone has their own opinions and religions. I used to be Catholic to and had friends like that. I'd tell em that and they'd just give up and give me some peace! lol

Answer 11

you can not ask him to explain in context if he disagrees with your few. God is love and you both need to pray on this or agree to disagree and no longer discus the bible.