A question for the Catholics and Protestants?

Question

Instead of fighting about whether protestants or catholics will end up in hell or heaven...

How can we instead bridge the gap and remember that we all worship the same God, even if we don't believe the same way?

It doesn't mean that we have to abandon our theology, but is there a way to walk in love to one another, the way that Christ loves his church (even if we don't agree on which church is the "right" church?)

Father K, are you referring to the creeds as in the Apostles Creed?

is that in the Bible, or was that written by church leaders after the scriptures?

I'm having trouble understanding why the church has to be the Roman catholic or orthodox church.

The scriptures that you shared are correct in terms of Christ's words, but can't we be the church even if we disagree on all of the specific theologies???

Answer 1

I'm Catholic and I read the story about the Pope's paper today. The first thing that popped into my mind was Wahoo, we're number one! Then I thought about it for a minute, and I recalled the story about the apostles bragging to Jesus that they rebuked some strangers that were casting out demons in Jesus' name because they were not part of their group. Then Jesus rebuked the apostles and told them that whoever is not against us is for us. You know what, do what He says. Peace to the protestants. We serve the same Lord.

Answer 2

I suppose you should call me a Protestant, but having been raised Catholic until I was 7, I learned to have an open mind. The Bible doesn't tell me it's my job to determine who goes where, I can only leave that up to God. Instead of promoting hatred through bitter attacks and insults, I believe we should explore our differences together peacefully, and it's okay if we get into passionate debates over certain points of theology, as long as we keep a civil tongue with each other. Any one who starts condemning every church but their own only succeeds in looking ignorant, because I don't believe that God looks at the name outside the building you worship in but rather how you live your life and what is in your heart. And to that end, I believe the Bible has the last word on how to live our lives and what should be in our hearts.

Answer 3

Well, I am a devout Protestant and always have been... and I think Catholics are fine. Didn't know there was any serious debate on this topic anymore, honestly. Not sure what the Pope's problem is. I don't personally know a Catholic OR Protestant that thinks that the other is going to hell, and I know a lot of both! So I guess it is possible to bridge the gap, because all the Catholics and Protestants I know have already done it.

Answer 4

Well, I think normal, good people like you understand this kind of gulf between the two, but unfortunately, our leaders don't, and are too ignorant to want to find the gulf and fix it. The pope just issued a decree that Protestants don't go to heaven. Who's he to say that? The only real difference between Protestants and Catholics is the rituals, leadership, and how men of the cloth should/could get married, etc.
We both believe in the same God, and both churches believe in Jesus, right? We need to recognize and talk about how we are alike, not how we are different.

Answer 5

As strongly as I feel about my non-denominational Protestant church that preaches straight from the Word, of my two best friends other than my family, one is Catholic and the other is Orthodox Jew. The Jewess is married to a Pentecostal Christian, and I count him among my circle of trusted friends. I think we would all be a better witness if we followed the words of Christ: Love God with all your heart and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is fulfillment of the Commandments. If you are a true seeker of truth, with no agenda, just a true heart, God will lead you to the Truth.Amen.

Answer 6

We are all members of the one universal,many membered body of Christ,who claim and have received salvation through Jesus Christ. Though Catholics and Protestants have differences in belief that extend beyond that of peripheral doctrinal issues,I believe that we can coexist and should indeed embrace each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord. "Midge",for one can testify that I avoid being involved with fruitless and often heated discussion with those who worship God in the light of Catholicism.

We mutually agree on the most basic of doctrines such as 1. Salvation by grace though faith,in the subsitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and are cleansed by his blood. 2.We understand the nature of God to be Truine..3.That Jesus Christ incarnate was the God/Man and is, God himself. 4.That Jesus Christ will return for his bride(the true church). 5.That Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.Bodily. 6.That Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary.7.That the bible is the inspired word of God and is infallible..there are many other issues that we both agree and disagree on... The backbitting and arguing on this forum between the two groups of Christian belief,should not be happening,especially in front of un-believers..what message does his send? How will unbelievers know that we are really Christians?..by our love for on another. Serious debate between the two factions of the church should be practicied behind closed doors,in my opinion...

If you believe that Jesus Christ is God, the only access to the Father,and that through his blood you are cleansed of all sin and unrighteousness,then you are my brother or sister in the Lord.

Good question,sister....I was actually thinking about this very question on my lunch break and was rehearsing in my mind,how I would answer it.....Now, i know for sure.

Answer 7

Amen. We need to stop finding fault with each other and just concentrate on worshipping our Lord the best we can. I grew up Protestant, and have been told so many bad things about the Catholic faith, but now that I'm older, I am seeing so many wonderful things about the Catholic church. I'm drawn to it, and am studying it all I can. But the main thing is to concentrate on loving and worshipping our Father. Satan loves it when God's people are bickering. We should stop making satan so darn happy.

Answer 8

Whether one is catholic or protestant means nothing to God. He determines whom He will save, and who He won't. Salvation is based on God's election and Christ's atoning work on the cross, not the empty rituals of man or our fleshly works. What gets my hackles up is when someone who is catholic say we are the "true" church, those who are not catholic are heretics. Rubbish. Those who have done even a cursory study of Scripture know this is utter nonsense.

Answer 9

Truth can lie, when it is part of the truth...

Jesus Christ was a Jew....and founded a relilgion that was not Roman Catholic, not Protestant, nor Lutheran....he was and is the way to the truth.

Let us all accept that the divisions are caused by political agendas....first divorce, then same gender marriages, then something else...

Answer 10

I'd love for it to be this way. The problem is that there are people (the Pope, cough, cough) that think they are the way to God, when Jesus quite clearly stated that he was the way.

Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1Ti 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

I don't understand why the plain truth is not understood. :(