Question about discussions between Catholics and Evangelicals/Fundementalists?

Question

So I am evangelical currently. I might move to the Cathlolic Church.

One thing I noticed is that with any exchange between Evalgelicals and Catholics the Evangelicals come off looking like idiots.

They say things (I did it myself) they have been thought but never researched. So its something like, you pray to mary, you believe in works, your not saved, you have idols etc etc.

All of this is not thought by the Catholic Church, when you read something like catholic.com it shows this to be fact.

So any exchange bettween these two groups has the Loving Catholic explaining their position from a point of knowledge o the bible and church history.

Then you have the evangelical quoting the bible (out of context) and fighting about things they think the catholic believes but indeed doesnt. And of course taking all their reference from their Pastors yet deriding the catholic from listening to their pastor/priest.

The hypocrisy is crazy. Its like the evangelical got an evangelical book about catholics (i used to have one) and use it to disprove their faith.

Only the book is wrong and doenst have any true detail in it.

Its like this "you believe the sky is green, the bible says its blue"

"No I dont, I believe its blue"

"You believe the Sun is black"

"No I dont"

Why even as I write this will I get responses that say "Catholics go beyond the bible"

How do you know, who told you, what is your evidence.

If you can deride a church founded by Christ himself surely you can doubt yourself

Have to add something.

Catholics ask mary to pray for them. The bible says to ask others to pray for you.

Priests do not have to be Celibate. It is not a requirement but has been general practice for 1000 years.

Jesus said that Peter was the rock that built his church (speaking in Aramaic there was only one word for rock)

Most catholics that went to a different church didnt understand what they believed. Jesus from what I can see is more present in one mass than a lifetime of evangelical hypmotisim.

Answer 1

I am a very devout Catholic. It was my parents that left the Church some 25+ years ago and drifted for awhile before settling at the Assembly of God.

The same relatives that accuse me of having all of those statues think nothing of using their own statues in their Christmas mangers. They don't pray to them or worship them and neither do I.

Show me where the Bible says the bible only. Show me how you know which books even belong in the bible. Matthew & Mark did not sign their versions of the gospel....how do you know that they were truly written by Matthew and Mark....they, too, are accepted by Tradition.

Fundies accuse Catholics of adding books to the OT....yet they agree 100% with the Catholic bishops who, during the Council of Orange (N. Africa) in AD 397, made the determination as to which books are considered to be inspired to include in the NT.. Since they have the exact same 27 books in their NT, they obviously agree....otherwise they would have their own version of the NT. AFTER Martin Luther wanted to remove Hebrews, James and Revelation from the NT, the Catholic Church definitively listed those books that belong in the NT during the Council of Trent. Even Protestants did not agree with Luther.....

ALL Protestants use the Catholic Church calendar to determine when to celebrate Easter & Christmas (most Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar and so these feasts are generally but not always celebrated 7 days later). At least the Orthodox who do not accept the office of the Pope do not use the Gregorian calendar. Protestants are hypocritical in putting down the Pope but use the Gregorian calendar established by Pope Gregory. Let them start their own calendar, then....or go back to the Julian.

For really good reading on the Catholic Church, read David Currie's book, Born Fundamentalist, Born-Again Catholic. Read also Alex Jones' book, No Price Too High -- about a Pentecostal preacher who discovered the Truth of the Catholic Church and reconciled with the Church and is now a deacon in the Catholic Church -- and brought 54 members of his Pentecostal church with him.

Answer 2

I was born into the Catholic church and was a Catholic for many years. My mother is still a strong practicing Catholic. I have moved on to the Assembly of God. Catholics do pray to Mary, (the mother of Jesus), which the Bible cleary says not to. Does that mean a lot of Catholics are unsaved? Of course not. The Roman Catholic church does however have some qwerky "rituals and believes". A lot of them were implemented by Popes that (hundreds and hundreds of years ago) bought their way into the Pope position.
Further more, it is really not about the Church you attend, its about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. So if you want to go to the Catholic church, good for you, just do not ever forget that Jesus is the one who saves, not the priest, or archbishops etc........ Good luck as a Catholic.

Answer 3

I had that experience too. Honestly, when I was evangelical, I didn't even think about the fact that I was just accepting somebody else's word on Catholicism (my pastor). And really, he was probably just accepting somebody else's word.

I've often wonder who started telling these lies and why? And while I really dislike cornering evangelicals and telling them to PROVE what they claim, it really is the only way to get them to see that they're repeating a lie.

I try to say, "If you want to complain about Catholicism, there are plenty of TRUE things to disagree with...why bother disagreeing with things that aren't even true?"

Of course, some people are so filled with hatred against Catholicism, they don't care whether what they are saying is true or not. At least, they don't care to find out.

Answer 4

This is wonderful open discussion. Unless, we do discuss with each other, can we understand each other.

The Catholic has the faith in its entirety as handed down by Jesus Christ. The Catholic has those wonderful 7 Sacraments, to aid us along the way all thru our life - from a embryo to after death. There is meaning and purpose to life. Let not ours be in vain.
The Church Militant (Those Living) DO NOT worship Mary as WORSHIP is reserved only for GOD. She is the mediator between Humanity and Divinity. The chosen channel that God saw fit; why do we mortals reject His choice??? All the Saints are people like you and me, with the difference of them doing His will over theirs. The Church Triumphant, (Sainthood) have attained beatitude by proven favors (miracles) wrought for the living through their intercession. The Catholic also takes care of their departed family in the Church Suffering (Souls in Purgatory).

We could go on talking about this, however, one answer is not sufficient as Faith in endless. I shall remember you in my prayer. Our Father does hear us because of His Son, His Son's Mother, Immaculata, His Saints ... His Will will be done! God guide you on this journey home! I welcome you my brother in Christ!

Answer 5

Show me the place in the Bible that supports the office of "pope"

Show me the place that says we should pray to Mary.

And there is no support for the priest being able to "give absolution" from sin by having you "say a few hail Mary's" then you go out and keep doing the same stuff so you can go confess againe next week.

And regarding the catholic requirement of celibacy of priests... read up on the requirements listed in the Bible to be a leader in the Church. The scriptural requirement is "Husband of one wife" meaning don't have a harem (which was common back then) Its more supportable to REQUIRE the priest to be married and have raised some kids.

I could go on...

Answer 6

When comparing two faiths there should be some ground rules. Ask a member's opinion, not a critic's. Compare your best with their best, and not with their worst. Leave room for "holy envy". There is always something to admire about another faith that would make yours better.

Answer 7

What it should be is what the Bible says and not what someone says, be it a Pope or preacher or anyone. Then, the basis is established, this is what Jesus wanted, unity and not division.