Amongst ourselves? You know the argument where "I'm right and will be in heaven for an eternity while you're wrong and therefore you will be in hell for an eternity"? Or am I on a desserted island all by myself? By the way I'm a Roman Catholic Christian.
2007-09-11 07:54:53 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As a Catholic convert from Baptist fundamentalism, I'm more than tired of it. It grieves me.
The ones who tell me "Catholics aren't saved, Catholicism is a cult, you worship Mary, you do this, you do that, you do the other thing" with self-righteous finger-pointing are the very ones who, before my conversion, would have smiled approvingly and embraced me as a "sister". Why? Because I had a fundamentalist, born-again "label". The label now reads "Catholic". I am the same. So is the Lord and Savior I worship. The only way my relationship with Him has changed is to become deeper, and much more personal than ever before.
How is it, then, that on the basis of my label these brothers and sisters of mine -- many of whom would like to think they can disown me and deny the relationship -- now invoke a convenient escape clause to "once saved, always saved" because I am Catholic? "Your [original] conversion must not have been genuine. You weren't REALLY saved." Pardon me for a bit of pique but who appointed these to sit in judgment of me, personally, to say nothing of my Catholic brethren as a group? The Bible did not. I am extremely conversant with Scripture, and I know the verses that can be plucked out and tossed my way as answer, and to that I say have a care for how you use the word of God.
It's ridiculous for believers in Christ to snipe at each other like this when we have all received the most priceless gift; surely there is something more constructive, not to mention virtuous, we could do with our time here on earth. The question of where each of us spends eternity will be answered soon enough -- by the only One qualified to do so.
2007-09-11 09:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by Clare † 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I don't like many of the labels however, there are some huge differences between what Bible believing Christians believe and what Roman Catholic Church and Mainline Protestants Churches teach. If you don't like labels why did you refer to yourself as a "Catholic Christian". Why didn't you say you are Christian or just a follower of Jesus? Why even mention the denomination? I'm a Bible believing Christian and I say that to set my self apart from those who claim to be Christians but reject the teaching in the Bible. We have to decide is the correct definition of Christianity what is written in the Bible or not? Or is it what the late vote was at some church council? Or the last sermon from the Pope or Billy Graham? If a church council, the council of what church? The Southern Baptist Convention? The United Methodist? The Lutherans? Which church council should we be listening to? I say we need to get back to the Bible, which is God's Word and that's NOT the words of men. Pastor Art
2016-05-17 07:18:47 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has their breaking point, and it's okay to walk away from people who are not receptive. Jesus tells us as much when He says, "shake the dust from your sandals (if no one receives you)."
As Catholics, all we have to do it present evidence that our beliefs are reasonable. Whether or not a skeptic receives this evidence with an honest and contrite heart, there's nothing we can do about it so there's really no point in getting upset about it.
In my experience, the one thing that sucks the life out of me more than anything else is having to answer the same misguided claims over, and over, and over again.
Regardless, we have to hang tough and show the world what Catholics are made of.
The trick is not allowing yourself to get sucked in to fruitless circular arguments - the only purpose of which is to wear you down until you give up spreading the Truth.
Just spread the Truth. Say it once, clarify it if necessary, and then move on. Allow the recipient of the Truth to decided whether or not he/she is ready to accept it. If they are, great. If not, there is nothing we can do about it. In fact, endless arguing might only serve to drive an already skeptic person further away from God.
2007-09-12 03:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Roman Catholic Christian and I am tired and try to find out about the similiarities and if an issue comes up I try to find common ground and build from there. And I never would say I am going to heaven and you are going to hell because I do not judge others and I risk condemnation and I would never presume I am going to heaven because it is a gift from God and not accomplished by my efforts.
2007-09-11 10:39:36 · answer #4 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I find that kind of bickering does nothing to illuminate for the most part.
It is possible to intelligibly debate the meaning of scripture, the reformation, the counter-reformation and various peoples' writings. But that doesn't happen a lot here - maybe the bulletin board, social networking like format of the YA site doesn't encourage it like it could.
I'm a Catholic, and that is my bias of course.... but I think the anti-Catholic activists are a bit worse. Catholics here are not writing "Protestants will all go to hell," even though we're the majority of the world's Christians, and easily in a position where we could be dominant and more aggressive in such a debate.
I do not for a moment tar all Protestants with the brush I just tarred the anti-Catholics with, though. There are plenty of Protestants who have no problem with Catholics. :)
2007-09-11 08:07:12 · answer #5 · answered by evolver 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes. I try not to engage in those conversations. I'm not the deciding factor on who goes to heaven and who goes to hell and neither is anyone else so I try and stir clear of condemning people, what right do I have?
By the way I'm just a Christian, no denomination, not Catholic, not Protestant, just Christian.
2007-09-11 08:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
First off, the faith of Abraham was in the belief of God's justification for the ungodly.
Why do you think the religious were always the ones killing the early church and today the religious still carry the banner of war in God's name?
Do you think they would today if they had to hear that God justifies the ungodly, all of mankind?
Makes one very free to be justified, doesn't it?
Jesus, the one you've heard preached about, was that realization of Abraham's faith that God justifies the ungodly.
Now make it a song to your lips (confess), til it sinks deep in your heart (believe), so you will feel free (saved).
Either way you decide to live, rest assure that He judges everyone and will see your heart.
If you were willing to say he or she will go to hell, it will be quite a shock to the system to find out differently.
Be the church of the faith of Abraham, living confidently as one person, in the belief that God justifies all mankind through the Salvation manifested in Jesus.
2007-09-11 08:14:56 · answer #7 · answered by web_trace 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quailman, like that first answerer?
yes, I get tired of people like that too.
as a Catholic, I don't think other people are going to hell because they're not Catholic, but I will never get tired of saying that I'm in the right religion and that I have the fullness of truth as a Catholic.
2007-09-11 08:01:55 · answer #8 · answered by Perceptive 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
yes i get tired of it. which I've never said that the other belief was going to hell but i do get agitated with beliefs that are not the same as mine. just being honest. i try to stay away from doctrine that is different from mine cause Ive been rooted in believing one way and they probably have been rooted in theirs so there is no use trying to change it.
2007-09-11 08:03:29 · answer #9 · answered by warrior*in*the*making 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that any faith that puts someone or something ahead of Jesus Christ (some put Mother Mary) as your personal savior is wrong....This is according to the Bible. Mother Mary was nothing more than that...She found favor in the sight of God, but thats it....She never died for anyones sins....This is my problem with Catholicism. That and the idea that a small peon of a person cannot communicate directly with God....this is no where in the Bible, or even implied....John the Baptist received a vision from God...not the priests...the priests did not see it and then tell the people about it....God has a tendency to start at the bottom and work his way up...what makes you think that the Pope is any better than a normal born again Christian? He is NOT, and his pious actions toward the weak and meek will be punished by God.
Catholicism is a RELIGION. Jesus constantly proved Religion wrong and symbolically destroyed it by tearing the cloth in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the little normal people (this was done when he died). This gave way for a new 'church of faith'. US! I am not claiming any distinct organization, because organizations are not where God is at. God is in our hearts, and until you let your heart lead you instead of an organization, you will never truely be 'saved'.
WOW...there must be A LOT of Catholics in here....humm....
REF: ISLAM? PEACE? Good luck with that while you are belittled by every person that walks this earth...oh yea, and good luck while your getting gang banged in Islamic 'heaven' where every man has a bunch of eternal virgins at their disposal....yea...sounds like fun for you.
2007-09-11 08:02:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 6⤋