Should We Imitate the Catholic, Orthodox Saints and Protestant “Esteemed” Christians?

[ResidentAlien]

Despite my recent posts in this thread while I didn't part ways with Catholics I certainly parted ways with the Catholic Church. Started to seriously question a lot of the doctrine after reading my first bible given to me as a Christmas gift in my early teens.

When I say "parted ways" I mean doctrinally. I have nothing against anyone personally.

However, here's the rub. Catholics expect to be accepted and welcomed as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can work out our differences they say, but it must come from a place of brotherhood and mutual acceptance. That's a problem. The Catholic Jesus is a different Jesus from the One in the scriptures. So long as someone believes in a false Jesus there can't be mutual brotherhood and fellowship. It's like saying to a Muslim, come brother, let's work out our differences. After all, we both love God don't we?

I learned a long time ago that unless a Catholic comes to understand their sect is false from the ground up there's no point in arguing with them.

 

[Lynx]

If you're coming here pushing Catholic ideas be ready for a fight.

ebdesroches, now do you see what he was trying to tell you?

You still owe him a thank you for trying to give you a heads up.

 

[tourist]

When I say "parted ways" I mean doctrinally. I have nothing against anyone personally.

However, here's the rub. Catholics expect to be accepted and welcomed as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can work out our differences they say, but it must come from a place of brotherhood and mutual acceptance. That's a problem. The Catholic Jesus is a different Jesus from the One in the scriptures. So long as someone believes in a false Jesus there can't be mutual brotherhood and fellowship. It's like saying to a Muslim, come brother, let's work out our differences. After all, we both love God don't we?

I learned a long time ago that unless a Catholic comes to understand their sect is false from the ground up there's no point in arguing with them.

I agree about the arguing aspect. Tried to do that with my mother for years. It would always break her heart and she ended up in tears. Finally, decided it was not worth the harm that I was causing with very little good to show for it. She did read her bible each day and prayed each day, particularly in the morning before starting her day. She ended her day with bible reading and study. Absolutely, a spiritual woman of the Lord. She has been dead a few years now along with my dad. One day I will see them again.

 

[PennEd]

While I believe it's certainly true that there are saved Catholics, the religion itself has so many heresies, NO ONE should be a member.

I went to 8 yrs catholic school, and most of my very large extended family remain Catholic, albeit most are wishy washy Chreesters. (Christmas and Easter) adherents.

This is a partial list of what I believe are damnable heresies taught by their church.

1. Praying to Mary

2. Making Mary a co redemptrix

3. Praying the rosary

4. Praying to "saints"

5. Transubstantiation

6. Purgatory

7. CONTINUED indulgences

8. Teaching that a priest is a necessary mediator for confession of sins AND absolution of sins through assigning rote repetition of the Hail Mary and Our Father.

9. Inerrancy of the pope, and teaching that he is Christ's representative on Earth.


There are more, but these listed are so serious that it is imperative to flee this cultish religion.

The site owner is absolutely correct that this false religion should not be lifted up or taught here.

 

[Lynx]

While I believe it's certainly true that there are saved Catholics, the religion itself has so many heresies, NO ONE should be a member.

I went to 8 yrs catholic school, and most of my very large extended family remain Catholic, albeit most are wishy washy Chreesters. (Christmas and Easter) adherents.

This is a partial list of what I believe are damnable heresies taught by their church.

1. Praying to Mary

2. Making Mary a co redemptrix

3. Praying the rosary

4. Praying to "saints"

5. Transubstantiation

6. Purgatory

7. CONTINUED indulgences

8. Teaching that a priest is a necessary mediator for confession of sins AND absolution of sins through assigning rote repetition of the Hail Mary and Our Father.

9. Inerrancy of the pope, and teaching that he is Christ's representative on Earth.


There are more, but these listed are so serious that it is imperative to flee this cultish religion.

The site owner is absolutely correct that this false religion should not be lifted up or taught here.

On the other hand, I would like to know how I can get in on those indulgences...

 

[Live4Him3]

ebdesroches, now do you see what he was trying to tell you?

You still owe him a thank you for trying to give you a heads up.

Does the "pope" in the woods?

I'll never tell...

 

[tourist]

While I believe it's certainly true that there are saved Catholics, the religion itself has so many heresies, NO ONE should be a member.

I went to 8 yrs catholic school, and most of my very large extended family remain Catholic, albeit most are wishy washy Chreesters. (Christmas and Easter) adherents.

This is a partial list of what I believe are damnable heresies taught by their church.

1. Praying to Mary

2. Making Mary a co redemptrix

3. Praying the rosary

4. Praying to "saints"

5. Transubstantiation

6. Purgatory

7. CONTINUED indulgences

8. Teaching that a priest is a necessary mediator for confession of sins AND absolution of sins through assigning rote repetition of the Hail Mary and Our Father.

9. Inerrancy of the pope, and teaching that he is Christ's representative on Earth.


There are more, but these listed are so serious that it is imperative to flee this cultish religion.

The site owner is absolutely correct that this false religion should not be lifted up or taught here.

I fully concur with your the items on your list being heretic in nature.

 

[arthurfleminger]

Totaly agree, Jesus first, our lord and brother, and then those that have fallen so in love with Him that are saints and “esteemed” brothers and sisters we dint dare to call saints.

Scripture further reinforces living one's faith in a Christian, holy, blessed and saintly manner. Christians need to let the light of their faith shine forth in all that they do. Christian faith isn't to be supressed and hidden under a bushel basket.

Christians need to be the salt of the earth and a light, setting the Christlike example of living for others to follow. And most especially for their families. The saints/blessed were great examples of this kind of Christian living example. Their lives, lived in and through Jesus, and their example have been remembered down through the centuries. People obviously remember them today.

 

[tourist]

On the other hand, I would like to know how I can get in on those indulgences...

You would have to bring many loaves of your homemade sourdough bread to your local Catholic food pantry. Each loaf would shave a month off your indeterminate sentence. I believe that the current going rate is a week for each ounce of a dark chocolate bar, and only 1 day for milk chocolate. Might fetch a good price for a donut though, especially with sprinkles on top.

 

[PennEd]

On the other hand, I would like to know how I can get in on those indulgences...

Well, all you have to do is die, and have your loved ones BUY mass cards. And then the priest will say periodic masses in your name to lessen your time you have to suffer in purgatory.

 

[ResidentAlien]

While I believe it's certainly true that there are saved Catholics

The only way there can be a saved Catholic is if they aren't Catholic.

 

[ResidentAlien]

It's like saying there are saved pagans because they profess to believe in Jesus (he was a good teacher, or a good example or whatever) and read the Bible. Their interpretations may be totally wacky but they read it. Why should I give Catholics a pass simply because they profess to be "Christian." What about Unity or Unitarians or JWs or LDS. They all profess to be "Christian." What's so special about Catholics they we should treat them any differently?

 

[ebdesroches]

The only way there can be a saved Catholic is if they aren't Catholic.

The only way there can be a saved Catholic is if they aren't Catholic.[/

We see through a glass darkly. (A pause for humility?)

The basics of our faith are set we all agree to them. There are also things we can disagree about. Catholics agree to the essentials of the faith.

Jesus prayed that we would all be one that believe in the essentials

 

[tourist]

The only way there can be a saved Catholic is if they aren't Catholic.

Are you saying that the shed blood of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is not sufficient for Catholics?

 

[ResidentAlien]

Are you saying that the shed blood of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is not sufficient for Catholics?

Of course it is. But Catholics don't believe the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is sufficient. They're real faith is in the wafer Jesus. This Jesus must be crucified and consumed day after day, year after year to maintain one's state of grace. This is clearly not the Jesus of the Bible.

If a Catholic repents of their worship of the wafer (which is idolatry really), and truly turns to the real Christ, then absolutely, His shed blood is more than sufficient.

 

[ebdesroches]

The only way there can be a saved Catholic is if they aren't Catholic.

I have catholic in laws that believe that it’s the sacrifice that Jesus paid that saves them from their sins. That can’t be taken away from them…

 

[ResidentAlien]

I have catholic in laws that believe that it’s the sacrifice that Jesus paid that saves them from their sins. That can’t be taken away from them…

They can say that all they want. If they worship the wafer Jesus, look to the Roman pope as Christ's substitute on earth, honor Catholic traditions over God's inspired scriptures, pray to Mary; I'm sorry, they never had anything to be taken away in the first place.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

There are definitely nice Roman Catholic people.

In fact, most of the people who have been the nicest/kindest to me throughout my entire lifetime were/are Roman Catholics.

That said, I've still shared the true gospel with all of them and given many of them, if not all of them, Bibles.

Hi Live4Him. It's good that you found Catholics nice and kind, and gave Bibles to them. The increase of Biblical Literacy in recent times, especially with the Internet and Bible commentaries widely available, is a very good thing imo. I would like to see increase in Patristic - i.e. Church Fathers and their traditional interpretation of Scripture - Literacy too.

The Gospel of St. John is surely the True Gospel, and yet in that Gospel, the Lord Jesus Himself teaches Holy Communion is His Body and His Blood as clear as words can make it. Not only Catholics, but also Orthodox, Anglicans and Lutherans believe this. Moreover, it was universally held, in both East and West, for 1500 years, right from the earliest Apostolic times.

Source: "
The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically,[1] but in a true, real and substantial way.

There are a number of Christian denominations that teach that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, including Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Church of the East, the Moravian Church, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Irvingism and Reformed Christianity.[1][2][3][4][5][6]"

Taken from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_presence_of_Christ_in_the_Eucharist

John 6, KJV: "
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."

God Bless.

 

[ebdesroches]

Of course it is. But Catholics don't believe the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is sufficient. They're real faith is in the wafer Jesus. This Jesus must be crucified and consumed day after day, year after year to maintain one's state of grace. This is clearly not the Jesus of the Bible.

If a Catholic repents of their worship of the wafer (which is idolatry really), and truly turns to the real Christ, then absolutely, His shed blood is more than sufficient.

Pretty far from Catholic theology

 

[tourist]

Of course it is. But Catholics don't believe the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is sufficient. They're real faith is in the wafer Jesus. This Jesus must be crucified and consumed day after day, year after year to maintain one's state of grace. This is clearly not the Jesus of the Bible.

If a Catholic repents of their worship of the wafer (which is idolatry really), and truly turns to the real Christ, then absolutely, His shed blood is more than sufficient.

It could very well be with some Catholics about communion. Years ago, I was talking to a priest much older than I was and asked what the significance of communion is. I said that if Jesus already lives in your heart than what is the point about receiving communion, do you get more Jesus or what? He said, "Son, that is a mystery." Guess he didn't really understand it either. Also, I don't get the venial and mortal sin concept. Sin is sin regardless of what transpired. All sin is mortal.