So, after some consideration, I told Jeremy and Dominic, "Catholics an Protestants are pretty much the same... There are only a few considerations that I do not think is correct: One, the doctrine that deitifies Mary as an ultimate, and two, the belief that all authority comes from the Church of Rome (according to Pope John Paul II)."
So happily, I said that its quite similar....
Coz I always wondered if Catholics were, like Christians, saved too...
But you know, my curiosity is insatiable, so I decided to read up alot more on the Catholic Cathecism Liturgy and Protestant Theology...
The revelation stunned me...
There were so many fundamental differences between Protestants and Catholics... Thats why Martin Luther King created a whole new movement called the Protestants...
Dominic... I know you're going to be angry with me for talking about Catholics again.. but please read this ok?....
Then you'll know why I want so desperately for you to come to my church...
"Are Roman Catholics Saved? They are if they have trusted in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of their sins. However, if they believe that the are saved by God's grace and their works, then they are not saved -- even if they believe their works are done by God's grace -- since they then deny the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.
Being a Christian does not mean being a member of the Roman Catholic Church. It means being a member of the body of Christ which is accomplished by faith and trust in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins. It means that you do not add your works to His work. Sincerity doesn't forgive sins. Membership in a church doesn't forgive sins. Doing works of penance doesn't forgive sins. Praying to Mary doesn't forgive sins. Forgiveness is received in the faithful trust and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. You must trust Jesus, God in flesh, for the forgiveness of sins, not a man made ritual and certainly not the catholic saints. Even though Roman Catholic Church affirms the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and His physical resurrection, it greatly errs in its doctrine of salvation by adding works to salvation."
~ Christian Apologetics Reaching Out Ministry
- Protestant
The Old and New Testaments are the only sources of Christian doctrine
- Catholic
Sources of doctrine include:
- Certain papal declarations
- Bishops in conjunction with the pope
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Apocrypha (some additions to the Bible)
- Catholic Church Tradition
- Catholic interpretation of the Bible
A1 Protestant
We are justified (saved) by faith alone, not by good works. Good works will result in greater rewards in the afterlife but have no effect on getting saved. This "faith" means relying on Jesus' sacrifice as full atonement for our sins and trusting in God enough to try to live as he said to live. It is not mere intellectual belief in a set of facts.
A2 Catholic
When a person gets baptized his "original sin" is forgiven and God gives him some grace. This grace enables him to do good works. God appreciates the good works and rewards them with more grace. Because the Christian has more grace, he can now do even better works. This pleases God even more, so He gives even more grace, etc.
B1 Protestant
Purgatory is totally unscriptural. Christ's sacrifice on the Cross was the only offering necessary and the only offering sufficient to provide salvation.
B2 Catholic
There are two types of punishment after death: temporal (temporary) and eternal. If a person dies with just one "mortal" sin on his soul he will be condemned to Hell for eternity. If he dies with only "venial" sins on his soul he will be sent to Purgatory, perhaps for millions of years.
Purgatory is exactly like Hell except that it doesn't last forever. Eventually, the person will be released and enter heaven.
C1 Protestant
"Mortal" sin is an extent of sin, a pervasiveness of sin, sinning as a way of life, sinning as a regular practice, not a single sin, regardless of how serious that sin might be, e.g., murder.
C2 Catholic
There are two types of sin: mortal and venial.
A particular sin is either mortal or venial, depending on the severity. (For instance, stealing one dollar from a rich man would probably be a venial sin.)
D1 Protestant
Only God can forgive sins.
D2 Catholic
Catholic priests have been given the power to forgive sins, acting as representatives of the Holy Spirit.
E1 Protestant
The Holy Spirit is Jesus' representative.
E2 Catholic
The pope is Jesus' representative on Earth
F1 Protestant
The pope speaks for no one.
F2 Catholic
The pope speaks for all Christians.
G1 Protestant
It is clear from scripture that there was no "head" apostle in the New Testament churches. Paul expressly and publicly rebuked Peter, the alleged first pope, on one occasion. There is no biblical or historical evidence that Peter was ever the bishop of Rome.
G2 Catholic
Anyone who denies the authority of the pope despises the one who (allegedly) appointed him (i.e., Christ) and therefore despises the one who sent Christ, (i.e., God the Father).
H1 Protestant
Mary had children by Joseph. Jesus' brothers are expressly named: Joseph,. James, Simon, and Jude.
H2 Catholic
Mary remained a virgin her entire life. The Greek word can mean either "brother" or "close relative." The Bible is talking about Jesus' cousins, not brothers.
I1 Protestant
There is no scriptural evidence of the Mary being brought to heaven, and the deitification of Mary into "Mother of Man" is an unscriptural title.
I2 Catholic
Mary was spiritually assumed into heaven (the assumption of Mary) , note: assumption, like Elijah and Enoch. Subsequently deitified into "Mother of Man"
Dominic..... I just want you to realize that there are somethings that are not correct in the Catholic doctrine...
I know you'll be angry with me when you read this... sorry... sorry sorry sorry...
I know that there are alot of things that Christians do wrong too.. like disrespecting God, having a disorderly worship service...
I know you've been a Catholic all your life..
But.. is it too late?....
The statement by Marthin Luther King that sparked the Great Reformation was this:
"The word of God cannot be received and cherished by any works whatever, but only by faith. Therefore it is clear that as the soul needs only the Word of God for its life and righteousness, so it is justified by faith alone and not by works; for if it could be justified by anything else, it would not need the Word and consequently, it would not need faith."Its not just because I want you to be in the same church as me that I want you to change...
Its because I love you too much to bear the fact that your beloved Cathecism is so fundamentally different...
Please.... Dominic... would you consider changing? Despite all the commitments and roles and responsibilities you have in the church?...
If there is one thing that I could change in you, its this.
This is the only. Singular thing that I pray so hard that you would change....
Experience the real love of God with me please?...
One that requires no tradition, no rituals, no prerequisited debt....
I'm sorry if I hurt you...
I just love you so much...
*cries*
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