The Journey Home

The average Catholic knows little about what scripture teaches and little about what their denomination believes. You would be surprised at how many continue to be a part of the denomination and yet disagree with what it teaches. The same thing happens in every denomination too.

 

Its always very tragic to see people who should know better flee from the truth and embrace Catholicism.

Concerning other Evangelical/Protestant/Pentecostal groups who see some things, of the "non-essentials", differently than we Baptists do, we of course should extend grace and let our brothers be "fully convinced in their own mind."

But Catholicism (like JW's, Mormons, etc) is a completely different situation.

Catholicism completely obliterates the true gospel and replaces it with a completely false one. A gospel of "works" where its victims must "merit" salvation using any number of works based lies and falsehoods.

They practice and promote goddess worship

They have a hellish hierarchial system or authority figures who "rule over" their victims, rather than letting Christ be their teacher.

The unscriptural and idolatrous Eucharist blasphemy

On and on it goes

God have mercy.


:godisgood:

 

Oh, believe me, I talk with Catholics all the time on another message board and it's absolutely stunning how little they know about scripture or basic Christian doctrine.

I had one Catholic poster tell me that the Bible is "baloney" and that she judges doctrinal truth not by comparing it with scripture, but by whether or not it supports the proclamations of the Catholic church.

 

Some people can embrace a faith without knowing or understanding fully what it is teaching. They shouldn't do this, but they do.

I don't think I'm deceived because I think a born again believer can embrace false beliefs - the Bible tells us that we can. Look at Galatians, Colossians, for example. Born again believers are warned against deception; hence, a born again believer can be deceived. This is God's word, not mine.

 

I disagree. Passages such as 2 John make it clear that God has drawn a doctrinal line in the sand, outside of which no one can reasonably be considered a Christian.

Likewise, it just isn't reasonable to believe that one can complete RCIA and still not have at least a basic understanding of Catholicism.

 

When I started pastoring I was shocked at how little most Baptists know about the Bible and even fewer practice what the Bible teaches.

 

IF God has drawn a doctrinal line in the sand, why isn't everyone here calvinistic and amilennial? Those are clear lines of doctrine to me.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Well, we disagree. I do believe there are saved Catholics, who are saved despite the RC teachings.

You didn't respond to what I said about Galatians and Colossians. Also, see 2 Cor 11:

3But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
4For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

I am not saying a believer can lose his/her salvation, but a believer can be deceived, up to a point. I've seen this in my ministry - people go for things even sometimes when they know they are wrong. They suffer the consequences and the Lord brings them back.

I am not saying a believer would knowingly embrace a totally false teaching - such as denying the deity of Christ. But there are more subtle deceptions.

 

I agree. That's another problem we're facing today.

I was listening to Chris Rosebrough talk about the importance of Christian education (actually, he used the word "catechism", but that would frighten too many Baptists) and I was thinking about why we really don't do more to educate ourselves and our churches.

It's really a shame. I believe it's one of the reasons the church is in the state it's in today.

 

Because those are things the Bible classifies as "disputable matters".

 

Well, if you believe that one is born again through having somebody sprinkle some water on your head when you were a baby, that infused righteousness is true and that we have to adhere to Catholic rituals in order to keep our salvation, then I suppose you would believe that.

Like I said, it simply is not reasonable that somebody can complete RCIA and not have at least a basic knowledge of Catholicism.

 

Catechism is not the answer. Thinking that education is the answer is like what the world teaching that education solves our problems. Only about 2% of those in the early church could even read.

James 1:22, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

 

John Deere...

Thats right. Put words in somebodies mouth that they didnt say.

I'm not even going to bother to go back and read Marcias post. Thats how sure I am that she doesnt believe what you just implied she believed.


However, it is entirely possible for a born again person, who has complete eternal security, to...for any number of reasons...get sucked into the blasphemous church of Rome. It is tragic to do that, God does not want them to do that, things will not go well for them if they do that, but some people do.

They are still born again and sure for heaven. (and most of the time, they come to their senses and come back out.) Its also possible for a Catholic to be visited by the Holy Spirit while in the RCC, come to grips with the truth, and the idolatrous teaching of the RCC, and in due time "come out of her".

:godisgood:

 

I never said I believe that.

I do believe some people are saved by faith in the RC church despites its teachings, and some believers who are saved get into the RC church and willingly ignore the problematic teachings. Christians can be deceived.

 

Just as in some Baptist churches some Catholics who are Christians stay in an effort to make change.