Christmas thoughts

That is baloney. We went to a mass 2 months ago to see a great nephew baptized, and saw people bowing to stautes all over the perimeters of the church.

 

You really know nothing about Catholic teaching about confession, closed communion, divorce, etc. Read the Catechism of Catholic Church before you make your absurd statements. Until then, I don't think I want to discuss any of this with you. I will wait for you to name those 'high level authorities' you claim you know of.

Waiting, and waiting.

 

I saw a Baptist minister kneeling before a chair with a Bible on it in prayer. Guess he was bowing to the chair (or the bible).

Glad to hear about your great nephew though!

 

You do not want to talk about it because you have no defense. You failed to answer any question, especially the most important one, how does one go from being a Baptist to a Catholic?

 

Much study my friend.

And the reason I'm not going to take each of those topics on is because this is a common tactic on this board. Actually, Catholics much better at defending the faith than myself have done a marvelous job of this on this very board. Just go back and educate yourself.

You make comments that YOU can't defend and then try to start the idol worship, altar boy abusing, etc. as a way of keeping me from calling you on your nonsense.

I ask you to tell me who your 'high level authorities' are. You keep ignoring this. Then you try to change the subject. It is obvious who is really avoiding the question.

 

Oh, well. Good night all. I'm sure those 'high level authorities' will be posted eventually. Gee, I wonder who they are! Surely not Archbishops. Maybe some Cardinals!

 

Just have to comment on this one. I was a faithful member of a SBC. My particular SBC practiced closed communion. And actually, I went from Baptist to Catholic as a result of spiritual maturity. I'm certainly not the only one. I know of evangelical pastors, missionaries, etc. who have done the same thing. Oh, and I can NAME them! Still waiting for you to do the same with those 'high level authorities'.

 

How would I know who the higher level authorites were? It was a forum similar to this and they claimed to be very learned teachers in some of your schools. Another member has given you evidence about salvation and the Catholic Church. I guess another question that comes to mind is, why are you here, on a Baptist board?

 

The reason the church you went to practiced closed communion is that they are a local autonomous church, and voted to do so. That is their right. As many if not more Baptist churches have open, as that is their right. The Catholic church is not the same. It is one big church, without local or autonomous churches, so the theological geniuses at the top of your church make the decision for as you say, one billion people. Local churches are the Biblical standard.

 

I can support it and will. Bear with me. Remember that the Bible is my final authority in all things. Surely you are not afraid of discussing the Bible, and from a RCC point of view at that.
Again, what does John 3:5 mean?

 

If you had any kind of Baptist background at all you would have realized that Calvinism is a system of theology embraced by a number of denominations--Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. It is not the mainstream of Baptists, though many may be. I am not a Calvinist, as Marcia said she was not. Things like this are just elementary knowledge to just about any Baptist.

BTW, Calvin got his ideas from Augustine.

 

Another point which makes me wonder just how much of a Baptist you were is the fact we are not a denomination. We are local autonomous churches with a cooperative effort with other local churches, and cooperative organizations at the state and national levels. We have no heirarchy. The SBC does not call our pastors, nor do they own our building or land. We are not a denomination. Baptist is a distinctive of core beliefs, and it does not include Pope baby, or confessing sins through a bozo in a telephone booth.

Frankly, I do not know if your cult is Calvinistic or Arminian. It cannot be Calvinistic, because God elects the saved by regeneration on His part, not by holy water in the pool, joining a church, kissing the Pope, or praying people out of purgatory. I really do not see how it could be Arminian, because after conviction of the Holy Spirit, man chooses or rejects the call of the Lord, and in your world, its a matter of learning man made sayings, rituals, saving baptism, joining the church, and a bunch of hail Marys'. It is all mechanical, without a one on one relationship with the Lord.

I would really like to know, if someone is lost at death, what determines whether he goes to purgatory, or hell until it is replaced with the Lake of Fire?

 

And within denominations, you have Calvinists and non-Calvinists.

It's just that the Callies (my new nickname for them) are often the loudest.

 

My apologies to DHK, and will back off the sharp words.

 

This will be my last time posting here. The attacks have become nasty and dis-respectful. Not becoming Christians at all. If I were a non-believer visiting this board and read the sleasy attacks on Catholics and the Catholic Church I don't think I would want much to do with your brand of Christianity.

I was educated in a SBC college, a faithful Baptist for years. I enjoy reading Charles Stanley even though I may not agree with him any longer.

No, Baptist are not followers of brother John Calvin in the way a Presbyterian might be. But I think you know there are strong Calvinist leanings in the Baptist camp.

BTW, Find me a Lutheran pastor that says he is a Calvinist. Bet you can't.