Catholic or Christian

A few of hose are legitimate beefs. Most are hogwash.

Icons are not idols, icons are not worshipped. Hierarchical systems abound outside of the Catholic Church.

Any church with a national headquarters (like the SBC, for example) has a hierarchy.

The Crusades were a mistake, but a mistake all Christians share, since the Catholic Church was the only game in town at the time. No one can convince me that the SBC would do any differently.

The Catholic Church does not claim that salvation rests only in that institution. Rather, sounding very much like the Baptists and the less conservative Churches of Christ, they think a more perfect salvation experience lies within their church.

Confession of sins is an integral part of many denomimational worship services. Only if a Protestant has never spoken to a pastor about a struggle in his or her life can they begin to question priestly confession.

Catholic people don't pray to the dead. They ask the dead to pray for them. Not a practice I condone, but call it what it is.

Finally, transubstantiation isn't a "magic trick." Nothing makes a Protestant Evangelical look more stupid than when he or she says this.

 

Already addressed, and you ignored the answer. But keep asking, because all the people who "think" like you do will keep giving you the answers you want.

 

Hilarious. So you had no part in the Crusades, but the Catholics of today are responsible? Can you even understand how idiotic your statement is? Can you?

Try to at least get out of the 14th Century, OK? Impress me with something from the modern Catholic Church.

According to Jesus, so do you. Am I supposed to hate and revile you, then, as you do these Christians?

Wait - are you saying you believe that the elements are changed? Like you've seen David Copperfield do it? I mean, after all, priests and pastors operate in theological realities - transubstantiation being a change not seen or felt but understood as real, nonetheless.


Maybe if I want to be baptized, I should call on a magician/priest? Because even Baptists think that baptism is an outward sign of an inward change, and since it has to be really real in your book, then maybeDavid Copperfield can do it, huh?

Do you understand, even now, how idiotic your statement is? Do you?

 

LOL! Call me names and then wish the light of Christ on me. LOL!

 

Actually, tragic has a point. I talked with a priest (Greek Orthodox) about the use of icons they are strictly a tool used for focus and reinforcement of teachings. The example he gave was that during confession they sat looking at an icon of Jesus to remind them that they are confessing to Jesus. The RCC has similar official uses, they do not teach such as the pagans do that the person or diety depicted actually resides there.

Vatican II - Changed the official stance taken by the RCC in the Council of Trent by stating that salvation can occur outside of the Church, but that it is desirable for all to return to the Church.

Again, tragic has a point. Every Sunday we have confession and absolution in our services. And we believe that the Pastor does have authority given to him by Christ to act as his ambassador and forgive sins.

Call it what you will but at least get what they teach correct.

No, I will continue to trust Jesus when he says this is my body and my blood. But then I am neither RCC or Baptist.


Hey guys, lets at least try to play nice. Take it from me who has ample experience such sarcacism and harsh words are going to convince nobody.

 

"Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!"

 

Luke... I am your father...

 

I am not sure you understand the concept involved here. The power and ability to forgive sins does not rest in the Pastor. It rests in God and the promises of God. In that the Pastor speaks on behalf of Jesus in whom all authority rests in order to pronounce the forgiveness of sins.

 

I agree.

Other than a few Catholics on this board (who are extremely gracious imho), no one here agrees with Catholic doctrine -- otherwise, I guess we'd be Catholics, eh?

In fact, I've never read any of the "effeminate, defenders of the popery - call yourself reformed, but you're really not" people state that they agree with Catholic doctrine. In fact, they have constantly stated that they don't agree. Mostly, they have tried to correct some of the misrepresentations. And to answer the repeated attacks made against them.

Personally, I don't agree with Catholic doctrine. I don't agree with some others either -- the Church of Christ, SDAs, Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists or Fundies, just to name a few. But I'm not calling them non-Christian.

I understand that everyone has different experiences. I have Christian and non-Christian friends. Some are Baptist and some are Catholic. And yes, both fit into each category.

I have Catholic friends who send their children to an evangelical Christian school. I know Catholic women who reguarly attend Bible Study Fellowship. I've been to two Catholic funerals. Both times, the Gospel was preached. In one, the priest stated that "Norm was in heaven because of his faith in Jesus." In another, the speaker said that the most important day in the life of her mom was the day she met Jesus, and then did a "bow your head, close your eyes, sinner's prayer." Hardly non-Christian events.

 

Pastors have that right by the words of Jesus found in John 20:23:

23If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld. (ESV)

And since it was the same John who wrote both 1 John 1:9 and John 20:23, I'd say that both must be true.

 

This is a gross missrepresentation. They do not pray to the icon. In the case which I mentioned they are speaking to Christ. The icon is only a visual reminder of who they are speaking to, it is not the object to which they are speaking.

Just as one should avoid prooftexting the Bible, one should avoid prooftexting other documents.

This is from the statement of belief section from the website to which the author's name is linked.

This is from the documents of Vatican II

I will add to Rooselk's contribution with the passage from Matthew, "Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." "

 

I take it you're unfamiliar with the Roman Catholic doctrine of ex ecclesia nulla salas? (("Outside of the [Roman Catholic] church, there can be no salvation."))

What Protestant or Baptist believes that they can forgive the person's sin?

Are you sure about that? Because I can bury you in examples of Roman Catholics praying to dead saints.

You're right. That was a bad thing for him to say.

On the other hand, nothing makes a Roman Catholic look more stupid than to say that Jesus Christ is a cracker.

 

A typical style of excuses by Roman Catholic.
That's why Christianity based on Bible and Roman Catholic are totally different religion.