Fears

Ok, here's my honest answer. I have no reason to fear any relegion. I have a small list of fears, and relegions aren't among it.
And yes, I supose there may be some saved Catholics...I mean we've got PLENTY of unsaved Baptists! {I was one for a long time!} But the thing is, their teaching is contrary to God's word, and that's were my problem with them lies. Christ is not born in us! We are the ones reborn! I don't beleive in sprinklein' and confimation. I beleive in salvation, and then afterwards a person can be baptized. And those are a few among many.
I understand more now of WERE they get their doctrine, but that does not mean I accept it. I can not in good consience.
But to answer you question, no I don't fear them. I expect we'll have a little from every denomination in Heaven though.
~Miss Abby

 

Sometimes Baptists scare me more than Catholics do.

 

So far I'm the one 'yes.' I don't fear it on my own behalf at all. I fear it for the thousands -- millions -- of people who have been deceived by it. I know God judges the heart, but even for those who are saved, trusting Jesus alone, in Catholicism, they are forced to live with the fear that they can lose their salvation and that they might have to spend some time in Purgatory. That's no way to have to go through life as a child of God! Even for a saved Catholic, there is much confusion in many areas. This prevents these people from leading lives of being effective witnesses to the Lord.

So I am afraid of what Catholicism does to its adherents. I don't like seeing people trying to deal with all that, when it is so simple to simply go straight to Jesus Himself for salvation.

 

Baptists who defend Catholocism more than Baptists are what scare me.
Other than that, yes I find Catholocism about as scary as Mormonism.
Why? Because both are false religion from the pit of hell that dupe people into thinking that if they're good and/or follow this and that ritual they are going to heaven. Belief in the Jesus as presented in the bible seems to be an afterthought and not THE focus.
Gina

 

I will fear the Lord and him only. I do believe that Catholicism is a false religion, however.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Like Helen, I have no fear for myself but a BIG concern for the millions which are deceived. I don't believe that Roman Catholicism is a rel;igion that follows Christ and that is my definition of a Christian, a follower of Christ.

 

Wow...

Couldn't choose either answer.

I do not fear Catholicism, but I am concerned about the many false teachings of the church.

While I believe that there are Christians within Roman Catholicism, I do not believe that most Roman Catholics followers of Christ.

I attended a wedding last night and observed the ceremonies very carefully. Beyond the issues of transsubstantiation and the system of sacraments, this particular church venerated Mary, the mother of Jesus. The bride and groom placed flowers before an icon of Mary and knelt before it to pray - I assume asking Mary to intercede for them.

While Jesus was artisticly featured in a giant crucifix behind the altar, it appeared to me they believed that Jesus was little more than a sacrifice and Mary was the one who possessed the real power to make a difference in the lives of the congregation.

That's very damning evidence of a false religion.

 

How you personally interpreted something is evidence?

 

What is the source of these statistics?

I thought that if someone believes Christ is the Son of God, died for their sin (which they are repentent of) and rose again, they meet even the Baptist requirements of salvation. Perhaps I was wrong.

 

I was raised Catholic and went to a Catholic school. I agree with the above statement 100%. The RCC has an allegiance to Mary and the pope much more than they do to Jesus.

 

How you personally interpreted something is evidence? </font>[/QUOTE]All evidence has an air of subjectivity.

I didn't exhaustively go into all of my experience last night because I didn't want to bore everyone.

I'm not a "Catholic basher". I have family members who are Roman Catholic and my mother and her family were Roman Catholic. My mother was led to saving faith in Christ by a Roman Catholic priest who told her that veneration of the icons and reliance upon the church was false.

There are many good people in Roman Catholicism and I know enough about it to know that doctrine (at the the doctrines emphasized) varies between the congregations/parishes.

Some parts of the world it is nothing more than full-blown paganism with the names of "saints" used in place of the traditional gods/idols. Other places it is heavily influenced by Protestantism and the gospel of following Jesus is preached and obeyed.

The congregation I visited was a bilingual congregation (Spanish and English) and the ceremony was offered in both Spanish and English. Unfortunately the Latin American forms of Roman Catholicism tend to lean much more heavily toward the magical and idolatrous end of the spectrum, with Mary, the mother of Jesus (aka "The Blessed Virgin/Mother of God") receiving more attention.

 

You should spend some time in the "Other Religions / Doctrines" section of the Baptist Board, and see what Catholics like Carson, Kathryn, thessalonian, MikeS, WPutnam, etc, etc, etc, have to say. If you could say they are going to die in their sins after spending some time listening to what they believe (rather than what you think they believe), I'll be very surprised (and disappointed).

I disagree. Faith alone is dead.

I've met Baptists that believe you must use only the KJV or you are not saved - they are faith + KJV. I've met Baptists that believe Baptism is *required* - they are faith + Baptistm. I've met Baptists that believe you cannot be a member of a non-autonomous church and be saved - they are faith + autonomy. I've even met Baptists who say if you are not Calvinistic, you are not saved - they are faith + Calvinism. Do such additions to their faith (their belief in Christ as the Son of God, his death for their sins (for which they are repentent) and that he rose again), whether they are right or wrong, negate God's grace given through their faith? I'd say no, maybe you'd say yes? If not, what's the difference (i.e. why do different rules apply if you're under the "Baptist" umbrella)?

 

Brian,

I think you and I wwould get along very well. Check out my website and let me know what you think?

I agree that Dr. Bob needs to spend more time conversing with knowledgable Catholics.