Yes, my mother is a practising Lutheran, most of her side of the family are devout Lutherans.
No, I have not read much about Martin Luther other than a synopsis on his life.
I will probably attend Christmas service with her if she asks me, I will have been to midnight Mass already. Mum is invited to this of course but it is very long, very hot (Brisbane is hot and humid then) and the wee church is over full of the faithful, so she will decline again I suspect. She is over 80 after all.
Then your mom is really a practicing Melanchthon (a protege of Luther) religious society believer. See if you read Luther you would find him more in agreement with Calvin....try reading Luther's Bondage of the Will. In it he will essentially tell you that he believes the RCC critical theological error is insisting that the will of man is the decisive factor in salvation. Thats if you care to delve deep into the mans real theological bent and the actual break with Rome.
The "Communion of Saints" - praying to the dead is part of the Catechism and considered infallible Catholic dogrine.
So also the idea of "purgatory" and infant baptism.
They also have the teaching that the priest has "powers" to "confect" the body and blood of God the Son in the form of Jesus Christ. And that the priest "retains those powers" even if defrocked/excommunicated.
Almost all Catholics know that the decrees of
ecumenical councils are deemed to be just as infallible as the ex cathedra statements of a Pope. What fewer may know is that Lateran IV is an ecumenical council that decreed the "extermination of all heretics" and that this dark-ages decree is still held to be "infallibly correct" by Catholic leadership.
I had a conversation at work the other day with a Hindu about the comparison between their faith and the Catholic belief in praying to the beings that the idols/images represent. Both groups do that.
Exactly. They still claim (officially) all outside of 'their' apostate 'church'
are lost, and we have some on here hammering away that we should accept them because they know some soul within that is saved. Then on the next thread they will preach no one knows who is saved, yet all of that truth changes when it gets subjective and personal. Thus we have those who throw out Scripture when it opposes their little world and bias.
Ah, no thank you. As for the idea that the "will of man is a decisive factor in salvation" is erroneous . I cannot imagine how he figured that out. However, I find delving into heretical theology just makes this dumb broads head hurt. So I will continue in my humble belief and entrust my salvation to God's Will rather than my own purile attempts. heh, that does not sound quite right, but I know what I mean.
And so then you can never grow. Sister I have people on here telling me not to ask questions.....but I am a radical Christian...that's what I do....that's how I learn.
Then I pray that you gain the grace you need in order for your salvation. I have been blessed in this regard ....I just need to remain on the straight and narrow path which is a daily task......being a questioner is all well and good, providing it enables enlightenment rather than an obscuring of the Divine Word.
It is Gods world sister. the bible has always taught that and given us the instructions necessary to operate in His kingdom. I believe it when the Lord says "you are the salt of the earth"
We can debate that meaning but at the core it assumes correctly that we live in a fallen world & we as Christians are to be the element (salt in Christs time was both an antiseptic and a preservative) to resolve the problems that fester in a continuum. And the Lord says clearly that you Christian are the salt to deal with it....thats a charge you need to be advised of & to implement. So if you are doing that then fine, but if your not then God help you when you stand before Him. Will he tell you that He never knew you?