May I suggest you prepare a rebuttal of The 95 Thesies rather than setting up carefully worded straw-man arguments.
Peter never once disputed the validity of the writing of Matthew. As a matter of fact my King James has two books attributed to Peter and seems to me Peter put down into ‘writing’ what he bound here on this earth.
Now what did Matthew write that is so offensive to Catholics? I figure I might as well learn as much as I can now, what Matthew and the other ‘elected’ authors were inspired to pen, so I do not have so much home work when I return to the Maker.
Peter never ever once prayed to Mary. So Peter did not bind that tradition that is preached as Gospel these days.
And there are 7 churches listed in Revelation not one.
It was kind and brave of you to share your conversion beliefs in the catholic church and its salvific mission. I’d like everyone here to know and remember that there IS unity in all believers of the trinity,father,son and holy ghost. The catholic church acknowledges all christian baptisms;ie. If someone was baptized in the trinity and if he converts to catholocism-that person doesn’t need to be re baptized. One of my favorite and most treasured books is ‘Why I Became a Catholic’ by israel zolli. He was chief rabbi of rome during world war 2. Another book I recommend which no one brought up is Aa-1025 by marie caree. It is about the memoirs of an anti apostle.it describes the lengths communists went thru in their efforts to undermine the catholic church,and how they infiltrated it. Many blessings to all.
Did you write all of this yourself? What an amazing work. Really a splendid job of encapsulating some of the most important points. Thanks so much!
—The OTTB Mare
Former Protestant
Placemark for further reading.
One question. Show me from scripture the bodily assumption of Mary and the adoration given her by the Catholics.
PING FOR FURTHER READING
We might be able to be one, when Catholics quite claiming they are the only real church. Until then I will continue to follow Christ.
I should note that someone around here took a poll a couple of years ago. Turns out that Catholics are by far the largest religion of FREEPERS. Very close to 40% or more if memory serves.
I know that liberal boards are 30 or 40% Catholic as well, but the difference is that a high amount of FREEPERS are PRACTICING Catholics, not CINO’s.
You’ll find that you make little progress on theological matters in on FR, in spite of most of the lurkers being supportive. I’ve pretty much given up on it. On the other hand, you never know who might be swayed and not post anything.
Laura Ingram is a convert as well. Newt well you know the story. I tend to discount converts who converted because of a spouse. My spouse and I both converted at the same time because of our love of the truth.
Glen Beck is a former Catholic became Mormon because of his wife. Doing it for love instead of theological purity is I am sure is equally valid.
Anyway, my prayers go out to you and welcome home!
Fantastic post.
Issue #1 - The answer is found in the Great Commission and at the end of John both 20th and 21st chapters and even in the prophets. I will post answers to your other issues in separate posts. Thanks for writing.
The Apostles were uniquely sent, and while the commission is perceived as a general admonition to Christians to spread the gospel, it was uniquely given to them as a mission. They performed that mission. WRITING the gospel down for greater outreach across time and distance is really no different than the Apostles personally telling it.
- Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
- John 20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
- John 21: 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
And, of course, there is the prophetic word of Isaiah 55 that testifies to this time after that of the suffering servant of Isaiah 53.
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor." 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
ping for later
Welcome home!
—When you see people kneeling before a statue or picture of Mary (or some other saint) and praying, they are using the statue or picture to visualize Mary, as they ask her to pray together with them to God. —
Correct.
That also goes completely against scripture and who Jesus is. My intercessor is Jesus. I have a personal relationship with him. It’s one on one. I don’t need Mary in there to muck it up.
The holy Eucharist thing is just silly. Communion is a simple symbol to remind us of what Christ did for us. It is so simple you can’t screw it up unless you try really hard.
It is a reminder of the thing that makes Christianity truly unique - Grace - and what it took to attain it.
And the really great news is that my family can participate in it after every single meal if we so choose: “As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of Me.”
The priestly scandals just prove we are all sinners. AG churches have Jim Jones.
—That eerily echoes the spurious argument used by Judas Iscariot, where he said that the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus should have used that money for the poor instead, but Jesus immediately rebuked him, and said the woman did exactly the right thing. —
Yeah, until you get past the surface. The perfume was for Jesus. The church building is for the members. My wife’s side of the family is VERY Irish Catholic. MY wife was too, until her mid-30’s. Her sister goes to mass every day.
They are very proud of their buildings. They are not quite as bad as the muslims, who think their buildings are “holy”, but close. The mere existence of the buildings doesn’t have much to do with salvation, though.
“Church” means “body of believers”. Check out a Greek Lexicon.
Great post. Welcome home.
Poor form.
By your presented "logic" in your opening statement, because I’m not a Catholic, I’m an anti-Catholic and a (insert one of the many referenced despicable characteristics here) type of anti-Catholic to boot.
Stopping now, because, although I have some arguments about the Catholic Church based on my experiences, I don't voice them because I do consider Catholics my brothers in Christ.
Your opening comment causes me to wonder what you and your fellow Catholics think of us Bible only Christians though...